Page 59 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

“I learned, my dear. I was around before the edict went into place. Back then, you could practice magic without the worry of retribution, at least not from the government. I had a mentor who taught me everything I know.”

Somehow she looked wistful, so unlike the snarky, enigmatic personality Vita had gotten used to. It was a lovely image, her golden eyes faraway as she recalled her past.

“What was it like? Before they outlawed magic.”

Vita had not yet been born when the Emperor made his proclamation. She often wondered if that was the reason her parents had abandoned her, the threat of a child cursed with magic too much for them to bear. In her gut, she knew it was the truth, though that didn’t stop the welling of emotion in her throat at the vague recollections of her mother and father.

Aurora turned back to her with a raised brow. “It was different, certainly. There were still many who hated sorcerers, feared them. But they had no legal rights to imprison or harm anyone. I am… quite privileged to be here with Renatus. Free from scrutiny, free to use my powers, free to teach you. Most are not so lucky, especially young ones who have not yet learned control.”

The candor surprised Vita, the slight crack of Aurora’s voice revealing a vulnerability she hadn’t yet noticed.

“Do you know what that place was… the one I visited during my last surge?”

The question had been gnawing at her and throughout her first day of magic lessons she’d been too nervous to ask. It felt like speaking of that frightening place would send her back into the maw of the shadow creature.

Aurora hummed, a sound so similar to one she’d expect from Renatus. It was clear how connected they were, picking up each other’s mannerisms after spending decades together.

“I have been thinking about that. There are many planes of existence, worlds inhabited by Gods and monsters if the travelers are to be believed.”

Travelers like Vita.

“I have never been to another plane,” Aurora continued, narrowing her eyes. “It takes an extremely powerful sorcerer to be able to astral travel. I’ve certainly never heard of one doing so accidentally.”

Vita swallowed hard, setting her cup on the bench and turning away as her face heated. A powerful sorcerer? The thought was so improbable she couldn’t even comprehend it. How couldshebe powerful when she knew so little about magic?

But Aurora, a mage with such deft control, claimed she’d never astral traveled, that it was rare even amongst the rarity of the sorcerer.

“Magic is in your blood, dear,” Aurora said, pressing a palm to Vita’s chest that caused a stirring of butterflies in her stomach. “Learning to control it is one thing, but you cannot increase or decrease that which you were born with. It’s innate, something that can’t be changed.”

Their eyes locked, her lovely features softening into a kind smile. Vita’s heart raced as Aurora’s hand slid up her neck and cupped her cheek. This was how everyone felt around beautiful women, right? A fluttering heart and sweat on the brow were perfectly normal reactions to this kind of intimacy.

Before Vita could say anything, Aurora pressed soft lips against hers, the flash of shock quickly melting into ease. Vita was weightless, the cacophony of the garden dissipating until all she could hear was her own heartbeat. The scent of bergamot and rose enveloped them in its floral embrace, the sweet brush of Aurora’s lips sending warmth to her extremities, as if her entire body was bathed in a golden light.

The moment was short, too short, and Vita despaired as Aurora pulled away, a smile on her radiant face.

“Was that alright?”

Vita swallowed hard, trying to preserve the memory of her lips, her taste, her scent.

“Y-Yes, that was… nice.”

Aurora chuckled, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind Vita’s ear. “Nice, hm? Have you ever kissed a woman before?”

Vita shook her head, biting her lip. She had never even considered it as an option, despite the attraction she’d felt towards multiple women in her life.

“I’m glad I could be your first,” Aurora said with a genuine smile.

Vita’s entire body tingled like a bolt of lightning had struck her, anticipation and nerves jumbling together in a tangled mess.

“You don’t think Renatus would mind?”

She regretted the words as soon as they came out, though Aurora just laughed.

“Renatus would be more than happy to watch us together, my dear. You really don’t understand what’s going on here, do you?”

Vita’s eyes were wide, the thought of him watching as she wasintimatewith another person more stimulating than she could have imagined.

Her silence earned her an eye roll, as Aurora explained. “We don’t believe in devotion to a single person. I thought that was clear when he told you that you were free to do as you wished with your friends. Not every relationship has to be between two and only two.”

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