Page 111 of The Vanishing Throne

I freeze when I see them, immediately thinking of Kiaran’s words.They say a crystal from the palace is still here, hidden somewhere.

A crystal. Just one. I ask warily, ‘Crystals?’

‘Of course, you ninny,’ Derrick says, fluttering across the upper balcony. ‘Crystals are the best for directing powers. Everyone knows that.’

I sigh with relief and open the balcony gate to follow him. My dress rustles against the rock as I edge toward Derrick, who is hovering in front of the crystals. Though the ledge is lined by a railing, I’m high enough up that the view makes my stomach clench.

Derrick presses his hands to a particularly large crystal. ‘These connect to theneimhead,’ he says with a soft smile. ‘The city is built right on top of it.’

‘Catherine told me about that,’ I say. ‘What do you use it for?’

‘Here.’ Derrick ushers me closer.

He grasps one of my fingers and presses it against the surface of the crystal.

Inside the rock, a light brightens. The pressure of my finger makes the surface ripple like water. I feel an electric current from my hand all the way to the tips of my toes, so full of energy that I shiver. It’s not an unpleasant feeling, but it’s warm, powerful.

‘You feel that?’ At my nod he says, ‘That’s theneimhead.’

‘You never told me anything about these,’ I say, pressing my fingers harder against the stone. It’s as though the crystal connects to something inside of me. Energy rushes through my veins, beneath my skin.

‘Most have been destroyed by human development,’ Derricksays. ‘This kingdom sits atop one of the most powerfulneimheadsin existence. It’s why we never needed to be part of the kingdoms to thrive separately.’ He smiles proudly. ‘Didn’t need those bastards.’

The energy from the crystal is actually making me feel light-headed. No wonder the fae built the old kingdom out of them, if they’re that powerful. ‘What does it do, then?’

Derrick flies to sit on the pointed edge of the crystal. As soon as he touches it, the glow inside grows, like light beneath water. ‘It’s the source of power that drives the entire city. I’ve heard it can be used for a lot of things, but right now we’re using it to amplify our power to keep the wards up.’ He grins slyly. ‘Why don’t you try?’

I pull away, startled. ‘Me?’

‘No, theotherredhead wearing a dress big enough to hide a herd of cattle.’ He reaches for my hand and grasps a finger to pull it back, but I resist. ‘Come on. This is not the time to be a coward. Don’t you want to see what you’re capable of?’

‘Well, of course I do—’

‘Then try.’ Derrick offers me an encouraging smile. ‘You just breathe it out like air. It’s not difficult.’ He waves a hand at me. ‘Now close your eyes.’

I arch a brow and sigh. ‘Really?’

He glares. ‘If you don’t close your eyes I’ll change that dress so quickly you’ll look like a furry citrus fruit before you can even call me a bastard.’

I scowl, but do as he asks. His wings buzz like a hummingbird’s and his feet are on my wrist as he presses my fingertips against the crystal.

I feel it again, the power inside me, like smooth water across my palm. I’m surrounded by the scent of the sea – salt and sand and wind above the city – as the touch of water becomes a current that flows over my skin, through my veins. As it heatsaround me, the air thickens and each breath becomes more and more difficult. A painful ache spreads through my chest.

Derrick is breathing hard, too. ‘You feel that?’ At my nod, he says. ‘Good. That’s your power.’

The pain blossoms, becoming more acute. At first I try to push through it, but then it lances through my body, quick and agonizing. I bite back a cry. ‘It hurts.’

‘You have a lot of it,’ he says shortly. ‘Now push it into the crystal, you silly thing, before you faint.’

Breathe it out, he’d said.

I do it slowly. With each breath, I nudge the power down my arm and into my hand. I press my palm into the hard surface of the crystal. It responds, becoming a soothing current again –like waves quelling fire. With every breath, the pain begins to ebb until finally,finally, it’s gone completely. And I feel like I’ve just run across the entire blasted countryside.

I open my eyes and Derrick is staring at the crystals with a growing smile on his face. ‘You did it,’ he says with a whoop. ‘Look at that!’

The crystals are shining, and when I look deep inside one of them, it’s as though there are stars turning in there. Whole galaxies I created. The entire line of crystals is aflame with light that brightens the top of the structure like beacons.

When I look at them, I don’t feel joy, or elation, or relief. The response was too too strong to ignore. I feel like I’ve gone three rounds with a redcap and almost lost. Something’s wrong.

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