Page 126 of A Dagger in the Ivy

CHapter

Forty-Six

Dante’s kiss still lingers on my lips, long after he shows me the secret passageway that goes from his room to the courtyard, where a congregation of bushes and trees provide enough cover for me to slip out without anyone noticing. Since I couldn't wander out in my nightgown, I'm dressed in a tunic and trousers that belonged to him when he was younger, and I'm reveling in being surrounded by his smell. It’s early dawn, too early for breakfast, and way too early for my lessons, but I need to find Ezra.

Torbin destroyed my powder days ago, and I can only hope that Ezra has some on hand. Otherwise, I’ll have to wait for him to prepare another batch.

But I also have some questions I hope he can answer.

The tingle in my arm seems to be expanding, and I need to find out why. It feels like a spark of energy swirling through my veins, like a buzzing tremble that’s growing, moving through my body.

I don’t want to get my hopes up by assuming my fae powers are finally manifesting, but I don’t know what else it could be.

I take a chance and go to the lesson room, which I find unlocked.The room is dark, and at first, I think Ezra isn’t there, but then a shuffling sound resonates from behind the desk. I venture farther into the room and try to peer past the stacks of books and scrolls and beakers of liquid.

I startle when his head pops up into view.

“Oh, Ezra.” I clutch a hand to my heart. “Why are you in the dark?”

He stands up straight and fixes his robes. “I guess my eyes must have adjusted.” He rounds the desk and studies me. “You’re up early. Is there something I can help you with?”

“Yes.” I come closer, feeling apprehensive about telling him about Torbin throwing my vanity across the room. There would be too many questions. I decide to leave some of the details out. “I need more of your relaxant powder.”

“Ah, yes. Of course. I must have misjudged the quantity. I was sure it would last you longer than this.”

I hold back a grimace. “I had more, but I lost some when I was out with the regiment.” It’s not a lie.

“Well, you’re in luck.” He moves to the shelf of ingredients. “I’ve already started a new batch, but I haven’t quite finished making it. It’s nearly done, though. Won’t take but a few minutes if you want to wait.”

“That’s good news.” I slide into my usual seat. “I’ll wait.”

I clench and unclench my hand, turning it over and studying it, as if I could see something different about it. But other than the scar left from Torbin stabbing me, it looks the same. Under the surface, however, there’s something else going on. With a deep breath, I gather my courage and voice the question that has been gnawing at my mind.

“Ezra?”

He looks up at me from his mortar and pestle. “Yes?”

“What did the fae do during the Age of Blood to protect themselves from those who sought to usurp their powers?”

The magister’s brows scrunch together, clearly caught off guard by my question. After a moment, he nods. “The fae faced countless threats during the tumultuous times of the Age of Blood. Many sought to exploit their powers for their own gain, unleashing chaos and destruction upon our lands. The fae faced trials and tribulations as theystruggled to preserve their ancient heritage in the face of relentless persecution. Some of the other lands used sirens and witches to try to overthrow the fae unless they gifted their powers to them. When confronted by their enemies in those dark times, the fae claimed to have gifted their powers to the gods, telling the leaders of the other realms that it was a deal made between them and the deities.”

“‘Gifted to the gods’?”

“That is what they claimed. That the gods took their powers, and in return the fae would be protected. There was much speculation about their claims, but in the end, it was effective in shielding them from those who sought to wield their magic for nefarious purposes.”

I let the words sink in, trying to make sense of it all. “If the fae were living without their powers, how were they able to protect themselves?”

“Ah, yes. The wolves.”

I lean forward. “‘The wolves’?”

“With the demise of the dragons, the relationship between the fae and the wolves, which had always been symbiotic, grew more prominent. The fae entered into a sacred covenant with the wolves, based on mutual respect and the recognition of each other’s strengths. The fae, using their ancient magic, enhanced the wolves’ natural abilities. This magic gave the wolves greater strength, intelligence, and longevity, making them formidable guardians. In return, the wolves swore loyalty to the fae, serving as their protectors in times of need.”

I feel as if it’s all starting to make sense. The wolves who are always around when I walk in my sleep, the wolves who howl in the distance when there’s trouble, it all comes back to the history fae share with them. A history that connects them to me.

“And so, the fae thrived, even without their powers. But in the Age of Silence,” Ezra explains, “the fae regained their powers, claiming that the gods had returned their magic to them.”

I furrow my brow, a nagging sense of doubt tugging at the corners of my mind as I struggle to reconcile the contradictions of history. “‘Returned their magic’? That seems a bit… convenient.”

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