Page 49 of Court of Lies and Deceit

At last, she tears her gaze from the wall and shifts her attention back to us. “That’s why it’s so hot.” She lets out a small chuckle and gives us all a knowing look. “Just imagine how hot it would be to do that with someone as powerful as the Unseelie King.”

Isera’s gaze sharpens. “He likes that?”

“Of course. Complete submission, especially from someone powerful, is what he craves most.”

“I see.”

I glance at her, trying to meet her gaze. But her calculating eyes are focused on Jocasta.

For a few seconds, the room is dead silent. Somewhere outside the door, the distant sounds of clashing swords and rushing magic fill the warm air inside the arena. Gray light from the overcast sky filters in through the windows, painting lighter patches on the pale stone wall on the other side.

“Uhm…” Galen begins, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

Jocasta yet again claps her hands. “Anyway.” She shifts her gaze to me. “You can’t create emotions yet. That’s fine. We have a week to work on that before the first game. For now, at least show me how you manipulate emotions.”

Yet. Can’t create emotionsyet. I stifle a scoff. I don’t know what kind of extra power the fae have here in the Unseelie Court, but it is not possible to create emotions. I know. I have been practicing with my magic for over one hundred and fifty years. I know that it’s not possible to create emotions. There needs to be a spark there first. That’s just how it works. At least for us.

I glance at Jocasta. Maybe she was right. Maybe the Unseelie Court has always been stronger than us and that’s why she can create emotions while I can’t.

“Well, get to it,” Jocasta says, and raises her eyebrows at me.

Since I don’t want to manipulate my friends’ emotions, I walk over to the window instead.

Below, people are strolling through a large market square. Colorful awnings flutter in the breeze and bright flowers rustle in the wooden planters that have been placed in strategic places throughout the square. Carts and booths full of wares line it in neat rows. I crack the window open so that I can hear their chatter and laughter.

Jocasta comes to stand next to me. “The city instead of your friends, huh? Smart.”

“Yeah.” I keep my eyes on the people outside. “But I can’t do the whole city. Well, technically, I can. But only for about ten seconds.”

She laughs. “The whole city. Right. Good one.” A wistful smile blows across her lips. “Wouldn’t that be something, though? An entire city.”

Confusion pulses through me, and I turn to look at her properly. She just looks back at me, seeming equally confused.

“What?” she says at last.

“I wasn’t kidding.” I frown at her, now completely bewildered. “I can manipulate an entire city. But only for about ten seconds. I did it back in Frostfell right before we came here.”

Dead silence falls over the training room. Standing there by the open window, she stares at me for several seconds, as if trying to figure out whether I’m messing with her or not. Color drains from her face when she realizes that I am indeed being serious.

“That’s not possible,” she says.

Turning back to the window, I push it open wider. Then I summon my magic. After a deep breath, I throw it across the entire city in search of the glittering silver sparks of excitement. Not everyone feels it, of course. But with the Great Games on the horizon, the majority of them seem to possess at least a tiny spark of that emotion. I blow it into a wildfire.

The people in the market square below, and on all the streets that we can see from here, suddenly seem to lighten up. Laughter becomes louder. Joy infectious. People get a spring in their steps. Anticipation seems to vibrate from the whole city. And not the tense kind that hung over the city before. Just simple, pure excitement this time.

I quickly cut off my magic after only three seconds so that I won’t drain all of my energy.

Then I turn back to Jocasta.

For a while, she just continues staring out the window, where everyone has now started to return to a more normal state. Then she turns to me. And when her wide eyes meet mine, I can’t tell if she’s shocked or terrified or impressed.

“It’s not possible,” she blurts out. But it sounds more like a desperate attempt to hold on to her worldview rather than a declaration of fact. Her pink and gold eyes are still wide as she shakes her head at me. “It shouldn’t be possible.”

“But it is,” I reply gently. Then I nod in the direction of the city while I close the window again. “You saw.”

She works her mouth a few times, but no sound makes it out. Then she suddenly whirls around to face the others. Her stunned eyes lock on Alistair. “You. Fire wielder, right?”

“Yeah,” Alistair confirms.

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