Page 37 of A Kingdom of Magic and Rain

“I wasn’t,” Sebastian chimed in. “I had urged Father to tell you the truth. I knew that you would step up.”

I gave him an appreciative smile—he always had more faith in me than I did in myself.

“How is your training going? Have you made any progress?” my mother asked.

“It has taken all that time, but just this morning, I was able to awaken my powers!” I said excitedly.

“That’s excellent news!” my brother exclaimed.

My mother clapped her hands in celebration before she winked at me. “I bet you have enjoyed training with Lord Gray.”

I ignored her comment. “How are things at the capital?”

“Same old.” She waved her hand. “Christian was asking about you.” Christian York was the youngest son of the lord of the Rhoarvin region and a friend who had always wanted to be more. “He’s looking forward to seeing you at the Solstice Ball in two weeks, but I think he’s going to have competition,” she uttered the last part in a sing-song manner.

“I don’t know what you mean.” I feigned ignorance, even though the blush suffusing my cheeks gave me away.

“I noticed how Lord Gray was looking at you.” She gave me a knowing smile.

When Sebastian chuckled next to me, I playfully swatted him on the arm. “And what about you? What’s going on with you and Miri?”

His eyes widened as his cheeks turned red. “We’re talking about you, not me! What’s going on with you and the lord?”

“Nothing!” I exclaimed, throwing my hands in the air.

“Truly?” He narrowed his emerald-green eyes at me, fighting a smile.

“Truly. I don’t know if I’m ready for anything new,” I confessed, sheepishly looking between him and my mother.

Sebastian’s expression turned serious as he said, “I know you got hurt, but you shouldn’t give up on love.”

“When did you become such a hopeless romantic?” I teased with a smile.

He smiled back. “When I started dating Miri.”

“I knew it!” I exclaimed, and Sebastian burst into boisterous laughter.

When we arrived at the Enwyld Forest, everyone climbed out of the carriages and strolled to the border. My mother focused on Adrian and Tom, leading them away from where my father, Sebastian, and I huddled together near the tree line.

“What is she doing?” I asked, watching the queen in conversation with the two men as they walked away from us.

“Distracting them,” my father explained before he faced the forest and closed his eyes. I felt a pang of guilt. My mother was providing a distraction because the faltering wards were a secret. Except Adrian already knew the truth. “I don’t understand,” my father said. His fair brows knitted in confusion. “The barrier is still growing weaker. I had hoped that with Luna transferring her magic, we would be able to slow the deterioration or even reverse it. But it hasn’t helped. It is as if something is working against us.”

“Or someone,” I said low as trepidation curled down my spine. “What if the Fae can sense the wards failing and are actively trying to bring them down from their side?”

Heavy silence settled over our small group as the three of us peered into the woods.

“Father said there was a ‘sighting’ here a week ago, but that was only one Fae. Wouldn’t we be seeing more of them if that were the case?” Sebastian said from where he stood on the king’s right side.

“Not if they can mask their presence somehow,” I mused. “Their magic is believed to be stronger than ours. They might be hiding in plain sight.”

“What a chilling thought,” Sebastian replied. “Are you saying that the Fae could be watching us this very moment from the other side of the border?”

“We really don’t know what’s on the other side.”

“Yes, we do—our enemy,” my father spoke up in a gravely voice. “The Fae are vicious and cunning, and if they are able to come over, they will bring nothing but pain and suffering like they did one hundred years ago.” His expression was grim as he turned to me. “Emelin, it has become too dangerous for you to stay here. You should return to the capital with us.”

“What?! No!” I exclaimed. “Father, I’ve been able to unlock my magic. I want to stay so I can learn to control it.”