In the Wake of the Wicked (Veridian Empire #1)

50. Rose

50

Rose

F or the first time in forever, I was happy. Which didn’t make any sense.

I was a challenger in a dangerous, deadly tournament meant to pit the provinces against one another. I was away from home in a city I barely knew, surrounded by strangers. My uncle was cursed. My other uncle was the ruler of the Veridian Empire. Nightmares of my past, of blood and loss and darkness, crept on the edges of my mind whenever I bothered to look close enough. And I was keeping secrets from the only man I’d ever let into my heart.

Past me would have laughed. I had no reason to be this happy. No right .

But…while I hated what the Decemvirate stood for, it had brought some unexpected friendships into my life. The twins, of course, and Lark and Horace—who I’d reconciled with after my outburst from the second trial. I knew they were simply doing their jobs and that they’d had no idea what the dreamscape would entail. Nobody had. And it’s not as if I could stay angry with Horace for long. He was like a big, grumpy teddy bear, trailing me throughout the palace, always watching over me and making me laugh .

I’d spent more time with Nox and, surprisingly, Arowyn over the last few days—or rather, Nox and I had forced her into our company, and she seemed to think we were tolerable. Two days after the memorial, Nox and I had been heading to the library when Arowyn stormed through the palace in a tirade, her pale cheeks flushed with anger. Nox had tried to stop her and find out what was wrong, but she used her Strider abilities to disappear from his grip.

Fifteen minutes later, she’d magicked right to our table in the library. I almost had a heart attack. She’d put her finger to her lips in warning, grabbed a book, and acted as if she’d been there the whole time. Mere seconds after that, we heard a very angry Callum marching past the library doors with a small battalion of guards on his heels.

Arowyn picked at her nails with a shrug. “He must be having a bad day.”

Ever since then, she, Nox, and I had formed a tentative friendship.

They weren’t the only ones I spent my time with over the next few days. I had breakfast with Beau and Morgana every morning at Ragnar’s bedside, followed by a walk through the palace gardens. It was getting…not easier , but more bearable to see my uncle lying lifeless in his bed. Because for once, I had hope.

After I’d seen what blood magic could do, I had hope. I was going to find a way to end the Somnivae curse without sacrificing anyone.

I spent any spare moment I had poring over the pages of my father’s Grimoire or hunting in the palace library for more information on curses and blood magic. All my fear, all my guilt, all my bitterness had melted into resolve. If Leo could change the very makeup of his body, then surely I could find a way to undo what Theodore’s spell had caused all those years ago.

Having a purpose, a goal , lit a fire in me. It bled into everything I did.

And I was happy. As happy as I could be, at least. My days were spent with friends or with magic, and my nights were spent with Leo.

He’d made a habit of sneaking up to my rooms almost every evening when he didn’t have patrol duty. We had a routine now of casting defensive charms around the space to protect him from discovery. I think he knew without me having to say anything that I was afraid of the night after what had happened in the second trial. The idea of going to sleep, unsure where I’d be when I woke up, haunted me. But the nightmares weren’t as bad when he was by my side. Any time they grabbed me, he was there, holding me through it and bringing me back.

I think he needed me, too. We were so much more alike than I would have ever imagined. Growing up, we’d both been surrounded by people who thought we were other , who didn’t understand us or feared getting too close. He loved his sister and his friends, that much was obvious, but there were some things he couldn’t talk to them about. Knowing he trusted me, that he wanted to let me in on the darkest parts of him, that I was the one he turned to when he needed comfort…it was a desire I never knew I had. Every time I settled into his side and he stroked my hair, our whispered stories and confessions filling the space between us, I felt more at home than I ever had in Feywood.

It pushed my determination to find an answer for the curse to a whole new level. The idea of losing him wasn’t an option.

I just needed to be strong enough. I needed my magic to be strong enough.

So I practiced.

When Leo left before dawn in the mornings, I studied my father’s Grimoire. I relearned my old spells without the aid of herbs and charms, relishing the release and thrill of practicing magic based in my very blood. They were simple spells, ones that didn’t require much, but even that was enough to unlock a new part of me. Power soared and coated my veins, unchaining me. I’d been living my life with one hand tied behind my back.

