Page 1 of Winterfall Destiny

1

MAEVE

A whole day spent working on my magic with Lex pushes me to the edge of exhaustion. I'm drained by his repetitive pressure to recognise and manipulate the Blackwood magic, to stir in the Winterfall energy and take control. Jamie grows increasingly upset with him, accusing Lex of hitting me too hard with the magic triggered by yesterday's events.

At least Lex becomes increasingly calmer as the hours pass, satisfied that I'm getting a handle on the magical dichotomy inside myself.

But the vision. What was that?

"I want to try to see the future again, Lex," I tell him as I eat more soup he cooked from his extensive collection of tins in the cupboard. "If something needs changing, I?—"

"You can't, Maeve."

I clench my jaw as I stir the tomato soup, staring at the bowl. "Then allow me to look further so I can be prepared."

Jamie doesn't speak, quietly eating, but places a hand on mine beneath the table; a reassurance he's here for me. Lex shakes his head and continues eating. But this is eating at me. After weeks with no visions, that glimpse gave me hope that my original magic hasn't left.

"I should practise the Winterfall magic, Lex. Each time I do, I subdue the Blackwood more. Future sight belongs to the Winterfalls."

"The visions are as bad as the shadows," Lex says eventually. "They also fuck up lives. Practice mind control. Barriers. Light consuming the dark. That's what'll help us win and create a future we control. Visions won't."

"You do understand that controlling one magic loosens my control over the other?" I tell him. "I struggle to cope with random visions that I'm unprepared for. What if that starts happening again?"

If I can't work on the visions while we're here, I'll find another time. I need more information. What if I can see more snippets?

Lex ignores me and nods at Jamie. "Your bond will help."

"Is that true?" he asks and pauses as if considering what to say, then looks at Lex. "Did your bond control Astrid's magic, or her bond control yours?"

At the mention of her name, Lex's eyes and expression cloud. "If we allowed it." He looks at me. "If I needed Astrid's help to control mine."

I chew my lip at his vague answer, respecting his wishes in the hope he'll accept mine. I'll never stop asking to see Astrid, even once from a distance would be enough. Without that, I won't have the closure the other men need too.

"Are you staying another night?" asks Lex, and I shift, annoyed with him cutting the conversation dead.

"Aren't you sick of people in your space?" I ask, half-serious.

"Not you, Maeve," he says softly. "But never him."

"Me?" asks Jamie indignantly. "What have I done?"

"He means Tobias," I put in.

"I will always welcome you, Jamie. Maeve's brighter with you and you obviously love her." His eyes soften. "Remember, you're stronger than you realise. You connect to Maeve without losing yourself against powerful magic that'd overwhelm most witches, especially the shadows."

Jamie's fingers tighten around my knee. Most witches. Another reason to contain the Blackwood magic—the effect on him. "Do you want to stay, Maeve? If not, I can drive back to Winterfall tonight before it's late."

Although Lex looks affronted, Jamie isn't snubbing my father—Jamie knows how worried I am that Andrei might weaken in his desperation and make the wrong decision. What happens once Andrei discovers we could run out of time in our quest to trap the First?

Andrei. Wait. I straighten. I can't picture Andrei.

Because I'm exhausted from the magic lessons? No. Remembering somebody's face isn't related to magic, and I place the spoon down and focus, summoning the others' appearances. Tobias, yes. Ash, yes. The men who were with me yesterday who I've barely met? Yes.

Andrei, no.

"What's wrong, Maeve? Why are you gripping the table?" asks Jamie.

I blink, unaware that my fingers dig into the wood. "Something's wrong."

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