My aunt twisted her hands together. “Do you know what to do, Prim?”
“Legends of Our Realmsays that all I need to do is grasp the Stone, close my eyes, and clearly state my wish. It also says if one’s wish is to affect another fairy, it’s best to be in close proximity to them, lest the Stone’s magic misinterpret the wish.”
“In that case, be clear in what you wish for.” Aunt Gwen’s voice took on a ring of authority, making me smile in her direction. It was such a typical response from her.
“I won’t make a mistake. Trust me.” I took a deep breath and cupped my hands firmly around the Wishing Stone. It warmed, as though sensing that I was about to exact its magic.
I took another deep breath and closed my eyes. Focusing all of my energy on what I needed to do, I said in a clear voice, “I wish for the sick male before me, Timith Hollaran of Mistvale Kingdom, to be completely cured of the affliction that is turning him into the creature he’s becoming, and for him to be rendered whole and healthy once more and to be returned to the exact male that he was before he became ill. That is my wish.”
The instant I finished uttering the last word, a clap of astronomical magic barreled through the room. My eyes flashed wide open. Air roared around me, winds appearing out of nowhere as the Stoneexplodedin my hands into a million glittering stars.
It nearly knocked me off my feet, but I managed to stay upright. However, my hair flew back as though a giant gust of wind had been released through the window. Light bathed thechambers as if the sun had been lit from my palm, and thick potent magic encased my uncle, bathing him in fiery power.
Outside, a flash of momentary light appeared from around the curtain, and fae screamed. I knew the entire pale-green sky had just exploded in a cacophony of power.
But the clap of the Stone’s might was over as quickly as it’d begun, and I held my breath, my hands empty since the million glittering stars that the Stone had exploded into coated my uncle, falling over him like a blanket of starlight. Beautiful and colorful rays of light encased his entire form, and before my eyes, Timith began to transform.
His pale skin disappeared. A healthy, glowing complexion emerged, that of a middle-aged fairy. The razor-sharp fangs that had been poking out from between his lips retracted, changing shape until they resembled normal fae teeth of the size and color they’d once been.
I inhaled a rush of air, my chest tightening as momentous hope began to barrel through me.
The stagnant, cloying scent of death and sickness that had clung to Timith evaporated until nothing but the fresh smell of bathed skin and a hint of my uncle’s favorite aftershave wafted around him.
Tears sprang into my eyes, and my aunt emitted a cry of joy.
The entire transformation back to the male my uncle had once been was done in less than a minute.
Just as fast, the air cleared, the starlight disappearing.
And in my next blink, my uncle opened his eyes, a dazed expression on his face.
A sob of relief shook my chest. My sobs increased, and my aunt raced to my side, her arms wrapping around me.
We jumped and danced, cried and held one another as Uncle Timith peered around, eyebrows rising in confusion when hetook in the two huge warriors in his midst, while my aunt and I wept in joy.
A familiar laugh rumbled in my uncle’s chest. Grinning, he asked us in a cheeky tone, “And what in the realm is going on here?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
My aunt and I rushed to Timith’s side, falling atop him in a flurry of skirts.
“My love, my love!” Gwenery’s grin was so wide it spanned continents. “You’re okay. You’re alive. You’reyouagain.”
“Oh, Uncle Timith.” I tried to stop my tears, but they streamed down my cheeks nonstop. “You’re healthy again. You’re finally healed!”
Timith chuckled, and his usual joyful sound filled the chambers, but despite his jovial response, he kept tilting his head, and a look of bewilderment covered his face, as if mystified by our sobbing. But it didn’t stop his booming laugh.
“Well, well, this is quite the wakeup call.” He patted both of our backs, right over my gown’s satiny material.
He felt warm and familiar. Safe. Whole.Happy.
I clung to him. Tears leaked in rivers from the corners of my eyes, and I was such a mess, but I couldn’t help myself, and I never wanted to let him go.
“Why are you girls acting as though you’ve never seen me before? And, Prim, my goodness, what a lovely gown! I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you in this one. Are you off to a ball I didn’t know about?”
“No, no ball, Uncle Timith.” I sniffled. Emotion still completely choked me, and I couldn’t explain further.
He laughed again and pushed himself up, gathering us in his arms as he moved to the bedside. My aunt and I didn’t say anything further, and we just continued clinging to him. Such intense feelings clogged my throat, so much so that it was an effort to breathe, but eventually, I swallowed my emotions down enough to pull back.