But now, I was free .

One way or another, I would find a way to end this curse and keep Leo safe.

Five days had passed since the last time I’d seen Theodore. I was becoming restless, wondering if he’d forgotten about his promise to teach me. Only nine days remained till the masquerade ball and soon after, the third trial would follow. And then…I would have to go back to Feywood. A desperate longing gripped me when I thought about it. I couldn’t believe half my time here in the capital had already gone by; it felt as if I’d only just arrived, and yet I could hardly imagine what my life was like even a month ago.

As I grabbed a fourth book from the shelf and carried my growing pile to the table Nox, Arowyn, and I had claimed at the library, I shoved thoughts of masquerade balls and trials and goodbyes from my mind. There was still time—I didn’t need to worry about that yet.

“You know, if you’d told me we’d be spending all our time in the library, I never would’ve agreed to hang out with you two,” Arowyn drawled, twisting her near-white hair around her finger and throwing her legs onto the top of the table.

“Yes, you would have. You can’t resist our charm,” Nox countered, smacking her feet with a book. “Feet off the table.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and moved her feet to his lap instead. “Remind me again why we’re here?”

“Because I don’t have access to this many books on magic in Feywood and I want to take advantage of it while I can,” I responded, flipping through Alchemy Index Volume III: Blood Rites . I’d been feeding them half-truths; there weren’t this many books back home. But my search was focused on a bit more than general magic. “And Nox thinks he looks good in reading glasses,” I added and nodded to Nox, who readjusted said glasses.

“It’s true; I do.”

“Well, I’m bored.” Arowyn kicked her legs off Nox and stood. “I’m going to go sneak some wine from the cellars. Maybe see if I can find Callum and make him piss his pants again.”

“Did you notice she always seems to have alcohol in her hands?” Nox whispered loudly to me.

Arowyn rolled her eyes. “And did you notice you have an incredibly small?—”

“Fates, am I going to have to separate the two of you?” I asked with an exasperated laugh. “Let me read in peace.”

Sighing, Nox said, “You don’t have to be so rude ab?—”

Before he finished his sentence, a flaming sheet of parchment appeared midair, floating down onto the table in front of me.

Arowyn promptly sat back down. “What’s that?”

I knew exactly what it was. Theodore was the only one who’d delivered a message to me this way.

Snatching it from the table and blowing out the smoldering edges, I scanned the familiar cursive, hurriedly tucked it into my pocket, then glanced at the clock on the library wall.

“Secrets are for the bedroom or the grave, darling,” Nox said, clicking his tongue and eyeing me curiously.

“It’s from my aunt. She and Beau want to have dinner tonight.” The lie slipped from me like honey. “Speaking of which, I should probably get ready.” As I spoke, I stacked my books and collected my various notes, anticipation coursing inside me at the thought of another magic lesson.

“I thought we were going to meet in my room tonight,” Nox reminded me. “I found that stash of Luxe wine Arowyn and I wanted to try, and you agreed to be our sober caretaker.”

“Oh—right. I don’t know what time we’ll be done with dinner. How about tomorrow?” I asked, grabbing my bag.

I felt a slice of guilt at the disappointed expression on his features. I’d forgotten we’d made plans for the night. Nox was especially excited to try the palace’s favorite drink, the green wine Horace had told me about my first day here. But Theodore’s message said he wanted to meet in less than an hour, and I had no idea how long our lesson would last.

Arowyn shrugged. “Fine with me. Wouldn’t want to get in the way of whatever shady deal you’ve got going on tonight.”

I blinked at her, my lips parting. Before I could respond, she grinned at me lazily. “Kidding. Have fun with your family. We’ll try to save some wine for you.”

My heartbeat slowed and I threw them a quick wave, then checked my books out at the librarian’s desk and headed back to my room.

I was weaving so many webs of lies. Part of me wondered how much longer I’d be able to control it, or if I’d soon become ensnared myself.

“You’ve been practicing,” Thedore said, nodding his head approvingly at the apple I’d frozen midair. He plucked it from the empty space and took a bite out of it.

