“Then I suppose we best prepare for war.”
“Seriously? That's the best you got?”
“What do you suggest, soldier?”
“Hm, I dunno maybe?—”
I sighed loudly at their bickering, interrupting them.
“Something wrong, Miss Willawood?” King Hawthorne diverted his eyes to me.
I covered my mouth and yawned. “Nope, just waiting for you both to finish so I can go get lunch.” I smirked under my hand, knowing my comment would piss them both off.
He glowered at me, removing his attention from Sebastian and changing the subject. “How areyour wielding sessions going, Maeve?”
I shuffled in my seat. The king had never called me by my first name before. “They are going well, Your Majesty.”
“Are you sure? Because you look even weaker than when I saw you two weeks ago.” He squinted his eyes at me. “I can imagine it's difficult to harness effective magic when you look like you haven't even eaten lunch in days.”
Ouch.
“Not to mention how you embarrassed me at the trial. That was absolutelypitiful,” he spat.
I swallowed audibly and could feel Sebastian's eyes on me. “I am sure, sir. That was just an off day. I have become very successful with harnessing my magic.”
King Hawthorne looked down at his desk. “Good to hear, however…” The corner of his lip quirked up in a devious smile.
My heart pounded in my chest, anticipating what he was about to demand from me.
He pushed off from his desk, towering over where I sat. “While I have you here, I would love for you to show me an example of your power. Seeing as you seemed to have anoff dayat the trial.”
Yeah. Saw that one coming.
I shoved down the feeling of panic that began to overcome me. It would be fine. I'd just use a super basic command. He wouldn't know any different. He just wanted to make sure I could actually use my powers.
“Of course, Your Highness.”
The king gestured to Sebastian, who looked awfully pale all of a sudden. “Assist her please,” he demanded.
Sebastian and I rose to our feet, facing each other. There was something unspoken between us. I knew he was worried about me using my magic, but wouldn't say it in fear of what would happen if his father discovered how strenuous it was for me. We could have faked it, but the risk was not worth it. So we stared at each other, both on the same page about what we needed to do.
“Whenever you're ready,” the king said.
I adjusted my posture, racking my brain for a command that I knew wouldn't take too much out of me, but found it difficult to think of one. Training as much and as hard as I had been has made almost every compulsion draining.
Sebastian noted my apprehension. “Make me unsheathe my dagger,” he suggested.
I nodded. That was a good idea. Simple.
The king interfered before I could begin. “I was thinking something more like,” he tapped a finger on his chin, “commanding my son to utilize his magic to…hm…coat the floor of this room in a layer of ice.”
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Queasiness flooded my stomach, but I had no choice but to do as he said. Sebastian's skin turned even paler, and though I know he wanted to, he didn't argue with his father.
Please don’t pass out. Please don't puke. Please just keep it together until you're out of this room.
