Page 174 of Emylia

She was softening, I saw it in her eyes. I knew her well enough to know she was going to cave, because she knew what was at stake. One life didn’t outweigh the lives of our whole village, someone who cared as deeply as she did, couldn’t ignore the logic.

“Oh, it will definitely work, and I’m more than happy to assist in any way I can. Even do some private lessons, if she needs.” Sebastian grinned.

I glared at Sebastian, ordering him to shut up, with one lethal glance.

“If that doesn’t work, I’m happy to step in instead of him." Maalikai offered. "Maybe it will give her that extra bit of motivation."

I ignored both of them. “Please, Mom. I can do this. You just have to believe in me.”

Her perfect brows knitted, furrowing her forehead. “I do believe in you. I just can’t risk losing you.”

“Think of all the lives we can save.”

“None of them are worth your life,” she shot back with so much venom it was like someone else faced me. This wasn’t the cool, calm, and compassionate woman I’d known my entire life. This woman would set the world on fire for me.

Instinctively, I took a step back, the venom in her words settling uncomfortably around me. Never, not even once, had I seen her put her needs in front of anyone else. This was the woman I had watched free ladybugs that had fallen into pools of water for Gods’ sake. But I guess my life was the limit.

I took a step forward, taking her hand in mine. “I can do this. You know I can.” A moment of silence stretched between us. “I can’t be responsible for their deaths. I have to learn how to control this.”

One second collided with another. Chewing on her bottom lip, she visibly caved.

After another long pause, she nodded. “Okay.”

I kissed her cheek. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

I took several paces back from her, my hand hovering over the bark of the willow, power crackling between my fingers even before I touched it.

“Are you ready?” she asked.

Her skin had a grey paler, like this was claiming something of her that she would never forgive herself for. But her eyes were bright, ready to harness me into a weapon, even if it destroyed us both.

“Yes.” I dug my heels into the dirt and locked my knees, prepared for the onslaught of power to hit me.

Air whooshed from her before she drew another breath. “I want you to name your willow.”

I blinked. That was not what I’d been expecting.

“What?”

She stepped closer, her fingers brushing lightly over the bark, reverent.

“Giving your willow a name imbues it with its own unique power,” she said, voice low, almost sacred. “It will bind her to you, and she will become yours.” Her gaze lifted to meet mine, steady and sure. “It should also give you something tangible to hold onto–something to anchor you–when you’re trying to call upon her power.”

“Okay… um.” This was the last thing I’d been expecting, I was drawing a complete blank.

Maybe I could somehow combine the names Xayreia and Elessandria, since Xayreia produced my willow’s seed and that’s where Elessandria was conjured.

Maybe Xaylessa?

I opened my mouth to reply—but a word slipped out before I could stop.

“Akaela.” I hadn’t meant to say it–it just came out.

Once I said the word out loud, and tested it on my tongue, I knew it was right. The willow seemed to relax under my touch, humming with magik, as if she approved.

She nodded once, approving. “Good.”

She circled me slowly, hands clasped behind her back, her presence calm but commanding. “This time, instead of focusing on your emotions to control your power, think about what it feels like when you draw from her–what it feels like to harness it.” She paused behind me, her voice soft but steady. “So, instead, feel where in your body you’re pulling the power to. Focus on the source. Anchor it.”

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