Face aflame, I kept my eyes lowered. “I’m not, but he told me about Solar and Aurora, and it sounded rutting awful. And I couldn’t go to the Crescent because he tasted my blood for magic and there wasn’t any.”
Cai dragged a hand through his messy hair. “That makes sense, I guess.”
Liora cut in. “I guess it’s our turn to repay your honesty.”
“Li.” A warning tone. Cai bent forward so he could stare at his sister.
“She took a risk, we should too.” Liora seemed to steady herself with a breath and began. “We come from the Crescent, from one of the clans within the healing coven.”
A pause. I glanced between the two. Cai’s expression had grown stormy, and Liora’s eyes tightened as if she was in pain.
What hornet’s nest had I stumbled into with these two?
Liora persevered. “We had to leave our clan. My father insisted on it.”
Cai exuded a huff of air that warped into a bitter chuckle.
“I told you that we’re both witches, but Cai’s the only one with any active power. That’s anything beyond simple potion-brewing.”
I was already drowning in a sea of my own ignorance. There were types of magic?
An undertone of deep, deep sorrow sounded in Liora’s voice as she said, “But that wasn’t always the case. Eight months ago my raw magic, my gifts, were bound. I can’t access them, but the instincts are still there.”
She looked sick. I didn’t know what to make of it—I hadn’t known binding magic was even possible.
I had to ask. “Why were you bound?”
Cai chuckled tartly. “She was becoming so powerful that we couldn’t hide her magic anymore. And if we’d gone on as normal, word of her abilities would’ve spread, and witch-trackers would’ve been sent after her.”
My eyes widened. Peeking at Liora from under my eyelashes, I saw zero pride or pleasure at his claims. Just sadness and maybe a pulse of anger.
Liora took up the story. “If it had just been me, I would’ve risked it, but our father grew worried I’d draw attention to our family—our whole clan—because of it.”
“Draw attention from whom?” I asked Liora with jittery softness.
“There’s a fae-witch called Morgan—”
A memory sparked. “Hunter told me about her.”
Liora blinked, surprised, and Cai forced out a joyless laugh. “You know he works for her, right?”
I gave a nod. “He didn’t seem to like her very much.”
Cai was the one to say, “Don’t say that to anyone you don’t trust.”
I rubbed the nape of my neck, trying to will my stomach to settle. Surviving here suddenly seemed like an impossible task.
Liora went on. “Anyway, Morgan likes to collect other powerful witches for her court. Kind of like glorified puppets.” A twitch found her lip. “If I’d stayed, she would’ve come to recruit me. And often, the families of the people taken, mysteriously disappear. So our father insisted on a binding and banished us, to stop our clan asking questions.”
That irritated and stirred a memory from my time with Hunter. “I thought she wasn’t allowed to take anyone from the Crescent.” I feared the worst for Isabel.
Cai snorted derisively.
Liora continued, sadder than before. “She gets around the clans by insisting they don’t become slaves, but honored guests of her court.”
“The clans are cowards,” Cai ground out.
Wide-eyed, I asked, “Why come here though?”
Cai didn’t seem to want to meet my eyes, but Liora loosened a shuddering breath and said, “Well, the truth is, the binding has a cost. After the banishment, I got headaches. Nightmares. Then, one night something snapped its leash, and I woke with a beast clawing at my insides. Cai found me tearing my hair out—”
Cai interrupted. “Our useless father forgot to tell us there might be side effects.”
His eyes turned dark, haunted, and I felt a current of warm air rush past. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and my arms prickled.
Liora tensed. “Rein it in, Cai.”
The wind died but Cai said nothing; he only stared ahead.
I guessed I’d just witnessed magic, but their tale had me in its grips now, so I ignored it and turned to Liora to ask, “You seem fine though … Are you still sick?”
She went on in a strained voice. “Yes and no. Cai took me to a distant relative—someone we trusted. She told us my magic couldn’t be contained. Not completely. The only thing that would stop it ripping me apart or driving me mad was physical exertion. Life as a soldier guarantees that.”
Her passion resonated through her words and her body emanated energy, but her eyes, gaunt and lined, told a different story.
I had to know. “Can you get your magic back? Are you trying?”
Liora gave me a wan smile. “It’s possible, but it’s more complicated than the binding itself. Few witches would attempt it. And there’d be no point. Not with Morgan.”
She seemed to want to say more, but Cai cut in. “I hope we’ve proved you can trust us?” His words had a sharp edge to them; he wanted reassurance.
“I won’t betray you.”
“Good.” An odd grin appeared on Cai’s face. “Would you agree to be spelled so you can’t repeat anything we’ve told you?”
Spelled. There was a price then.
Liora groaned as if embarrassed.
Cai’s eyes burrowed into mine. He reached out his hand, offering it to me. “Please. It’ll help me sleep at night. And without this, we’re vulnerable.”
I studied his hand for a heartbeat. It was another test. One which if I refused, would shatter the fragile trust we’d built. “What’ll happen to me?”
“You won’t be able to tell anyone what we’ve told you, not without our permission.”
I offered him my hand and nodded consent. He sagged in relief and interlocked his fingers with mine.
“Repeat after me.” His grip tightened. “I’ll never speak of, or betray the secrets Liora and Cai have shared with me today.”
I repeated the words, careful not to stumble over the phrasing. My palm flashed hot then cold. He untangled from me, and I stared down at my tingling hand, flexing it gently. Nothing had changed.
Our trio fell silent until I dared to say, “So, are we allies now?”
Liora corrected me. “Friends.”
A heady feeling of relief and joy—a bubble of giddiness—erupted in my chest and rose fast and strong. I broke out into an ear-wide smile.
“Hem, hem.”
Cai’s muting spell must only work one way because the sound of banging had me looking over my shoulder. Patti was packing away the cookware and oh-so-subtly clearing her throat. Amidst our talking, I hadn’t realized the food hall had emptied.
“That’s our cue.” Liora gave me a swift grin and stood. “Curfew shouldn’t be for another hour, but they don’t like you wandering.”
I rolled up off the bench. “Where to now?”
“I’ll take you to your barracks.” Liora waited while I donned the rucksack again, and then she led the way to the exit.
“I’ll walk with you until we get to our quarters.” Cai opened the door for us.
We exited into the open night air. There were crystal-like lanterns, hanging from the buildings and dotting the path, illuminating our way.
“One sec,” Cai said. He raised his tattooed hand, and I felt magic tug at me like a current in a stream. I assumed he’d just broken the soundproofing spell because he loosened an extremely loud whistle. As if to call something forth.
Familiar lights appeared from every direction, flying toward us and filling my sight. They gathered above, making a tight unit. A few of the tiny wonders fell around our ears like golden rain, and one broke free to bob in front of my nose, leaving behind patterns and a glowing trail in its wake.
In awe, I said, “The Winged Fiends used these when they attacked.”
“Firelights.” Cai named them with an impish grin. “They’re found all over Aldar. No idea how they work, but give them a whistle and a thought, and if they’re close enough to hear, they’ll come.”
He strode ahead onto the path. Liora and I walked in his footsteps and the firelights followed.