He continued watching me. “How do you classify your magic?”
Dangerous. Impossible. A galaxy of might.
I again avoided the urge to fidget. Mistvale fae had such a wide variety of mental magic, but the majority fell into several categories: creating illusions, getting glimpses into the future,causing hallucinations in others, moving objects telepathically, manipulating another’s emotions, projecting oneself psychically a small distance from one’s body, linking consciousnesses, and performing other mental tricks.
But none were like me.
I smiled blandly and lied through my teeth. “My tutors always said my mental magic was like a switch being shut on and off. I can activate or deactivate a fairy’s mind, which is why these two passed out.” I shrugged again, and it took everything in me to continue standing there acting like the portrait of innocence. “Overall, it’s not that impressive, but it’s obviously handy if someone’s attacking me.”
“You would have to get through their Shields, though, to do that.”
Shields don’t work on me.“Yes, true. Luckily, these two didn’t have strong Shields in place.”
“They felt fairly strong to me.”
I scrunched my nose up. “Did they?”
But he ignored that perplexed reply and said, “Is that all your magic can do?” He stared at me anew. All knowing. All seeing. As though heknewI was lying.
My eyes widened ever so slightly, but I quickly reminded myself there was no way Kole could know the full extent of what I was capable of. No possible way, so I smiled again. “Pretty much.”
“What about magic from other kingdoms. Do you possess any of those?”
Yes, I also have elemental and sensory magic, but I can’t shift. I don’t have magic from all four kingdoms.
“Just the one.” I smiled brightly. “What about you? Which kingdom are you from?” I had a fairly good idea that he was from Faewood, since he’d used air elemental magic on me back in Whiteolf, but I wasn’t certain.
A breeze rushed through the trees above, jostling branches and swaying vines, but instead of answering me, all Kole said was, “I see.”
A shiver rolled down my spine, and I wondered how much he truly didsee.
But even though my own curiosity was burning to have him answermyquestion, I took a step back and forced another guileless smile. “Anyway, if you’re not going to report me or arrest me, then I should probably get back to my camp.”
He watched me, his eyes once again hooded. “Are you going to fly your carpet illegally again in order to return to your camp?”
His question had my hand stopping mid-reach for the tree branch.
I dropped my arms to my sides. “Oh, um, no. No, of course not. But I do need to retrieve my carpet. It’s still, you know—” I waved upward and again resisted the urge to fidget.
“It’s all right.” He gestured to my carpet. “You may return to your carpet and camp, traveling back the way you came, but you’re only allowed that short journey.”
I swallowed. “Yes, sir.”
I wasn’t even sure what made me respond in such a formal way, but at least I managed to stop the salute I’d seen the kingsfae give to one another. I wasn’t sure what it was about this male, but Kole had a way about him. A way that demanded those around him submit, and damned if I could stop my ridiculous, if slightly cheeky, response.
But I’d gotten myself in enough trouble for one day. I didn’t need to press my luck further.
“Goodnight then!” Before Kole could change his mind, I jumped and grasped the tree’s branch, then scampered upward, thankful once again that I was wearing pants and not a heavy gown.
My braid swayed behind me, but my feet were quick and my movements sure. Ree and I had spent enough of our childhood climbing trees that it came back to me like second nature.
But even though I was in a hurry to flee, my magic still registered Kole’s presence. Even without meaning to, I caught how he watched me on my entire climb upward, and stranger still, that his attention followed me after I’d leaped onto my carpet and zoomed away as fast as I could.
And it was only when I was back at my camp, my map and seekerill safely stowed away, that I lay on my sleeping mat and gazed upward while realizing that I’d never asked him the question that was now burning inside me.
Just why was an Imperial Council Warrior in Whiteolf, and now in the Wood, all alone and far away from any fighting or true conflict in our realm?
CHAPTER SEVEN
