Collectively, my friends startled. I could hear Sam, Tess, and Danai murmuring worriedly. Neither Clyde nor Dutch said anything, but I could see their brows furrowing. Gloria’s hand clutched Dutch’s arm so tight, I could see her knuckles whiten. Rand? He’d gone completely still next to me, which was probably more dangerous a sign than anything he might have said or done.
Clearing my throat, I asked, “I’m sorry. Turn on me?” I angled my wrist and frowned at the sapphire winking back at me. Was it just my imagination or did I sense a distinct feeling of amusement emanating from it? “How . . . or what . . . would it do?”
Dorn tilted his head to the side, considering. “As my king already stated, Fae Objects tend to get bored without a well-defined purpose. A job, if you would. They can be . . . I believe mischievous would be the word best used. I can feel more than just fae magick in it; there is also much of your own, is there not?”
Nodding, I answered, “Yes. The setting was done with my own magick, a little fae magick, and—” I stopped abruptly, not wanting to admit in front of everyone that I’d been using blood magick, as well, though Tess and Sam already knew that. Heck, Rand knew it, too. Sighing, I realized everyone present except for the water fae and possibly a few of the pixies knew it.
Dorn peered up at me from beneath surprising long lashes, as if he’d heard my thoughts. Briefly, I wondered if he was telepathic. Zara had mentioned there were other telepathic beings in our world.
It’s possible, but I cannot tell through his shields. Some of the water fae do have mild telepathic abilities—it helps them to communicate underwater. They use a complex sign language, as well. If you had been watching their hands and bodies, you would have seen that the king has been carrying on a full conversation with his companions right in front of you. Anything he has said out loud has been out of courtesy.
I threw on my poker face, hoping my surprise over what she’d said didn’t show. I thought perhaps you’d fallen asleep or were busy with the kits, you’ve been so quiet.
I can multitask, Roxanne, she said dryly. There is often much to be learned from simply watching and listening. Tighten your shields if there is anything you would like to keep private. I can still monitor everything through Sebastian and the others. If it is any consolation, this conversation is private. I’m shielding for both of us.
Zipping my shields up, I continued, “Sorry, I was just processing what you said. So, how would the different types of magick affect my bracelet?”
Olen and Dorn both shrugged, the casual movement at odds with their overall demeanor. Olen was the one to answer this time. “There are many ways to create powerful Objects of any kind, though much of the knowledge of how to do so has been lost or buried over time. This stone was already very powerful before it was gifted to you. That it was a gift is significant for both you and the stone—and what it is to become. True fae objects must either be gifted or found to be of any use, and even then the bond is not always a sure thing. Those that are forcibly taken tend toward resentment or even open hostility against its new master. Anything you did magickly would have only strengthened its own magick. It will be interesting to see how it develops.”
There was a splash from near the far bank of the river. This time, I did catch sight of a tail as it slid back into the water. Olen sighed heavily. “I’m afraid that is my cue that my time here is at an end.” He made a small hand signal that I would have missed if it weren’t for Zara’s heads up, and Dorn, along with the other man who hadn’t been introduced, turned and made their way back to the water. His manner became more brisk and his face was pinched with—worry? “I trust that our tithe was satisfactory?”
“Yes, of course. It was probably too much, but it was extremely helpful. Some of it is here, as a matter of fact.” I held up my wrist. Astra fluttered her wings beside me, drawing our attention to her. Her eyes were wide.
“I didn’t think of that. Did you use any of the silver left over from,” she paused, pointedly not looking at Olen, “your aunt’s visitor?”
I knew she meant the silver that had been magicked by Toli, Stella’s fae lover. Because of her careful wording, I wondered if there had been contention of some sort between Toli and Olen over my aunt’s affections. I nodded and dropped my wrist, letting my sleeve cover the sapphire again. “Probably. Finn and I melted most of it for the armour, but I think there might have been some leftover bits that were melted in with the rest. Why?”
She shook her head. “I’m not sure. Land, air, and water . . . it feels significant for some reason.”
Olen’s eyes sharpened as his gaze left the pixie queen to settle on me. “Are you speaking of the fae lover your aunt took about two hundred years ago?”
Were my shields down? I checked, but they still felt tight. Cautiously, I answered, “Yes.”
“He gave Estella silver worked by his own hand?”
“We think so. Finn, er, one of Astra’s artisans, felt fae magick in it. That’s the only explanation we could
