CHAPTER 38

Vita

"YOU'RE GETTING GOOD AT THIS."

High praise coming from Aurora, who was a strict teacher. Still, her methods worked.

Vita could conjure the arrows of light at will, aiming them with delicate precision as the electric energy burned through her palms. Her targets were small clay pots that had been set on the table in her room at Nocturnalis, shattering with each strike.

The flicker of magic burning within her that had once been so frightening now excited her; she could feel the power coursing through her veins like her blood was on fire. It required her utmost concentration, but she'd just about mastered the electric arrows, along with flame hands and illusory butterflies.

Vita had even discovered some new magics from tapping into different wells of power with the help of Aurora's guided meditations. She could conjure a spectral shield—glimmering and near invisible—that blocked any attack, and could create a fog centered on her that made visibility almost zero.

The alternate plane was the only one she refused to explore. She had no eagerness to return to that strange place with the shadow creature waiting to pounce. Aurora didn't push her, and for that, she was grateful.

Pride welled in Vita as they wrapped up practice for the day. She wanted to work on the large lightning bolts, the ones she'd conjured after the Edosal debacle, but the tiny room she now called home was certainly not a suitable location. The rose garden at the High Consul's palace would have been perfect, open space and the privacy to practice magic without fear, but Vita pushed those thoughts from her mind.

"Same time next week?" Aurora asked, collecting the shattered pots into a pile with a wave of her hands.

"I'll be here," Vita answered, still not quite sure where she stood on anything.

Aurora never pestered her about returning to the palace, never mentioned Renatus at all. But the High Consul simmered underneath the surface of every conversation, and Vita was certain the mage told him everything when she went back to her home.

A gentle hug from Aurora and she was gone, leaving Vita to prepare for work.

Ad Noctua wasn't so bad.

Vita worked various hours, though her favorite shift was the evening one when the tavern grew lively with drink and dance. A bard played in the corner almost every night, the stringed melodies engrained in Vita's mind after over a month on the job.

She was settling into her new life.

The work was tiring, and the small room at the inn was cramped, but she was content. Well, mostly content.

No matter how hard she tried to forget about Renatus, a small piece of her heart was cracked. He had wriggled his way in and crushed her with his indifference, leaving a part of her vacant like an empty vessel.

The situation with Verian was not much better. Things were uncomfortable between them. He had stopped by the inn a few times, trying to talk, to spend the night, but Vita just didn't have the energy. She didn't have the energy for much of anything after a hard day of work. And she knew Verian was exhausted too, worked to the bone by the Praetor, dark rings under his eyes every time he tried to visit.

But she just wanted to be alone.

Alone, save for all the patrons of Ad Noctua she spent each evening with.

A familiar bellow of a voice broke her from her thoughts as she stood behind the bar, resting her chin on her palm.

"A flagon of ale, love!"

Vita straightened up, a smile stretching from ear to ear. "Petran!"

She threw her rag on the bar top and made her way around the counter to greet her friend. Well, she hoped he was still her friend.

Petran wrapped her in a crushing hug, assuaging her worries in an instant. As she pulled back, he rested his hands on her hips and she was fully aware of the stares directed their way.

Vita made more money when the patrons believed she was available , so to speak. A twirl of raven locks and a batting of hazel eyes did wonders for increasing the coins her mostly male patrons left behind at the end of the night. She wasn't proud of the behavior, but it stoked her ego, along with her coin purse.

Before Petran could do worse than a hug, she removed his hands from her waist. "Let me get you that ale."

Vita pulled him along, settling him in a seat at the bar, and moved back around the counter before her boss could give her a glare. With shaky hands, she poured a mug, then plopped it down in front of him. A flurry of emotions stirred in her, a knot welling in her throat as she tried to blink away tears.

It was nice to see Petran. But he reminded her of… well, of the palace, of the High Consul, of the rose-tinted memories of her time there.

Things she didn't want to brood about.

It was easy to tune out unwanted thoughts during her lessons with Aurora. If her entire focus wasn't on controlling the swells of power, then she was liable to hurt someone.

But now? Seeing his grinning face seated in front of her made her stomach clench. As he took a long swig of ale, Vita busied herself serving drinks to the few who waited near the bar. When the patrons were settled, she turned her attention back to Petran.

"How are you doing, love?" The question was sincere, casual, but his eyes roved over her as if analyzing her every move.

"I'm well, thank you." She tried to smile. "Things are going well."

"Aurora has told us you've been making improvements…"

Us . He left off the magic part, of course, unable to speak of such things in public, never knowing who was listening.

"I have. I'm getting a lot better."

Vita bit her lip, pink flooding her cheeks as she glanced around the half empty tavern. A slow night, slower than most, though her eyes caught on a man in the corner of the room. He had no drink, no food, was playing no card games or talking with friends.

But he stared right at her, unblinking eyes boring into her very soul. Every muscle clenched, and she couldn't look away, frozen in her spot at the counter.

A touch at her hand stole her attention back, a sigh of relief heaving from her chest.

"Are you alright?" Petran asked, heavy brows threaded with concern.

Vita looked back to the corner, but the man was gone, as if vanished into thin air.

"I'm fine, I just thought I saw someone…"

He turned, following her gaze, but no one was there.

With a squeeze of his hand, she had his focus, ready to put the strangeness behind her. "Tell me, how have you been?"

Despite Vita's protests, Petran had insisted on staying until the tavern closed, escorting her back to the inn even though it was a short walk away. A walk she made on her own every night without trouble.

Their conversation had been pleasant, easy. He told her of a trip he'd taken to Oakengate for business, and of Aurora's garden. Petran conveniently left out any details about Renatus, and Vita supposed she was grateful. Still, a part of her wanted to know how he was doing, if he missed her at all.

Foolish thoughts.

Now, they stood in the chilly air outside the front door of Nocturnalis.

Petran had pulled her in for another crush of an embrace, but kept his hands on her hips when they separated. Vita had tried to invite him up, though made it clear that it wasn't for sex, which had only made him laugh.

"You know you're welcome to visit the palace anytime," he said, tawny eyes glinting in the low light of the torches.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Her voice cracked as she spoke, that confusing mixture of emotions welling in her throat once more.

"I know Aurora would be happy to see you, as would I. Hells, even Gaius misses you."

A conspicuous name missing from the list. Petran ran an enormous hand through her hair, cupping the back of her head.

"And he misses you. Of course he does. He can be… difficult, but he's not been the same since you left."

The words stiffened every muscle, tears welling in her eyes as she pulled out of his grasp.

"Goodnight, Petran," was all she could manage, hurrying through the door before the flood of tears fell.

Back in the safety of her room, she let them come, curling up into a ball on her bed as she thought about his words. Dear Petran, who didn't have a mean bone in his body… he wouldn't lie, would he?

He misses you. Of course he does.

It meant nothing, Vita tried to tell herself. He missed her body and nothing more. He missed his stand in for his long-lost love, not her.

But would Petran lie?

He's not been the same since you left .

How could that be true when Renatus spent so much time ignoring her, avoiding her? When she did see him, she didn't know what she was going to get… tender and loving, or sarcastic and cruel. Still, there was something underneath each interaction Vita had with him, something underneath the facade of debauchery and lust that glimmered in his eyes as he looked at her.

But, no. This was his doing, not hers. Vita had given Renatus her heart and he crushed it. He was vile to Verian, who had done no wrong.

If he wanted to visit her himself, then perhaps she'd give him a chance to say his piece. Beyond that, there would be no trips to the palace.