The water continued to rush down over us, and I was still reeling. I traced the freckles on Emma’s back, and she shivered under my touch.
“Looks like you ruined my shirt,” Emma said as she looked at the heap of white fabric, which was lying in two pieces on the shower floor.
“I’ll have to tell the servants to order a dozen more. I like those,” I said.
“They certainly catch your attention,” she said fairly. I poked her stomach, emitting from her a giggle.
We dressed— Emma, properly this time— as the servants were planning on bringing us dinner soon… although I was sure if we were to be left undisturbed, we would’ve spent the remainder of the night wearing nothing at all.
Dinner was fantastic, an assortment of wild game with asparagus and puff pastry. Emma and I were planning to spend the rest of our evening wrapped in each other’s arms, before there was a knock on our door.
I was in half a mind to order whoever it was away, until I opened the door and saw Lady Magdalina. She was standing in the hallway, appearing standoffish.
It was an odd look for her. She always radiated confidence wherever she went. She almost looked sheepish now, and it was strange.
“May I come in?” she asked. I stepped aside to offer her room, and she entered. She took a seat in an armchair across from Emma, who was lounging on the couch.
Lady Magdalina crossed her ankles and said, “I must apologize for the way I behaved during your training session the other day, Emmaline. I am pushing you too hard, and there is no excuse for my uncanny behavior.”
“I understand,” Emma said. “You’re only trying to make sure I’m the best sorceress I can be.”
Magdalina frowned. “Well, yes. It is of critical importance that your magic be performed to the best of your ability, for Malovia’s sake. But sometimes, I forget that you are still a child— in my eyes, at least. You are so young, and the world already expects so much of you. I have no doubt you will master your magic when you are ready. And I shouldn’t pressure you to be more than you should be before your time.”
“I accept your apology. It’s honorable you’re asking for my forgiveness. Such a great sorceress like you shouldn’t say sorry to anyone,” Emma said.
“None of us are above forgiveness, Emmaline. Not even me,” she responded.
Magdalina waved her hand, and a teapot with a few china cups appeared on the table before her. “Tea, anyone?”
Both of us shook our heads, and Magdalina poured herself a cup, sipping at it gracefully. “I am very sorry to hear about the attack on your mother’s restaurant. Such dreadful news.”
I took a seat next to Emma. “It was definitely unexpected,” I growled. “I still feel much rage at my mother, for causing all this.”
“Queen Antonia was never the type to let things go, even when she was young,” Magdalina replied. “She could hold a grudge longer than even the gods could.”
“You knew Queen Antonia when she was our age?” Emma asked.
“I did, though Antonia and I never got along,” Lady Magdalina said. “I am quite a bit older than her, though it turned out we had the same goals in life, and that often got in the way of us becoming friends. We have a… sort of rivalry, if you could call it so.”
“Why?” Emma asked. “Why is there so much bad blood between you?”
Magdalina gave a thin-lipped smile. “Because I had what she could never possess. A true mate.”
Emma gaped. I swallowed down my surprise and said, “My mother never bonded?”
I knew she was not mated to my father, but yet, I’d always assumed someone had come before him, and it hadn’t worked out— a rejected mate situation, or something similar. For a fae not to find a mate at all was extremely uncommon.
“No. I don’t believe Antonia ever found her true mate. Your father was not her mate, and she only accepted Lycus’ proposal once Evonna, Emma’s mother, had rejected him for Anatazy Ignacy,” Lady Magdalina explained. “But before then, she had her eye on another man— my own.”
“Really?” Emma’s face lightened with surprise.
“Yes. Antonia never wished to find her own shifter, only desired to steal someone else’s. She never wanted any man who was interested in her, only those that were out of her reach,” Magdalina replied. “Antonia was born as a noble, but she was not on the Circle— that position became available only when my mate, Lord Magdalina, rose to the title, and was single at the time. He was looking for a Marked to stand beside him on the council, and Antonia wanted that power.”
“But he chose you,” Emma stated.
“Indeed,” Magdalina replied. “We met, and fell in love. Antonia did her best to woo him, but my husband only had eyes for me, and we married a short time later. I was instated on the council as Lady Bianka, as is my first name and tradition for ladies, and we helped govern Malovia together. I have to say, Antonia was very jealous.”
“But why?” Emma’s eyebrows raised. “She became queen, which is a much better title, and more power.”
