Page 34 of A Storm of Fire and Ash
Makar’s voice echoed in my ears. “Once you sense that your shield is robust enough, visualize the act of sealingit. You might imagine it hardening or glowing, creating an even deeper sense of protection.”
But the thought of fire filled me with dread; fire was what destroyed everything I had ever held dear.
“I’m going to attempt to get into your head now. Don’t allow me in,” Makar warned, and I felt his magic probing at the edges of my thoughts, slipping into my memories. I recoiled at his intrusion; I did not want him in my head. I didn’t want anyone in my head.
Desperately, I began to envision a door. A massive door constructed from glistening white dragon scales encased the sanctuary of my mind. I visualized it vividly, focusing on every intricate detail. “That’s it, push me out,” Makar encouraged. “Think of more details. Imagine something powerful, something invincible.”
With determination, I imagined closing the door. As I did, the white-scaled door radiated with a soft glow, as if magical energy enveloped it. I envisioned vines wrapping around it, further shielding those precious scales and safeguarding my thoughts. Suddenly, the sensation of Makar’s presence receded, and I no longer felt him encroaching on my mind.
I opened my eyes, a rush of exhilaration coursing through me.
Makar’s jaw hung open in surprise.
“Did I do it?!” I asked, my excitement bubbling over.
“Um, yeah. You did. I’ve never worked with a Fae who managed that on their first try. Now, remember always to keep it up. No matter what. It would be easy for a Warlock to get into your mind and glamour what you are seeing. They could easily kill you. The same goes for Vampyrs. It will become second nature to you once you grow accustomed to it,” he replied with a slight hint of respect in his tone.
Vampyr. I got the chills just thinking about them. I didn’t know much, but I knew they were creepy and bald and had milky white eyes. They only come out at night.
Eryn nudged me gently, “And whenever you want to drop it, just simply open that door.”
“Can you get into my mind, too?” I asked her, curious about her abilities.
She chuckled before answering. “You have a lot to learn about the Fae. I’ll give you some books.” I felt a rush of embarrassment at my question, my gaze dropping to the ground. Eryn sighed softly, as if sensing my discomfort. “No, I can’t get into your mind. No Fae can mind-read unless you are a Royal Fae and have found your fated mate… Other than that, that’s just a Warlock and Vampyr thing.”
Just a fated mate thing… My curiosity deepened as I thought about the words from the goddess herself, and I asked hesitantly, “Can Royal Fae be mated to a human?”
Makar’s laugh echoed off the cliffside, deep and mocking. “Oh, yer cute. You think the prince is your mate?”
“Get out of my head, Makar!” I snapped, my irritation rising like a tide.
“Keep your shield up!” he barked back, his voice edged with tension.
Frustrated, I turned on my heel, needing to be alone. All I wanted was a hot bath to wash away the day’s burdens.
“Aw, come on, I’m only teasing!” he shouted after me, but I chose to ignore him, my mind swirling with thoughts.
Eryn caught up with me, her expression softening. “He means well, Elara,” she offered, her voice soothing.
I wiped a stray tear from my cheek, feeling foolish for letting his words affect me. “Yeah, well, he’s a prick! I’m surprised you didn’t knock him out when he brought up Gavrin. I didn’t realize you liked him so much,” I muttered.
Eryn’s demeanor shifted, a hint of defensiveness in her voice. “I don’t like him!”
“Oh, please,” I replied, smirking just a little. “I felt it when Makar brought his name up. You got butterflies in your stomach, and hearts shot out from your eyes.”
“I did NOT get heart eyes! Gavrin is just a friend,” she protested, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“Mhmm. Whatever helps you sleep at night…” I continued walking, half-joking. “Which appears to be Gavrin’s dick.” A chuckle escaped my lips, and Eryn retaliated by punching my arm playfully but with surprising strength, causing me to whimper slightly. “Hey! That fucking hurt!” I exclaimed, rubbing my arm where she had struck.
“He does have a pretty cock,” she replied, a mischievous smile lighting up her face. We both burst into laughter, our banter lifting the weight from our shoulders as we made our way back to the palace.
Once we reached our quarters, I turned to Eryn and thanked her. I probably should have thanked Makar, too, but he had pissed me off too much for that.
As I went to step into my room, Eryn halted me with a hand on my arm. “Hold on a sec,” she said, her voice suddenly serious. She dashed into her room and returned a moment later, cradling four books in her arms. “Here. Read these. You’ll learn all the history you need to know about Royal Fae, Non-Royals, Mer, Vampyrs, Warlocks, Dragons, and Mages. You can keep them when you’re done, if you’d like. I have no use for them anymore.”
I accepted the stack of books and looked down at them, feeling the weight of their knowledge. I quickly scanned the titles:‘A Court Divided: Tales of the Fae’, ‘Legends of the Flame’, ‘Tides of Blood: The Mer and Vampyrs’,and‘The Trials of the Sorcerers’.
“Legends of the Flame?”I asked, running my fingers along the finely tooled leather cover of the book, feeling the ridges and textures beneath my fingertips.
