Page 38 of A Fate Unwoven
“I want to see her.”
When Dimas paused, Lenora lifted her chin, the hum of her power vibrating through his bones. Before, he’d only felt slivers of her magic through the connection they shared, its strength weak whilst the bond between Lady Sefwyn and his father was still in transference. But standing before him now, her magic was so raw, soprimal,that it set Dimas’s teeth on edge. This was the uncontrolled power his father had warned him of. The kind of power that, if left unchecked, could bring Wyrecia to its knees.
He needed to get Lenora on his side. Now.
“Ioseph.” It was all he needed to say for the guard to retreat into the watchtower.
Ioseph returned a few moments later with Maia at his side, her green eyes blazing with pure defiance. That defiance softened when she saw Lenora, and Dimas imagined it was only Ioseph’s presence at her side that stopped the young girl from running into her friend’s arms.
“I was never going to hurt her,” Dimas said, voice low. “I needed to get you to meet with me, and this … this was the only way to ensure you would. I didn’t want to resort to such drastic measures, but we’re running out of time.”
Lenora’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Dimas paused, considering what to tell her. In the end, he decided to go with the truth. “Your power is … unpredictable. Most successors to the Fateweavers’ magic undergo years of training before receiving their abilities, but you have had none. The bond between us offers you some protection, and once the Rite of Ascension is complete, that protection will grow, but if you don’t learn to control your power, it will consume you until there is nothing left.”
He left out the part about theHæsta.There was no point bringing upthatparticular piece of information until he knew more about their motivations.
Lenora’s jaw tightened, the first sign his words were making an impact. Hope flared to life in Dimas’s chest.I’ve almost got her.
“There’s still time,” he said, taking a cautious step toward her. “Come with me to the imperial palace, and I’ll ensure you receive the training you need.”
His Fateweaver hesitated, her hands clenching into fists at her side as something unreadable passed over her features. “If I come with you, my friends will be safe?”
“Oh, we’ll be safe,” Maia interjected, “my brother made sure of that.”
The Fateweaver stiffened. “What are you talking about?”
“He made a deal,” Maia said before Finæn could answer, her lip curling. “He agreed to help the prince find you in exchange for a position in the royal guard.”
The look that crossed Lena’s face made Dimas’s heart ache. “Is that true?” she asked, her voice deadly quiet as she turned to look at Finæn.
Finæn winced but held his chin high. “I did it to protect you.”
“Howcouldyou—”
“Enough!” Dimas held up his hand, cutting off whatever Lenora had been about to say. His Fateweaver was on the edge of losing control already; if she fell now, there would be no chance of getting her back.
Lenora turned her furious glare on him, her usually stormy-gray eyes flashing an unearthly silver.
“We’re wasting time,” he said, softening his voice. Ice-cold fear pooled in his stomach. “Your power is already unstable. You feel it, don’t you?”
For a moment, he thought she was going to deny it. To fall off the edge and into oblivion right there before them all. But then the silver in her eyes faded, and she gave a single, cautious nod.
“Yes.”
He let out a breath. “I can help you. I promise I can. All I ask in return is that you take your place as my Fateweaver.” He took a hesitant step toward her, afraid one sudden movement would shatter the fragile truce he was starting to build. “Do you accept?”
For a moment, Dimas thought she was going to refuse him. The hum of power around her surged, and for the first time, Dimas could see the threads surrounding her, surroundingthem,a tapestry of the world’s past, present, and future before his very eyes.
They blazed to life as Lena lifted her head, as she stared into Dimas’s eyes and said the words that would change their fate.
“I do.”
PART
II
“In the end, the Fateweaver is the most
