Page 29 of The Court of Truth

I sense the shift in my magic just before the glow consumes my skin. A beacon in the night, expanding across the distance to shelter me and my dragon.

If I expect her to be surprised by the sudden light, I’m wrong. Her head slowly turns, her narrowed glare spinning my way as a sickeningly wicked grin consumes her features.

“There she is.”

My heart ricochets in my chest.

“Therewhois?” Kryll asks, seemingly trying to distract her attention away from me, but if she hears him, she doesn’t make it known.

There’s little distance between us, but she still manages to inch closer, looming over me as my beacon shines brighter. She doesn’t blink at the glare. She doesn’t hide from the shimmer. If anything, she embraces it.

“I’ve missed the warmth it brings.” Her words seem spoken more to herself than anything and I don’t want to ask her to explain herself. I want nothing to do with this woman.

I just want her dead.

Now.

Digging deep into my soul, I try to dampen the protective magic, eliminate the bright layer between us, and blast her with everything I’ve got. That could be possible if I were the one in control. I’m simply a vessel for my magic, performing at its command and not the other way around.

“Clementine!” My father’s voice carries through the air and I spin toward the sound, watching in slow motion as he stalks outside. Even in the moonlight, I can see the anger etched into his features, the disappointment weighing heavy on his shoulders, and the despair curling his hands into fists.

My chest clenches, the need to protect him paralyzing, but as I try to extend the light, I’m met with refusal. Denial. The light claws back, and I think I’m going to suffocate on my own panic.

“August. How unfortunate that you’re here.”

“I thought we already had the conversation about dark magic,” he states, ignoring her comment as he continues toward us. A blink of a shadow behind him catches my eye, and I spot the familiar eyes of my sister.

Horror creeps up my spine, and this time, when my magic expands, it engulfs her, blanketing her in a protective light. My shoulders slump as her glare turns my way, but whatever is troubling her will have to wait.

“Dear brother, dark magic was made for me. Be ready to feel the full force of it. It’s coming just… your… way.” She spins with every pause until her eyes land on mine, confirming who her threat is aimed at before she disappears.

The hairs on my arms stand on end, my senses piqued as I search for her, but nothing comes.

Nothing.

“It’s okay, Addi. She’s gone,” my father assures me, but it takes a few more moments of silence before my magic eases.

The second the light drops, Nora storms toward me in a fit of rage. “What was that, Addi?”

“What was?—”

“Don’t ever do that again!”

I hold my hands up defensively, but my surrender does nothing to ease her fury.

“Nora—”

“Don’t speak to me right now. I was trying to help. If I could have gotten closer, I could have gotten in her head,” she roars, trembling with frustration.

“I already tried to attack her with my magic, Nora, but it went right through her. It’s like she wasn’t even here,” I try to explain, but her eyes only narrow.

“I told you not to speak to me,” she bites, her words cutting deep, bleeding me out as I gape at her helplessly.

“Respectfully, Nora, watch your tone.” Raiden’s voice booms from the tree line as he strolls toward us. I startle at his presence, but a moment later, Brody and Cassian are at his side.

“Listen, Fangs?—”

“No, Nora. You listen. I respect your will to fight, but you need to see past the end of your own nose.” I lift my hand at Raiden, silently telling him to shut the fuck up, but he pays me no mind as he approaches my sister. “First, she has no control over her protective magic. It does what it wants, when it wants. She’s helpless to it. Second, I love your sister with all of my heart, and when she tells me she loves me too, I believe her, but mark my words, there is no doubt that the person she loves most in the whole entire world isyou. If you want to protect this kingdom, which I think you deserve to do, you can’t just sneak up on her like that. She would give her life for you. Always. Without question. Remember that the next time you have a few choice words for her.”

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