“No, let her try,” Bindy said and nodded at me.
What does this mean? If I am powerful like my mother… if I’m this princess of the Fae prophecy… “Where are you hurt?”
Zyacus placed a hand over his right rib cage. “I think they’re broken and I think one may be puncturing my lung. I can barely breathe.”
Watching him only for a moment, I could see each intake of breath hurt. I laid my palm against his side and looked into his eyes. “Tell me when it starts feeling better.”
“And you tell me if you start to weaken too much.”
I nodded and chanted the healing spell in my mind. My magic surged creating a feeling like before Zyacus kissed me for the first time; intense, unsure and glorious. My palm glowed and warmed. Zyacus took a breath and I could see it didn’t hurt as much as before. He started standing straighter and on his own. A grin spread across his face as he watched me.
I half expected to start to feel weak, but if anything I grew stronger the more I used my magic.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“I’m great—mighty even. Is that strange to say?” I couldn’t think of a better word to describe it.
He chuckled, “The Mighty Visteal. I like it.” He took my hand into his, lifted it and kissed my knuckles. “I’m better now. Thank you, love.”
“You two are just adorable,” Mateo teased. “I’ve never seen the prince so enthralled by a woman before.”
Zyacus gave Mateo a light shove. “You’re meant to guard me. Quietly.”
Mateo laughed too. “Quietly? You know I’ve never kept my thoughts to myself.”
I couldn’t help but smile at their laughter even if it were at my expense. “I thought you were a student, Mateo. I had no idea you were his guardian.”
“That’s what everyone is supposed to think. It’s easy for me to blend in, go unnoticed.”
Bindy folded her arms. “Are we going to talk about the silver-skinned man with power to control all of us like puppets? And this prophecy he spoke of?” She looked at all of us like we’d lost our minds. “And I’m glad you’re healed with Visteal’s apparently new magical strength but we need to get back to the academy where it’s safer. Now.”
No one dared argue with Bindy. So I caught Proud Boy by the reins and hopped onto his back. I didn’t know how much they heard of the conversation I had with the Fae. “I’ve met him before—in Hesstia. He’s supposedly the Prince of the Winter and Night Courts. Don’t bother asking me where those are because I have no idea.” I needed to find Atticus and see if he’d found out anything. He’d disappeared over the last week. He was either completely dedicated and had gone far and wide to find the information I’d asked or he was a terrible guardian cat.
Bindy glared at me as she mounted her horse. “When did you go to Hesstia and why haven’t I heard about this encounter prior?”
I half smiled at Zyacus who rode his horse up beside me. “She came to see me a few weeks ago.”
If I had to guess, Bindy ground her teeth as she sent mental daggers my way. “That was you in the hallway outside your room in Legacy’s appearance. When I asked why Legacy had your sword and bag.”
I cleared my throat. “It was me.” I was surprised my parents hadn’t told her.
“Girl, you are going to be my end.” Bindy sighed and kicked her horse. “Let’s move.”
Dust kicked up as we rode. I could see the academy on the horizon. We hadn’t actually gotten that far and since we weren’t supposed to be back until sundown, I’d have to find another way to distract Zyacus. Or he’d just find out about his party in the evening. At the moment I had bigger things to worry about. Prophesies, and mad Fae, and a blood moon.
I reached up to scratch an itch on my head and realized that the bastard had kept my crown. Not only had he threatened me multiple times now, threatened my friends, but he stole my crown. The next time I saw him, I’d come at him with everything I had.
If I was like my mother, my magical power would draw energy from things around me. Things like other people, vegetation, and animals, an endless stream. With my magic no longer tied to my own energy, I could be unstoppable.
∞∞∞
When we were about a hundred yards from the gates of the academy, Bindy turned to me. She was usually serious but her face dropped with worry. “I need to go home and see your parents. I must find out more about this enemy and prophecy. Stay inside the academy grounds. Please for the love of all that is holy and good, be safe. Don’t do anything reckless.”
“You don’t have to worry about me.”
“He toyed with us like we were nothing. He also is interested in you. I have much to worry about.”
“Bindy,” I chided. “I will be here when you get back. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Mateo called from the far end. “Zyacus usually has two.”
“See,” I said. “Besides, Madison and Papa are here. Not to mention the hundred guards.” I hoped she wouldn’t think about how the vampires had managed to get through the guards and not a single one of the blood drinkers held a candle to the fae prince as far as magical power went.
She didn’t argue further and hurried ahead to return the horse.
I didn’t know how I was supposed to go on pretending everything was fine, like we didn’t get attacked by an enemy but a party for Zyacus was going to happen. If we canceled it there would be suspicion as to why. As usual we would keep threats hidden from the students until they had to know.
“Since that plan was ruined, care to join me… in the apple orchard?” It was the only
