I look up. “There are others?”
“A few, but they’re not as simple. The more advanced techniques tend to last longer, but they can also pose more of a risk to the Blessed using them.”
“What kind of risk?” This comes from Gabriel.
“The quicker we use our magic, the higher the likelihood that we drain our reserves.” Jasper looks to me. “Remember the well we talked about?”
I nod, instinctively reaching within myself for that place where my magic resides. Bright blue magic, like a cloudless sky, is sitting there. Waiting for me.
“We can empty it, right?” I ask.
The gods gave each of us a finite amount of magic—their way of encouraging the Blessed to work with and rely on one another. At least, that’s how Soren explained it last week.
Sparks flit around Jasper’s fingers. “If we use too much too fast, yes. We can all run dry except for...”
“The gods-damned king,” Gabriel says, his fingers curling around my knee.
My spine stiffens at his treasonous words, and I glance over my shoulder, confirming we’re alone before relaxing. Honestly, I don’t think anyone here cares for the king, but we can never be too careful.
“That’s right.” Jasper leans against a tree, his arms crossed as a frown tugs on his features. “He’s stolen so much power, his well must be bottomless.”
Yet another reason to hate the man trying to kill me. As if I needed one.
Sighing, I swap out Jasper’s coin for the one I set aside earlier, placing it in the center of my palm.
“Okay. I can do this,” I mutter, encouraging myself while trying to forget about the king. This conversation has been an unwelcome reminder that while I am still learning the basics of this magic, there is a tyrannical man intent on killing me and siphoning my power.
There will be a time to be afraid of the king and his endless magic, but this isn’t it. I won’t let my fear stop me from learning this. King Andreas has already taken so much, but this magic ismine.
My blessing from the gods, if the rebels are to be believed. My birthright. My power.
Focusing on the coin, I twist the fingers of my left hand while I draw some magic from my well. It’s not long before a small blue flame rests in my palm.That, at least, is easy enough. To prove my control, I extinguish the fire, take a breath, then reignite it.
The flame dances in my palm, blown by the breeze, and a small smile pulls on my lips. Suns, I’ve come a long fucking way from the woman I was at the beginning of the winter.
Maybe... maybe I’m not as dangerous, now. Maybe, now that I’ve learned more control, I might be able to see my sisters again.
Hope sparks within me at the thought, and I exhale a long breath, my focus never wavering. I’d love to see my sisters again more than anything, but for that to happen, I need to be able to keep them safe and have full control over my magic.
Holding the flame in one hand and the coin in the other, I follow Jasper’s example and bring them together slowly. The fire is warm but not hot as it licks the bottom of the coin.
“There you go.” Jasper is crouched across from me, staring intently at my fingers. “Concentrate on your intentions and focus on moving the flame into the coin.”
Gabriel’s thumb sweeps across my knee, his touch grounding. “You can do this, Birdie.”
His belief strengthens me in a way that I never thought another person could, and I fill my lungs, sending my magic healing thoughts as I urge it to do as I’m asking.
I concentrate as hard as I can. Harder than I ever did at school, or when Amelia and I were learning about what it meant to be Given (even though that was all a lie). Harder than when I had to memorize the Giving Agreement, the legislation that governs the Marked Ones in Myreth. Harder than I’ve ever concentrated on anything in my life.
I focus so hard everything else fades away. The forest, the wind, the birdsong, Jasper. Even Gabriel becomes nothing more than a grounding force, his touch reminding me of his presence.
There’s me, the token, and my magic. My Mark heats up, but for once, I welcome the slight burn. It’s a sign that things are working. My fingers tingle, and the blue flame sways closer to the coin.
Please work, I beg the magic.Ineedthis.
There are so many things in this world that are out of my control, but this is something that I should be capable of doing.
It feels like an eternity passes before there’s movement. At first, it’s so small I nearly miss it. The top of the flame licks the coin, and then it disappears.
