Page 53 of A Kingdom of Magic and Rain

Still with his back to us, Tom lowered his head slightly, bringing his right hand up in front of him as if looking down at something.

Adrian tensed next to me, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. His unease became palpable, which only increased my brewing anxiety.

“What is it?” I asked, searching his face. His striking features turned unreadable before I could glean anything from them.

“Nothing. I’ll be right back,” he said in a clipped tone. “Thea, stay with Emelin.”

My brows knitted in confusion as I watched him set off toward Tom.

“Actually, Thea, can you give the three of us a few minutes alone?” my father said.

Only then did I realize that Sebastian had stopped transferring his magic into the wards. His arms were lowered, and he looked a little pale, rubbing his left wrist with his other hand. My father was asking Thea to leave because it was my turn to transfer my powers. My pulse quickened as nervousness surged.

You can do this. I silently gave myself words of encouragement, lifting my chilled hands to my face. I breathed on them to warm them up while I waited for Thea to walk away. To my surprise, she stood unmoving as if she hadn’t heard my father’s request.

“Thea?” I asked, stepping closer to her. She didn’t respond, her wide-eyed gaze darting between me and the woods. “Are you all right?” I tried again as I peered into her pale face, forcing her gaze to stay on me instead of bouncing back and forth. She did focus on me but didn’t respond, her mouth set in a taut line.

Scowling, I shifted my attention to Adrian and Tom standing in the distance. Their heads bowed together as the adviser whispered something urgently into the lord’s ear. I made out the word “now” on Tom’s lips a second before Adrian’s gaze shot to me. The shadows in his eyes instantly deepened, spilling onto his face, which became leached of all color. My heart plummeted like a stone as the world around me stilled. A faint hiss whispered through the air a moment before the arrow struck its target. The earth shifted beneath my feet when I heard my father’s strangled cry.

“We’re under attack!” someone yelled as the world sped up again, erupting into chaos.

My eyes were still on Adrian as he roared, “Get her out of here!” a second before Thea grabbed my hand, and everything went dark.

Darkness surrounded me for only a heartbeat before colors returned, bright and overwhelming. Disoriented, I sucked in air and braced my hand on a nearby wall. Wall?

I slowly looked around, my eyes narrowed to slits until they had adjusted to the yellow glow of the nearby lamp. A moment ago, I had stood outside in the Enwyld Forest, but now I was in someone’s bedroom.

“Are you all right?” Thea asked, snapping my attention to her. She stood nearby, wringing her hands and avoiding my gaze. “Glimmering for the first time can be unpleasant.”

“Glimmering?” I managed to ask.

“Yes, glimmering,” she said quietly as she met my gaze. Her eyes were apologetic. Shadows lurked in them, painfully similar to those I had seen in Adrian’s eyes.

Though the term ‘glimmering’ was unfamiliar to me, I quickly figured out its meaning. One moment, I had been in the woods, and the next, I was somewhere else entirely. All in the blink of an eye. Gripping the wall for support, I swayed on my feet, instantly lightheaded. Dread pooled and settled as a heavy weight in the pit of my stomach.

“Emelin…” Thea whispered, her eyes glistening as if she were on the verge of tears.

I should be the one crying. “What is the meaning of this?”

“We’re in Aubrielle. I’m… Let me show you.”

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, transforming right before my eyes. Everything about her appearance became sharper and more vivid. The red of her hair intensified, and the green of her eyes turned even more vibrant. My heart stuttered when I noticed the delicate arches of her ears peeking through her hair.

“You’re a faerie.” Fearing that my legs would give out, I closed my eyes and sagged against the wall.

“I am. I’ve dropped my glamor.”

Glamor? All those times I had noticed a faint shimmering effect around her hadn’t been a trick of the light.

“Who else?” I asked in a resigned voice as I opened my eyes.

“Tom,” she answered hesitantly.

I hesitated, too, reluctant to confirm what I already knew deep down in my heart.

“Adrian?” I whispered.

Silence stretched as Thea lowered her gaze to the ground. I stopped breathing as I waited for her answer. Everything that mattered to me hinged on one simple word. Yes or no. Had the past few weeks of my life been a lie? Was the man who had been healing my broken heart not a man at all but a creature I had grown up fearing?