Thorns of Frost (Fae of Snow & Ice, #2)(25)

“Tell me again what happened,” Matron Olsander demanded.

“I don’t know exactly.” I shrugged. “I was panicked, and the snowgum was nearly on top of me. All I could think about was that the prince and I would die if I didn’t get us back to the castle.”

“And then your magic mistphased you of its own accord?”

“I guess so. The prince was unconscious, so I don’t think he did it.”

She nodded and hmmed. “Interesting. Very interesting. Mistphasing is an advanced magical tactic that requires an immense amount of power. Most are never able to master the skill due to the amount of magic it requires. It would seem you have the capability, not surprising given that you have three affinities, yet consciously you don’t know how to access that part of your magic.”

“But I could learn, right?” I tried to keep the hope from my voice and did my best to keep my tone casually interested, as though my request wasn’t at all from the calculated plan Cailis and I had contrived.

Matron Olsander harrumphed and rapped her knuckles on the wall. “Of course you’ll learn! That’s top of my list. Without wings, how else are you to travel throughout the realm?” Her expression told me everything about what she thought of my stupid question.

A grin threatened to spread across my face, but I managed to suppress it. “So you’ll help me learn to mistphase and have that be part of my daily training?”

She swatted at my backside. “I don’t like repeating myself, Lady Seary. Yes, you’ll learn to mistphase. Now, climb the ladder. The balance beam is waiting. If you’re fully healed from the snowgum’s attack, we haven’t a moment to lose. The day is squandering!”





Despite the fact that I’d nearly died and had depleted all of my magic the previous day, Matron Olsander wasn’t dissuaded in the least. I could barely walk by the time we finished, but I felt marginally better about controlling my Outlets and Shields, sensing my magic and calling it forth, becoming educated on the mental aspects of mistphasing, and I had learned one cool trick. I knew how to self-cleanse now.

Matron Olsander might be strict and have a penchant for smacking me upside the head and rear, but I was grateful she was such an excellent tutor.

“You’re doing quite well.” Sandus smiled pleasantly as we strolled back to my chambers.

“Do you think so?” I rolled my shoulders. My entire body felt stiff, and it wasn’t from the snowgum’s attack. Matron Olsander had made me do chin-ups at one point when I’d accidentally started a training mat on fire.

He nodded and scratched his beard. “You’re an anomaly for certain, love. You’ve had no magic until very recently, yet you’ve managed to replenish life to one of Harrivee’s fields, outwit a snowgum, and then learn to self-cleanse. All within a week’s time. I’d say that’s something to be immensely proud of.”

My chest tightened, and my aching arms didn’t feel quite so sore after hearing his prideful comment. “This is a bit of a change from how I’ve always been.”

“A good change, though, eh?”

I managed a nod, but a part of me wasn’t sure. While my life had been small in Mervalee, and Vorl hadn’t exactly made it pleasant, I’d still been free. Now, my power was growing, but I was no longer the maker of my own destiny. I was a slave to the court.

I wasn’t sure which fate was worse.

“I’m sure the crown prince would enjoy a visit from you,” the guard said when we reached one of the convening areas between wings. To the right led back to my chambers, to the left led to the healing infirmary. “He’s been asking for you.”

My heart tripped, nearly falling from my chest. While I was immensely relieved the prince was mending and I wouldn’t be the reason for his demise, I still didn’t know how I felt around him. I had a hard time controlling my reactions to him. This ridiculous attraction overtook me at times, and I didn’t like that. Therefore, the easiest way to pretend that I was indifferent was to avoid the prince.

“Well?” Sandus asked. “Should we stop by to say hello?”

“Um . . .” I twisted my hands.

“He’s asked for you.” Sandus raised his eyebrows, his meaning clear. The prince wanted to see me, and what the prince wanted, the prince got.

Sighing, I replied, “As you wish. Lead the way.”





CHAPTER 9





“These are the most ludicrous demands I’ve ever heard.” Prince Norivun’s growly comment fluttered into the hallway. “I’m fine.”

“If you try to return to duty now,” Murl replied in a painstakingly patient tone, “you risk the chance of tearing your wound. By nighttime, you shall be fully healed. Please, my prince, allow yourself to rest for another few hours. That’s all I’m asking.”

“These inane, insufferable rules—” Prince Norivun’s griping cut off when Sandus strode into the room with me in tow.

The crown prince, not surprisingly, had his own suite in the healing infirmary. Calming scents of lavender filled the air. The setting sunlight streamed into the windows, and a crackling fire filled the hearth.

The prince sat propped up in bed, his chest bare. A nasty-looking cut ran the entire width of his abdomen.