Page 48 of What Lies Within Masks & Shadows

“Oh, skies above, no. I wouldn’t know what to do with a sword. Books though.” He opened his arms, pointing at everything around him while spinning slowly, red book still in hand. He hit a mound of books piled beside him, knocking a few down. “Books are my weapon.”

Garrik knelt down and picked them up, placing them on the table.

“Thank you, sire.” Eldacar grabbed one of the remaining books in Garrik’s hands and settled it atop the one he still held.

“Eldacar is skilled in the knowledge of magical gifts from times past. The books here carry wisdom suited for our kind, to help us understand our powers, to train.” Garrik leaned back against the table, one foot crossing his leg, and he folded his arms in front of him.

Walking around the space, careful to avoid stepping on any books, Alora turned and ran her hands over a leather-bound text falling apart on a nearby bookshelf. Next to the cot was a glass chest filled with what seemed to be ashes of a nearly destroyed book, save for a few rips of pages, and scraps of burned, discolored leather. The case held her attention for a moment longer as she considered it.

Until her head pivoted, and she scanned the lower level.

Her eyes traced up the winding staircase to the mezzanine, raking her sapphires over those overflowing surfaces too.

“You’ve read …allof these?”

Eldacar smiled and adjusted his glasses by wrinkling his nose. “More than once. They’re quite the page turners. And our most gracious High Prince has once again returned from another daring adventure with my next read.” He patted the red book in hand as his smile stretched to his ears. “Now, if you’rehere to see me, that must mean you too have magic. Tell me, Alora, what can you do?” With an excited grin, he patted his upper arm where her mark would be.

From the shift in stance and stern stare from the High Prince, she couldn’t hesitate long. Another moment of asking for critical information from her. Another piece that could be used against her.

After enduring her hesitation for some time, Garrik pushed off the table. He turned to one of the books he had set there and opened it. Glancing at the page, then turning to another, he spoke to no one but the page in front of him. “Alora can summon fire and bend objects at her will.”

She stiffened.

Another piece of her that she had never offered him.

A look of shock covered Eldacar’s face. “How interesting! I haven’t crossed someone with more than one gift in ages. None other than Garrik, of course.” He excitedly clapped his hands and ran around the bookshelves.

Then, Eldacar’s feet padded up the winding staircase and exited to the right, bouncing along the shelves. With a hop, he plucked a green leather-bound book wedged within, toppling two to the ground before he turned, barely keeping his balance, before winding down the staircase back to them.

Beaming, he said, “Perhaps there’s more. Tell me, have you ever held a dead rose and it came back to life?”

Her teeth gritted as she shook her head.

Why would sheeverwant to bring a rose back to life? Especially the blood-red, stars-awful ones that she doomed to wilt away after Kaine’s half-assed apologies.

Though she had never attempted such a power, even if she had and discovered that she could, she still wouldn’t have told them.

“No lifeline shifting then, what about controlling trees or vines?”

“No.” Alora rubbed her bruised wrist and stared at the floor.

“Hmm.” Eldacar flipped a few pages. “The ability to pick someone up and drop them flat on the head?”

She concealed her amusement. Although, she did find it rather enjoyable to picture the High Prince plummeting from the sky and landing on that smug face. Alora’s cheeks scarleted at the mere thought. “Not that I’m aware of, but I’d be happy to try.”

Alora flexed her palm in Garrik’s direction.

He released an almost inaudible growl, causing her to snap her attention back to the redhead.

“That would have come in handy, I’m sure.” He looked at Garrik, who folded his arms in front of his chest. “Tell me, can you see into minds around you?”

The High Prince went rigid, and she hesitated.

Honestly, she was uncertain. A time flooded back to her when Kaine cornered her, standing atop the grand staircase in their home. Nausea formed in her gut as she remembered his screams for disobeying one of his ridiculous commands. Those screams had filled the entire manor, like smoke from the roaring fireplaces and sconces on the walls. To the point her ears had rung. She’d only wanted the screaming to stop. Something inside her mind tingled in a calmed caress, desperately warring to rip away the splitting headache before she closed her eyes and her entire body froze.

Kaine had stopped screaming.

His face, body, and fingers grew relaxed. As if by some miracle, he had stopped.

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