Chapter 26

26

LECTURE NOTES FROM REALM RULES she was different.

A small, satirical laugh escaped him as if he’d heard her thoughts. “Denial doesn’t suit you as well as that uniform did.”

The insult hit her like a stone. She growled and got to her feet. “How’d you even find me?”

“I was resting in the wagon but couldn’t sleep, so I left. When morning broke and you—what’s the word I’m looking for—ah yes, recklessly displayed your magic, I took it upon myself to find out exactly who I was sharing this road with all night. I wasn’t expecting the mouthy, small-armed female I just met.”

Her eyes bulged with rage. “You’ve been following me all night ?”

“You should work on your awareness, and learn how to defend yourself.”

She spat, “Excuse me?”

He tapped a finger to his chin. “There’s still dirt on your face.”

She grimaced, wiping it off with the back of her hand.

“Our magic shouldn’t be displayed. Don’t show it off unless you’re prepared to die for it. Didn’t you learn anything in history class? ”

Thessa knew very well her magic was a death wish, that’s why she was leaving in the first place. She said, “Right. Well, if you’re not going to kill me, I’ll be going now. I hope you acquired all the information you needed regarding my skill set. ”

As she walked away, he hissed and yanked her arm. One swift pull from him and they were face to face. “Not before you tell me why you’re here.”

Thessa recoiled at the sight of his hand on her. It took up her entire upper arm, all he had to do was twist and her shoulder would be sprained for weeks. She spoke through gritted teeth. “I’m leaving.” Her eyes floated to his. “I have no place to live, barely enough Cheltz for food, and soldiers to hide from.”

He released his grip, and she pulled her arm back, shaking it out.

“Leora deserves a better friend than me anyway.” She fanned her demonic fingers, conjuring just enough magic for emphasis. “If you care to stop me, summon your beasts again.”

Thessa spun around and kept walking.

Ten footsteps later there were still no serpents. She let out the breath she’d been holding, only to zip it back in when Soren appeared by her side.

“Why are you still following me?” she begged to know, not slowing her pace. Not that it mattered, his strides were twice that of hers. She wondered if he’d intentionally slowed his pace to match hers.

He huffed a laugh. “Following you? I’m going home. The wagon is useless without a wheel.”

She forgot he was from Wilcrest. “What about Emiel, where’s he?”

“Emiel’s fine. ”

Thessa couldn’t help but wonder if Leora would be. She was afraid to ask, but it had to be done. “So, does this mean my friend is smitten with a demon?”

Soren barked a laugh loud enough to silence the birds.

She raised a brow. “What is it?”

“He’s an Elemental.”

Her jaw unhinged. “What!” It wasn’t a question; she was in shock. How was it possible for a demon and Elemental to be friends? Lovers? She had too many questions, unsure where to begin. “So he was a soldier?”

Soren shook his head. “Not exactly.”

Thessa didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”

His eyes churned like liquid night as he spoke. “Is the female who infiltrated the Central Divinity asking me what I mean ?”

According to the latest elm tree, there were only a few more miles until they reached Wilcrest. The barren path eventually shifted to a forest, and the foliage provided much needed reprieve from the morning sun.

She hadn’t been anticipating company on her journey south. Soren wasn’t very pleasant, or talkative. She broke the silence that stretched between them. “You never told me why you did it?”

He sighed. “I already told you. You flashed magic you weren’t prepared to fight for.”

“While I appreciate the reminder, your methods of interrogation were not what I meant. I’m talking about the festival. The serpents. All of it.”

He went silent .

“Go on,” She rolled her hand, gesturing for an explanation. He’d have to fly away if he wanted to avoid her.

“It was meant to be a small distraction.”

“Small? Multiplicity Spells are forbidden for a reason.”

“I didn’t expect the entire town to be dense enough to keep chopping . I expected witches to flee and distract the guards. I was thinking there’d be minor incinerations ... not setting the entire field ablaze. I shouldn’t be surprised actually.”

Thessa countered, “No, you shouldn’t be.”

“You know them well, then?”

She exhaled, knowing who he was referring to. “I was raised in Gravenport. My entire existence has been consumed by Elementals.” Including her heart but she didn’t feel like getting into that. Thessa tilted her head before asking, “What do you mean a distraction? For what?”