As he crunched on the sweet red fruit, I rubbed the drop of blood still blooming at the cut on my finger and muttered, “ Voquer. ” The apple flew from his lips mid-bite and into my outstretched hand. I tossed it and caught it again, crossing my arms and smirking at the look on his face. “These are spells I’ve known since I was eight, Theodore. I thought you were going to teach me something new ?”

He smiled, tapping his nose with a wrinkled finger then pulling his long hair back, securing it with a leather strap at the nape of his neck. “Very well. I assume you are familiar with common healing spells and tinctures?”

Nodding, I recounted the various herbs and oils I usually used for healing, most of which I’d seen on the shelves of his den we were currently practicing in. “Cedarwood for wounds, ginger for pain relief, carnations to restore strength.” I ticked names off on my fingers. “Fleawort, elderberry, a bit of lavender mixed with?—”

He cut me off with a chuckle. “You’ve made your point. Quite the studious Alchemist. You may understand the basic principles behind these charms, yes, but what about how it feels ?” He crossed the room to me, that intense passion kindled in his mismatched eyes. “If you no longer rely on the nature around you to aid in the healing process, you must call on the power within yourself . It’s more than these simple spells you’ve been practicing. Performing magic on another living being instead of inanimate objects is profoundly more difficult.”

Theodore held out his hand and sliced a thin mark into his scar-littered palm, letting the blood well as he murmured a spell. Out of nowhere, a small crow appeared in his hand. I jumped backward, surprised by the shrill caw as it flapped its wings but stayed in place, looking around at its surroundings with beady eyes. Theodore stroked its head and tittered to calm its anxious fidgeting.

“Wh— how did you?—”

I didn’t get the chance to finish my question. Before I could blink, he took one of the bird’s wings between his other forefinger and thumb and snapped it.

I let out a sharp gasp and covered my mouth. Its shriek echoed in my ears, making my stomach roll with disgust.

“Come here, Rose,” Theodore said quietly. “You can heal it. Take its pain away.”

I shook my head, still processing what he’d done. “I—I can’t. It doesn’t work that quickly. Healing takes time. That bird will suffer for?—”

“That is how your magic used to work.” He came closer and I sucked in a breath, my body going tense. “Trust me, niece. You can do so much more than you have ever dreamed.”

Swallowing hard, I cautiously stepped forward, my brow furrowed in concern. I’d healed minor injuries on myself and others countless times in my life, but it always took time. Nothing worked instantly; even the miraculous healing potion Leo gave me after the first trial took hours to work. Being able to fix a wound like this instantly ? It was life changing.

I picked up the knife from the nearby desk and held it to my finger. The sharp sting had become second nature at this point.

“Feel the injury,” he instructed, cupping the bird in both hands and holding it out to me. “Imagine being able to see the shattered bones, the torn muscles. Look beneath the flesh and picture your magic, your blood, coursing through it. Replacing weakness with strength. Pain with comfort. Broken with whole.”

I placed my trembling, bloody finger on the bent curve of the wing, flinching when the bird squawked at my touch. I could feel the unnatural angle of its matted feathers, the fragmented bone beneath soft plumes.

I took a deep breath.

“ Revie scurae .”

The healing spell flowed out of me like a shadow, into the trickle of blood, and over the little creature. I did what Theodore commanded; I envisioned the bone snapping back into place, pictured its wing restored and strengthened with my magic pulsing through it. As the tip of my finger throbbed with heat, I felt that same addictive, tantalizing sensation of every pore, every vein, every cell flooding with power, like a window being thrown open to let in the sun.

There was a small crack.

The bird flexed its wings and let out a caw as its feathers ruffled. It pushed out of Theodore’s hands and took flight, soaring around the room.

I tracked its movements with my mouth hanging open. It was perfectly healthy, as if nothing had even happened. In a heartbeat, in a single breath, I had taken away its pain. I had healed it completely.

“Impossible,” I whispered. What else could I do? What else could this amazing magic I’d once thought of as forbidden accomplish?

Theodore shook his head. “Nothing is impossible, Rose. Not anymore.”