“Can you remove it? Take it away?”
“I have not been able to do so, but I believe the Aetheric practitioner fractured the magic the night he took you.”
“It felt like that,” I confirmed. “And when I opened the doorway for you the first time, you, what, smoothed the edges of that fracture?”
“Essentially, yes. It is not whole, but the pieces remain.”
The ember must have been the root of my Aetheric power, and the pain the lingering remnant of the seal.
“I can see Anima and the Aetheric, open a doorway into the Aetheric. Travel there and serve as a conduit to siphon Aether back to the realm.” I paused. “When we went to Vhrania, when the prince was in danger, I called your name and you appeared. You said you’d been checking on me, but you were still looking for the practitioner and the Aetheric god. You also appeared in the market.”
“It is a gift of Luminae to communicate with and summon Anima. You were terrified, you called, and I appeared.”
I didn’t like that. “I’m sorry. That’s a violation of your freedom. I’m sorry,” I said again, because I didn’t know what else to say.
“You did not compel me,” she said with a small smile. “You may one day be able to, but not yet. You…requested I appear, and I appeared when I was able to do so.”
“Then, thank you.”
If she was bothered by the possibility, she didn’t look it. “The value of a Luminae is not in her power, but her empathy, her understanding of when to employ her skills.”
I knew she meant to comfort me, and I nodded.
I walked to the window, where there was nothing butdarkness now. Darkness and stars and the torches lit along the path outside. “What will happen when the seal is gone?”
“You will have greater access to the Aetheric and the powers of Luminae. You’ll have to learn to wield it, to use those powers. And you’ll be in greater danger.”
Not just me, but everyone who could be used against me.
“When the seal is fully removed, will my memories return?” I raised a fist to my temple. “Are they in here? Locked away?”
“I don’t know. Our intentions were good,” she added.
I could see the guilt in her eyes. “I know.”
She jerked back her hand, and her eyes suddenly widened. “I am sorry. But I must go.”
“Practitioner?”
“God,” she said, and looked at me. “Things will move quickly now. Stay wary, Fox.”
And she disappeared.
Leaving the palace, going to the market, coming back to the palace, talking to Luna. None of it had brought me the peace of mind I’d wanted. Peace of mind I needed now more than ever.
So I cleaned up, changed into untorn clothing, and left my room. I checked on Wren and found her asleep, Galen keeping watch in the corner, and then I made my way to the prince’s rooms.
Every time I tried to get away from him—to stay away from him—I kept returning. He had become a touchstone. A necessity. And that was terrifying.
I walked down the corridor, rounded a corner, and nearly ran into him. He hadn’t changed from the clothes he wore in themarket, now roughed up from the fight. His hair was loose around his face, and he looked tired. But he seemed to brighten when he saw me. “Where are you going, Little Fox?”
“To your rooms.”
“Are you, now?” His voice was soft, alluring.
“I wanted to ask how things were in the market. The others who were possessed.”
“All alive, and Wren’s balm has been distributed. We’ve paid the apothecary to make more, and soldiers are helping tend to the wounded.”
