33
Keltania
Kopic left a message for me that the council and other Fae leaders are meeting this morning to discuss everyone’s magic progression. I’m a little early, but that’s how I like it. Being the first to arrive allows me to survey the room—just in case.
Suria is sitting in the far corner, reading a book. There are two Winter Guards on the other side of the room, watching her like a hawk. She gives them a withering glare before smiling at me. “Morning! Are you here for my training?”
“Sadly, no. I’m here for a meeting.”
She closes her book and sticks her tongue out at the closest guard. He’s moved a few inches nearer. “Oh. Well, do you mind if I stay?”
What harm could it do? Suria already knows what’s going on, and we’re really only gathering to discuss everyone’s progress. “Um, I suppose it would be okay.”
Kopic walks in with Celpin and Guria. Wren and Suveo are right on their heels, with Gensted bringing up the rear.
“Where is everyone?” Suveo demands.
“It’s still early,” Kopic says. “I just spoke with Delkin. He’s on his way.”
Over the next few minutes, the rest of the council members arrive, Valen coming in last.
“The vines around the estate are getting thicker,” Valen says. “Aphelian’s beasts have been gathering on our borders. Magic or not, we’re almost out of time. How is everyone doing with their control?”
“What about the druids?” Wren glances from Valen to me. “You still have the power Servis stole, correct?”
“We won’t take their magic again,” Valen snaps. “That’s what started all this mess to begin with.”
Her mouth falls open, but she recovers quickly. “No. Of course not. I only meant that maybe Tania could use it. Release the magic so that it gets back to her people. Maybe—maybe they would help?”
“Too risky,” I say. “If I uncork the tear and return the magic, then Aphelian will be at full power.” The thought of that terrifies me. She’s so much stronger than the rest of us now. How bad would things get if she were to receive more of a boost?
“But what if you drank it?” Suria clasps her hands in front of her. She hesitates like she’s waiting for someone to scold her for speaking out, but no one does, so she continues. “You could take all the power into yourself, then, when the battle is over, give it back to your people.”
Drink it myself? I never considered that. I haven’t broken the tear because I don’t want Aphelian to grow stronger, but Suria has a point. If I drank it myself…
Zana studies her, then nods slowly. “While there’s no way to know for sure, that’s probably accurate.”
“And Aphelian?” Celpin asks. He eyes Suria with caution but also with awe.
Zana shrugs. “If Tania takes it in, then the magic is contained within her until she channels it back into the tear… No other druid will be able to access it.”
“That’s an immense amount of magic,” Valen says. “How do we know it’s safe?”
“It is druid magic. And Tania is a druid…” Zana says. Though she doesn’t seem one hundred percent sure, either. “There are obviously risks.”
That much power in one individual has the potential to do real damage… I shouldn’t even consider it unless we know it’s safe. But the advantage it could give us is monumental. Too significant to dismiss…
If it’s our only option, it might be worth the risk—no matter what the consequences are.
“The tear is volatile,” Valen grinds out. “This isn’t an option we can afford to entertain.”
Delkin rests a hand on his shoulder. A look passes between the two, and Valen deflates some.
“Personally, I think it’s a fine idea.” Suveo smiles. “Send one animal off to deal with the other. If they wipe each other out, then problem solved.”
Wren sighs. “Suveo, you’re not helping.”
“I’m capable of fighting.” He looks Wren and Gensted up and down, then scowls. “You two, on the other hand…”
Gensted advances on the Summer Lord. “I wonder how helpful you’ll be in a fight as a lump of charred flesh.”
Suveo draws himself up and puffs out his chest. “Are you threatening me?”
Gensted holds out his palm. A small flame bursts to life. “If you have to ask, then I’m not doing it right.”
“Your people live in mud huts. I’d wager you don’t do much right,” the Summer monarch says with a laugh.
Delkin gets between them, bracing a hand on either of their shoulders. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. Might I suggest everyone go to a separate corner of the estate and just work on their control.”
Everyone filters from the room except Delkin, Valen, and me. Suria stays, too, and I consider making her leave, but she’s the one who made the suggestion. I sigh and sag back against the wall. “That went well.”
“Forget Aphelian,” Valen says. “They’re going to kill each other long before she ever gets the chance.”
“Some bumps are to be expected.” Delkin clasps his hands behind his back and starts to pace. “It’s been a very long time since we all worked together. If it had gone smoothly, I would have been concerned.”
Valen snorts but says nothing.
“Let’s stay focused.” Delkin fixes his gaze on me. “What Suria suggested…”
“I was just trying to be helpful,” she says. Her posture is defensive, and she thrusts her chin out. “It’s more than the rest of them did.”
“And we appreciate that,” Delkin replies. “But I have to ask—what made you suggest that?”
Suria fixes him with an irritated glare. “Are you kidding? I’m a kid. Shouldn’t you be asking why you didn’t think of it first?”
Delkin’s eyes widen, and his mouth hangs open. After a moment, he chuckles. “I suppose she makes a point. Though I’m not convinced it’s the safest option.”
“Safe or not,” I say, “if it gives us an edge, then we should consider it.”
Valen shakes his head. “I don’t like it.”
I understand his hesitance. I feel the same. But at this point, it’s too dangerous not to take it under consideration. “It could give us the edge we need.”
Valen folds his arms and falls back against the wall. With a twist of his lips, he says, “There’s a ‘but’ in there…”
“It’s been dormant for centuries,” Delkin replies for me. “There’s no telling how the magic will react when it’s finally freed again.” He stops pacing and sinks into the nearest chair. “Druid magic is a different animal than Fae. Sadly, other than Aphelian, there’s no one alive who’s wielded that kind of power.”
“Then that’s our answer.” Valen pushes off the wall and claps his hands together, then gestures toward the door. “Decision made.”
“Except it’s not your decision to make,” Delkin says softly. He turns to me with a sympathetic gleam in his eyes. “This is Tania’s choice and hers alone. The greatest risk falls on her shoulders.”
“Bullshit. It falls on my shoulders, too. If it did anything to hurt you—”
Relax, Valen. Right now, it’s an option we’re entertaining. Nothing more.
He holds my gaze a few moments longer before turning toward Suria. “I believe Suria and I have a bit of training to do.”
Delkin nods and slips from the room in silence, while I linger, catching Valen’s gaze. Neither of us says a word, but there’s a heaviness in the link. A foreboding. I have a horrible feeling that the tear is going to be our last—our only—option. And I’m terrified of what it will do.
To him.
To us.
To me…