Page 25 of Sun, Moon & Shadow

“You did well today. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” He nudged her with his elbow, and she bit back a smile.

A heavy sigh escaped her. “I’m just frustrated. Fawn refuses to help me develop my abilities. She says I need to learn about my magic before I can attempt wielding it. I should be able to harness the sun’s light.”

“And heal,” he added.

“Do you know of anyone willing to maim themselves so I might practice?” she asked. “I confess, I sometimes find myself wanting to stab Evander.”

Callan laughed, deep and loud, the sound ringing out across the field.

“Our abilities are second nature to us because we were born with them. We’ve had centuries of practice. Have some faith in yourself.” He rose up beside her. “Here, let’s give it a try now.”

Callan extended a sturdy hand, and she accepted it, allowing him to pull her up from the ground. He stood at her back, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders.

“Close your eyes,” he instructed.

Nova twisted her head to look back at him and rolled her eyes before she obliged.

“Now, breathe deeply and clear your mind.”

Nova played along, filling her lungs completely before emptying them. She envisioned her thoughts being swept away, like dry leaves, with the rush of air.

Callan spoke from behind her, his voice low at her ear.

“Try calling the sun to mind—its light and warmth. Feel the sensation in your body.”

A faint warmth came over her, though she suspected that had something to do with the closeness of their bodies. Chasing such thoughts from her mind, Nova allowed her consciousness to wander to her childhood days spent in the Wood, stretched out atop a bed of soft moss in patches of dappled sunlight. She imagined the summer sun sinking into her skin. Seeping into her bones. As she pictured it, she felt the unmistakable sensation of heat gathering in her chest and slowly spreading down her arms, as if the sun had emerged from behind thick clouds.

“You’re glowing, Nova.”

She lifted her hands before her face. A faint golden light flickered weakly in her palms. Eyes wide with surprise, she turned to Callan. The glow winked out in an instant, doused by her broken concentration.

“Gods be damned,” she muttered, throwing her hands down at her sides. She thought she heard a laugh and shot a glance at Callan, arching an eyebrow at him. He managed to keep his grin from his face, but she could still see it shining in his eyes. She huffed in frustration, but her anger softened a bit.

An instant later, an icy breeze swirled around her, whipping at the damp linen of her shirt. Snowflakes drifted down lazily from the sky, and she tilted her head back to find a tiny snowstorm hovering just above her head. Fluffy flakes landed on her eyelashes and melted on her upturned cheeks. She spun to face Callan, who tipped his head in a bow.

“You may feel a bit unwell later. Tired,” he cautioned. “Wielding magic takes from you; the more you use, the more it takes. With training, you’ll be able to strengthen your abilities and learn to channel them, otherwise you risk draining yourself entirely.”

“That sounds ominous.”

Callan’s expression turned serious. “It is. There’s a reason Fawn insisted on training you. Without proper instruction, your magic could bleed you of every drop of your essence, leaving nothing but a husk behind.”

Nova felt her face pale, if it was even possible. Perhaps it would be wise to stick to weapons training and leave the magic wielding to those with centuries of experience.

“We’d better make our way inside,” Callan said as he gathered up his weapons. They walked back to the residential wing together, snowflakes from Callan’s conjured flurry cascading down on them the entire way.

The sprawling halls of the Estate were silent as Nova padded along the plush runners leading to the library. The flame of her candle cast wobbly shadows on the walls.

Nearly a fortnight had passed since her arrival in Pyralis, and, in that time, she’d barely had a waking moment to herself. Though she was grateful for the constant company, which distracted her from her thoughts, she couldn’t deny that part of her longed for solitude, the quiet nights she used to spend doing as she pleased.

Nova reached the library without encountering another soul. Twisting the smooth copper knob, she shouldered the heavy door, wincing as a creak cut through the quiet. She stood motionless for the span of a few quick breaths before slipping inside. Surely no one would object to her wandering the halls after dark, but her heart thudded away in her chest just the same.

A low fire crackled pleasantly in the fireplace; it was as if the room itself had been expecting her. Nova’s thoughts turned briefly to Agnes. What had her friend made of the note she’d left behind? Had she believed the story about Nova visiting distant relations? What would Agnes think when she received no further communication from her? Never saw her again?

Nova sorted through the stacks of thick books piled on Fawn’s desk, finally unearthing a text on Silvergard. Cradling the heavy volume under one arm, she settled into the armchair before the fire, hooking her legs over the side. The book was a relic. The cover of stretched black leather was cracked and weathered, its intricate silver foil accents flaking off. Flimsy pages threatened to tear between her fingertips as she carefully thumbed through them.

The first chapter contained general information about the Lunar Court. The Fae of Silvergard were nocturnal. The territory’s primary export was something called moonstone. Interesting, to be sure, but not what she was searching for. She’d already learned that the nobility could read minds to varying degrees, with some members of the Noble bloodline capable of influencing the thoughts and actions of others.

The next several chapters detailed the Noble lineage of the territory going back nearly two thousand years. Nova flipped gingerly through the delicate pages, as fragile as moths’ wings, until she found the section on Onyx of Silvergard. Famous for his cruelty, Onyx abused his ability to enter the minds of others in order to control any who would oppose him.