Page 24 of Fate of the Sun King

“Ready?” Nadir shouts from across the distance, pulling me from my thoughts.

I nod, though I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be ready for.

Nadir raises his arms and sends two bolts of light streaming towards us—one at me and one at Tristan.

Tristan reacts instantly, a tendril of green light erupting from his fingers, slamming into Nadir’s magic. I witness all of this from the corner of my eye as I focus on the streak of purple barreling down on me.

I grit my teeth, willing something to happen with my magic, but nothing comes. I duck at the last moment just as Nadir’s light bends around me and harmlessly dissipates in the air.

“Fuck,” I curse under my breath.

Nadir doesn’t miss a beat, sending more streaks of magic careening towards us. Tristan deflects as much as he can, focusing mostly on his forest magic, with flashes of shadowy green, leaping out of the way with each occasional miss. He’s broken a sweat, his dark fringe of hair sticking to his temples, his breath coming in heavy gasps.

I’m amazed at his progress. It’s obvious he’s a natural at this. Clearly, that gift doesn’t run in the family.

Nadir continues trying to provoke my magic into action, firing bolt after bolt towards me, wrapping around my torso, even going as far as singeing my clothing, but nothing I do makes a difference. My magic reacts to his in the same way it always does, fighting like a caged serpent trying to spring loose but ultimately failing to break out and act. I’m about as useful as a warning trapped inside an unbreakable bottle.

“Stop!” I finally yell, frustrated and angry that I can’t seem to make myself function the way I need. “This isn’t working.”

Nadir drops his arms and jogs back towards us, stopping in front of me.

“It’s no use,” I say. “I know you won’t really hurt me.”

Those last words sit between us as Nadir’s jaw tics. I know it’s true. It’s something I’ve understood for a while. That no matter what happens, he wouldn’t ever willingly hurt me.

He doesn’t argue, instead running a frustrated hand through his hair.

“He would hurt me, though,” Tristan says, and Nadir’s expression morphs from serious to gleeful.

“I’m not opposed to making you bleed a little,” he says.

“I’d like to see you try,” Tristan counters. “I had no trouble resisting you there.”

Nadir barks out a derisive laugh.

“If you think that’s all I could do, then you have much to learn about magic, little Faeling.”

“Who are you calling Faeling?” Tristan demands.

“Stop,” I say again, my hands rising between them. “That’s enough from both of you.”

I point to Nadir. “You are not using my brother as a battering ram. We need to think of something else. Something that actually makes it feel like my life is in danger.”

We all fall silent for a moment, lost in our thoughts.

“No,” Nadir says eventually. “Not your life, maybe. How about mine? It worked last time.”

He moves back a few paces, his steps light and loose, and I can tell from the gleam in his eyes that he’s planning something I won’t like.

“What are you doing?” I demand as he tosses me a wicked smile and then turns and runs away.

“Nadir!” I call after him. “Get back here! I order you!”

He flips around, jogging backward and spreading his arms wide.

“I don’t take orders from you, In—Lor!”

Then he turns around and continues running. I’m thankful he can’t see my face at that moment. He was about to call me “Inmate” before he corrected himself.