Sixteen
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to come home with us?” my mother asked the following morning as my family prepared to travel back to the capital.
She lovingly ran her hands down my unbound locks draped in front of my shoulders. Her own light-brown tresses were in a low chignon. Dressed in a simple plum gown, she looked regal as she always did, no matter her attire.
“I’m sure. I don’t want to lose momentum with developing my powers.”
She nodded before embracing me tightly. “I know that’s not the only reason,” she whispered before she pulled away. “Lord Gray.” She switched her attention to Adrian. “I say with confidence that Zalie is in capable hands. Will you be attending the Solstice Ball in Nasyra?”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Adrian bowed. “And yes, of course, I’m looking forward to it.”
“That’s wonderful to hear! Lady May is looking forward to seeing you. I believe you two are close?”
“We are. She was like a mother to me growing up.”
My ears perked up at that tidbit of information, and I made a mental note to ask him about it later.
“I can’t wait for you to spend some time with Miri,” Sebastian said as he hugged me.
When it was my father’s turn, he also had a message for me. “Two weeks, Emelin. If anything else happens—”
“I know, Father.” I kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll see you in two weeks.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.” My mother pressed Thea’s hands. “And for ensuring our comfortable stay.” She smiled at Killian. “Bye, Sunshine.” She cupped my cheek one more time before following my father and brother out the door.
“The queen is such a beautiful person, inside and out,” Thea said reverently as soon as everyone had departed.
“She truly is. I will feel beyond accomplished in life if I ever become even a fraction of the woman she is,” I confessed.
“A fraction?” Adrian chimed in. “I think you will become so much more than that.”
Color tinged my cheeks as I cleared my throat. “I need to harness my powers if I ever hope to accomplish that. Do you have time to work with me this morning?”
His eyes lit up at my question, but before he could reply, Tom interjected, “No, you don’t. You have a meeting in half an hour.”
“Plenty of time.” Adrian offered me his arm.
“What?! No, it’s not,” the adviser stammered as I weaved my arm through Adrian’s.
“If they show up early, I’m sure you and Thea can entertain them,” the lord threw over his shoulder as we strolled away.
I had to stifle a laugh when Tom whirled on Thea as if expecting her to stop us. She only looked confused, tilting her head to the side as she watched us leave the foyer.
“Tom looked like he was about to explode.” I couldn’t hold my laughter in any longer when we stepped outside on the patio.
Adrian chuckled. “He needs to lighten up.”
We walked to the steps and descended them into the gardens. Though it had cooled down overnight, the weather was pleasant enough for my long-sleeved sage dress.
“Like you have lightened up?” I arched a brow at him with a small smile.
He glanced at me. “I’ve told you before that you brought a light with you when you barged into my life.”
I grimaced. “I wouldn’t call it ‘barging in’.”
“Really? What would you call it? Because it sure didn’t feel like I had a say in the matter.” His tone was teasing, his eyes alight with mirth when our gazes met.
“Oh, are you still upset with the arrangement?” I teased back. “Because it’s not too late to call the royal carriage back and send me home.”
He laughed out loud. “I couldn’t possibly do that to you. You would miss me too much.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “You make it sound like I would be the only one distraught upon my leaving.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t be. Tom would be devastated.”
Our joint laughter rang out, carrying through the gardens.
“Speaking of Tom.” I assumed a serious expression. “I wouldn’t want to pull you away from your duties. We should go ahead and practice, so you can return in time before the meeting.”
“All right.” He nodded. “We can stop right here and practice on this rosebush.”
I unwrapped my arm from his and bent down slightly to examine the plant that he had indicated. The rosebush was on the verge of blooming but was struggling with the harsher weather.
“Now that you can move your magic, try to bring it forth and transfer it into the plant to heal it,” Adrian instructed.
The slight breeze whispered through my hair as I closed my eyes and pictured my well, feeling a bit apprehensive.
What if my magic coming alive yesterday had been a figment of my imagination?
What if, when I reached for my powers now, they wouldn’t obey?
What if… What if… My anxiety rose swiftly, my breath coming out of me in short, rapid pants.
“Breathe.” Adrian’s tentative touch landed on my shoulder. “You can do this. I believe in you.”
With a long exhale, I reached within and gathered my magic in my hands.
My powers shimmered and glowed, seeping into my pores and filling my veins with healing essence.
Opening my eyes, I touched one of the withered stems on the bush and willed it to come back to life.
A warm, tingling sensation tickled my fingers as my magic flowed into the stem through my fingertips.
“My Stars.” I gasped when a few leaves turned from brown to healthy green.
“It’s not the Stars, it’s you,” Adrian whispered. When I looked at him, he was watching me with a soft smile. His stunning eyes seemed to be glowing again. “Can you make it bloom?”
I returned my attention to the rosebush, willing the small, tight buds to open.
Several quiet seconds passed as I fed my magic into the plant.
The rosebuds remained closed, not responding to the call of my powers.
Sweat beaded on my forehead as exhaustion pulled on my limbs.
I nearly gave up when something extraordinary happened.
One of the buds unfurled into a beautiful pink rose.
Exhaling roughly with relief, I straightened from the bush.
“Well done!” Adrian exclaimed. “How are you feeling?”
“Drained.” I leaned my forehead against his chest, catching my breath.
He wrapped his arms around me. “It will get easier.”
“Do you think that one day I will be able to strengthen the wards?” I lifted my head to look at him.
“I don’t see why not.” His eyes softened, and he added gently as if he didn’t want to upset me. “But you have just awakened your magic. Be patient. It will take time. Speaking of time. I had better return to the house for my meeting. Can you walk, or do you want me to carry you?”
“Carry me?!” I stepped away from him. Being carried in his arms would be too personal. “I can walk.”
He smirked. “Suit yourself, Princess. Let’s get you home so you can rest.”
As we began our trek back to the manor, I remembered that I had wanted to ask him something.
“You said earlier that Lady May was like a mother to you when you were growing up. What about your birth mother? I know that your family had moved away from Zalie, but do you still keep in touch with them?” When he frowned, I added hastily, “I don’t mean to pry—”
“You’re not, it’s all right. My family is very different from yours. Lady May has shown me more love than my own mother, and my father… He is a cruel and difficult man. We have never seen eye to eye.”
My heart broke for him at his admission. I wished that he could have experienced the same unconditional love and support I’d had growing up. “Do you have only one sibling?”
“Yes, my younger brother. We’ve always had a strained relationship. It’s nearly nonexistent now after what had happened between him and my former fiancée.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that about your family.”
“It is what it is. At least I still have Tom and Thea. They’ve been by my side all my life.”
“I’m glad to hear you’ve had such loyal friends along the way.” We walked in silence for a few seconds until I added softly, “You also have me now.” Self-conscious, I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze as I uttered the words.
“Then I have everything I need.”