“Yes,” I replied happily. “The Rune Master in Vespera was able to negate the magic and flow of it completely before opening them. She gave me this rune here”—I pointed to the waning rune on the crook of my elbow that was already starting to fade—“to help with the flow of my magic until I can master control of it.”
“And have you? Mastered it?”
I shook my head. “No, but I am working on it! I started classes at the Academy, much to Alois’ annoyance,”—Torin’s face darkened at his name, and I heard the faint boom of thunder in the distance—“but he can fuck off for all I care.”
Torin’s laugh was surprised and loud at my declaration. His fingers skimmed over my wrists to rest on my ring finger again.
“You don’t wear your wedding ring.” Not a question, just an observation.
“No,” I replied with a shrug. “I’m quite tired of being beholden to other people who don’t care enough about me to ask my feelings and opinions. Besides, he only plays the role of husband when it benefits him. I wear it if I’m called to his office or if we have some public outing, but those are few and far between.”
Torin hummed softly. “I’d like to put my ring there, one day. It should’ve been my ring, anyway.”
I smiled softly at the wistfulness in his voice before kissing him once, twice, three times.
“One day,” I agreed, and his smile was small but sunny.
“Tell me about this Rune Master,” he switched topics as he adjusted his body into a more comfortable position.
“Her name is Faylinn—but everyone calls her Fay. She’s . . . brilliant,” I said in awe. “She knows more about Blood Magic and runes than anyone alive, I would bet. She’s so intelligent and fierce, yet kind and thoughtful too. I’m grateful to have her as a friend.”
“Sounds like someone you need in your corner,” Torin admitted, and I nodded.
I felt a twinge in my sternum, a yank back toward my corporeal form, and I sighed.
“I suppose this is it for a while again.” Already my mood was spiraling, the brief reprieve and happiness I felt evaporating as the reality of our situation took hold again.
Torin and I stood as the sky darkened once more, the thunder rumbling closer than before as the magic danced in agitation.
“I’ll see you so soon, Ell. We’re making plans to move, but we have to be careful about it. Rumor has it that the gods are moving in the south, leaving a line of refugees and destruction in their wake. Try and convince . . . your husband to allow the refugees inside Vespera. It will be easier for me to sneak in that way.”
I nodded my head, the heavy feeling of his hands in mine lightening with every second.
“Not much longer, sweetheart. Stay strong, learn to control your magic. We’ll be together soon.”
His words faded as our souls fled the Dreamscape, back to our bodies and the realities that awaited us.
Chapter 40
Ellowyn
“Focus! Feel how your soul is connected to your magic! Pull from that spot within, feel it run through your veins. Become one with your power,” Mage d’Talionis’ voice rang through the training yard as he instructed our small groups of cadets on using our magic. None of the cadets had Vessels yet, so they all used crystals.
Except for me.
Not only was I the odd one with a nearly endless well of power resting inside me like a writhing, chaotic mass of energy waiting to be unleashed, but I was also the only Destruction Mage in the group, the only Creation Mage as well.
As such, I was given my own area in the training yard to practice. We were cordoned off based on our affinity; it was safer for cadets that way and allowed those of the same affinity to learn from each other.
Nearly half of the class was either an Air or Fire Mage, with four other cadets classified as Water or Earth Mages.
There was a lone Pleasure Mage and, whenever she released her magic, I could nearly taste it in the air, my power reserves pulsating in delight in time with her power. Because there wasno one else like me, Lex was unsure if this was normal or something that only happened to me. Ever since my question, he and his Vessels had watched me closer, constantly inspecting my every move.
It was unnerving, to say the least.
I closed my eyes and held my hands loosely at my sides as I relished in the ability to feel my magic again. The runes Fay inscribed on my skin were fading rapidly, and I was growing concerned that I hadn’t yet found a way to control my magic. I was nervous that, once the rune faded completely, my magic would start jumping from my hands on its own without my direction.
That’s why it was imperative that I learned to control it.
