Page 58 of Research with Rivals
The density of the forest increased as we approached the base of the mountain. Leaves and branches made for less visibility, like anything could be hidden here. Almost like how the details of my shift, or of how to wield my fire with more precision, the truths of how to unlock the rest of my Vesten magic unaided, were elusive. Ambrose’s explanation had made a difference, quickly. But now that I knew it was within reach, I wanted to complete the cycle without candies given to train children.
Then I couldn’t focus on anything but the climb. Compass Lake was nestled in the mountains—the perfect natural defense for the fae courts.
My legs burned as the climb steepened. We stuck close to the switchbacks, but just off the main path in case we encountered anyone. I wasn’t used to running such long distances in my shifted form. Ambrose didn’t seem bothered by it; his energy never wavered. When not nipping at my heels, he would turn the corners first to check for other travelers on the path.
Finally, we crested the pass, and I caught my first glimpse of Compass Lake. Each of the four fae courts had a house that sat around the perfectly circular lake. House, even estate, was an understatement. They were manors, each with their own individual style representing the court.
From our current vantage point, three of the four houses were visible. Only Norden House was tucked entirely away by tree cover. I had read enough to know that Norden House was like a stone castle. It was an austere building and an imposing sight, which I looked forward to encountering as we neared. Osten House was on the eastern shore. Instead of tall and imposing, it sprawled across the property like a sophisticated ranch. On the southern shore was Suden House. The only thing I could say from here was that it looked warm and inviting, which was not at all what I thought of when I considered the earth fae. The property was filled with trees, blurring the lines between Suden and our target, Vesten House.
I sucked in a breath as I took in the center of our court. Vesten House looked like an enormous log cabin. Some might have thought it simple, but I could tell from here that every detail of the house, every piece of wood used, had been chosen with care.
My mom and I, along with my father before he left, had lived in a one-room log cabin north of Sandrin. In my memories ofthe place, it was warm, and the rich wood walls were a symbol of peace and safety. Similar to the way my veil cat viewed the forest. Vesten House looked nothing like our first home, of course, but I had a hard time finding it imposing. I wondered if the woods represented a place of security to all Vesten.
The gray wolf in front of me turned as if to check my progress. I’d halted to survey the lake. This was my first time here. I hadn’t thought much about that during our travels. Similar to my past thoughts on Vesten Library, Compass Lake was a destination I’d assumed I would never have cause to visit. It hadn’t been a happy thought, just a fact. The seats of power for the fae courts were for … fae. And not everyone believed I qualified.
An image flashed through my mind: me, moving to Compass Lake with Mom when I won the Vesten historian position. I wouldn’t be arriving as a guest but as one of them, a half-fae they couldn’t continue to dismiss.
I shivered and forced my paws forward. It was a beautiful dream, but the position wasn’t mine, and wanting it, like wanting Ambrose, would only bring disappointment.
My thoughts crystallized into crisp focus on what we were doing here—how we’d break the blood magic between gods and Compass Points when Ambrose and I couldn’t even deal with the magic connecting us. I followed the large gray wolf through the pass.
The sprint down the mountain was much easier than scaling it. I could avoid the pathways while chasing after Ambrose. We fell into this rhythm the rest of the way to the foot of the mountain. As we reached the edge of Compass Lake Village, magic sizzled within me. It was more alive than I’d ever experienced. On instinct, I reached for the fire without a candy. It ignited with barely a thought, and I shifted back into my half-fae form.
I didn’t have time to enjoy my success. As I shifted, I stumbled under the sheer force of the magic surrounding me. It must be true what they said about this place, that it was the origin point for the fae, that this was a place of great power on the continent.
A solid form caught my arms, steadying me. I knew it was Ambrose by touch alone.
“The magic here is … a lot,” he said on a shaky breath.
His lip curled, and I knew instinctively that he’d caught my shift without the aid of the cinnamon ball. My skin prickled as I realized he knew me well enough not to draw attention to it.
“Have you been here before?” I asked.
“I’ve traveled here with my father, though I’ve never stayed in Vesten House. He always left me in the rented room in the village when he met with the Vesten Point.”
Something about that story made me sad. I knew why it would be strange to bring a child to a meeting of court officials, but why bring him along at all if he were going to be left behind? It was another slight misconception corrected. I had assumed that with his position, Ambrose’s father had introduced him at every opportunity—that he had paved the way for Ambrose’s later success. Instead, perhaps he felt the same way I had earlier. Like Compass Lake and the surrounding forest were places where secrets were kept, even from him. Ambrose deserved to see what was behind the solid wooden door his father had kept closed.
“Let’s go change that, shall we?” I smirked at him. “Lord Arctos said we should present ourselves at Vesten House.”
He met my smirk with a grin, and we walked through the village gates. Compass Lake Village was all casual greetings and bustling activity. Lines formed at the more popular shops. The one with the most waiting guests appeared to be a bakery. Homes were peppered in between some of thebusinesses. Shoppers who had already procured their necessities disappeared into cozy cottages with flower-lined walkways.
No one gave us a second glance as we made our way through the village. It was so much smaller than Sandrin, but there was an energy here that underscored the importance of the destination. This was where decisions were made. This was the heart of fae society and magic.
My mind drifted again to what it would be like to arrive as one of those decision makers—as one whose knowledge of history and magic would guide the future of the court. It was a heady thought, one I worked to suppress for its intensity. Maybe that was why I didn’t notice the person in my path and stumbled right into them. Hard.
Large, steady hands caught my forearms while a familiar scent filled my nostrils. It wasn’t Ambrose’s, though. The smell of fresh citrus was one I’d tried to forget. One I hadn’t smelled in twenty years. When I looked up into this male’s eyes, they were brown, not hazel.
His eye color was an exact match to my own. One I had studied for the first five years of my life.
I stepped back. The face was one I had tried to forget, but that was impossible. After all, Mom had kept his portrait on the mantle for years.
When we moved to Sandrin, she had finally relocated it into her bedroom—I assumed she had caught me glowering at it one too many times—but that didn’t mean that the image of this male wasn’t still burned into my brain. The male stabilizing me. The one I took careful, disbelieving steps away from.
My father.
24
Ambrose
