“You’re sulking again,” Nix observed from his spot on the study chair. “Do you plan to sit there all day in front of that mirror, or do you plan to do something useful with yourself? Like preparing for your upcoming inauguration. The Winter Solstice is almost one moon away now. And there is still muchto accomplish if you wish to see the office of the Midnight Sovereign restored to its former power. Do you know where the gateway appears? Did Kaylin teach you the secret words to ensure it lets you through?”
I dragged my eyes away, Nix’s words a welcome distraction from my fixation with the mirror and the fact Corvin hadn’t yet materialized within its fogged pane, even though it had been over a week since he left the island. Normally, Nix was reticent to discuss the island or its office. But I suspected he knew a lot more than he let on. Was this my opening? I twisted around to face him.
“Yes, she did teach me.For you I walk the moonlit path at midnight.” I recited the words with reverence. “She never did tell me what happens once you step through the gateway though.” I hoped Nix might be willing to fill in some of the gaps in my knowledge.
“That’s because she never stepped through it herself,” Nix informed me.
“Really?!She didn’t?Are you sure?But I thought…I mean, she told me about it.”
Nix’s expression turned grim. “I watched her grow ever more fearful after her mentor Juniper was murdered in front of her on Adrasean soil. There was one year I thought she might, but she turned around at the last moment. I would have encouraged her, but she banished me from the cottage quite early on in her tenure.”
I blanched. “In front of her?!I didn’t know that. How did I not know that? Wait, how doyouknow that?”
He twitched his whiskers, shoulders drooping. “I have witnessed many deaths, powerless to stop them since things started to decline.”
I didn’t know which I found more disturbing, that Kaylin witnessed Juniper’s death firsthand, or that Nix had too, forcedto watch from the shadows. How long had he been watching over the island before I found him in my garden? How many women in my position had been targeted or killed in the preceding years? A chill ran down my spine. The inauguration was a little over a moon away, but it was becoming increasingly clear that somebody didn’t want me to make it there alive.
“That’s horrifying,” I eventually responded. “I’m so sorry, Nix. For what you must have gone through all these years.”
“Do you plan to repay that sacrifice by gazing into an empty mirror like a lovestruck fool?”
I straightened my shoulders. “No, no, I do not. You’re right—I plan to keep moving forward. I will step through the gateway on the Winter Solstice. I will restore this office. I will continue to help the people of Olayra. Nothing is going to stop me from serving this realm. And in the meantime,” I continued, grinning at Nix, “I will try and resist staring into the study mirror for too long. I’m sure Corvin will contact me eventually.”
I stood up, walking over to inspect Rogam’s stolen map, rolled out onto the study desk. “I do have a plan, you know. I want to find more moonstones. They’re not just payment—they’re protection. For the people who seek out my island. I need to make sure they’re accessible across the realm. But I don’t want to clip the Green Man’s vines just yet until they’re more well established. So, I need to find moonstones elsewhere—like in this abandoned dragon’s lair.” I tapped the parchment with my finger. “If it’s filled with ancient gems and treasures, I might just get lucky and find some moonstones too, don’t you think?”
“If that’s your plan, I’ll go with you.”
“You’d leave the island with me?”
“It would be dangerous for you to go alone. And I know a shortcut through Uvrakar.”
“Really?” I questioned.
“Traveling through the Autumn Court can save you a lot of time. If you know the way. The Midnight Sovereign must learn to use all of the resources at their disposal. You should familiarize yourself with the Fae courts. You’ll have an easier time navigating them then Kaylin would have. You have Fae blood.”
I touched my pointed ears. “And unknown Fae enemies,” I reminded him.
“All the more reason to know what you’re dealing with.”
“Alright. I’ll begin the preparations. We’ll leave in a few days, traveling through the Autumn Court.”
As dusk fell, I wandered outside the cottage to watch the moonflowers bloom. At moonrise, the delicate flowers predictably unfurled—a beautiful spectacle that had become part of my nighttime routine. I plucked a single bloom, drawing it close to my nose so that I could inhale its sweet perfume. The phantom sensation of Corvin tenderly tucking one behind my ear thrummed through me.
Cupping it in my hands, I detected a faint trace of magic emanating from the flower. Could it hold one more secret after all? I removed the oval moonstone attached to the flower’s pistil, rubbing a thumb over its smooth milky-white surface in case it was to blame. But no, it wasn’t just my sensitivity to the moonstone; there was definitely something magical about the petals of the flower if my intuition could be trusted.
Pocketing the moonstone within, I concocted a plan to investigate the flower’s remaining magic. Perhaps I could crush the petals to release their powers. Or prepare a simple brew from them if that didn’t work. For taste testing. A witch from Adrasea would probably roll over in her grave at the thought oftesting the flower in such a manner. But unlike a trained witch, I had no experience using the bounties of the land for spellwork. Grinding it up might be an unsophisticated solution, but at least it was a step abovelick it and see what happens!My mind made up, I plucked a few more flowers, then retreated back inside to prepare the moonflower brew.
On my way inside, moonstone heavy in my pocket, I passed by the ceremonial basin. Halting, I backtracked a few steps as another idea hit me. I was certain the moonstone Terani offered me made me feel stronger, more powerful. Maybe I could place the moonstone in my pocket in the basin—enhance my strength all on my own. Tickled by my own cleverness, I placed the moonstone deep within the basin.
The foundation of the cottage started to rattle and shake, wood dust billowing from the rafters.
Hastily, I snatched the moonstone back out of the basin. “Sorry!” I yelped aloud as if the cottage could understand. “So that’s anoon putting my own moonstone in the basin then. Got it—makes sense. Won’t happen again.” Surreptitiously, I scanned the foyer—no sign of Nix. At least he hadn’t been around to witness the mistake; I was sure I’d never hear the end of it if he had been. Apparently, I would have to be patient, my powers growing as I helped the people of the realm. As they trusted me with their troubles. That wasalrightby me. I was used to putting in the work. If I didn’t do something, there was no one else to get it done. Finding more moonstones was essential if it meant more visitors would seek me out and successfully navigate to my island.
In the kitchen, I located my mortar and pestle, grinding up one moonflower to start until it was a fine powder. Nothing happened. Heating some water over the fireplace, I placed the crushed petals in a mug so that they could steep once it was ready. A while later, I poured the water and took a tiny, tentativesip of the brew. Still, nothing. Just a delicate, floral flavor coating my tongue.
A wave of drowsiness crashed over me.
So potent I stumbled, plopping right down into the kitchen chair nearest to me. My eyelids drooped. My breathing slowed. My mind calmed. My head bobbed—all signs my body was demanding sleep. I fought to stay awake. The petals of the moonflowerdidpossess magic, potent enough to lull me into a deep, peaceful sleep. The Green Man’s gift was even more special than I’d realized.
