of my ability will transfer to you.”

Thana took a few more breaths before slowly moving forward, eachstrike of her boots a thump against the floor. “It doesn’t work that way, mylady.” Her voice was low and as rough as if she’d been eating gravel. “And yourgreater powers aren’t a gift of your title or your noble birth.” Her headtilted slowly. “If these are peasant powers, what does that say about yourlineage?”

Anger brought Sylph’s teeth together. “Watch your mouth.”

“Or you’ll what? You might be able to flog your own peasants, but I’m aservant of the queen, at her service”—she leaned forward—“and under herprotection.” She plucked the pyramid from Sylph’s grasp and stepped around her,placing it back on the table with an audible thump.

Sylph turned slowly. No one had ever just…disobeyed her before.Even her maid’s betrayal didn’t feel like this. There was anger, mostdefinitely, and a vague sense of confusion about what to do next, but she alsohad a sudden desire to grab Thana’s heaving shoulders and kiss her to see whereall these passionate feelings might go.

She was quite certain her father would not regard defiance in thesame fashion.

Nor would he be diplomatic, but Sylph had to try that if bullyingwouldn’t work. She cleared her throat. “Very well. I need you to teach me.”

Thana barked a laugh.

“And though I may not be able to have you flogged,” Sylph saidloudly, “I can make your life in the palace as difficult as I made it easyyesterday.”

With another deep breath, Thana leaned back against the table,her expression going calculating. Sylph had made the courtiers give way, butshe could also make them block Thana’s every move, make the nobles go fromignoring her to spurning her. And if that wasn’t enough, if Sylph’s father gotinvolved, the queen might have to replace Thana as her pyradisté.

By the brief look of fear, then resignation, Thana didn’t need tobe reminded of all that.

“I will try to be a better student,” Sylph said, hoping thatgreased the wheels.

Thana licked her lips and looked to her pyramids. “Well, I feargiving you anything stronger to practice with. Why don’t you tell me when youdiscovered your powers, what you felt with the light pyramid, and what you canremember from the garden, and I’ll think of a way for you to suppress it.”

Sylph nodded. That sounded reasonable, especially since shereally didn’t want to touch a pyramid again.

* * *

Thana tried to set aside her irritation and listen as Sylphdescribed a moment three months ago when she’d reached for a stone with herpower. It sounded the same as what had happened in the garden, only not aspowerful. To Thana’s frustration, Sylph didn’t remember much from the garden,only a feeling of lightheadedness and a desire to pull at something inside herthat she didn’t recognize. It sounded like the rush a pyradisté felt when theyfell into a pyramid.

Except Thana had never heard of someone being compelled to do so.At least pondering the problem gave her something to think about besides thedesire to either punch Sylph or kiss her.

When their disagreement had started, the desire to punch haddefinitely been stronger. Heat rose in her cheeks again as she thought of allthe garbage she’d spouted about her own struggles. Why in all the spirits’names had she said all that? Not only was it none of Sylph’s business, but itcould be construed as petty jealousy, and she was not jealous. Not much. Not toany degree that mattered.

And the last thing she needed was for Sylph to know that.

When they’d faced off at the end, Sylph’s eyes had gone frosty,but her chest had heaved, revealing her emotions as much as her face had hiddenthem. Her gaze had wandered to Thana’s lips and lingered, her eyes tighteningas if she had to restrain herself.

Oh spirits, Thana had wanted her then. Desired her as much as shedidn’t want todesire her. And Sylph’s eyes had said she wasn’t alone.

“Do I need to say it again?” Sylph asked, breaking Thana’sreverie and bringing even more heat into her face. She was going to set off thefire pyramid in a moment.

“No, sorry, I was just thinking.” And getting nowhere with eitherthe pyramid thoughts or the lustful ones. She clenched a fist and told herselfto focus.

“No need for apology,” Sylph said. “I’ll do whatever I can toavoid having a repeat of the garden incident.”

The garden incident. How could one person be so pretentious?“Thank you,” Thana said, hoping some of her scorn remained hidden.

Sylph brushed a strand of pale hair off her shoulder. “Not atall.”

Thana turned away and rolled her eyes, wishing they could go backto sniping if the alternative was this stilted, careful chatter. She shook herhead and regarded her pyramids, feeling completely unqualified for her roleonce again. “I don’t understand what happened in that garden. To be frank, Idon’t know what happened to you three months ago, either.” She turned backaround. “If you hadn’t felt compelled to use your power, it would likely havegone undiscovered.”

Sylph drew in a sharp breath. She opened her mouth but seemed tothink better about saying something. Thana felt grateful she didn’t have toremind Sylph that, yes, people were either born with pyradisté powers or theyweren’t. But peasants were tested.

How many other pyradisté nobles might be out there, undiscovered?Thana had the urge to tear from the palace and start testing all the nobles tosee how many had dirty little bloodlines.

“Well,” Sylph said, bringing Thana’s attention back. “So thiscompulsion is unique?” She clasped her hands behind her back, stretching herlightweight coat tight across her breasts.

Thana forced herself not to stare. “As is your stone power.”

Sylph shrugged. “If it’s unique, then you need not feel badlyabout not understanding it. No one can understand a thing which isunprecedented.” Before Thana could embarrass herself further by repeating herfeelings of inadequacy, Sylph shook her head and took a step closer. “And I’mcertain you would never have been named monarch’s pyradisté if your competencywas ever in question.” Her eyes seemed kinder if still with a bit of frost.

And she was closer. If Thana took a step, she’d be close enoughto kiss.

Enough! “You

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