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“Yes.”
I chewed on my lower lip. “What if the fae refuse?”
“They want Regner dead as much as we do. Without you, they wouldn’t have that amulet back.”
No, Lorian had relied on my ignorance for that. Bitterness was a taste I was beginning to become accustomed to.
“How does the amulet work?”
She shrugged. “That’s a question for the prince.”
I shook my head at the idea that he would tell me anything.
We ate in silence for a few minutes, until I forced myself to push thoughts of Lorian out of my head.
“I spoke to Margie when I first got to Lesdryn. She said the gods wanted to know which kingdom would survive a war. That’s why they started all of this.”
My aunt nodded. “They gave each ruler an artifact.”
Margie’s voice echoed in my head.
“Faric, god of knowledge, gave an artifact to the humans. Tronin, god of strength, gave the fae three artifacts. And Bretis, god of protection, had become reluctantly intrigued by the hybrid kingdom to the west. The people who had somehow thrived—even after separating from the fae. Bretis donated something that held such power, Tronin and Faric immediately grew jealous.”
“Nelayra?”
I met my aunt’s eyes. She was looking at me with that expectant yet patient look she wore so well. I glanced away. “Only one human kingdom was chosen. Why?”
She shrugged. “In the eyes of the gods, it’s likely they’re all considered one people.”
I frowned at that, storing the information away to consider later. “What were the fae given?”
Telean smiled, and I rolled my eyes at myself. “Amulets,” I muttered. “They were given the amulets, which is why Lorian didn’t kill the king. He needs the other two.”
“Yes.”
“And the hybrids?”
“Our gift was given by Bretis, the god of protection. At least, according to myth.”
“What was it?”
“An hourglass.”
“To represent our time magic.” My heart tripped in my chest at the thought.
She nodded. “And to make it easier for your ancestors to wield that power to keep their kingdom safe. Using your power won’t always be as difficult as it is now. Once you find that hourglass, you’ll be a true force on the battlefield.” My aunt’s eyes lit with a dark fire.
Using my power had always drained me. Sometimes, it took such a toll that my nose bled until I became dizzy. If the hourglass could help, maybe I really could help the hybrids survive. “How does it work?”
“It allows you to stretch time for longer. Allows your power to drain more naturally, instead of its being pulled from the depths of your being. The other powers are only legend—and apparently dependent on the ruler themselves.”
My mind threw me back to Demos, bleeding out on the ground, and a chill rippled through me. I’d come so, so close to losing him. “Would the hourglass allow me to turn back time?”
Telean’s face drained of color. “Listen to me carefully, Nelayra. You must never attempt such a thing. It would kill you. The world must be balanced.”
I opened my mouth, and she held up one hand. “If you somehow lived through it, the fates would demand an equal sacrifice. The kind of sacrifice that would haunt you.”
Telean was still watching me, her eyes narrowed, so I nodded. If the fates truly played with us in such a way, they’d already taken far too much interest in me. I had no desire to draw more of their attention.
