Chapter 40 Taera
Taera
Practicing with Omi is a lot more fun than working alone, especially since it means a break from a certain blond magician who nearly strangled me in my sleep.
But he leaves quickly, and the weight of his presence lifts.
He’s been avoiding me for days—or as much as our shared classes and close quarters allow.
I’m at ease with just Omi, an uncommon feeling in this place. I do the exercise set twice over, with Omi tweaking my form and providing small suggestions. I start to repeat the entire set for a third time, but they call a break.
“But I don’t feel any different,” I say.
“You’ve worked hard enough for one day,” they reply. “I promise you, your magic is calmer. You’re used to only noticing it when it’s out of control. It’ll take a few days to grow sensitive to subtle shifts.”
“So shouldn’t I do one more round?” I smile.
Omi chuckles, shaking their head. “I have something for you.”
With an unusually large grin, they pull an olive-sized glass bead out of their pocket. “Well, it’s from Annie.”
“Thank you?” I say cautiously.
Omi laughs. “It’s a talisman.”
“I’m still not quite sure what those do.”
“No one’s explained?” They raise their brows, then groan. “Right. Niko.”
Omi holds out a hand until I give them mine. They pull apart the strings to remove my bracelet, the no-reflections-under-my-robes charm that Nikolai gave me more than a week ago. I tense but don’t object as they pull it away.
“Conduits use amulets to store magic,” Omi says. “Sources use talismans to hold illusions. It’s how we alter our appearance.”
With delicate fingers, they lace the second bead onto the bracelet beside the first. “Conduits have more flexibility, of course. Talismans are complex to create and difficult to personalize. This one draws too much magic for me, so I thought of you.”
“So this is an illusion… in a bead?” I ask.
“Yes.” Omi refixes the bracelet around my wrist.
I frown. “Of what?”
“See for yourself.” They smile mischievously. The two beads draw tight against my skin, prickling with what I recognize as my own magic: a ticklish feeling.
I glance at a mirrored wall. Two magicians look back at me. One of them is Omi. It takes me a moment to recognize that the other ethereal figure is me.
I gasp.
My eyes are shadowed with shimmering silver, matching the glossy coating across my lips and the sparkles woven through my hair.
Earrings glint like stars, and the dazzling silver dress that plunges low between my breasts emphasizes curves I’ve always hidden.
The silky-soft fabric hugs my hips until it dissolves into sparkling silver dust around mid-thigh.
I tuck a glossy strand of hair behind my ear, unable to look away from the magician in the reflection. I’m still half-convinced she isn’t me.
“This is—I can’t wear this,” I murmur, still staring.
“You can.” Omi smiles, reaching into a pocket. “Here’s mine.”
Their robes shift a midnight blue, tightening into a suit studded with tiny gold leaves. Gold ribbon loops around the cuffs and ankles.
“Wow,” I breathe. “Trying to impress someone?”
“Maybe.” Their eyes flit away.
My brows shoot up.
Omi gives a shy smile, tugging at their cuffs. “It’s not like he’ll notice.”
“Trust me”—I eye them up and down—“he’ll notice.”
“It’s been… three years.” Their cheeks pinken at the admission. “I don’t think tonight will change anything.”
“But it might.” I grin. Omi’s crush on some mystery magician makes me oddly optimistic. Even if my own goal is more dangerous.
“So.” I stand a little straighter. “Who do I talk to to get out of here?”
Omi’s expression falls. “I’m not sure you should.”
“Please, Omi.”
They wince. “You’re not going to like asking this person…”
“I don’t have to like anyone,” I say firmly. “I just have to get back to my family.”
Their gaze slides sideways. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
I hope so, too.
“Who do I talk to?” I ask again.
“Jezebel,” they mutter, grimacing.
My shoulders sag. Of course it’s Jezebel. At least she already wants me gone, so maybe she’ll help.
“She’s more dangerous than she lets on.” Omi’s brow creases. “Please be careful.”
More dangerous than the magician I share a room with? I doubt it.
Just in case, I step over to my sleeping mat, kneel, and pull a carefully folded piece of paper from under my pillow.
“I finally wrote to my family,” I say. “I was wondering… could I ask you to send it? I can’t offer you magic, or money, but I can—”
“Of course.” Omi accepts the parchment, tucking it away. “Don’t worry about it.”
I exhale the tension I’ve been holding onto for days. “Are you sure?”
“You can pay me back once you learn to control your magic. You are coming back, right?” They frown at me. “Eventually?”
“I don’t know,” I say honestly.
They open their mouth, then close it again. “I just… hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. You already talked to Niko?”
I swallow, reluctant to lie. But I can’t risk Omi trying to stop me or telling Nikolai of my plan. With my neck tight, I nod.
“Then you know Jezebel will extort everything she can from you.” Omi’s voice drops to a whisper. “Whatever you do, don’t let her steal your magic.”
My breath leaves me. I didn’t even know that was possible. My mind whirls, and I blink, trying to keep my expression calm.
Don’t let her steal your magic.
“Thanks, Omi,” I make myself say.
They give a small smile, patting the pocket where they put my letter. My heart warms at their easy kindness. Not every magician here is as evil as I thought.
“This dress isn’t going to come off, right?” I gesture to my plunging neckline. My voice is higher than usual, but it has nothing to do with my outfit.
Omi smiles. “Not even if you try.”
When they step away to the washroom, I stare at myself in the mirror. A dazed, beautiful magician stares back. She looks like she belongs at a magician’s party. She looks powerful, beautiful. She looks nothing like the village girl I am.
I let myself admire her, memorizing her impossible appearance. Like I’m saying goodbye to part of myself.
My magic can be taken away.
Nikolai never told me that. But without magic, there’s no way he can keep me here. I’ll no longer need to be trained. I’ll be free to return to my village.
Omi reappears, and together we head to the party.