Page 8 of Tangled Power
“What does that mean?” he asked as he stepped toward her, his body drawn to her words, like her magic was to him. At least it was a mutual addiction.
“I’m usually only learning enough about someone to determine the best weapon.” She reached for him. “With you, my magic wants to know more than what weapon to make you. It wants...everything.”
He couldn’t hold back the self-satisfied smirk that tugged at the corner of his lip. “I’m glad your magic and I are in agreement,” he said. “But it can’t come at the expense of your safety.”
Rose let out a breath. It was a start. The sun’s more insistent rays caught her eye through the window before she spoke. “Can we continue this conversation later? We should get going. We promised to be back at Norden house early.”
Luc’s fingers wrapped around her shoulders, trailing movement up and down her arms, reassuring himself that she was okay. “You’re really fine?” he asked.
“I am,” she said, meeting his gaze. “I won’t lie and say it was a normal experience.”
“Nor would I believe you if you tried.”
“It’s something we can work through together,” she said.
“Rose…” His hands slipped down to hers, and he entwined them. “I can only imagine what you experienced with my magic. I caught a glimpse of the scene you saw. My power hasn’t always been pleasant.” He dropped her hands and ran his fingers through his hair. “And it hasn’t always reacted as expected. I don’t know if you should trust it.”
“Why not? Your magic is you, and I know you would never hurt me.”
“My power isn’t normal, but I’ve made peace with it,” Luc began.
Rose very much doubted that.
“That doesn’t mean I give it free rein,” he said firmly. “I keep it on a tight leash, but something about you makes it want to slip. I don’t think we should risk it.”
Rose tilted her head, considering before responding. “It was just overwhelming. I’ll go slower next time.”
Luc shook his head.
“How you describe your magic and your relationship with it affects you. It’s not something to brush aside. I’ve felt the draw you speak of, but I’ve never once felt in danger. It wants to protect me, cherish me even, but not harm.”
Luc’s eyes widened. Had he not registered his magic’s recent attention to her? Or had he thought she was unaware?
“But I also felt your disgust in the memory, especially as a child, for what your magic had done. Maybe more importantly—how it made those you care about feel.”
Luc opened and closed his mouth—uncharacteristically at a loss for words.
“Let’s continue this conversation later,” Rose suggested, knowing she’d given him enough to think about. “We really should get to Norden house. I have a seat of power to claim.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Power flooded through Rose as she stepped out of the boat and onto Norden soil. The lake water lapped at her feet, her element rising to reach her on the beach. The land accepted her as the Norden Point. It was time to see if everyone else would too.
Three Norden gathered on the property. Her gaze skimmed each of them, eyes wanting to widen in surprise at the last fae in the line of elders. Schooling her features, she stepped forward to greet them. “Meg, Catherine… Samuel.” She nodded to each.
Samuel was the elder responsible for testing Norden magic. He knew she should have been named the future Norden Point on that terrible day. Where had he been? Why was he here now?
Meg and Catherine—long-standing advisors to the Norden Point—returned her gesture. Rose glanced at Juliette, the Osten Point, and Carter, the Vesten, also on the beach. Her gaze lifted to the hill before them, on which Norden house sat. Dozens of Norden had gathered to watch the proceeding. This should help her case. Her water magic display likely delighted these same Norden at the Solstice Ball. And they would have also seen her step in at the Refilling Ceremony when Aiden couldn’t complete it.
She was glad this would happen with an audience—less chance for the elders to weasel out of any accountability for letting the incorrect Norden Point sit for ten years. The fae courts had kept too much hidden for too long. With Samuel there, though, she had some questions that not everyone needed to hear.
As if anticipating her concern, Juliette spoke. “I’m going to give us a little privacy here to start.” The Osten Point’s fingers twitched, and Rose sensed wind magic whipping around them. “A sound barrier,” she said. “I know this is inherently a Norden discussion, but as Compass Points, we’ve never experienced anything like this before.” Juliette leveled her gaze at the elders. “Rose could complete the Refilling Ceremony, and Aiden, the seated Norden Point, could not. We can’t continue to operate under the assumption that Aiden is the Norden Point. And the Compass Points cannot be incomplete, especially with the looming presence of the mist plague.” Juliette gave Carter and Luc a moment to voice their own concerns. Instead, both simply nodded at her statement, a show of their support.
Rose wasn’t sure what she expected, but the remaining Compass Points being united in this was a good start.
Murmurs ran through the crowd. They must have realized the conversation had started on the beach, and they couldn’t hear it. Rose wouldn’t push Juliette now, but neither would she have this entire conversation in secrecy. She felt strongly that the Norden fae needed to know more than just the outcome.
“The Compass Points believe that Rose is the true Norden Point. We would see her take the seat.” Juliette’s voice carried across the metaphorical line that had been drawn in the sand. The Norden elders on one side and the Compass Points on the other. Her eyes narrowed as she said, “It’s time to fix this.”
