Page 23 of The Tribes of Magic
I released my control over everyone. Immediately, I felt a rush of relief—and lots of dizziness. Kato caught me before I tumbled to the floor.
“Thanks,” I muttered.
I tried to regain my balance, but my head was pounding like a jackhammer. And it didn’t help when all the leaders of the ManyRealms surged toward the President and the General, talking very loudly. Some shouted in protest. Others laughed.
But one thing was for sure:no onewas ignoring the Gaian delegation anymore.
“Mission accomplished.” The dizziness had subsided enough for me to give Kato a thumbs up.
“You’re insane.” He took my arm and led me around the back of the very tall chocolate fountain, away from the shouting, laughing, debating Court delegates. He watched the delegates fight for a chance to speak to the President and the General. “That was averyrisky move, Seven. And very impressive. How did you manage to enchant all of them? And for so long?”
“I have no idea.” I shook my head. “I was upset. And then it just happened. The spell just exploded out of me.”
“Exploded out of you? Just like the avalanche you made this morning.” Kato’s hand made an absentminded move for the magical disc attached to his shoulder armor.
“Don’t worry. I’m fine now. I won’t bury the Many Realms Court in snow.”
“An avalanche might have been preferable,” he said quietly. “The Court is more likely to forgive being buried in snow than they will excuse having their freewill ripped away from them.”
I nibbled on my lip. “Well, I didn’t actuallymeanto do it. I just got so mad. And then it happened.”
“So emotions are a trigger for your magic.”
“I guess so.”
His frown deepened.
I forced a smile. “At least no one saw me perform the spell. They were too busy ignoring me. Wait, you don’t think they thinkyoudid it, do you?” My smile faded.
Across the room, the General met Kato’s eyes and gave him a slight nod, which appeared to be the Iron Wolf’s way of telling him to get his butt over there ASAP.
“Don’t worry about me, Seven. I can deal with them. I’m more worried about you. You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“I’m fine. You’d better go before that angry, twitching vein in the General’s neck bursts.”
Kato turned to me, setting his hands on my shoulders. “Are you sure?”
“Go. Now that no one is ignoring us, Gaia finally has a chance to make allies. I’ll be fine here. I’m sure I can manage not to collapse until you return.” I leaned my back against the wall for support. “See? I look so suave, no one will even know I nearly fainted.”
Kato didn’t look like he bought my confident smile, but the General wasn’t giving him any choice. His subtle nod had quickly escalated into a crisp, agitated flick of his finger.
I watched the General. “I wonder how long you’d have to stand here before he starts jumping up and down like a chicken.”
“Let’s not find out.” Kato took a step away from me, then he whipped back around. “Promise me you will stay here until you can walk without running into the walls.”
“Cross my heart and hope to die.” I set my hand over my chest.
“I’m serious, Seven.”
I winked at him. He rolled his eyes, then strode off toward the General like a Knight marching to war. Meanwhile, I continued to lean against the wall, hoping I wasn’t leaving a sweat stain on it. This room was really hot.
An elegant woman in a gold dress stopped in front of me. I remembered watching her from the balcony above. From a distance, her gold dress had stood out in the crowd. Up close, it was almost blinding. And her skin was so perfect, so smooth that I was tempted to reach out and squeeze her cheeks to see if it was real.
I checked the urge. I’d already caused enough trouble as it was.
Her dark gaze drank me in. “You are Savannah Winters, the girl who saved the Spirit Trees.”
“That’s me.” I went for a casual shrug, but I only kind of pulled it off. It was really hard to shrug when you needed to lean against the wall so you didn’t face-plant on the floor. “And you are?”
