Page 44 of Desire

“Which is why our charms flare,” he said with a nod. “Today, let’s try to focus on control and how to draw from a specific source.”

“What about the coin?” I asked. “It’s connected to the man who had it. And he’s connected to…something dangerous.” I spoke the word, knowing it was true but uncertain why. Was the coin leading to Maeve? Was it her magic I’d felt?

“I’ll melt the coin and see if that takes care of the spell,” Liam said.

It didn’t simply takeme the remainder of the day to learn how to control the energy that flooded the well. It tookfivefrustrating days before I successfully killed a single tree, during which time the trackers made no move to attack again.

“Well done,” Garron said, beaming.

I set my hand on the decaying tree’s trunk but felt no joy.

“Well done?” I echoed. “I stole the energy from a living thing until it withered and died. That’s nothing to celebrate, Garron.”

“You’re right. That isn’t. It’s your control we’re celebrating. If you can control the energy you draw, you can stop before killing anything. Now, feel what’s around you, and choose your source.”

“Again?”

“Again, until your well is bursting with energy.”

I frowned and focused on my well. Even with the lid in place, I could feel the energy of the tree within it. But it had no depth. No notable volume. Neither the energy of the tree nor the capacity of the well.

“How many trees would your well contain?” I asked.

“Not even a full tree,” he admitted. “But Henry was different. Like you. This glade was filled with trees. He drained dozens but not to the point they withered since he wanted to fell the trees for the cottage. He held it all within him and used the energy to create our drinking well. The next draw, he gathered and used more energy to create the cottage. The glade started to take shape.”

“How old were you?”

“Too young to remember, honestly. But Henry told the story many times.”

“How many trees did it take to cast the spell for the barrier?” I asked.

“More than he could hold, which is why he needed to use some of himself.”

I looked out at the trees. “I think I’m different, Garron,” I said softly. “I think I could create a path of dead trees right to Turre.”

“Can you feel Turre?” he asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

“I’m too afraid to try,” I admitted. “I’d prefer to learn how to conceal myself from others first.”

Over the last several days, while learning to control which energy I consumed, I’d also learned how to feel magic in others. I could feel Garron’s ability when he allowed it. However, he knew how to hide it at will. He’d wanted me to master control before attempting to teach me anything more.

“That’s wise of you to wait,” Garron said.

“It’s my turn,” Eadric said, scooping me into his arms.

Glad for the reprieve but not showing it, I arched a brow at him.

“It’s time to eat,” he insisted. “You haven’t had anything for hours.”

“I just ate a pastry.”

“This morning. It’s midday now.”

I glanced at the sky and realized he was right. I’d spent hours with Garron again. When I glanced at the cooking fire, I saw the others gathered there. Though they understood why I spent so much time with Garron and never complained, they were impatient for their share. It required being creative in how I gave it.

Edmund braided my hair every morning and night. Eadric fed me every meal while someone else held me. They took turns sleeping beside me at night. It never seemed like enough, though. It was a miracle they allowed me to walk on my own two feet.

Eadric deposited me on Daemon’s lap. Daemon’s arms wrapped around me, and I trailed my fingers over the scar the knife wound had left.

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