Page 59 of Winterfall Destiny

"With magic."

"Precisely. The magic the witches used didn't only lock the First in—spells caught the creature beforehand. Which spells and how? That's what we need to figure out."

"I doubt mind control would work on the First," I say. "So, I'd count that out."

"Blackwood magic." I turn my head to where Jamie stands in the doorway, leaning against the frame, a slice of half-eaten toast in hand.

"Blood magic?" asks Tobias.

"The shadows." Tobias straightens at Jamie's flat words. "The First is an entity outside of the norm, right? Energy from..." Jamie waves a hand. "Somewhere. Well, so are the shadows."

My chest goes tight. "Didn't we talk about this, Jamie?" I whisper.

"Everybody's scared of the shadows because they're uncontrollable and because nobody understands them. Not fully," he continues, taking a savage bite of the toast.

"Uncontrollable being the key word here, Jamie," I say.

Why isn't Tobias shutting this conversation down?

"The shadows come from somewhere else. Remember, they came through the mirror when Lex attacked you, Tobias?" He rubs his nose. "Lex told me he's travelled through mirrors to the shadows' world. And Astrid. All your fathers. These entities are not from our world."

"What? When?" I demand. "And why didn't Lex tell me this?"

"He told me last time we met him. Lex wanted to frighten me into not helping you with the shadows ever again." Jamie pauses. "And watch in case your Blackwood attracted you to exploring more."

"Lex should've told me!" I say, irritation flaring.

"What's behind the mirrors?" asks Tobias.

"He wouldn't tell me. Lex is more concerned that shadows can escape," he replies.

"Escape?" I ask in horror.

"Look at the similarities between the First and shadows." Jamie finishes his last bite of toast and flops into the armchair. "Blackwood magic—blood runes that allow travel through the ether, the ability to control shadows living somewhere else. Blackwood shadow magic is otherworldly. So is the First."

Tobias slants his head. "You appear to have considered this a lot for someone who believes Maeve should avoid Blackwood shadow magic."

"They're in her, Tobias," says Jamie. "Lex told us. Maeve doesn't conjure shadows from mirrors—Lex already did that and absorbed them years ago. They're part of Maeve due to his behaviour back then."

"And they're dangerous," I whisper. "The shadows could take control of me."

Jamie crosses the space between us and looks down. I swallow at the fractious energy surrounding him. Why's he angry with me? "And if Andrei turns you, something else would control you. Something fucking worse."

"You heard what I said?" I ask sharply.

"Well, you're hardly holding a hushed conversation." His jaw sets hard, and he points at me. "You, Maeve Winterfall—Maeve Blackwood—could control the shadows like Lex did. Astrid stopped him; her Winterfall magic balanced out his Blackwood. You are both. You've the potential to control both."

My cheeks heat at Jamie's harshness and I grab his pointing finger. "Stop this."

"You have both, Maeve! Use them!" he half-shouts and Tobias stands.

"Okay, Jamie. Calm down." Tobias curls his hand around Jamie's arm.

"No!" He yanks his arm away and digs both hands into his hair. "Do you all forget that Maeve and I are bonded witches? Any threat to our bonded—especially death—overrides everything. I will not let Maeve into a living death created by that... creature."

I suck in a breath, shocked at Jamie's vehemence and look to an equally surprised Tobias.

"And do you know what else?" he whispers harshly. "If you don't work with the shadows, I will. Blackwood magic is in me through you, Maeve. I'll do everything I can!"

---