Page 25 of Ruby & Onyx

I stare at the carrot, focusing on it with all of my might, but it remains motionless.

I picture the carrot launching into the air and landing squarely on his forehead.

Nothing.

Whack, something strikes my head and lodges into my hair. Shocked, I pluck the object from my hair and find a cube of cheese. This man just threw cheese at me.

“Come on, make the carrot move, or I’ll be forced to double my strikes,” he taunts.

Focus, Radya. Come on.

I empty my head of all extraneous thoughts, focusing only on the carrots.

Bam, another morsel of cheese hits my chest, landing in my cleavage. The challenge heightens my determination, only now I feel compelled to shift my focus toward the pie. I visualize the pie, which has a dollop of cream on top, floating just above his head and falling onto him, ruining his white shirt and leaving a residue so sticky that it will take weeks of scrubbing to remove.

Plunk. Another piece of cheese lodges itself into my cleavage, which now seems to be the target. I refuse to look at the self-satisfied grin that’s sure to be on his face right now. Instead, I focus my attention even harder, training my mind on how good it would feel to see him covered in pie. I imagine only the whites of his eyes visible beneath the thick coating of cream. I focus and focus… and just as I near my breaking point, the pie flies through the air and falls flat on top of him.

With cream covering every inch of his head, he lifts a finger to his cheek, scooping the filling off and then licking his finger clean. “If you remember correctly, I said carrot. Since this is, in fact, a pie and not a carrot, you forfeit your right to claim victory and will not receive your prize.”

Stubborn ass.

Despite his declaration, pride surges through me. “Oops,” I say, giggling like a child.

I can’t believe that I did it. I moved an entire pie using magic! With the sweet taste of victory on my lips, I can’t help but smile.

Magic. I have magic. What else am I capable of?

“You’re welcome to lick it off, darling,” Olly says, pulling my attention back to his cream-covered face.

“In your dreams,” I sneer playfully. Nothing could tear me down from this high.

He laughs and nearly chokes on the cream. One of the servants arrives by his side with a towel, flashing me a look of displeasure, which I assume is for the mess that he will have to clean later. I mouth the word ‘sorry’ to him and then scramble toward a napkin.

Olly wipes the pie off of his face and returns his attention to me. “Well, this turn of events does mean that we will have to postpone the rest of our palace tour for the time being, as I now require a bath.” He raises an eyebrow suggestively. “Though if you would like to make amends, you’re welcome to come help me scrub away the mess.”

I scoff at his remark, but I am still beaming on the inside.

The pie moved through the air at my command. I willed it to happen, fully believing that it would, and then my wish was granted.

How remarkable.

Chapter 9

Two beings no larger than four feet tall and with iridescent glittering wings that keep them hovering just above the ground are standing in my bedroom when I return. The one to the left has long copper hair that falls in loose waves down to her waist, and the other’s teal hair is wrapped tight into a bun. Their wide smiles radiate warmth as their shoulders lift with excitement, and their wings flutter in a frenzy.

“Viola.” The more reserved of the two, the one with the copper hair, lands on her feet and bends into a small curtsy.

“Gemma.” The one with the teal hair is a little more manic and expressive with her large rounded eyes, but she quickly follows suit. I curtsy back because it feels like the polite thing to do, but they both giggle into their palms.

“We’re your lady’s maids,” Viola says, as if that’s explanation enough for their laughter. She doesn’t sound condescending or judgmental, but the blushing in my cheeks burns all the same.

“What is a lady’s maid?” Are they meant to… serve me? That sounds ridiculous. I survived on my own for years, why would I need someone else to care for me now?

“We’re here to serve you.” Gemma winks at me playfully, confirming my fear.

“Do you like wine? We fetched a bottle from the cellar for you. We also filled a bath. It’s just through there.” Viola motions to a door on the side of the room, just past the expansive window. Does the bath have a perfect view of the sea too? My gods. “Is there anything else we can do to make you comfortable here?”

“You don’t have to do anything, thank you. I can just… sit here.” I don’t know that I can accept their help. It makes me feel awkward, guilty even. What have I done to deserve it? Nothing, absolutely nothing. I don’t deserve a lady’s maid. I don’t deserve to be in this palace. It’s only a matter of time until they all figure out as much.

---