AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Memories came back in an unwelcome, violent rush. “Her name was Ember. She was my friend and Solok used her against me.”
“I’m sorry.” Lucius’s voice softened as he rocked back so quickly on his stool I thought he’d snap off the legs. “The Axe was cruel like that. He’s been a monster as long as he’s been alive.”
“A dead monster, now,” I reminded him, because Solok’s death was the only silver lining to this entire situation.
“Good.”
His voice came out low and deadly, then Lucius was lost in his memories and I in mine until the silence stretched out long enough to become uncomfortable.
“When you shift into another form…how does that work?” I finally asked. I found his magic intriguing, changing from one form to another, simply through magic. Not like mine at all, and yet, I couldn’t help but wonder if, at its root, all magic was the same.
“Like I said before, the ability comes from here.” He patted his chest. “The magic lives in your veins, in your bones, but the shift comes from a place of love. Your heart determines the strength of your magic. A corrupt heart yields corrupt magic, a pure heart creates untainted magic.”
“I would agree with that.” I’d seen too many evil, vile people use magic, and far too few decent ones. “Does shifting hurt?”
I mean, how couldn’t it?
Bones and skin and muscle rearranging themselves into a new form. Ithadto hurt.
“Shouldn’t you be asking your husband these questions?” His face scrunched with hesitation. “Tav might be better suited for this conversation than an old man who clearly can’t use his own power anymore.”
“I’m asking you. Maybe your answer will give me some clue of what I’m supposed to do with mine.” I cleared my throat. “And Tavion’s not really my husband—our union is just for show.”
“I’m not sure my son knows that, but I will take your word for it.” His smile warmed his entire face. “Sometimes, if you shift too fast, there is pain. The first few times are excruciating, and many don’t turn out correctly, like this.” Lucius spread his arms wide, giving me a good look at what might go wrong. “But the transition is usually painless and as easy as breathing.”
“So you think you can only shift to your wolf form but not the other way?”
“It’s easier shifting from Fae to wolf because the change is…less demanding. Deep down, we yearn to be in our animal form because we crave the freedom the wolf offers us. We need to run the forest, to hunt, to not know collar or leash.”
His gaze turned distant as if he had gone somewhere else entirely. “The wolf fights the change back to mortal form because it’s far easier to be a wolf than a Fae.” His mouth widened and I realized he was trying to smile.
“My wolf thinks the Fae have too many responsibilities and he might be right.” Lucius shrugged. “Hence my current situation.”
“I agree with your wolf. What I wouldn’t give to just disappear into the mountains and leave this mess with the kings behind.”
“You are already in the mountains.” He opened his mouth to say something else then went perfectly still. “Tavion’s almost back. Dane’s with him. They’ll be here momentarily.”
He leaned in and my heart clenched at his intense expression. “My son is…” His blue eyes bore into mine so deep, I couldn’t have turned away if I’d wanted to.
“There are things about Tavion you need to know, but I also know my son well enough to know he’s not told you any of his secrets. He’d fear…you’d think him weak. Tavion’s upbringing…wasn’t like Julian’s. There are good reasons for Tavion’s hard edges and his wary nature.”
I shook my head. I did not want to learn anything about Tavion that might soften my heart like it had already softened for this lonely old male. I couldn’t start down that dangerous path because I knew what lay at the end.
Ruination. Heartache. Sorrow.
“I don’t want to know Tavion’s secrets. I’m nothing but a means to an end for him, and as far as I’m concerned…” I clamped my mouth closed at the scuffling sounds echoing from the foyer. I lowered my voice.
“Tavion held Julian’s death against me for a long time, and because of that, we’ve both said and done things to each other that cannot be forgiven. The sooner we part ways, the better.”
Which might never happen given how connected we were by this awful magic.
“My son has a habit of burning every bridge he’s ever crossed.” Lucius’s voice was quiet. “You’d think he would have learned, but it’s his nature, I suppose, to…”
The air in the kitchen changed. Lucius’s face flattened out to an impenetrable mask, the light dimming in his eyes. “Tavion.” He heaved himself off the stool, held out his hand. “It’s good to see you, son.”
There was nothing but stunned silence behind me, then I turned to see Tavion’s utter shock at his father’s appearance, Lucius’s shame as he dropped his eyes…but not his hand. Lucius kept holding it out, a trembling offer of welcome…and maybe something more.
Tavion’s white hair was tangled and there was a bright red slash of blood on his cheek. His normally immaculate clothes were in disarray as if he’d tossed them on as he walked—his feet were bare and muddy.
