Or… opportunistic. "Hey." I looked up, noting the look on her face. Violet must have read the concern on my face because she added, “It’s not our fight—not yet, and it's still a while out. It's just something to keep in mind going forward.” I nodded. "Right. I just… never imagined I'd be specula
Theodore We took a short detour in what looked like a post office, but it was unlike any post office I'd ever seen. The air felt charged with magic, and I figured that had something to do with it. By the time we stepped back into the tailor shop, the day was starting to head toward the evening. A
“Don’t take it personally. She’s guarded about it for… obvious reasons." I frowned, then I realized that he wasn't wearing anything that would usually be worn on this side of the border. My heart quickened. He was from the other side of the border. "The rest of us can't wait to meet you.” “I'm
Theodore I blinked, caught between skepticism and an overwhelming warmth at the gesture. “You’re cooking for me?” “Don’t sound so surprised,” she teased, opening another jar. “I can be domestic when it suits me.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “My mouth is already watering in anticipation…" “You’ll
Despite the prick of worry, the thought of her… teaching me something because she thought it was something that I should know, something she wanted to share with me, something that would draw me closer to her made me smile. "Will you tell me… why?" Violet's lips twitched. "You're a Noble Consort n
Theodore The helicopter’s blades slowed to a lazy spin as we landed on the Vainthott estate’s helipad. From above, the territory had been a patchwork of sprawling fields and stately hills, but now, standing here, I could see the meticulous order behind it all. Nothing was out of place. I stepped o
Before I knew it, we were walking into the Vainthott estate. It was like stepping into another world. It had all the gravitas the palace should have if all the grand little details hadn't been destroyed. It made me wonder what the Donovan Estate looked like. The air shimmered faintly, charged with
Theodore I shook his hand and nodded. Then, he shooed us off, and I followed Violet through the garden, stopping now and then as she made introductions. Each new face came with a title, a history, and a handshake or polite nod. It was all a little overwhelming—not because it was difficult to keep u
Theodore’s POVIn one breath, the love of my life laying still in the grass let out a gut-wrenching scream and the High Priestess dropped to her knees. I lunged for my wife but was thrown back by an invisible force. When I pulled myself upright, the High Priestess had a hand outstretched, clearly us
Auntie folded her hands in front of her. “Altrosis is an attempt to control magic enough to pin it down and examine it. One could more easily pin down the wind.”As if to illustrate her point, a cool breeze swept through the clearing, though not a hair on Auntie’s head swayed in its drift.“Magic is
Violet’s POVThe jungle outside the village my family lived in was beautiful. It was lush and alive, humming with magic like the air itself was breathing. I had only visited this village and its surrounding area a few times in my life, but I’d always made time to come stand among the ferns and frond
By the Goddess, Violet had been right to send me down here. When we pulled out of the hug, she cupped my face in her hands, worry clouding her eyes. “Are you safe, boy?”My brows furrowed in confusion. She sighed and let go of my face.“I’m sorry, I’ve just always worried for you so, especially aft
Theodore’s POVIt felt wrong walking away from Violet when we had so little time together as it was. But she did need to rest. And she had made a good point about whoever knew my mom possibly having answers we needed.Marcy led me to the front porch and the woman who waited there. “If you’d like to
Theodore’s POVMy chest constricted at Marcy’s words and at the sympathy in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before this moment. Someone who knew my mother…My stomach churned with emotions: the pain of my mother’s loss, the joy in possibly finding out more about her, and the fear of Violet’s and my futu
Auntie studied me for a moment. “Are you sure you haven’t used magic before that?”The memory of my father appearing before me in the courtroom, and then again yesterday at the feast, popped into my mind. Perhaps that was part of my magic, but even that was still no more than six weeks ago. “Definit
Violet’s POVThe pride I felt from being able to control my magic, even briefly, quickly vanished as my stomach sank at Auntie’s words. She knew I had magic.“So it’s my magic and not the baby’s?”Still as a serene lake instead of the turbulent ocean I felt rocking inside me, Auntie shrugged slightl
Theodore’s POVI held Violet’s hair back as she retched into the toilet of Marcy’s bathroom. We couldn’t blame the wine since Violet obviously hadn’t had any, nor the food that hadn’t made anyone else sick. No, this was caused by something I couldn’t help but feel a little responsible for.I rubbed