Norivun loosed a breath and drew me close. His aura thrummed beside mine, but when he met my gaze, I saw the answer in his expression before he said, “I’m starting to wonder if we can be saved.”
Norivun mistphased us back to the castle, and we re-emerged in the castle’s main courtyard. The other three Trial females were already present, along with Sir Featherton, the queen, and the king. Standing just behind them were all of the territory archons, but there weren’t any other spectators today or guards. Not even Nuwin was present.
“Ah, there she is!” Sir Featherton said dramatically. “We feared we would have to disqualify you from the second test if you didn’t appear soon.”
Everyone glanced between the prince and me, some not bothering to hide their snickers. My cheeks heated at the conclusion they’d obviously reached that explained my tardiness. If only . . .
“Norivun, what is the meaning of this?” the king asked, his tone amused, but his expression hard.
The prince’s shoulders tightened. “I escorted Ilara briefly to Isalee. A troubling event has occurred.”
“Oh?” Taberitha Wormiful pushed to the front of the group as her pointy chin jutted up. “What’s amiss?”
“Indeed,” Lord Crimsonale chimed in, “if something is causing you concern, surely the council should be made aware.”
Lord Woodsbury, the Isalee Territory archon, cleared his throat loudly. “Excuse me, fine fae, but if something is problematic within Isalee, then I believe I’m the one who should be consulted.” He stared down at me with narrowed eyes. “Report if you would, Lady Seary.”
Prince Norivun growled. “Speak to her with more respect, Lord Woodsbury.”
The Isalee archon sniffed but said in a less spiteful tone, “Well? Report if you will.”
I clenched my hands into fists. “The field I restored to life two months ago outside of Whimseal has died again.”
Everyone gasped.
“It’s as I’ve been saying,” Lord Crimsonale said, his expression thunderous. “The fields are dying. When will the council take this seriously?” He gave the king a pointed look.
The king waved his hand. “The fields will be restored at the next celestial event as they inevitably always are. And if the Isalee field has truly died again, then I think all that proves is that Lady Seary’s affinity isn’t as powerful as my son had hoped.” He looked me up and down. “Perhaps none of your affinities are as strong as I’ve been told.”
The crown prince leveled his father with a glacial glare. “She’s more magical than any female here.”
Georgyanna bristled as Beatrice and Meegana remained quiet but shared anxious glances.
Lady Wormiful straightened to her full height and said icily, “Shall we begin the second test? Perhaps we’ll know more about the strength of each female after its victor emerges.”
Sir Featherton explained where we were to mistphase, and everyone disappeared one by one. Those who excelled at the magical means of transporting disappeared faster than others. But this time, when my magic transported me instantaneously across the realm, I didn’t land with confidence. My legs shook when I materialized on the Bay of Nim.
Crashing waves reached my ears as soaring hills rose alongside the body of water that cut deep into the northern land of Mervalee Territory. I was the first to arrive at the bay, first to step foot back on my home soil, and a moment of relief hit me. My magic had transported me here before all of the others, even Norivun, but that consolation was short-lived.
Because all I could think about was what if the king was right. Perhaps my affinities weren’t that strong. I’d worked extensively at mistphasing in my training with Matron Olsander, so it made sense that I’d become so proficient at it, but it was possible that was where my superior capabilities ended.
Maybe I couldn’t fulfill the bargain I’d made with the prince. Maybe I’d never be able to restore our land’s crops because I lacked the inherent capabilities to do so.
The age-old feeling that had plagued me my entire life, the knowledge that I was magicless and weak, reared its ugly head. I thought I’d finally squashed that insecurity, but the Isalee field was dead. That was a fact. My affinity hadn’t saved it, so that meant all of the other fields I thought I’d been healing could fall sickly once more too.
“Stop.” The crown prince’s quiet voice brushed against my ear.
I jumped at the feel of him, not even realizing he’d just reappeared only inches behind me. His large hands gripped my hips as he leaned down more to whisper in my ear. “Don’t let him play his mind games with you. This is what he does. Stop second-guessing yourself.”
I nearly choked on the tears that threatened to fill my eyes. “How did you know that’s what I was thinking?”
“Worry is coating your scent.” His grip tightened. “But look at how strong you are. You arrived here first, even before me, and no one else is here yet. Their magic isn’t as powerful as yours. Your mistphasing is nearly instantaneous.”
My shoulders sagged, some of the tension oozing from me. He pulled me back against his chest, and I melted into him, my form aligning perfectly against his hard abdomen. A low, satisfied-sounding purr rumbled in his chest as his nose drifted down to inhale along my neck.
He placed a soft kiss right beneath my ear, and that lulling feeling of safety cocooned around me once more.
“Come here.” He spun me in his embrace, his arms closing around my waist as his lips met mine.
I clung to him, desperately molding myself to him as our tongues danced together while I chased away all of my old fears and anxieties. I soaked in his belief in me. He’d always believed in me, and I used that to align my thoughts with his own.
Snow and cedar wrapped around me as a smile parted his lips. “Your scent’s changing.” He nipped at my lips again, and I moaned.
“In what way?”
“You smell more confident and—” His breath sucked in. “And fuck, your arousal is giving off the most delicious aroma. I need to taste you again tonight.”
My pulse pounded as my core throbbed. Mother Below, I wanted this male.
“When?” he asked as he kissed down my neck. “When can I fully claim you?”
“Soon.” My breath hitched just as he pulled back.
Magic rippled in the air around us, alerting us to the others arriving.
With lips pressed to my ear, the prince said, “You’re strong. You’re powerful. And you’re mine. Don’t forget any of that.”
With that, he released his grip on me, moving two feet away just as the king appeared, followed by the rest of the group as they arrived one by one.
The last to appear was Lord Pinebeer, the archon of Harrivee Territory. He gave a sheepish smile when Lady Busselbee, my territory’s archon, smirked. Nobody commented that the queen wasn’t present, and I couldn’t help but wonder if they’d made the connection that the queen never mistphased anymore. She couldn’t with her magic suppressed.
The king stood stoically, watching me, but I made myself step closer to Meegana and concentrate on the test and not the soothing words from the powerful prince or the way desire pounded through me.