Page 142 of Fated

“She didn’t seem like she was lying,” he said.

“Ok, great! So, I’m also an heir to the Kingdom of Ellington?” I asked hopefully.

“What the fuck, Areya?” Calyx stared at me. “Queen of Ambrosia and heir to every other throne?”

“I guess?”

He ran his hand through his hair the same way Ash did when he was nervous, and my heart melted at the familiar gesture.

“I’ve only ever used my healing magic, and just one time, I used the mental power to move something. I haven’t had a chance to train yet, but technically, I should be able to use the other powers, right?” My voice was uncertain but hopeful.

Calyx studied me, considering. “I guess. I mean, you could have an entire arsenal up your sleeve.”

Perfect.

“What was Ellington’s power?” I asked.

“Transformation,” he replied.

“So, what could that mean for me?”

“It means you’re probably a shifter.”

“Like Cynthia?” I asked a little too hopefully.

“No, she can shift herself and anyone else into anything or anyone she likes. You’d most likely be limited to one form. Probably, an animal form.”

My eyes widened. That could definitely be useful.

“Is there anything else I could do with the healing power other than … heal?” I pressed.

“Yeah, well, the ‘healing power’ isn’t technically healing; it’s a form of harnessing energy.”

I gave him a blank look, completely lost.

“Ok, so past kings have done some crazy shit with it. They could give life—or rather, imbue energy—into inanimate objects and command them to their will. They could also absorb energy, essentially erasing a life force,” he explained.

I thought about how Ash had made those men disappear. “Shit. Agidius has that power?”

“Exactly.”

I sighed. “Well, what could I do with my limited power?”

“Most healers I’ve known have been able to manipulate energy to teleport.”

“Teleport?” My heart leapt.

“Yeah, but it takes practice if you want to end up in one piece, and you have to have been to the place you want to teleport to—and the distance is limited,” Calyx added.

“But it’s something …” My mind raced through everything Calyx had told me, piecing together what we had to work with. “Ok, Calyx, here’s my plan.”

His eyes met mine.

“We have less than two weeks to save Ash. We need to go back and find Greyson and Xanth because they are out there somewhere, possibly hurt. I need the three of you to train me—to help me figure out my magic—anything at all that can give us an edge.”

Calyx interrupted me, his face hard with concern.

“Areya, it can take months … shit, years to train that kind of power. We only have days.”

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