“I needed to search the library.”

Thessa scrunched her face. “You risked exposing your magic and using a forbidden spell to search a public library?”

Soren’s jaw was working. “It’s not a spell . That’s just the way my magic works. It’s a long story. And the book I seek is charmed to be unseen. Another long story, but it’s an ancient charm,” he explained. “Rather than fading, it requires our magic to unlock it, so a diversion is needed. Emiel usually helps with a small fire here and there, but the event was too?—”

She cut him off. “How could a book be so important?”

“It’s not just a book. It’s the Hidden Grimoire of Eiliana.”

Quirking a brow, she asked, “Who is Eiliana?”

He paused before speaking. “A fierce warrior who died in the war. Her spellwork was unmatched, which is why I need the book.”

“Let me guess … you didn’t find it? ”

“I barely had time to skim the shelves. Soldiers surrounded the greens too fast. Emiel and I sprinted to the horses and galloped home. Capital guards seized us the next morning, and you know the rest.” Soren shook his head.

“And it only trusts our magic?”

“According to the stories told, yes.”

She looked up at the sunlight spattering through the leaves and swore to the goddess of night herself. Halting without a word, she dropped her duffle bag.

Soren turned and asked, “Are you alright?”

Rummaging through her neatly folded clothes, she searched until her hands met the smooth leather of her Summoning gift. Her fingertips sparked with magic as she pulled it free. “Here’s your grimoire. Please, take it.” She wanted nothing to do with it.

Soren chuffed. “I highly doubt you have the book I’ve spent a century searching for. And stop flashing your magic, haven’t you learned anything today?”

Only to appease him, she reeled it in. “It’s my Summoning gift, I can’t help it. You said your book has trust issues and this book has trust issues, trust me .” She outstretched her arms farther. “Take it and see for yourself.”

He snatched it from her, feverishly flipping through some pages.

Frowning, he said, “They’re all blank.”

“Go on.” She wiggled her fingertips before him. “Introduce yourself.”

Soren had conjured his magic faster than she could finish her sentence. “I don’t believe it … this is her handwriting.”

“You can keep it, I don’t plan on using my magic.”

“Then why did I spy you using it earlier?”

She threw her duffle bag back over her shoulder. “I wasn’t. We should be going. ”

As they continued their trek south, he flipped through the old book, utterly fixated. The road forked and Thessa followed him through another wooded path. He’d said the sea was close to his property, so better him lead the way, than her getting lost. It sounded like a perfect place to start over.

“Does a horse sound fair?” he asked.

He must need water, she thought, but amused him anyway. “A horse would be convenient right now, yes.”

“No.” Soren shook his head. “In exchange for the grimoire. If you truly don’t want it.”

She choked on her saliva. “You can’t be serious.” Only the wealthy children in primary school were offered riding lessons. She’d been stuck mucking stalls, although that turned into a task she enjoyed—not the manure part, the horses. They were peaceful creatures.

“You’re right. That doesn’t sound fair,” he said.

“More than fair,” she blurted. Transportation aside, a horse would make good company.

He slapped the book shut. “We’re talking about a century old quest and your Summoning gift.”

“A horse will do just fine. But if you’ve been searching for it for so long, how’d you know it’d be in the Mabelton Library?”

“I didn’t. That library has been searched, along with all the others in Andera. It’s not easy finding something charmed to be unseen. Many who’ve searched for the book never make it home. You saw where we ended up.” He shook his head before adding, “Only the goddess could manage to gift it safely.”

Thessa’s legs were wobbly. It was a twist of fate or cursed luck.

When the trees grew sparse, thick fields remained. The roads may have been full of dirt, but this land was sprinkled with wildflowers. It was no wonder Quinnley had skipped south; it was paradise for a Botanical witch. If Mabelton was charming, Wilcrest was beautiful.

Soren cleared his throat, “My property is around this bend.”

Thessa swallowed, remembering to breathe as she followed the demon into his den.

Oak trees lined his driveway, ending in a two-story, weathered wood home, fixed with white shutters. The front porch extended around the house, which was something she’d never seen before. A porch swing, stuffed with fluffy pillows, had a vibrant view of the southern sea. Waves tumbled into the jagged cliffs lining one side of his property, while a pasture filled with horses lined the other.

