Page 7 of Royal Lies

Well, whatever I got a book, yay!

"Where did you even find this?" I couldn't help but ask knowing that caster books and spell books in general were all believed to be highly guarded. Even such simple spells as these.

As if reading my thoughts, Eli explained even more, "You know, Everetta, spells are crafted from the very essence of nature. Since magic is the life force we harness within ourselves. There is-."

I rolled my eyes cutting him off, "I knowthat, you don't have to go into another speech.” I crossed my arms in front of my nonexistent chest as I trailed after him.

I really didn't want to have to listen to another one of his lectures. Man acts as if he knows everything when I don't think he does.

Peaking a glance towards him I started to read through the book as I walked. Five pages in and I wondered if there was a spell for reading through this book faster. I could ask Eli but he doesn't need any more of an ego boost than what he already has. No doubt, my admitting that I need help from him of all fae would make him feel so much more snobby than he already is. If there was, I'm sure I'll find it on my own. Five more pages in and I was about to ask until the guy suddenly stopped.

Bumping my nose against his back I frowned up at Eli, wondering what the hell was the hold up. What was there another werehound attack?

Sensing the air I didn't feel anything different. No change in energy. The wind was howling its normal chilly air. Not the deadly silent winter winds that came along when werehounds were afoot.

Haha, get it werehounds afoot? Wait, that's not funny. Why did I laugh?

"Well stop here to rest for the day,.”

Eli halted resting his things in the middle of the clearing.

"Are you serious, right now? Here? On the ground? We couldn't just rest back at the fucking inn?" I gawked at the guy while also managing to give him my fiercest glaring down. Pointing a thumb back toward where I think we came from.

I mean seriously the inn had beds.

Beds for magics sake!!!

Eli rolled his eyes pulling out a blanket from his pack, "This is far safer.” I rolled my own eyes at the stupid answer but I settled down my things as well. Hey as long as we get to finally rest I'll take it. Who knows when the next rest period will be? Plus constantly casting that spell to help prevent us from needing sleep was getting a little tiring. Like I said, just because we didn't need to sleep didn't mean we weren’t drained from having to be constantly on the move.

Like what was the rush anyway? Maybe he really was an aristocrat on the run.

Unhinging the bag from my shoulders-

Wait, I could put this in my box! This way I don't have to lug around a heavy ass bag anymore!

I smiled doing exactly that. Earning a glare from Eli.

So worth it.

"Fine." I mean, I knew what he meant. We're less likely to be noticed here than in the inn but, this wasn't really any safer. I mean we had werehounds to look out for especially on a night like this. It'd be a miracle if we don't get scented out within five minutes.

As if sensing my thoughts Eli shot a narrowed gaze at me, "We'll be taking turns on the night watch. So your first since I was first last time, I'll have you know."

With that, the fucking asshole just went to sleep turning his back at me huddled in his warm small makeshift sleeping bag. I gawked at him glaring at his back as I started to ruthlessly skin the werehound I'd stored in my magic box.

"Just so you know I'm getting more of the meat," Sticking my tongue out I turned towards a retreating Eli, only to have him wave a hand back tucking himself into his little blanket.

Guess the guy was tired. I didn't even know hecouldget tired. He was the one who suggested we keep hiking without more rest. Either way, he was still an asshole.

Within five minutes I've skinned the werehound into a nice neat pile. Another good thing, the meat still seemed, smelled, and looked as red as an apple and as fresh as newly brewed wine. The marbling on the meat was simply divine too. I smiled. Now we won't have to starve and be able to eat good meat. I do love me some werehound meat.

Makes me thankful that I found Eli as quickly as I did because now my magic is coming back in leaps and bounds. Hmm, I wonder if I'm able to perform more magic now, does that also mean I have a greater supply of life energy in my system? Let's see, I wonder if it would be possible for me to sense my own energy? So, I could see how much magic I had. If I recall sensing someone else energy is simply focusing your mind on the person you want to see the energy of. Then you'd focus on your general environment to get the scope of the energy around you. Rightnow sensing energy is like a second skin to me. So maybe if I focus on myself.

Closing my eyes I tried to close off the sounds around me.

Focus. Focus. Focus. There!

A bright globe illuminated the core of my being. It was as if I was outside of my own skin as I stared at my life energy. I noted the abnormality of it all. It was larger than the others I've seen so far. Does that mean the larger the life energy the greater the magic one would be able to perform?

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