Page 78 of Turret

Quinn startled at my gasp of surprise. “What is it?”

It took me a moment to speak, my gaze transfixed to the golden light shining from the soil. “My tear…it’sglowing.”

By his furrowed brow he clearly remained perplexed, but it was impossible to find words adequate to describe something I myself didn’t understand.

The bulb of golden light shone around us before it quivered and began to move, creating a trail that paused some yards away, as if waiting for us to follow.

I tugged Quinn after me as I scrambled to my feet and hurried after it. Even though he had no idea what we were following, he obediently accompanied me without question. I wanted to explain, but the speed I exerted to follow the light left me breathless and words impossible.

With every twist and turn we wove through the enchanted palace grounds, passing many of the garden’s endless wonders that I ached to explore after years of experiencing them secondhand through Briar’s stories. But the light seemed intent on a particular destination as it created a golden trail through the flowerbeds, leading us somewhere I couldn’t even begin to imagine.

The golden trail continued to wander alongside the flora and hedgerows, venturing deeper into the garden…before stopping within a clump of trees where a single gate stood between two elms. My breath caught and I froze, for I recognized where we were despite never having been here myself.

Briar had once told me of a place within the grounds that could only be discovered if the garden led you to it, a place he knew of even if he’d never entered it himself. From his stories, I knew that the garden beyond the gate nestled between two trees was a wishing garden, which contained a rare but precious plant.

For a moment I stood transfixed before lifting a hesitant hand to graze the gate’s handle. I knew it would be locked—the wishing garden guarded its plants fiercely, even from their sovereign—so I was astonished when at my touch the lock clicked and the gate opened soundlessly.

“Where are we?” Quinn asked in a reverent whisper, somehow sensing, even without sight, that where we stood was special. “By the shade and scent of pine I know we’re within a grove of trees. Are we in the woods?”

“We’re in a secret area of the garden,” I murmured. “Within a clump of trees which act as sentries for a special place the garden keeps very protected, but the gate…” I was too awed to finish, but with the way his eyes widened he clearly understood.

He followed as I took a few hesitant steps and peered over the gate’s threshold. I wasn’t entirely sure what I expected to find within a garden special enough to be kept under constant lock and key, though it was definitely something extraordinary. But instead all that greeted me was a small clearing completely enclosed by trees surrounding one growing in the center, which contained golden bulbs of light hanging from the branches.

“It’s a tree,” I whispered, desperate to share this extraordinary vision with Quinn. “Golden light grows from it like fairy fruit. It’s breathtaking…but whatisit?”

A wishing tree.

I startled at the soft, gentle voice that flowed through the surrounding branches, as if part of the wind itself. The garden. Though I’d never been one to understand it, somehow within this place Icould; its whispered words wove through the trees to caress my hearing.

This is a special place, the garden continued.One we rarely allow anyone to enter. But because of the peace and joy filling your heart despite your trials, we offer you a gift, a wish.

At its words, the golden trail reappeared, creating a path that led to the tree. “A wish…” I murmured as I stepped closer, my gaze riveted to the magical fruit dangling from the branches, which despite the autumn season were shrouded in emerald leaves. With every step closer, the light emanating from the fruit grew brighter, beckoning me to pluck them.

You can only take one.

I lowered my hand and turned towards Quinn, the only one meant to accept such a precious gift. Sensing my desires, he immediately shook his head. “No Gemma, you should be the one to accept the wish.”

My brows lifted in surprise. “You understood the garden?”

“I did, and I could never accept something so precious in your place. Imagine, Gemma: you could be healthy forever.”

I glanced towards the tree, seeking confirmation from the garden.The condition that ails you can easily be healed through the garden’s magic.

For a moment I was too startled to even breathe. It was a desire I’d spent a lifetime wishing for. For a moment I allowed myself to envision a future free from the illness that had plagued my entire life. My heart swelled with yearning…but there was an emotion far stronger than even my greatest desire.

Love.

If a wish from the garden was powerful enough to heal, then I knew exactly how I wanted to use such a gift. “And what of Quinn’s sight? Is the wish’s magic strong enough to restore it?”

Beside me, Quinn stiffened with shock. “No, Gemma, I could never—”

The wish cannot undo his curse, the garden said, an answer that caused my heart to sink.But it can offer something else,a small…exceptionto the curse, one area where it cannot have power.

Quinn’s breath hooked and hope lit his eyes…before it once more dimmed. “But I couldn’t. Gemma…what is my sight to your health?”

“And what is my health to your sight?” I demanded. “Quinn, surely you realize the wish can only be given to you. There is nothing that will bring me greater happiness than for you to see something. Please, Quinn.”

He stared at me for a long moment before he cradled my face to stroke my cheeks with his thumbs. “Oh, Gemma. Dear, dear, Gemma.” He pressed the softest kiss to my brow before glancing towards the wishing tree. “Can I choose the one thing I’ll always be able to see?”

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