Page 44 of Bargains with Benefits
Her brow furrowed as she tried to follow my logic.
“I smelled the same thing outside when the water rippled around you.” Then, the item in the locked room popped into my head. The moonflower. I remembered her quiet voice when she’d given me the tour, admitting that she stole the moonflowers when they bloomed.
I had known then. I’d also known she wasn’t ready todiscuss it. My wind swirled in my chest as I broached the forbidden topic again. I lowered my voice. “You said the moonflowers bloomed for you?”
She tilted her head. “Yes…I told you I stole them from Byrd.”
Ambrose’s eyes lit up as he heard the words and got a little too enthusiastic, jumping back in. “Moonflower can only be kept by water fae.”
I glared at Ambrose, and his head hung as he stepped back next to Evelyn.
“What do you mean?” Luna replied. “This whole place is the property of water fae. Darius is of the Norden Court, and so was Byrd.”
“Yes, but the flower can only be picked by a water fae.”
She bit her lip. “I’m half water fae, but that doesn’t mean I have the magic. Maybe it’s just a technicality.”
She had a point, but I was also sure she was wrong.
Ambrose couldn’t help himself, stepping in again. “The flower requires magic. It’s how they distinguish water fae from others. It doesn’t require intentional usage, only the presence of the magic. You could even be wielding without realizing it.”
“Seraphina and I found it odd that you wouldn’t admit to throwing the drink at him,” Evelyn said. “We thought you were embarrassed because he was handsome.”
My wind preened.
“It makes more sense that you were unaware of the magic but that it still acted on your behalf. I’ve read about such things, especially in long-repressed power. It makes itself known eventually.”
“This is crazy,” Luna said.
Her gaze found mine and hung on like a lifeline. No matter what she said, I could see her considering it. Right when I thought she’d admit it, water rimmed her eyes, and I knew what she would say next would break my heart.
“Darius didn’t want me because I didn’t have any magic. He checked.”
My hands balled into fists, the nubs of my nails digging into the skin to keep hold of my emotions. This wasn’t the time for me to overreact to what she shared. There would be time for that later. I couldn’t believe Darius would have said such a thing to her. Then I thought of my parents and realized I could easily see them saying the same thing to me if I hadn’t had visible magic. I took a step closer to her in the hallway. I raised my hand to reach for hers, and then I realized she might not welcome it. I dropped it, but when I found her gaze, it was fixed on my fallen hand. Why was everything so difficult between us?
“I’m sorry he said that to you,” I whispered. “I’m sorry the fae are so terrible, and that he was a terrible father on top of that for making you feel like your magic was the only part of you that mattered. I assure you, it’s not.”
She was still staring at my hand clasped into a tight fist at my side. Should I reach out again? See if she took it?
I don’t want her to feel alone.
“I do have to admit, Luna, I was sure you had magic the night we met. It didn’t occur to me that could be the reason behind the drink in my face. I was pretty sure I’d earned that myself. Outside, though, the water in the moat came to life around you. I’m not sure what triggers your magic. I understand it can be different for many half-fae, but I think you have it somewhere.”
Her eyes widened. “You thought I was fae that night?”
I let my eyes close momentarily as I tried to think through how she’d react to that. “I did.” I’d continue to be honest with her, no matter where it got me. “I knew you were half-fae when I went to the court records room. I figured it out with where your name was in the book.” I didn’t want her to think I hadn’t known what I was doing when I’d asked her to speak withDarius. While I might not have known the extent of the pain it would cause, I’d known it wouldn’t be good.
I stepped closer to her and lowered my voice again, hoping Ambrose and Evelyn couldn’t hear. My fingers reached for hers, brushing against them, and with it, my wind circled where our skin met. “I followed the scent of your magic to the moat. It was heavenly. No matter how much you disliked me, I had to know more.”
Her big blue eyes widened farther, and a faint blush touched her cheeks. Hopefully, that meant she believed me. Only time would tell.
She held my gaze. “You think I have magic.”
My wind circled her hands as she pulled them away to stare at them. She smiled softly, looking at them like she’d never seen them before. “I don’t know how to use it.”
I smirked. “You have some magic experts here that might be able to give you instruction. Be careful, Luna. Don’t push yourself too hard. Half-fae magic is unpredictable. It’s different for everyone.” She knew this, but I felt it bore repeating before she got her hopes up. “Some have full access, some have one day a year. Others only with the seasons. It’s entirely unique, like the individual.”
She gestured back to where Evelyn and Ambrose stood. “I understand, but I don’t know how to attempt to open the door.”
