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The prince’s eyes darkened, those sapphire blue irises like a raging storm. “They don’t know yet, Ilara. I was waiting to tell them. If this field also shows signs of life, then I’ll reveal what we’re trying to the council. Until then, I don’t want anyone’s eyes on you.”
An ominous shiver ran through me, and not for the first time, I thought about what had occurred within the castle’s walls—the fae who’d gone missing. The ones who’d disappeared without a trace. They’d all been actively involved in the diminishingorem, either talking about it or trying to raise the alarm. None of them had ever been found.
And now I had dove headfirst into that very problem, a problem that had put targets on the missing fae’s backs.
* * *
“Up you go, now!”Matron Olsander said shrewdly as I balked at returning to the balance beam. It stood nearly twenty feet in the air, yet from the floor, it looked like an imposing cliff.
I swallowed the hesitation in my throat yet still didn’t move.
“None of this dilly dallying. Your first test will be upon us before you know it.” My tutor swatted my rump, getting a yelp out of me.
I rubbed my backside and glared at her, but she merely shooed me forward, so I reluctantly began to climb the ladder.
“You can do it, Lara!” Meegana called, an encouraging smile on her face as she watched from below.
I gave her a small nod. Cailis had confirmed following the first Trial dinner that Meegana always spoke truthfully when she addressed me. Beatrice usually did too. Because of the trust I was developing in them, both of them were becoming my friends despite the Trial requiring us to compete with one another.
As for Michas and Nuwin, Michas was surprisingly honest when he spoke, most of the time, but Cailis said at times he’d bleed gray, which was her affinity’s way of telling her he wasn’t outright lying, but he was skirting the truth.
And Nuwin... I nearly snorted thinking of him. He was a true trickster, oftentimes pulsing in lilac waves, indicating he was fabricating stories to elicit a response from those around him. I hadn’t been astonished in the least to learn that.
Not surprisingly, Georgyanna lied regularly, but her manipulation affinity was strong enough that even Cailis had a hard time seeing which colors she bled whenever she spoke, so Cailis and I had decided that it was best I avoid the female as much as possible.
And as for the crown prince, she hadn’t been able to get any reading on him at all. His affinities were too strong, his Shield like a stone wall. She wasn’t strong enough to see past it, and since the prince never released his Shield, not even for a second, it meant Cailis would never be able to see if he was truthful or lying.
I gripped the ladder tightly as I began to ascend while that thought struck me again. Shaking it off, I tried to concentrate on what Matron Olsander wanted me to do.
Some of the males watching me crossed their arms, arrogant smirks on their faces, while Beatrice plucked her hands on her hips, seemingly content to observe. Of course, everyone was in the training room again today, other than the two princes—both of whom were apparently attending a council meeting that was an all-day event.
I climbed higher, and a shrill laugh came from Georgyanna. Her aura heightened. A wash of it prickled my skin. It felt slimy, reminding me of oil, but instead of coating my insides, it slid off of me when I tethered my magic around me and practiced my Shield.
Thankfully, my magic was strong enough that I was able to thwart Georgyanna’s attempts at control, but the male standing next to Georgyanna must not have been as strong as her, or his Shield was down, because a cruel smile twisted his lips when her affinity hit him.
Georgyanna nudged his side. “She looks so terrified. Don’t you think?”
The male stepped closer to her, his lips twisting more. “Indeed, she’ll probably fall. I don’t even know why she’s in this Trial. She doesn’t even have wings.”
Georgyanna shrugged, the portrait of innocence despite the fact that the male she’d just manipulated had never been cruel to me before.
I continued climbing, and my heartbeat picked up as Georgyanna leaned over and whispered something into Meegana’s ear. Meegana frowned and pulled away. Georgyanna rolled her eyes, then let out an irritated huff.
That at least got a smug smile from me. Georgyanna’s manipulation affinity had yet to sway my friend.
My hands grew slick as I neared the top, and I stopped once to wipe them on my leggings.
“Don’t fall, Ilara!” Georgyanna called. “You wouldn’t want an injury during the Trial. Who knows, they could decide to disqualify you. We would hate for that to happen.” Her words, dripped with honey, and had almost sounded sincere, but I knew better.
The urge to flick my pinky at her grew, but I knew that would only prove that she was getting under my skin, so I tamped it down.
Ignore her, Ilara. Just keep going. So what if your magic is a hundred times less practiced than theirs? It doesn’t mean you’re weak. You’re not weak anymore.
I gritted my teeth as my hands reached the last rung of the ladder. Carefully, I hoisted myself up and stepped onto the beam. Nothing but air surrounded me. Clear, crystal, barely perceptible air. Right. That was the purpose of these exercises, since it forced me to call upon my air elemental affinity and learn to control it.
“Close your eyes!” Matron Olsander barked from below. I did as she said, just as a plume of magic crackled around my skin. “I’m activating the tests. Call forth your air affinity to protect you. Remember, feel for the cushion of magic in your gut, the lightest one.” Her affinity probed within me, guiding me toward that sensation. “Thisis your air affinity.”
I nodded and her affinity withdrew.
