what Volusian had told me, that embracing my magic could protect me and those I loved. I looked at Maiwenn nervously, hating what I was about to ask. “But I don’t want to hurt anyone either. Can you teach me to use it? Or at least control it?”
Kiyo’s eyes widened. “Eugenie, no-”
“What do you expect me to do?” I demanded. The expression on his face mirrored what I felt inside. “It’s not like I want to do this. But you saw what happened. I destroyed my house, and worse, I nearly killed my mother. And myself.”
He sighed but didn’t argue. Maiwenn regarded him calmly.
“She’s right.”
“I know. But I don’t have to like it.”
“I don’t know if I can teach you or not,” she murmured, turning back to me. “Your magic-storm magic-is a very physical, outward sort of power. Healing is more internal. Less aggressive. Some of the basics will be the same, but we’ll probably have to find you a teacher with similar powers.”
Like someone who can call up pieces of the earth and rip castles apart, I thought. I didn’t give voice to that. Kiyo and I might be “friends,” but I immediately knew he wouldn’t like me getting close to Dorian.
“Kiyo says you’re against the invasion thing, that you weren’t a supporter of Storm King.”
“Yes. That was part of the reason I wanted to meet you. I’m happy you survived today, Eugenie Markham, but…this possibility of the prophecy coming true alarms me. I’ve spent years believing Storm King had no children. Your existence causes all sorts of complications.”
It occurred to me then that Maiwenn might have slept easier if I’d been killed today.
“So is it true?” she asked. “You have no intention of fulfilling the prophecy?”
“Of course not.”
“Turning one’s back on such power can’t be easy. Even now, you’re considering his magic.”
“That’s a necessity. I don’t want it. Besides, none of this is about power. It’s about keeping my world safe. You forget that until a few weeks ago, I had no clue about any of this. In most ways-me whipping up a storm aside-I still consider myself human. I’m not going to let some army subjugate or destroy my race.”
“You see?” Kiyo said to her. “I told you.”
I could still see the doubt on her face.
“I’m serious. I don’t want to usher in some terrible era of gentry domination. I sure as hell don’t want to be a plaything for every gentry guy. And even if the worst happens”-I shuddered, remembering the elemental’s proximity-“well, there are ways of making sure I don’t actually get or stay pregnant.” I didn’t feel like getting into logistics with her. “Hopefully, I can just keep up the avoidance, though. I’m not jumping into anyone’s bed soon.”
Sympathy replaced Maiwenn’s doubt. “Yes. I’m truly sorry for what you’ve endured. It sickens me. I honestly can’t imagine it. You’ve surpassed your fearless reputation. I couldn’t have coped so bravely.”
I thought again about the terror that had filled me when the elemental had me trapped. The tears. The desperation. I didn’t know how brave I’d really been.
Kiyo’s eyes met mine then, and while Maiwenn looked distracted with thought, I think he might have glimpsed a little of my emotion. Affection for me burned on his face, and I fell into it. The moment shattered when a loud voice sounded outside my room.
“What the fuck happened in here? No way am I cleaning this up!”
Kiyo straightened up, alarmed, but I waved away his concern. “Don’t worry. It’s just my housemate.”
Sure enough, Tim burst in, outrage written all over him. He wore buckskin pants and a matching vest over his bare chest. Feathers decorated his black hair. Beads ringed his neck. His face fell as soon as he saw me.
“Oh God, Eug. Are you all right?”
I started to give him the “other guy” line, then opted for simplicity. “Fine.”
He jerked his thumb behind him. “That room’s in pieces.”
“I know. Don’t worry. I’ll clean it up.”
“What happened?”
“You’re better off not knowing. Tim, this is Kiyo and Maiwenn.”
Remembering himself, Tim raised his right hand in a sort of “How, white man” kind of way. “I am Timothy Red Horse. May the Great Spirit smile down upon you.” This latter part seemed to be for Maiwenn in particular. She smiled formally. Kiyo appeared to oscillate between hilarity and disgust.
Greetings done, Tim walked over to me, shaking his head ruefully. “You’re into some crazy shit.”
“You might want to find another place to stay,” I said seriously. “I don’t think it’ll be safe around here.”
“Are you kidding? I’m never going to find this good a deal. What’s a little death and destruction?”
“Tim-”
His face sobered. “Don’t worry, Eug. I know what you do. If things heat up, I’ll get out.”
“Did you see the living room? That’s pretty hot.”
“Yeah, but so long as the house is standing…”
“You’re more difficult than I am.” I remembered I was supposed to find a witch to boost the wards around my house. I’d forgotten. Instead, I had created some wards of my own, but they weren’t very strong, as evidenced by the recent invasion. A witch couldn’t keep everything out but would do a better job than me.
Tim grinned. “Well, let’s not get carried away. Anyway. You look like you’re in the middle of something. You want anything? Chicken soup? Foot massage?”
“You can get me a Milky Way. And see if my Def Leppard CD survived the war zone.”
“Don’t get your hopes up on that last one.” He said goodbye to the others and left.
“An odd man,” mused Maiwenn.
“You have no idea.”
Yet, while Tim and I had bantered, I’d noticed Maiwenn and Kiyo speaking quietly to each other in the corner. She had rested a hand on his arm as they talked, and there had been something almost…intimate in the way they stood together. Like they were comfortable being in each other’s personal space. Very comfortable. I remembered Kiyo’s resolute support of her, his claim that he worked with her because he believed in her cause. But was that truly it? Or was there more? She was a “good friend.” They stood apart now, but a jealous, ugly feeling kindled in my chest.
She finally turned away from him and gave me a small, tight smile. “I don’t mean to be rude, but…I’m not feeling well and must return home.”
“It’s no problem. Thanks for coming, and…thank you for healing my mother.”
Maiwenn nodded, and I could tell she really was sick. Weariness ringed those lovely eyes. “I’m happy to. And I’m glad we were able to talk. You have no idea how relieved I am to see where you stand. I’ll do what I can to keep others from trying to…take liberties with you.”
Kiyo’s fingertips brushed her arm to stop her, and I watched that contact with a critical eye. “Wait for me outside.”
She nodded and then swept out of the room in all her golden beauty. Kiyo walked over to my bed and sat down, running a hand along my cheek.
“I’m glad you’re okay. When I walked in…I thought you were dead.”
“I’m hard to kill,” I said lightly.
He smiled, shaking his head with exasperation. “I can believe that.”
Reaching down, he picked up my hand and brought it to his lips, eyes on mine. He lingered a moment, and my skin burned where he kissed me. Then carefully, gently, he laid my hand back down, lacing his fingers with mine.
“I’m going to make sure she crosses over okay, and then I’ll be back to stay with you.”
“You gonna take care of me? Massage my feet and feed me chicken soup?”
“Anything you want,” he promised. “That’s what friends do.” He kissed my hand again and then stood up. “Be back in a few minutes.”
I could still feel where he’d kissed me, but for once, my infatuation with him went on hold. I was thinking about the conversation I’d just had. It still bothered me, but I’d meant what I said. Learning gentry magic was about the scariest thing-other than rape by a mud elemental-that I could imagine right now. Yet, I wanted no more storms in my living room, no storms anywhere that I was incapable of controlling.
