Page 3 of A Kingdom of Magic and Rain

“Only your mother and Sebastian. The royals alone can feel the barrier weakening, and we need to keep that knowledge to ourselves. We wouldn’t want panic to ensue in the kingdom.”

“I won’t say a word, but you should consider telling Aunt Lorraine. She and Luna may be able to help you.” Lorraine was my father’s sister, and Luna—her daughter. They both carried the potent magic of the Clairborne line in their veins.

“I don’t trust them to keep the information to themselves.” My father sighed. “But I think you’re right. I need to ask for help.”

“And you should let me train. If I can unlock my magic, I can help with agriculture and strengthening the wards. I want to do my part.”

Pride flickered across his face before he schooled his features. “I admire your devotion to the kingdom, but I don’t have time to train you, and Lady May is training your brother.”

Augusta May had been a trusted adviser to the royal family ever since my grandfather, King Silas. No one knew how old she was, but her magic was almost as strong as the magic of the royal bloodline, which earned her the moniker ‘the Sorceress’. I didn’t want to pull her away from training my brother because his training was more important than mine, but I still wanted to help, and to do that, I needed someone to show me the way. I sat silently for a few minutes as I considered my options. My brows lifted when a possible solution presented itself.

“What about the new lord? You said his magic is strong.” Hopeful, I looked at my father.

His face fell. “You want to train here? In Zalie?”

The feeling of trepidation intensified. I didn’t want to be this close to the Fae kingdom or to be separated from my family, but if it was my only option, I would do it. Besides, it would be nice to get a reprieve from the capital. I could use some time away to lick my wounds after my failed engagement.

My mind made up, I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin. “Yes. I want to stay and train with Lord Gray.”

My father looked uncertain. “I don’t yet know the new lord well. Not sure I can trust him with keeping you safe.” The words were only an excuse. He had appointed the lord, which meant he thought him worthy of the title.

“You’re an excellent judge of character,” I pointed out. “And if the lord is as gifted as you claim, which I’m sure he is, I should be safe by his side.”

He sighed heavily and tried a different approach. “I don’t like the idea of leaving you so close to the border. What if the wards fall, and I don’t get to you in time?”

His words should have made me quake with fear, but an inexplicable feeling filled my chest. It was as though I was supposed to stay here. My duty was calling, and I wanted to answer.

“If the wards fall, it won’t matter if you get to me in time. We will all be doomed.” Determination came over me. I will not let that happen.

“Very well,” he finally conceded as the carriage jolted to a stop.

I peered out the window. We had arrived at Bradford Manor.

Nervous energy invaded my body as one of the guards helped me exit the carriage. Smoothing out my long blue dress under my cloak, I took a breath and appraised the old stone mansion before me. My brows lifted as I took in the immaculate front lawn that looked bright green despite the recent cold snap. When my gaze swept over the well-maintained facade, I noticed a woman standing by the far-right corner of the house with her back to me. Her cherry red hair fell in soft waves past her shoulders, creating a striking contrast against her forest-green cloak. She stretched her arms forward, channeling her magic to revive the withered ivy vines on the wall.

I watched her work for a few minutes, marveling at the beauty of the process as the shriveled vines came back to life, one by one. She was healing nature with her magic. As a royal, I should have been able to master that skill early on. Why did I struggle with it? Whatever the reason for my magic’s resistance, I intended to find the root cause and overcome it. The fate of my kingdom depended on it.

When the last ivy vine became healthy and green, the woman turned away from the mansion and hurried over to where my father and I stood by the carriage.

“Your Majesty, what a nice surprise!” She bowed when she approached. “I’m Thea Dellari, Lord Gray’s assistant,” she said with a big smile that reached her sparkling jade-green eyes.

Never one to show much emotion, my father didn’t smile back, but his tone was warm as he greeted her. “Nice to meet you, Thea. This is my daughter, Princess Emelin.”

When Thea bowed, I inclined my head and gave her a small smile.

“It’s such a pleasure to meet you!” She beamed, her high-pitched voice ringing in the cool air. Her sunny disposition was like a bright spot in the cold, gray day around us, radiating warmth I doubted many were impervious to. “Please, come inside.” She gestured toward the ornate front door of the mansion.

After my father had ordered the guards to remain outside, clearly not anticipating a long visit, the three of us strolled down the walkway made of pewter and brown stones. When we reached the front door, an older gentleman opened it to let us in. He promptly stepped aside and bowed, the yellow light from the sconces by the entrance glancing off his gray hair. As he straightened, I noticed his short, meticulously trimmed beard and kind, yet sharp, gray eyes.

“This is Killian,” Thea introduced the man after we had walked in. “Our butler.”

My father nodded in greeting, and I inclined my head as well before taking a quick look around. The large foyer we stood in opened into a sitting room to my right and a formal parlor to my left. There was a set of double doors next to the parlor, and while they were presently closed, my guess was that they led into a study. Ahead of me stretched a grand staircase, its wide stone steps ascending to the second story. Elegant mahogany furniture filled the rooms decorated in neutral shades of gray. The color scheme was quite different from the emerald and gold palette of the royal palace, but I found I rather liked it. Still, this place was not my home. Was I truly prepared to stay here for the foreseeable future?

I must if I want to give my people a chance, I reminded myself, catching my reflection in the vintage mirror by the front door.

My heart-shaped face and full lips were like my mother’s, but my eyes, with a tilt at the outer corners, resembled the king’s. Except, his eyes were emerald green—a distinctive trait of the royal bloodline—while mine were golden like the precious metal mined in the Daralian Mountains. Even though my eyes didn’t give away my royal status, my hair that shone like spun sunlight erased any doubts that one might have. The smooth straight locks had been swept up and pinned in place away from my face for easier travel. A few wispy tendrils had escaped, and I quickly tucked them behind my ear before righting the dainty gold tiara sitting on top of my head.

The sound of a door opening snapped my attention away from the mirror as two men emerged from what I had assumed to be a study. They headed toward my father and me, their footsteps echoing in the spacious foyer.