“Itwas, but things have changed.”Hiseyes shone with something it took me a moment to recognize—hope. “Tori, would you please assist me.”Ididn’t know whatIcould do, asIknew so little about magic, but he waved his hand to the necklace.
Ipicked it up and held it, tilting it slightly so the hundreds of diamonds twinkled in the light from the window. “Youhad this made in only a few days?Youmust have quite the collection of gems to just have massive rubies like this ready.”
IheardAvlynlaugh, “Oh, he has quite the collection, alright.I’msurprised he hasn’t shown you.”
“Iwanted to make sure thatToriwanted me for my winning personality beforeIshowed her my hoard.Manyhave been overcome by its sheer size.”Hewinked at me again, andIlaughed.I’dnever heard him flirt with me like that before, andIloved it.
Avlyn, on the other hand, groaned, “WhatdidIdo in a past life to deserve this personal hell?”
ButIset the necklace down in the glyph, and the room grew tense.Aftera few beats of silence,Abraxassaid, “Tori, if you would set the gem.”
Myinside writhed like a pit of snakes, telling me not to touch that thing.Ireached for it and flinched as pain numbed my fingers.ButSpinnerpositioned himself on my shoulder again, and somehow, the pain subsided.
“Thankyou, little friend.”Iplaced the gem in the setting and used a simple tool to bend the metal to hold the gem in place.DespiteSpinner’sassistance,Iwas more than happy to let go of it.
“Good, now touch me just like you did in the forest.”IheardAvlynmumbling again at the innuendo, butIwas too nervous to laugh.
“Abraxas,Idon’t know whatIdid, or how to control it.Idon’t know anything about magic at all really.”
“Yes, butIdo, andIwill teach you.”
Istepped behind him and placed my palms on his back.Iclosed my eyes. “Matchmy breathing,Tori.Good.Nowlet your thoughts go, focus only on the stone below your feet.”
Iimagined that ocean, the oneIhad known for so long.Mybreath synced with the soft waves, the sea foam lapping at my feet.Thewaves were warm, and slowlyIsank in, butIwas not afraid asIfeltAbraxasas my anchor.Soon, the warmth consumed me butIstill breathed.Ifelt it travel from me to him and a soft golden light filled the room.Iopened my eyes.Theglyph was glowing like a small sun, the warm light gently pressing down on the harsh red that rose from the jewel.
“Breathe,Tori.”Iclosed my eyes again and focused, allowing myself to be empty, just a channel for that light.Butthen the light faded, andIfeltAbraxasmove. “Itis done.”
Ilooked around him at the necklace and felt…nothing.Nooppressive energy, no strange shadows.Thegem now looked like just another of the rubies, sparkling and innocent.
Avlynstared. “Howis this possible?”Theylooked at me with that raw adoration in their eyes, andIhad to look away.
Abraxasplaced his arm on my back again, “You’vechanged everything,Tori.”
Chapter59
Tori
Timesped by as we prepared for our assault onHadeon.Wespent days pouring over maps ofHadeon’scastle thatAbraxas’ spies had brought in, figuring out how we would reach and destroy his enchantment.
Butas much asIwished to spend every minute on our plan, life continued on, and we royals had to make our appearances.
Midsummerapproached, and with it another celebration.Hadeonhad invited himself again, but this time,Ididn’t break down.Instead,Iknew this would be another opportunity to understand my enemy.
We’dreceived word he would arrive after the main celebration.Idecided this meant thatIcould enjoy myself before that, if only just a little bit.
Ciarahad been subdued, andIworried for her, but she gritted her teeth and got me ready with all the cheer she could muster.Iwore a fantastic deep green gown trimmed with golden leaves.Inoted how it matched the king’s eyes almost perfectly, andIfinally sawCiaracrack that wicked smile.
Thesummer solstice was celebrated in the fields outside the city, and much likeLupercalia, great bonfires had been lit.Thewarm evening air mixed with the soft embers and sent them skyward.Therolling green grass of the kingdom was at full strength and was welcoming beneath my feet.Icouldn’t help kicking off my shoes and running through it like a child, barely restraining myself from rolling myself down the nearest hill.
Thisfestival was much more casual, and citizens milled everywhere.Musicabounded, and already the party atmosphere was rampant.
Abraxasapproached my side, “Wewon’t have long out here tonight, andIneed to greet several people before we leave.”Heheld his hand out to me, but my eyes were caught on the dancing around the bonfires.Younggirls in white were everywhere, beautiful flower crowns in their hair, all holding hands and dancing a simple but beautiful dance around the fire.Adark thought struck me.
“Willyou play the role of the stag king tonight?”Ifelt his chest rumble with laughter as he placed an arm around my waist.
“Whata jealous thing you have become.Butno,Ihaven’t done that in centuries.Midsummeris for the young, not ancient things like us.”Hepointed across the field, whereIsaw a young human boy adorned in body paint and a huge headdress of antlers laced with flowers and greens.Hestood tall, butIcould feel him quaking from here.Icouldn’t help my sigh of relief.
Hepulled me closer, whispering in my ear, “Theonly sacrificeI’minterested in certainly isn’t some green maiden, butI’llbe sure to devour you just the same.”Ibumped my hip into him and shivered in delight.Butmy eyes were still on all those bodies dancing, the young people feeling that first experience of a hedonistic love that consumed everything.Idid feel quite removed from them.Howfast their lives were, and how very urgent everything felt.
