The Winter War must be what they were calling it. I was excited and nervous about his news — not to mention that we had some of our own developments to share on that front too.
I turned my attention to Rowan, who had also stood. Kade and I both greeted her with a hug. She had saved us in the Otherworld and healed Violet. For that she had our eternal gratitude and friendship. After our greetings were over, we all sat at the table again, and Prince Caspien waved a hand toward Rowan. She gave him a simple nod back before producing a small jar of purple powder.
“Your gift has two parts,” she said, handing me the jar. “Part one is mecca power.”
Violet gasped from her place at the table, and when I looked at her, her eyes were locked on the purple powder. Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I reached for the mecca powder with an awed reverence. It was priceless.
The moment it touched my hand I was zapped with energy, which felt akin to the stone we had here. Akin but not the same, a smaller scale, but somehow still as potent. “Thank your father greatly for this,” I said, as magic continued dancing along my skin.
Violet had been trying to figure out how they ground up the stone, but so far nothing she’d tried had worked. After seeing this powder in action in the Winter Court, I knew how incredible it was. I was hoping that having some of our own would at least give us a shot against the winter queen.
Prince Caspien looked pleased, his eyes sparkling as he leaned forward. “The second part of our gift is Rowan.”
I reeled back, some of my joy fading away. “What?”
Magic born were highly valuable, but they were people and not gifts to be given. The prince seemed to recognize my unease with that wording he used and gave me an understanding smile. “Only for two weeks. She was the one who offered actually. She’d like to train you. She feels it’s time you learned to harness your fae magic. Then we may have a shot at beating the winter queen. You’re the secret weapon in this fight. You hold magic from the Winter Court and your Red Queen’s line, and therefore have a lot of power to wield. A lot of unexplored gifts.”
My eyes locked with the fae magic born and understanding flashed between us. I nodded a few times, leaning across the table. “Do you think I can actually learn anything in time? I barely have control over my mecca powers, and I’ve trained for that my entire life. The fae side is a whole other kettle of power.” It was constantly smashing around inside of me like a crazy beast. It didn’t scare me anymore, and I had used it in a battle situation, but I still didn’t feel in control of it.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could help you.” Rowan’s soft voice somehow cut through the room and drew all attention. “I am well trained in our ways. I have studied mecca power and fae magic for many years. And I was once a prisoner of the Winter Court, so I know their ways well. I can help you tap into your powers and hone them as a weapon.”
I had not known she had been a prisoner of that court. Although Dalia did say that Rowan knew the ways to sneak in and out … I’d always wondered how. Now I knew.
Violet spoke up then. “As someone else who was held prisoner there and learned a few things, I would also like to help with the training.” She turned toward Rowan. “I know your knowledge would be far beyond anything of mine, but I would like to learn as well as help, if you would accept me.”
Rowan smiled warmly. “Of course, Violet. I would be honored.”
Prince Caspien smiled. “Well then, it’s settled. Now I must share some news and then be on my way. We have a lot going on back home, and as you know, I can’t be away from my land too long without it negatively affecting my people.”
I nodded. “Of course. I understand.”
Caspien looked uncomfortable for a moment. “What I got cut off from telling you yesterday is that we received word that Isalinda has gone deep into the Dark Fae Lord’s territory, while her son prepares their army.”
My pulse immediately kicked into gear, adrenalin rushing through me. Just the mental image of the queen and the darkness together had me on alert. It was what we had all feared.
It was time to let Prince Caspien know what we knew as well. “Last night we found something, a book the late queen had. After consulting with our oldest magic born, I’m told it’s the book of the origin of dark fae magic. It’s connected to one of the dark crystals. We assume the Dark Fae Lord has the other one of these dark crystals, and that’s where he gets his power. My magic born are looking into how to find the other one, and how to destroy them both.”
The prince was very still, listening to my every word with care. After an extended pause, he said, “It’s our worst fear. The dark stones are legend in the Otherworld, and my father has believed for a long time that this is where the Fae Lord draws his power. But we never confirmed it.”
I swallowed hard, rubbing suddenly clammy hands across my pants. “I’m also afraid of what this means. Even if we find the other dark crystal, it will be almost impossible to wield without one of us falling to the darkness.”
What looked like shooting stars sparked across the fae’s eyes, and for a moment he looked so otherworldly that I couldn’t imagine that we both shared even a shred of the same DNA. When he spoke again, it was weighty, the words drifting out in a melody of sorts.
“Light and dark are just two sides of the same coin. Without one, you could not experience the other. The mecca has these properties. It can be used for good and evil as you have seen, depending on the user. But these dark stones, they are pure evil. That being said, I believe that if you harness the light, you can banish any darkness.”
I wasn’t sure anyone was breathing as we all hung on his powerful words. I felt the weight of them settle inside of me like a promise — a journey I would go on.
Caspien stood, sweeping his hands out in a broad gesture of thanks. “Thank you for your time today, for sharing this news with me, for allying with us in this war. If you can use Rowan, feel free to include her in anything that has to do with the dark book project.”
“Of course. She’s welcome in our home, and we will hopefully be able to get word to you if we learn anything new.”
He seemed lost in thought for a brief pause, staring off at the painting on the wall. Finally he met my eyes. “I think it would be a good idea — if you could spare some warriors — for our people to train together — in the Summer Court. My warriors could teach your shifters what to expect from the Winter Court, and how to kill fae. And you could teach us about this city, about the energy of Earth, the humans even.”