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“Who?”
“The story of Saint Onassis—the Extractor. So much time has passed that no one knows for sure if it’s true, but a statue of the man was erected in the city of Sterling in Dawn and Dusk. A tribute for giving his life when he used his power to such an extent, he perished from it.”
“He died?” I ask, my voice tinged with disbelief. “Fae can’t die from overuse of power. They’ll just pass out before that happens.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not the case for Extractors. If their system is stressed too much…” He shrugs.
That’s news to me, but I shouldn’t be surprised by it. Extractors are invasive, constantly taking what doesn’t belong to them. I suppose there must be a limit, and the consequence is death.
After scribbling some notes in the margin, Yorenzo gives me his attention. “Please continue your story.”
Next, I go over my first experience with Glow after our reemergence—though, I’m vague about this part, and I simply call it an ‘amplifier.’ I leave out the bit about the princess who tricked me, and I don’t explain how the substance is made. I simply say it’s a concoction only myself and Hannah know how to produce, and that’s how I’m breaking such impossible barriers.
Envy gazes at me with open admiration as I regale him with the tale of my first accidental time travel.
A king has looked at me that way before. Like I hold more magic than anyone who’s ever existed. Like he wants to keep me as his own personal pet.
“The flask,” he murmurs. “The water is, in fact, enchanted.”
“Not enchanted,” I contradict. “It’s more scientific than anything.”
Zetipher butts in with a triumphant, “Aha! That’s what you were doing in the barn. Your Majesty, we might not even need this man. IfIcan consume this substance—”
“Don’t even think about borrowing my power with the amplifier,” I warn him. “It doesn’t work that way. Merina tried it.”
The man sniffs. “Well, maybe I’m more powerful than her.”
“If that’s true, then you’d probably end up killing half the men in this room unintentionally when your ability goes berserk. After what Yorenzo has told me about Extractors, you might even end up dead yourself. In fact, it’s a probability.”
Zetipher looks adequately chastised and frightened, as he should be.
“This drink…” Envy’s features are alight with curiosity. “Does it enhanceanypower?”
Of course he’d think to use it for himself. Everyone would. That’s the danger of Glow.
“It’s a hazard, no matter who uses it.”
Envy motions at me. “Back to your tale. Finish it.”
Getting to the part that really matters, I talk about the bargain with Hannah’s great grandfather, and how it reactivated once I was no longer trapped in the Lost Land. How Hannah died in my arms. How I realized she was my soul mate and decided to escape Vaeront for good.
By the time I’m done telling everyone how I went back in time to save Hannah, she’s swaying on her feet from exhaustion.
Tightening my arm around her waist, I keep her from falling over. “My mate is unwell again. I thought bringing her to the past would be enough to dodge the consequences of the bargain, but I was wrong.”
“The sickness follows her?” Envy dramatically leans away in his chair, his spine flattened against the back of his throne as he wears an expression of disgust.
“No, it followsme,” I clarify.
“Perhaps she’s fading so quickly because you’ve been drinking her blood. Or because she’s been taking yours.”
I’m taken aback once again. Because it’s been days since we fed, and the marks faded. Even before Envy healed us, they were barely noticeable.
“Did you sense the wounds when you fixed our injuries?” I ask, wondering just how powerful his healing ability is.
“No.”
“Then how do you know we’ve been exchanging?”
