I was in no mood to banter with him, but I couldn’t resist saying, “I bet that part comes naturally to you.Pig.”
His eyes sharpened, lingering on me before returning to the horses. “During our time together, we’ll practice more advanced magic. We won’t sit back while the Elders and Sylvia decide how to use you. You and I—we’re stronger than all of them combined. We make our own magic; they have tostealtheirs. When we find the missing humans and take them back to Erador, we’ll take their magic with us. It’ll be a crippling blow to the Kingdom.”
I met his smoldering gaze. He’d been planning their downfall for a while—long before I’d arrived. My stomach turned, thinking of what Galen had said about the Elders. I hated that I’d found myself in the middle of their brotherly feud, but if they wouldn’t talk to each other, then I’d have to be their mediator.
“Galen told me that the Elders are more dangerous than we realize; he implied that they have tricks up their sleeve that we don’t know about.”
Raf’s lip curled before it dropped into a neutral frown—because afrownwas the natural state of his face.
“Has anyone ever told you that you haveresting prick face?” I smiled at him sweetly.
“Excuse me?”
“You should try smiling more. It’s better for your wrinkles. You’re over a century old now, yeah? You might want to start thinking about a skin care routine that doesn’t involve scowling all the time.”
He crossed his arms, giving me a ghost of a smile. “Thanks for the advice… as for the Elders, all we can do is try and work around them. And continue to spy on them, though it’s almost pointless without access into any of their homes or studies. If only their wards weren’t so strong—strong enough that not even I can break them. So yes—I’m aware how powerful they are.”
I rocked back on my heels and said, “Just wanted you to have all the information…”
Even though you don’t deserve it.
“Thank you—truly. Like I said, you and I are stronger together. And despite what you think, I was just trying to protect you the other day…” He trailed off, avoiding my gaze.
“Do you always break arms and ask questions later, when you’re trying to protect someone?” Now I was the one crossing my arms.
He sighed. “No, it’s just… Galen and I have history. Anyways, I’m sorry. I’m not sorry for what I did to him, but I’m sorry for upsetting you.”
I pursed my lips, unsure of how to respond. “Thanks for the apology.”
He gave a curt nod. “Let’s get started. I’m going to shift… and I want you to pay attention to how your magic responds.” He stood back and took off his jacket, throwing it to the ground. My eyes grew wide in silent question.
Not missing a beat, he answered, “The magic allows us to keep our clothes when we change shape—it hides them in some separate dimension, until we shift back.” His mouth curved into a cocky smile. “I was just getting hot… but I can continue stripping, if you’d like.” I glared back, unamused.
“I don’t understand how it works, but that’s magic for you. It requires a leap of faith.” With that, he shifted, never breaking eye contact.
I watched as hands turned to hooves and his body contorted into the shape of a dark horse. It was so fast that I couldn’t get a grasp ofhowthings shifted… just that they had.
“You changed too fast. I could barely process it,” I complained, before falling silent as I admired his equine form. It was my first time seeing it in the daylight. His obsidian black fur seemed to swallow the sun’s light. But from the corner of my eye, I could see a rainbow of colors in his coat, like a black bird that only looked black at first glance. Our eyes weren’t complex enough to see the range of colors that birds could see—I’d read that somewhere. I wondered what he looked like to a bird.
Rafael tossed back his head before running towards the other horses, bucking and charging, until they all ran a lap around me. I laughed in delight. Magic waswonderful—the best thing that had ever happened tome. He trotted over to me; his long, wavy mane hung over his brows, just like it did in his faerie form.
Perhaps I was a horse too… I’d always been drawn to them. My stomach flipped as he walked over and blew hot air in my face. “Thanks for that,” I grimaced, wiping my cheeks with the back of my hand.
Inches from me, he shifted back. We stood nose to nose. Pin-pricks of sensation tingled along my arms, along my legs. My magic was trying to rise to the surface, but I panicked and squashed it down, stepping away from him. He stared at me as if he could see right through me. It made me uneasy. And he was far too close.
“You know… I’m surprised your pneuma is a horse. Your temperament has always suggested something…moodier. Something more dangerous.” I shivered at the power that rolled off him in dark, rippling waves.
He paused, and just for a moment, his mask dropped. I’d stunned him with my observation. “What is it?” I asked, my voice catching in my throat.
“I want to share something with you. But I know you hate me. Would it be foolish of me to trust you?”
twenty-seven
The air between us felt charged as I replied, “I-I don’t hate you.” He stared at me until I continued, “You can trust me.”
My feelings for him were… complex, but I didn’thatehim. In fact, if anything, I saw too much of myself in him. We were both stubborn loners, who were more sensitive than we cared to admit. I was still angry with him, but it was becoming clear that it would be best if I stayed out of the feud between him and Galen.
Raf’s eyes darkened before he seemingly accepted my answer by backing up… and backing up, putting substantial space between us. And then he shifted.
