Page 137 of Rebellious Royals

"I did too," Hawke said.

"Same," Torian agreed.

But Bracken was making his way over. "When did you start manifesting?"

"Friday," Keir said. "He heated water, electrocuted his tablet, and a few other things. All sound Summer to me."

"That," Wilder said, "was not Summer."

Axel climbed to his feet, then headed over to offer Pascal a hand up. "Well, sounds to me like you ended up with the monarch you prefer, Pas. Grats, man."

"I..." Pascal accepted his hand. "Could I have both?"

"I mean, some people do, right?" I asked, looking at my zez.

But Bracken shook his head. "It is rare for a faeling to inherit two seasons. Most of us get one from each parent, which means two fae bloodlines."

"Unless," Torian said, "he's more than half. Summer from the faeling, Winter from the pure fae."

"Or the other way around," Aspen pointed out.

"But it's magic?" Pascal asked, almost begging. The worry was audible in those few words.

Bracken nodded at him. "Definitely magic. Hawke? Since you can manipulate both seasons, can you work with Pascal?"

Torian grunted as if offended.

Bracken just gave the prince a long and tired look. "We both know you do not have the temperament to work with someone untrained. It's not a slight, Torian."

"And a good point," Torian relented.

"So do it again," Bracken said to all of us. "Tor, you're with Rain. Keir, you're with Pascal, and if he explodes again, please make sure it doesn't ruin another mirror."

"Got that!" Aspen said, turning to repair the cracked surface.

But Pascal was watching her with a smile on his face. "I might be Winter," he breathed, the words to no one but himself, and yet we all heard them.

What shocked me the most was Torian. He looked away, but only to hide the smile on his lips.

Chapter Forty-Three

TORIAN

Hearing Pascal wonder if his magic was Winter with so much hope? For some reason, that felt good. It couldn't be, though. Hawke had fed from this guy, and he'd said Pascal tasted like Summer. Not both. Not Earth. Pascal's power had tasted like Summer.

Then again, Hawke had been surprised he had so much available.

I hadn't thought about that at the time. I'd been more worried about Pascal knowing my best friend was a jevadu. Now, it seemed like I'd missed the obvious. But how could he lash out with Winter magic if he was descended from Summer?

"And you just lost the smile," Rain said as she guided me over to an open area. "Torian, what's going on?"

"Don't worry about it," I grumbled.

She lifted a brow as if daring me to say that again. I couldn't help it. It made me huff out a soft laugh.

"Rain, I'm saying this isn't the place, not that we won't discuss it."

"Better," she decided, offering me the practice blade I'd dropped in the commotion. "Going to show me how not to die to someone like you?"

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