Page 25 of The Tribes of Magic
“It’s ludicrous to wait in line to speak tohumans.”
Queen Seriana gave her son a frosty look. “They have earned the right to plead their case to join the Court, Wyxl.”
“The Court is far too easily impressed.”
“It was certainly impressive.” The Princess stole a not-so-furtive glance at me.
I pretended not to notice.
“Did you see the way she made everyone in the room stop? I have never seen anyone do anything like it.”
So Queen Seriana wasn’t the only one who’d noticed I was behind the spell that had bewitched everyone. Fantastic.
“You are far too easily impressed too. It’s thinking like that which makes me glad you will never be queen, little princess.”
“I’m not a ‘little princess’ to you, dimwit. I’m your sister. So stop calling me stupid little impersonal nicknames, thinking it makes you sound so scary and cool.” She stuck her pretty painted finger in his really pale face. “Because you aren’t scaryorcool, Wyxl.”
The line started moving again, carrying them along.
My head wasn’t spinning so much anymore. Carefully, slowly, I pushed off from the wall, but Prince Fenris swooped in and cut me off before I could make my retreat from the ballroom.
“Savannah Winters,” he said silkily.
“Prince Fenris,” I replied, just as silkily.
His mouth twisted into a cold smile. “You were there yesterday, at the Spirit Tree.”
“Yes,” I said. “And you’re welcome, by the way.”
His blond eyebrows squeezed together.
“For saving the Many Realms,” I explained, smiling.
“Oh, no. You don’t get to claim credit for that. The Spirit Trees were only in danger because of terrorists fromyourrealm.” He took a step toward me, his tall body looming over me, eclipsing me entirely.
I folded my arms over my chest, trying to keep my voice steady. “Ok, so if you aren’t here to thank me, then why did you walk over to me?”
“To warn you.”
Fenris was seriously terrifying. It was a good thing my arms were squeezed to my chest. That’s the only reason my hands didn’t shake.
“I know what you are,” he told me.
I stared back at him, defiant. “And what is that?”
He leaned down and whispered into my ear, “You’re aPolymage.” The word was a threat on his lips. “And Polymages are nothing but trouble.”
Then he pivoted around and strode off to speak to Queen Seriana.
I fell back against the wall. I was still trying to calm my racing pulse when Kato came up to me. “What did Fenris want?”
I blinked. “Kato? What are you doing here? I thought the General wanted you by his side.”
“The General saw you with Fenris and sent me over to talk to you. He thinks you two are conspiring together to get on his nerves.”
I choked out a laugh.
“Yes, the General is paranoid.” Kato leaned against the wall next to me. “It looked like Fenris was threatening you.”
