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Collin looked away. “I’m exhausted and sick, but I can’t seem to find a way to sleep,” he whispered just as Rheih scurried through the door, muttering angrily under her breath.
Rheih started throwing ingredients into a bowl. She shook her head when she spotted me. “I’ll never finish that elixir you need if I’m constantly interrupted.”
I froze. “You can make it then?”
The Mage gave a gruff nod. “Give me a few days. But it seems I’ve succeeded where the healers have not. Again.”
She shooed me out of the room to examine Collin. My throat ached, as if my body knew that my excuse for dousing my sorrows in wine was almost over. I swallowed, knowing that I would have to fall asleep sober to test Rheih’s newest concoction.
I closed my eyes, hoping her confidence was earned. I did not want to face Damien again.
Riven’s hand stiffened on my shoulder as he watched the flame flicker gently in a steady wind. After three hours of practice, I could finally feel the tug of my magic inside me tightening as I used it. My gusts felt nothing like my healing gift—that was a warmth that flowed like honey out of me when I needed it—instead the wind whipped inside my chest, gaining speed until I gave it some direction.
It was like climbing on the back of a wild stallion. My power was nowhere near tamed, but I understood it in a way I hadn’t before and felt like it understood me too.
Lash waved his hand over the flame and it split into three singular tendrils, one blue, one crimson, and one the color of sunset. He stood in front of me as tall as a mountain. “Blow out the center.”
I focused on that whirlwind inside my chest and aimed it at the crimson flame. It flickered wildly for a moment before going completely flat.
Lash nodded. “Blue.”
I directed the wind to the left and flattened that one too. Lash waved his hand once more and the two flames returned. He called them out in series, replenishing them each time I smothered the fire with my gust.
Before long, sweat had pooled along my brow, dripping down my face. Riven paced behind me, and Gerarda had gotten up from the hammock to watch.
“All three,” Lash commanded.
I looked up at him and fought the urge to puke. I took a deep breath and tried to spread out the gust of wind so it flattened each flame at once. They only flickered.
“She’s on the cusp of burnout.” Riven stepped forward, staring at Feron to intervene.
But the Fae only raised his hand. “Rheih gave her the same elixirs you take. She has only exhausted their limits, but nowhere near the limits of her gifts.” Feron’s eyes were wide with wonder as he watched me. Some long-forgotten part of me thrilled at the sight of his amazement. Suddenly, I was an initiate again wanting nothing more than to please whoever trained me.
I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes until the tightness in my chest bordered on suffocating. Then I released my power at the flames. They went out immediately and the wind was strong enough to blow back Feron’s twists and Lash’s long cloak.
I collapsed backward. Gerarda reached out and grabbed my shoulder as Riven’s shadows supported my back.
Lash murmured something to Feron in Elvish, but my heart was pounding too loudly inside my skull for me to hear. Riven glancedbetween them with a furrowed brow. Gerarda’s eyes narrowed before looking down at me.
“Good progress.” She patted my shoulder like I was one of her initiates.
I rolled my eyes. “Mocking is beneath you.”
“It is.” Gerarda’s lips twitched to the side. “That’s how you know I meant it.”
I tilted my head up at her. “You’re being very kind, Gerarda.”
She didn’t even flinch at the full use of her name. She only smiled wider. “If you had a looking glass, you would know why I couldn’t be rude to you in such a state.”
Riven made a guttural sound that reverberated from his chest.
Gerarda’s lip curled back in disgust. “Did you justgrowl?”
I coughed to hide my laugh. “Riven’s on edge.” I reached out and grabbed his hand. Instantly the warmth of our bond settled between us and Riven relaxed beside me.
“Riventh, can you assist Lash in the kitchens?” Feron smiled at his nephew.
Gerarda crossed her arms and shot him a victorious look.
