Page 18 of Blooms of Darkness

A group of children gathered around one of the fountains in the middle-class area of Ellevail as we passed. A boy gathered water in his hands, shaping it like a flower and handing it to one of the girls, much to the delight of her friends.

I nudged Ian’s shoulder to get him to look.

“Don’t embarrass him by having the princess watching him flirt,” he scolded.

“I would think the princess being impressed would only improve his standings.”

Ian snorted. “You know nothing about boys.”

Shoving Ian playfully, I sprinted ahead of him as we rounded some of the shops that always had the most beautiful displays.

While Fae didn’t use their magic for everything they did, many clearly presented it proudly. Liam Dorian, the local butcher, unmistakably fed his animals crops enhanced by his exceptional earth magic. His meats were enormous and tasted divine. While Matricia Maygan’s dresses flew off the shelves because of the incredibly soft, fine silks she created and strung together better than anyone else.

I attempted not to feel as though I didn’t contribute anything, but it hurt some days, witnessing Ellevail thriving with their magic intertwined throughout everyday life.

“Race you to the gates,” Ian shouted, sprinting ahead.

“Cheater!” I yelled, my sides aching, even if my strength had improved greatly after all these months.

The clear distinction between the societal castes of Fae in our world were evident everywhere, but especially in Ellevail. Themoment one passed the imaginary line separating the middle from the lower, it seemed like a different city altogether. The bustling bright streets were dimmer, the colors muted. The magic here weaker and harder to see as readily, and most of the lesser Fae performed jobs for the middle and upper classes. Jobs they couldn't accomplish solely with magic.

Ian tagged the gate before I’d even rounded the last corner of the street.

“Now, back to the palace.” He ran by before I could protest.

I groaned. Ian knew I hated the run back. Ellevail’s city cascaded slightly downhill from the palace, the city stretched out in front of it, requiring us to returnuphill.

We took another street back to the palace, this one busier, and people shouted and waved at me and Ian as we ran past them.

I watched my people with a genuine smile on my face, and even the ragged breaths I had trouble getting in couldn’t stop me from enjoying it.

Besides, I didn't want to appear weak in front of them, so regardless how winded I became, I still ran.

Ian slowed to a stop once we entered the official palace grounds around the side entrance.

A stitch in my ribs had me gasping. Almost immediately, my vision blurred.

I swallowed, lifting my arms over my head to help air flow into my lungs just as Ian taught me, but the stabbing pain in my ribs hit too close to the already irritated scar. The lack of breath took me back to dark places. Dark dreams.

What can you see? What can you feel? What can you hear?Elisabeth’s voice sounded in my head.

I can see the leaves on the trees, swaying in the breeze. I can feel my tunic tight around my body, skintight, but supportingme for ease of motion. I can feel my toes inside my shoes, and the dull ache in my calves.

I breathed, my vision clearing, bringing me back.

I couldn’t often fight off panic attacks when they came, and a tear pooled in my eye as I gratefully grounded myself more firmly in the here and now.

The sound of a throat clearing came from the shadows near the edge of the training pit, and Corbin emerged. A scar ran down the length of his face, adding to his already intimidating stature. Working in the stables certainly helped his natural physique. He raised his head toward Ian, the sunlight gleaming off the strip of copper hair pulled back over the shaved sides of his scalp. Next to him, Kalliah rose from a wooden bench along the wall.

I knew, given the large request from Storm and Kade, the men had a lot of work to do. “No rest for the Hidden Henchman, huh?” I whispered, pinching Ian’s side.

He ran toward Corbin, while I remained behind, entering the pit to cool down and work on my flexibility with a bit of stretching. I grew stronger every session, every week. I’d started scared and wobbly, and I developed and grew, strengthening my muscles to make up for the fact I couldn’t strengthen my magic.

Kalliah approached.

“Want to join me?” I grinned, still recovering my breath.

She kicked out a foot, showing the brown flats she wore when she strode around the palace grounds or with me in my chambers. “Sadly, I’m not prepared. By sadly I mean, thankfully.”

---