Page 69 of Of Withering Dreams
She beamed. “You read. I persuade people to tell me stuff. It helps that they know it’s the most effective way for me to stop hounding them and/or waving my blade close to their tender bits.”
Letti and I snorted at the same time. This woman was absurd. Absolutely, delightfully absurd.
“I’ve got to get out of here. See you later, Ser,” Kaden grumbled, pecking me on the cheek before stomping away with his green formal attire.
I sighed, knowing that he was most likely going to chew Gavrel a new orifice. I couldn’t fathom how his brother hadn’t known about this—as an elite commander in the Order. Just another secret he’d kept locked away.
“That is gorgeous, Ryn. That’s the one,” Breena said, holding up a ruby-colored dress. “Now, do me.”
I chuckled. “You’re going to look astonishing, Bree.”
“Yes. Yes, I will.”
“Also, this is the only black gown there is. So, yes—it is the one.”
“And what a stunner it is.” She called after me as I left with my dress bundled in my arms, chuckling.
As I entered my room, a glimmer caught my eye. A satchel and four glass vials, each the size of my pinky finger, sat on the end of my bed. I picked up the folded parchment next to the gifts, reading the looping, feminine script.
Seryn,
Keep the vials safe at all times. A little birdy found what we were talking about. I thought whisking these up would be an excellent Winnowing gift for my favorite girl. Albeit a sneaky one, you are. There is one still left where you hid it, by the by. The little birdy won’t sing for anyone else, so don’t you worry.
Now, if you recall, all you need is to add a few drops and then drink it under a full moon. It may take some time for the tonic to work.
I hope this isn’t too forward, dear. But I also made a special tea blend for you … in case you were in need of a … preventative. Just use it the day after you take a roll in the garden. I know how these grand balls can be.
Hugs,
Your favorite alchemist
It was indeed too forward. My. Cheeks. Were. On. Fire. How did Derya know I hadn’t … rolled in the garden … with Kaden yet? I brushed my fingers over the tea satchel and then covered my face, groaning into my hands. The woman didn’t waste any time when she set her mind to something. Did she have a store of ingredients lying around somewhere? She never ceased to amaze and exasperate me all at once.
A dry chuckle escaped, and then I shrugged, storing the blend in the drawer of my nightstand. Forward but thoughtful, considering I wasn’t ready to have children yet … especially if I wouldn’t remember how they were made. But did it matter that we were in our astral forms? I suppose it wouldn’t hurt either way.
Sighing, I picked up one vial, shaking the fine gray powder within. In the light, it sparkled with flecks of silver. Derya had made the Mirage Orchid concoction sans blood. I rolled the smooth glass between my thumb and first two fingers, struggling to swallow the lump in my throat.
The possibilities were endless. We could save these for any mishaps during the trials. Or was it possible that they could heal memory damage caused by the Dormancy pods? Would it work on an astral form?
Heart twitching in nervous anticipation, I found my black leather pouch and secured the vials. I dug my talisman from my pocket, and as I ran my thumb over it, its usual prickle of energy met my skin. I dropped it in the pouch for good measure, wrapping the long cord around it and tying it tightly.
We’d need all the help we could get.
25
PRUNED
Over the next few weeks, our team prepared as best we could. Sparring. Working with our ember. Researching various creatures and how to defeat them.
Preparations for the ball and Winnowing Trials had the palace staff, including Letti, in a tizzy. The Great Hall, the library, and everywhere in between were far more busy than I’d ever seen.
My eyes stared absently at the wide expanse of grass ahead of me. The training field was abuzz with excitement and activity, people moving in and out of the forest.
My ember hummed along my skin as I practiced with it. I looked down at my forearms, the glowing branches slowly spreading from my fingers to my biceps, my nape thrumming eagerly. Kaden and Breena were on either side of me, their auras whirring over their bodies. They’d been helping me work with my ember methodically since I lost control all those months ago.
My gift had something to do with absorbing other Druik’s auras. What that meant, I wasn’t entirely sure yet, but little by little, I’d loosened the reins on it to see what my limitations were. To sharpen my control.
To avoid hurting anyone again.
