Chapter 10
Aweek later, they were camped in a large field on the outskirts of their kingdom, not far from Oakshire—the town Andras had decimated.
That battle felt like it happened a lifetime ago.
Ava would never forget the way Raine had collapsed after Andras’ assault, the terror that gripped her as she tried to escape her enemy’s clutches and get to her friend.
The journey to Igneothenia was precarious. If they marched too far south, they’d skirt the edge of Deidamia’s primary war camp—whose numbers had grown since Casimir’s rescue—but if they moved too far north, they’d pass by Frosthaven, the ice kingdom allied with the daemon queen.
Ava stood at the edge of camp, practicing her magic with Raine, her control improving daily.
“Amazing,” Raine said as she grew a massive flower, its pink petals aglow in the orange of the setting sun.
“It’s how I trapped Andras when Remy and I were trying to escape,” she said with an ache in her heart.
“How long did it hold him?”
“Not long. A few seconds.”
Quinn joined, studying Ava’s creation with a tilt of her head. Waving a hand, she said, “Trap Raine in one.”
“What?” Raine gave her an irritated glare.
“Don’t be a coward, pretty boy. Ava won’t hurt you.”
“Why are you always making me do this shit?”
“Stop whining and help.”
“Fine. Alright, little frog. Snatch me up with your flower,” he said with a roguish grin.
“You’re disgusting." Ava rolled her eyes.
“No idea what you’re talking about.” He tapped his foot. “I’m waiting.”
Ava drew on her magic, willing a flower to grow from the ground. The wide, blue petals encircled Raine as he stood with his hands on his hips, watching curiously.
“Focus your magic to make the petals thicker,” Quinn coached. “Imagine their strength. That they can’t be broken.”
Ava held out a hand and guided her power.
“Close it.”
Ava looked at Raine for permission and he nodded. “Go ahead.”
Snapping her fingers together, the petals of the flower followed suit, trapping Raine inside.
“Grow thicker vines and wrap those around the petals to reinforce it,” Quinn said.
Green vines sprouted from the earth and Ava wove them together, fortifying the outside of the trap.
“Amazing,” said Quinn. “Do it like that and they’ll be trapped for much longer. Now let’s go eat dinner and see how long it takes Raine to get out.”
“Wait, what?” Raine shouted, his voice muffled.
“Have fun!” Quinn called, grabbing Ava’s arm and leading her to the center of their camp, following the smell of stew cooking over the fire.
“Hey! Come back here! Get me out! Fuck you, Quinn! Hello?” Raine’s voice faded as they walked away.
As they trekked through camp, Maeryn approached with a furrowed brow. “What did you do to that poor man?”
“I taught Ava how to trap him more securely,” said Quinn.
“You shall just leave him there?”
“We’re testing it,” Quinn replied. “To see how long we might be able to trap daemon soldiers.”
“Does the captain have any weapons on him?” Maeryn asked.
Ava paused. “Oh. No, he doesn’t. His sword is being sharpened at the blacksmith.”
“Then this theory will not work. The daemons will have weapons.” Maeryn walked toward Raine. “Let’s go, Your Highness. We must test this trap with more accuracy.”
“Now?” Ava asked reluctantly.
“Now,” Maeryn barked.
Ava glanced at Quinn who was trying not to laugh. “She’s scary,” Ava whispered.
“You’re not as quiet as you think you are. Come, help me free the captain before he does his foolish things.”
“I’m going to dinner,” Quinn said, disappearing before Ava had a chance to respond.
With a deep breath, she followed Maeryn, stopping in front of Raine’s botanical prison.
“Hello? Is anyone there?” Raine said. “It’s quite hot in here.”
Maeryn tried to hide her smile. “Release him and we will try again.”
Ava raised her hand and pulled back the vines, then opened the petals. Raine wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his arm.
“You’re cruel,” he said to Ava, then noticed Maeryn. “Well, hello.”
“Captain.” Maeryn nodded.
“You can call me Raine.”
Maeryn ignored his statement. “Retrieve your sword and return.”
“I’m actually quite hungry. I was about to—”
“We finish the trap first,” Maeryn said.
“Got it, boss.” He winked at her, then disappeared into camp in search of his sword.
“He is silly sometimes, I think,” Maeryn said.
“He’s like that most of the time. But he’s a loyal friend and cares deeply about all of us.”
“Yes, I can tell that too.”
Ava scrutinized her. Did she have similar inklings as Raine? Did she feel any kind of pull toward him? It was obvious that his antics amused her, but Ava couldn’t determine anything else through her observations.
Minutes later, Raine returned, weapon in hand. “Are you trapping me again?”
“Yes,” Maeryn replied for Ava.
“Alright, I’m ready.”
“Can you make it close on him faster?” Maeryn asked. “Like if you would surprise a daemon?”
“I’ll try.”
Ava took a deep breath, focused her magic, and grew the flower quicker than before. Remembering to fortify the walls, the petals thickened, and she clamped her hand shut, quickly wrapping the bloom in vines.
In a few seconds, Raine cut through and emerged.
“Dammit,” Ava said.
“Can you make it stronger?” Maeryn asked.
“I don’t know how.”
“Use even more magic,” Raine said. “See if you can make several layers of petals, then weave the vines with roots as well. As densely as you can.”
“Do I even have enough?”
“You have a deeper reserve than even I do,” said Raine, obviously trying not to glance at Maeryn whose eyes hadn’t left him since he cut himself free. “You can do it. Ready?”
This time she made five layers of petals, slammed it shut, and quickly wove vines and roots together, as though it was a tightly knit sweater. It took all of her concentration, but it worked.
Raine fought to cut through, taking him almost twenty seconds. Not a significant amount of time, but enough to stall enemies when necessary.
“Now trap me,” Maeryn said. “I wish to see how quickly my magic can get me out.”
Raine moved to stand beside Ava while Maeryn took his spot. Ava repeated the process, closing a pink flower over Maeryn. Within seconds, she melted through with her lava.
“I will never tire of watching you do that,” Raine said. “Your magic is fascinating.”
“Thank you, captain. I will never tire of watching the princess and Quinn play jokes on you. It’s quite the entertainment.”
They like each other, Luna said as she appeared and rubbed against Ava’s legs.
“Oh, definitely. Raine thinks she might be his soulbond.”
It’s possible.
“You should tell Sabriel to tell Raine that I said he’s being too obvious with how obsessed he is with her. I want to see his reaction.”
That sounds fun.
A few moments later Raine coughed, stumbling over his words in the middle of his conversation with Maeryn. He scowled at Ava. She winked back.
“Fire or lava will destroy your flowers quickly,” Maeryn said to Ava. “But, aside from Deidamia, they do not have that magic. I think this shall work well. How many can you make before you’re drained?”
“I don’t know. This is the most I’ve done.”
“How do you feel?” asked Raine.
“Tired, but not horrible. Not like when we rescued Cas.”
“You’re controlling it better. Make a few more and let's see how long before you have to stop.”
An hour later, exhausted and starving, Ava stood panting before her latest creation.
“Enough with the flowers, love,” Casimir said as he approached from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her temple. “You need to eat and rest.”
Ava sighed and leaned into him.
Maeryn studied them closely. “Your love for each other is beautiful. Nice work with the flowers, Your Highness.” She turned to Raine. “You instruct her well.”
Maeryn gave them all a nod and disappeared into camp.
Raine walked up to Casimir and Ava. “Did you hear that? I think that was a compliment.” His eyes narrowed at Ava. “You’re a little shit, by the way.”
Ava smirked. “Plenty more where that came from.”