“What do you mean?” I asked breathlessly.
“What do I mean? You’re going tolieto me? Do I mean so little to you?” He paced back and forth in agitation.
“If I’m lying to you, you should know it’s for a good reason.”
Who was he to demand answers from me? He didn’t own me.
“I came to see you last night—shortly after midnight. I was worried when you weren’t here. I was afraid my mother had taken you. But then I saw a rope at your window… ablackrope. There’s only one person I know that could’ve produced that; someone who wields both shadow and earth magic.” He stopped walking in circles and approached me. His flames had been put away, but the scowl on his face remained.
“Are you sleeping with Rafael?” he asked bluntly. He was leaning over me, our noses nearly touching. I could feel heat radiating off of him. He… he wasjealous.
“No!” I said defensively. His hands gripped my thighs possessively.
“I’m not,” I insisted. “But it wouldn’t be your business if I was. Areyousleeping with Isla?” My glacial tone matched the frost coating my fingers.
How dare he with his double-standards.
I’d thrown him off with my question. He stammered, “I-I’ve slept in her bed. Nothing more. I wantyou,Marigold. If I bedded her, the entire time I’d be picturingyou, damn it!” He stood and went back to pacing.
“Are you going to tell me what you were doing with Rafael in the middle of the night? Climbing out of windows, nonetheless? Was he helping you escape? If so, why are you here? Were you just going to leave without saying goodbye?” He looked out of his mind; waving his hands in the air, then shoving them in the pockets of his tan breeches.
I’d never seen a man so… emotional over me. It melted another layer of ice around my heart. He cared. And as if to confirm his feelings, a splash of color hovered around him; an angry red, with a vibrant blue center. More blue than I’d ever seen. He’d evolved into something new since I met him.
“I’ll tell you. If youpromisenot to tell the Queen. If you tell her, it could ruin everything. Do you understand, Galen? Can you put me before your Crown for this secret? Or would you rather not know?”
He considered for a moment. “I won’t tell her.”
I hesitated before deciding to trust him. “Rafael helped me go to the ruins in the forest… not to escape, but to see if I could find any answers about my magic… to see if I could open a doorway.” I looked down at my hands… hands that had held Raf’s so comfortably—hands that wanted to ease Galen’s temper by grabbing him by the face and kissing him. Hot shame burned in my belly.
“And… what did you discover?”
“The magic exists in me, but I can’t access it yet. I need help. I need answers from someone or something. I’ve looked in the library—there’s nothing. I don’t want to be in a position where your mother asks me to wield my powers and I’m not ready. She may kill me on the spot.” That wasn’texactlymy motivation, but I couldn’t trust him with the complete truth.
“I’ll help you. I’ve wanted to help. But I didn’t want to push you.” He came back over and sat beside me. He took my hand and played with my fingers, avoiding my gaze. “I’m not my mother,” he whispered.
“I know you aren’t, but every time I tell you something that she can’t know, I put you in a precarious situation. I don’t want to make things harder on you than they already are.” We locked eyes and I could see that he’d forgiven me. And I’d forgiven him.
I wanted him to kiss me, but instead he dropped my hand. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I just wish you could trust me.” Galen stood and exited the room without another word. The crackling fire snuffed out with his departure and I felt instantly cold. Down to the bone.
twenty-one
The next morning, Louis was vibrating with anticipation as I approached the training ring. Before we spoke, he created a fountain of water around us, making sure our conversation stayed private. “How’d it go?” He looked relieved to see me in one piece.
“I wasn’t able to open a portal or walk to any worlds… but I could feel the magic calling to me. We’re on the right path, Louis.” I was in a content mood today. Despite the conflicting emotions that Galen had elicited this morning, I felt like I’d made real progress. I was hopeful that I’d eventually gohome.
“That’s excellent news! Did you come across any trouble?”
I grimaced. “Galen came by my room while I was gone. And again this morning. I had to explain where I went. I didn’t tell him the real reason I was there, but he knows I went… and that I wasn’t successful opening a portal. He promised not to tell your mother.”
Louis’s eyes widened before he composed himself. “It’s alright. It’s clear to anyone paying attention that he’s infatuated with you. I don’t think he’d do anything that would put you in harm’s way. He could use a good influence.” He grinned, playfully bumping me.
Louis found the tension between Galen and I much more amusing than I did. It felt more like soul-eating agony to me. “I’m glad you can find humor in the situation,” I said, hitting him with wind magic that lifted him up several feet in the air, before dropping him on the ground.
“Ouch. That’s going to bruise!” He laughed in his happy-go-lucky way that was currently pissing me off.
“Sorry. I’d heal you, but I haven’t learned how yet.” I smiled sweetly. “I’ve heard mention of an Oracle—someone who might be able to help us.”
Louis’s face fell and he let out a long breath. “Yes… There’s a witch that lives in the mountains—she should be a last resort. Her knowledge comes at a steep price.”
