Four
Warm sunlight caressed my cheeks, and a light breeze played in my unbound hair as I opened my eyes and met Gray’s piercing gaze. Tilting my head to the side, I studied his harsh features. He looked older, and his raven locks flowed past his broad shoulders.
“What does your magic feel like to you?” he asked.
My eyes flew open, and I bolted upright in the bed before looking frantically around.
It took a few seconds for my vision to adjust to the dark, but once it had, I realized with a sinking heart that I was still at Bradford Manor.
I hadn’t imagined it all. The wards were weakening, and the magic was fading from my land.
I was here because I hoped to change that, to help save my kingdom.
I sank back into the pillows as anxiety surfaced and swelled.
A niggling sensation stirred that I was running out of time.
I couldn’t wait to start my training with Gray.
Then, I remembered that I had told everyone about my failed engagement at dinner last night.
My face suffused with heat, and I dragged my hands over it in embarrassment.
Though I hadn’t disclosed why I had called it off, I knew the reason. My heart turned over in my chest.
Gideon was my first and only love, and his betrayal had cut deep.
There was no use denying it or continuing to cry over it.
I had already let myself mourn the relationship that had consumed my every thought for the past two years.
I couldn’t believe I had devoted all that time to the man who, in the end, didn’t deserve a single second, but that mistake couldn’t be undone.
At least we hadn’t gotten married. My father had insisted that we wait until my twentieth birthday, which was considered the age of maturity.
His decision to postpone the wedding had upset me initially, but after what had been revealed, I recognized it as a blessing.
I had turned twenty last month, and the wedding had been planned to take place a few weeks from now.
After I had discovered Gideon in bed with my best friend, my father had given me a choice.
I could have still married Gideon. As the oldest son of the Lord of the Kelceran region, he was a worthy match for a princess.
I could have settled for a marriage of convenience if I hadn’t aspired to marry for love like my parents.
Their union based on mutual love and respect had shaped what I expected from a marriage.
Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic, but I wouldn’t have been able to go through with marrying Gideon after what he had done.
He had broken my heart, and some days, it seemed as though the fissure would never close, but I still held out hope.
I had to trust that I had made the right decision by calling off the engagement, and that time would heal the wounds Gideon’s betrayal had inflicted.
In the meantime, I needed to throw myself into training to make it easier to ignore the constant, dull ache in my chest.
With a rough exhale, I threw the covers off me and left the bed.
I quickly got ready for the day, donning a simple green dress I had brought with me from the palace.
Standing before the vanity mirror, I dragged the brush through my hair before pinning the top half up and leaving the bottom half to fall past my shoulders.
My gaze darted to the gold tiara next to my journal on the vanity.
The bejeweled headpiece glinted in the first rays of sunlight seeping through the gap in the closed curtains.
I considered wearing it but decided against it.
Everyone at the manor knew who I was. I didn’t need a tiara to remind them of my status.
Especially if I wanted them to feel more at ease around me.
With that in mind, I stepped into the low leather boots I had worn yesterday and left the room.
Cast in shadows, the house was quiet when I walked into the hallway.
The black and brass sconces lining the wall illuminated my path as I made my way downstairs.
Descending the last stone step, I paused and listened.
All that greeted me was silence. Bradford Manor was drastically different from the royal palace, which always hummed with the activity of servants moving about, carrying out various tasks.
I didn’t mind the quiet, though, finding the silence peaceful.
The enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee beckoned me to the kitchen, and I walked in that direction, momentarily lost in thought.
How was my father’s journey back home going?
How would my mother and my brother react when they learned that I had decided to stay behind in Zalie to attempt to harness my powers?
“I will not let you down,” I murmured. I wasn’t sure if I was talking to my family or the people of Emeraldia.
Trepidation filled my chest every time I thought about the barrier failing, and the weight of the situation sat heavily on my shoulders.
I couldn’t even imagine how much toll the issue was taking on my father and Sebastian.
“Good morning, Your Highness,” Killian greeted me, pulling me out of my thoughts when I entered the kitchen.
“Good morning,” I said as he bowed before me.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, please. Black, with a splash of milk.”
While he worked on my drink, I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth to ward off the chill that hung in the air.
“My apologies, Your Highness, I have yet to light the fireplace,” Killian said, handing me a steaming cup.
“It’s all right. I know I’m up early,” I told him as I accepted the drink.
Cradling the coffee mug in my hands, I thanked the butler and left the kitchen before heading to the library.
The corners of my mouth lifted when I walked in and inhaled the smell of books that had always brought me comfort.
Introverted by nature, I had spent most of my childhood tucked away in the quiet nooks of the palace with books as my companions.
As with the rest of the house, the library was dimly lit, but the early morning light drifting through the windows banished most of the shadows, allowing me to see fairly well. I strolled to the bookshelf and perused the titles until I came across one that caught my interest.
Snagging the blue tome titled ‘The War of Two Worlds’ off the shelf, I turned to leave but halted on my way out when my gaze landed on the oversized sofa by the unlit fireplace.
It looked welcoming and cozy, with a thick gray blanket draped over the back.
I thought about sinking into the cushions with my coffee and the book but decided to venture outside instead.
Since our magic was rooted in our connection to nature, I needed to spend as much time as possible outdoors to strengthen that bond.
Tucking the book under my arm, I grabbed the blanket off the sofa and strolled to the dining room.
The rising sun painted the rapidly lightening sky in pastel hues of purple and pink when I approached the glass doors leading onto the patio.
A small smile graced my lips at the picturesque sight as I draped the blanket over the crook of my arm and reached for the brass handle to step outside.
The temperature wasn’t as cold as yesterday, but the scent of rain permeated the air.
My smile fell. When the rain finally arrived, would it be the freezing, miserable kind that pelted down on plants and chilled to the bone?
Shuddering at the thought, I settled into the wicker sofa that creaked softly under my weight.
I wrapped the blanket around my shoulders and took a sip of my coffee, feeling the warm liquid thawing my insides on the way down.
After setting the coffee cup on the low wicker table before me, I sat unmoving for a few minutes, once again fascinated by the lush gardens that surrounded me.
It was astonishing what Gray had been able to achieve with his magic despite the changing weather.
The gardens hadn’t simply survived; they were thriving.
Seeing the proof of the lord’s magical prowess right before my eyes filled my chest with hope that, under his tutelage, I would be able to harness my powers and do so quickly.
Speaking of which, it wouldn’t hurt to get a head start. I closed my eyes and released a long breath.
The world around me was awakening for the new day.
The sounds of nature were growing louder and louder the longer I sat here, listening.
The energy around me was ebbing and flowing, caressing my neck and cheeks.
Suddenly, a gust of cool wind whirled through the garden, breaking my concentration.
With a breath of frustration, I opened my eyes and scowled.
My father was searching for a way to stop the magic waning from our land.
And even though I wasn’t sure what his efforts entailed, I had to believe that he would find a solution before the weather became too harsh.
Maybe I can find answers to our perils in the past. I looked down at the book in my lap, hopeful that it would provide useful information about the history of my kingdom.
Opening the thick tome, I scanned a few pages, surprised to find that the words were written in the old language.
Thankfully, as a royal and a bookworm, I was quite proficient in it.