The barn was twice the size of his home. She could count at least two dozen horses in sight. “You have so many.”

“It’s the family business, to breed.”

As they neared the end of his driveway, the front door swung open. A robed female shuffled outside barefoot. She lunged toward Soren, wrapping her arms around him. Her body was shaking as she spoke. “My son. How’d you escape them?”

Soren pulled away, eyeing Thessa in answer.

His mother followed his stare. She reached her arms around Thessa next and said, “Thank you, thank you, you must come inside, let’s get you both something to eat.”

Thessa looked up to see a male that looked a lot like Soren standing in the doorframe. Regaining her focus, she said, “I’d love to.”

“I’m Soren’s mother, Maradine. That’s his father, Jussal. Welcome to our home. Come, come.” She wiped her eyes free of tears and led Thessa up the steps.

Thessa was inhaling the steam from hibiscus tea in a matter of minutes. Her first sip was as divine as her last. Maradine refilled her cup while encouraging everyone to eat the pumpernickel bread she’d baked. Thessa didn’t need encouragement, she took two pieces.

Sitting around the table, Soren explained every detail to his parents, from meeting Thessa, to setting her grimoire down on their dining table. Explaining the book was her goddess-given gift had done nothing to dull his parents’ curiosity. They’d kept eyeing her like she wore three faces. Although, she supposed it was not every day a demon returned from the capital, carrying a spellbook they’d hunted for centuries.

“I’ve no need for it.” She insisted.

Soren glanced at his parents, who were still examining Thessa. “We’re giving her a horse in return, we’ve already agreed to it.”

“Ridiculous,” his father retorted before looking at Maradine. “Honey, count fifty thousand Cheltz for Ms. Thessa.” His father’s black eyes bounced back to Soren’s. “Any horse she wants, fitted with leathers.”

Thessa’s breath hitched just before her vision faded to black.

When she came to, there was a cool cloth resting atop her forehead. Opening her eyes revealed Maradine perched over her like a bird, “You’re alright dear, you’re alright.”

Soren helped her sit up. “You fainted off the chair,” he noted, as if she wasn’t aware.

Her cheeks flushed, nonetheless.

“Stay as long as you need,” Maradine offered. “I tucked the envelope of Cheltz in your bag, keep it safe.” His mother smiled and spun around, clearing the mugs and plates off the table.

Jussal wasn’t in sight, nor was her gift .

She asked Soren, “Can we look at the horses now?”

Warm sun splashed on Thessa’s face.

Walking into the pasture Soren asked, “When’s the last time you rode?”

“I’ve never ridden.”

“You’re joking.”

“Should I lie next time? Go on, ask again.”

He grunted. “Fine. One horse, leathers, and a lesson.”

Her lips curved up.

Passing a few bay horses with bright white socks, she continued through the pasture.

Soren was on her tail, wasting no time on beginning her lesson. “Horses sense fear, remain confident and the horse will too. Don’t stand behind them either, their hind legs can’t tell the difference between a friend and enemy, and speaking of enemies, pinned ears mean back off.”

She looked over her shoulder to say, “I know those things, I’ve worked with horses, just not ridden them.” Thessa turned back and smiled, pointing to a horse she spotted on the way in. “There. How about the black and white patchy one?” Its coloring reminded her of a cow.

“No.”

She whirled around, her long hair following suit. “What?”

“No,” he repeated, this time crossing his arms.

She scrunched her brows in confusion. “But your father said I could have any horse.”

“As much as my father would be pleased to get Hades off our property, I won’t allow it. That horse is trouble.”

“I’d argue the same of you.” Thessa lifted her nose, and turned back around, walking toward the horse anyway .

“Your arguments are pitiful.”

She rolled her eyes. Stopping about ten paces before Hades, she looked back to ask, “Why would you name him that?”

“It’s not a male.”

“You named her Hades? That’s awful.”

“Awful? See for yourself.”

Thessa approached the mare with her hand outstretched, laying atop it was the carrot she’d carried with her.

Hades’ nostrils flared in silent inspection, before bobbing her head in horse-like approval. Her thick, top lip found the carrot and chomped the thing to pieces.

Thessa looked back at Soren. “She’s just hungry.”

Soren tipped his head back and laughed.