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“No.” The deep lines around the guard’s mouth and eyes mirrored Alexei’s worry. “I don’t like it, boss.”
“Neither do I.” Gods-damned magic and its unpredictability—especially if this veil had really been tied to an ancient being. Who knew what old magics steeped in rites and worship could do?
Joelle didn’t seem to have the same concerns. “Here goes nothing.”
Alexei braced for the supernatural train wreck bound to happen.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
The veil sang a sweet lullaby of sleepy dreams to sink into and waking dawns to come. Joelle caught each note of the wordless song so clearly, calling her to invoke magic she’d never had. How could the others not hear it?
“So pretty,” she said. “Not nearly as dour and gothic as I had imagined. Can you feel it pulsing with energy?” She stroked a fingertip over the cloth, and a ripple of magic shone with a kaleidoscope of colors, its brilliance throwing shadows over the room. It painted Alexei’s skin in a warm wash of watercolor shades, and her powers lit to twinkle like the star-filled heavens. Wonder breathed through her as real as a living being that had been dormant for so long. “Is this what you meant by blinding?” she asked Alys, not managing to keep the disbelief out of her voice. The shimmering colors, sound, and feelof the veilwent beyond marvelous.
“Uh, no. The damn thing blasted white light like the sun. I’m still seeing haloes when I blink. It must like you better.”
“Or she hasn’t attacked it,” Alexei said. “Who knows what it’ll do if she tries to cut it?”
Magic pulsed warm and friendly beneath her fingertips as Joelle picked up the soft fabric. In her head, the veil talked to her, sayingI have more to give. She pushed aside the insanity of the situation. “It will share what we need.”
“How do you know?” her mate asked.
“Because it told me.”
“I don’t like this.” He didn’t seem to question that she claimed to hear inanimate objects. No, he sounded worried about her—her overprotective prince.
“I have to try,” she reasoned with him.
“You don’t.” But he didn’t say anything about the rest. How she wouldn’t know where she came from unless she took risks. How she believed Noxx’s impossible claim about her creation. How she had found nothing before about any family existing other than her adopted brother. How she had dangerous magic they couldn’t explain and she couldn’t control.
“But I will.” Because she needed to know. “Roman?”
“Yes, Highness?” The guard focused on her with fierce intensity.
“If things go sideways or if my magic feels…weird, please intervene as long as it doesn’t hurt you.” She emphasized the last.
He grinned a self-assured smile. “Bring it, Highness.”
“Don’t,” Alexei told him. “My mate’s not to be underestimated. The Order made that mistake. We all did.”
Roman’s expression flickered from brave to dubious. “You’re a healer, right?” he asked her. At least he hadn’t cut her out of the conversation and gone straight to her mate for an answer.
“Among other things.” She couldn’t let him jeopardize his safety without telling him the truth of what he might be facing. While losing the respect of her newfound family would hurt, she wouldn’t put herself before their well-being. “I’m learning I can destroy as well as I can put people back together.” She waited for him to judge her.
“Excellent, Highness.” His tone was steeped in respect, not uneasiness. “You honor us with your magic.”
She had no idea how she was supposed to react to that and glanced at her mate for an explanation.
Alexei smoothed a hand over her hair, sweeping a heavy lock over her shoulder. “I can level cities. Alys inflicts pain on our enemies. We don’t judge you for having combat-worthy talents even if I won’t let you go into battle.”
She and her mate would need to talk about himlettingher do anything, but not now, not with others listening. “All right. Let me ask what the veil will allow.” She wrapped the material around her fingers, letting the magic play over her skin. She felt silly talking to it aloud, but having a private conversation seemed rude with so many waiting for answers. “We need a small piece, an offering.” That word sounded right when rolling off her tongue. “So Alys can see if you and I come from the same place, if we belong together.”
Yes, the veil called in a voice only she could hear.
“What?” Alexei asked, his tone as sharp as his hidden horns.
“It feels right,” she explained. “The veil agrees. If we came from one source, we should stay together. Although I’m not sure how we would explain that to the book’s owner—”
Alys interrupted. “You own the book and the veil now. Or the torn piece you’re holding anyway.” Her words came out in a sly voice.
