Page 35 of Cursed Evermore
She nodded and walked behind me to place it around my neck.
I looked down at the pendant resting on my chest. The jewel beamed a bright purple in the sunlight with a ripple of light that seemed to flow through it.
“I put a locator spell on it.” Grandmother turned me to face her and Mother, who was now standing. She didn’t look as if she was in complete agreement with the necklace, but she wasn’t saying anything.Yet. “If ever you are in danger, all you need to do is hold the pendant close to your heart and tap it three times. Do that, and I will be there, wherever you are.”
“Is this wise?” Mother asked before I could speak.
Grandmother faced her with her chin lifted, showing her seniority and power. “It is wiser than allowing her to leave without it.”
“What would you do if trouble came?” Mother actually looked afraid.
“Whatever it took. Even if it meant unleashing my full powers.”
My breath caught. She’d assured us the wraith wasn’t in the mortal realm anymore, but it was obvious she was still worried about it, as we all should be.
I felt even worse for my foolish mistakes. I should never have performed that damn spell.Never.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” Mother stiffened but nodded.
Grandmother returned her gaze to me. “Twilight shielding will protect you while you sleep and the necklace while you’re awake.”
“You put a twilight shield on me?” I breathed, relief flooding through me.
“Yes.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” That would at least help me to sleep easier.
“I know. Please do not ever cast any form of blood magic ever again. And you are not to portal.”
“I promise I won’t.”
“Good. And like I said the other day, it’s best you don’t think about magic anymore.”
Reluctantly, I nodded, but I couldn’t help but think of last night again, and the disarmingly handsome Fae male I thought I saw. And those silver threads. I wanted to ask her about them and the man but didn’t want to ruin the moment. At the same time, I needed some form of closure.
“May I ask one more thing about magic, then no more?”
“You may.”
“Can the burnout from portaling make you… see things? Like people and other strange things?”
“Yes. That’s one of the most prominent of side effects. When I first started learning to portal, I saw all sorts of things. From griffins to goblins.” A reminiscent smile played on her lips. “Once I even saw an entire army of Elvin warriors.”
“Similar things happened to me too,” Mother conceded. “It’s perfectly normal. It may take a few days to settle down, but it will.”
That confirmed it, then. I’d imagined the silver threads and handsome Fae male.
A tug of something I could only describe as disappointment pulled on my insides. It was stupid. I shouldn’t feel anything but relief that I’d imagined him.
Mother gave me a curious stare. “Are you okay, Elariya? Are you seeing things?”
“It’s nothing to worry about.” I tapped my temple. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“Okay. We’ll leave you to sort yourself out. It’s going to be quite a busy day. Get some more rest if you need to.”
Rest?
No. Sadly, there was no rest for me. Not today. Nor any other.
