Page 108 of A Blightress of Wrath
“Wedon’t have time,” she burst.Sheshoved her fingers through her hair, unbinding the yellow strands as she did so. “Allthe cards are on the table.TheBlightressknows our hand.Wehave yet to fully understand hers and she is unpredictable at best, all-consuming death and destruction at worst.”
“Iknow all of this,”Igritted through my teeth.
“ThengetSaelynto help us.Dowhat you need to do because we can’t wait for her to catch up on what’s going on here.”Shedropped her hand from my shoulder and crossed her arms at her chest. “She’slovely,Thevin.Butshe does not understand the sacrifice of war like we do.Nomatter what you explain to her, she has been hidden away in that forest for the entirety of her life, blissfully unaware of what raged outside of it.Showme you understand what needs to be done.Forher sake and all of ours.”
Thatpressing truth settled in at her words.WeneededSaelyn’spower to win this war.AndIwas going to have to be the one to help her see that.
Chapter49
Saelyn
TheBaronofFelgrenwatched me in the mirror, pulling my dark locks into an intricate braid, securing my hair for the trip across the isle to theBlightLine.
Shedid not study me as my mother.Shelooked me over as a leader of the isle, silent and staring, thoughts flickering across her brow in confusion and deep thought.
Iwas nervous.Notto seeThevinagain after our kiss in the hallway, but to get to theBlightLineand witness the real toll of this war that raged because of me.
Itook my mother’s hand in mine as she finished her work, securing my hair with leather ties at the back. “Thankyou,Mother.I’llgo get dressed.”
Shestopped me, squeezing my hand and speaking to me as we both looked into the mirror. “Youfelt theBlightresscoming, butI’vebeen wondering how she knew you had arrived here in the first place.”
Igulped, truly unsure of how theBlightressknew. “I-Idon’t know.”
Herblack eyes shifted across my face in assessment. “Ihave not trained you in magic, thoughIknow you possess it.Agreat amount of it, in fact.”
Ibit down on my lips, keeping her stare.
“Didyou…use any magic yesterday?” she asked carefully, tilting her head to the side. “Whenyou savedThevinfrom drowning, how did you do it?”
Mybrows furrowed. “Isaw him sinking in the water and dove after him.”
“And?Didyou try your hand at magic to get him to breathe again?”
“No, butI—”Ithought back to my split decision in the water.WhenIhad realized that massive fish was coming for him, my instincts told me to follow in the footsteps of my mother and create a portal—the last magicI’dseen her use. “Idid try to create a portal…like the oneIsaw you form before we left.”
Sheclosed her eyes in a grimace.
“I’msorry!”Iturned around in my chair to face her. “Ididn’t knowIwasn’t supposed to, andIjust saw another fish coming for him, soIjust pulled my hands apart like you did and?—”
“It’salright,” she murmured, stroking my hair, “just tell me what happened when you tried.”
“Well, there was a bright white light—just like how my magic presents itself.Butthe fish avoided the light at the last second, andIgrabbedThevinand got to the surface.”
Shenodded.
“Isthat how she knew?Shefelt me use my power for something big?”
“Iam sure of it.YouandIalong with your father have power that is connected to theBlightressmore than any other magic wielders on the isle.Idon’t doubt she’s been waiting to feel you summon yours in full force.”
“Iam truly sorry then,”Imurmured.
“Don’tbe,LittleLove.”Shelifted my chin, kissing my forehead like she used to do. “Youwere saving your friend, and that is the best reason to use your power.”
“ButIshouldn’t try anything else, right?”
“Ihave not taught you magic becauseIdid not want her to know the extent of what you hold.Yourown father wondered at the power you possessed even growing in my womb.Ihave feared all your life that she would take you and use you to return the power that was once hers.Allmagic on this isle comes from her, but that does not mean she gets to take it from you.Whenwe reach the ruins, we will convene as theFourand you will have options with how you would like to proceed in this fight for your father and the isle.”
Isquared my shoulders and rose, taking a last look in the mirror and heading to the closet to get dressed. “Theseruins are at theBlightLine, correct?Wherewe’ll meet the last leader of theFour?”
