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“You felt it like it was you?” I asked.
“No, and yes. It’s difficult to describe to a witch that isn’t of Coactus. A soul match that is fully bonded, it’s powerful natural magic. We know this. For our safety, we hold it in high regard. All forces have an equal opposite. The soul match bond is a great creative force, and its opposite must be as great a force. To interfere with a soul match bond is to court destruction, which would ultimately not benefit the coven. Every decision comes back to the benefit of the coven, even in the case of our only exception.”
“A soul match is only powerful once bonded?” I asked her curiously. It seemed Heidi knew more about soul matches than I did, and I wanted to learn more.
“Before a soul match is bonded, the energy is simply potential. It’s there to be used if desired.”
“What happens to that energy if a soul match bond isn’t formed?” What would happen if the Princess never formed a bond with me? “Does that magical energy dissipate?” Would I lose her forever eventually, even the potential of her?
“I don’t know, Percy,” she answered. “You seem very interested in soul matches.”
“Who isn’t?” I countered. She smiled at me softly.
“You were the type to daydream about a handsome soul match, weren’t you?” she teased, and I looked away, slightly embarrassed.
“Don’t all young girls dream of love?”
“No, I don’t think so,” she replied. “I didn’t,” she added.
“What did you dream of?” I questioned.
“Power, Percy,” she told me.
“Power?”
“For my coven, for myself. Some women don’t want a handsome prince. We don’t want to be trapped caring for a man that never learned to care for himself. We don’t want to be relegated to the forgotten parts of history. Some of us want power - power to decide our fate, power to control our environment, a name that history remembers,” she told me.
“I’ve never been interested in power,” I said. The thought of having so much control was unsettling, foreign, unnatural even.
Heidi laughed and looked me over curiously.
“How odd, or perhaps perfect, that one with no desire for power would find themselves in such a powerful position,” she said.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I told her.
“Surely you know you are the most powerful servant, probably in the whole kingdom?” I looked at her and considered if she was joking. I held no power. I didn’t feel powerful. “You are completely unaware, aren’t you?” she asked, sobering from her amusement.
I shrugged. “I think you’re wrong,” I told her.
“Why don’t you ask your mistress if there is a servant or common folk above you? Her favour has elevated you beyond your understanding. Do you think I would give my time to any other servant? I’m heir to my House and a powerful pureblood witch; I would not lower myself to the level of a servant by association. You, Percy, are a class of your own. Somewhere between servant and nobility,” she explained.
I was sure she was joking or very mistaken. I was the same as everyone else. If I had any benefit, it was the Princess’s protection, which would only last as long as she wanted me.
“Selene!” Heidi called loudly across the café. I turned to see the Princess kissing Lord Halvorsen’s cheek, her hand in his, and quickly averted my gaze. Heidi looked at me, a grin forming on her lips. “Oh, you certainly don’t like that, do you? Is someone jealous?” she asked.
“No,” I answered, but I couldn’t look at her, focusing on my half-eaten chicken.
“Must you be so brash?” The Princess asked Heidi when she reached us. I was still staring at my bowl.
“The café is crowded and we’re way in the back. I only wanted you to find us,” Heidi answered happily.
“Percy,” the Princess said my name instead of responding and I looked up to her. “Pet, are you okay?” she asked me.
“Yes, Ma’am.” I nodded.
“Don’t lie to your mistress. Percy is horribly upset at just the sight of you with Lord Oskar Halvorsen,” Heidi said, and I watched the Princess’s hard gaze land on Heidi. I would have been upset with Heidi for publicly mentioning my obvious upset, but the Princess’s apparent annoyance distracted me.
“If my pet wishes to express herself, she will do so directly. Do not speak on her behalf again,” the Princess warned.
