Page 56 of Unseen Eye
I stare at the lock, trying to picture myself walking over and locking it. I imagine the click, the motion of my wrist. I open my eyes.
Nothing. The lock remains stubbornly unchanged.
“Attempt number two,” Izzy calls out, lounging back in her chair, clearly enjoying this.
This time, I dig deeper into myself. I think back to when I summoned the light—the desperation, the anger that swirled inside me. I let those emotions build, feeling the heat rise in my chest. I focus on the lock, imagining it turning. I open my eyes.
Still nothing. Fuck, this is hard.
Izzy groans, grabbing the dagger Callon threw at Theo last night and starting to absentmindedly twirl it. I roll my eyes, bracing for a long day.
Minutes blur into hours. Izzy dozes off here and there, only to snap awake with a half-hearted pointer, most of them sounding like she’s explaining something to a child.
Frustrated, I take a deep breath. Kendry’s lessons flood back—his endless speeches about breathing, focusing, finding my calm. My mind drifts back to yesterday, to Callon’s gaze, to the feel of his fingers brushing against mine before everything went to hell. My breath hitches in my throat, and I throw my hands up in exasperation, frustrated with myself. He’s the prince of Coire, the heir. And me, well, I don’t even know who I am yet—still a work in progress.
But then, I hear it: the soft click of the lock turning. My eyes snap open, and I glance toward the door, my pulse quickening. It’s locked.
I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face.
“Yay,” Izzy says, drawing out the word with exaggeratedsarcasm, clapping slowly. “Now unlock it,” she orders, clearly unimpressed.
“Well, shit, here goes nothing,” I mutter to myself, focusing again. I think of Callon, of that rush of emotion, feeling it rise within me. I picture the lock turning, willing it to move. Sure enough, I hear the satisfying click.
Izzy stands up, genuinely impressed. “Congratulations, you’re now a ten-year-old. Whatever you were doing, don’t forget it. Now try again.”
A few more embarrassing thoughts and attempts later, I finally manage to repeat the action to Izzy’s satisfaction. The last time I unlock the door, I hear clapping from the other side. I hurry to open it, expecting Theo, but instead, it’s Callon.
His bright blue eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the world goes still. The clapping stops, and Izzy’s voice is nothing more than a background noise. I find myself trapped in his gaze, and my heart skips a beat. What is he thinking? Why does it matter to me? My cheeks flush as I remember my earlier thoughts, and I quickly look away, embarrassed.
Damn, we’re tied now, though I doubt anyone else is keeping score.
“She’s all yours,” Izzy says, using a gust of wind to shove me aside, breaking the moment. “She can unlock a door now. Watch out, Abyss, here she comes!” She jokes, before walking off. Leaving me alone with Callon and a swirl of conflicting thoughts.
Chapter Eighteen
“Hey,” I say, glancing up at Callon, who’s casually leaning against the wall again, looking far too comfortable for my current state of mind. Thank the gods he can’t read thoughts—if he could, this whole interaction would be much worse. I try to practice the mask of indifference, the same one he wears so well.
“Hello,” he replies, and there it is—that smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, like he knows exactly how rattled I am, even if I’m trying not to show it. “Congratulations on mastering the door lock. You’re a quick learner. Usually, it takes weeks to figure it out.”
“Yeah, for a kid,” I mutter, remembering Izzy’s teasing. “According to her, I’m ten years old now.” Still, I can’t hide the excitement bubbling up inside me. I actually accomplished something, and it feels good. A smile sneaks onto my face, despite my best efforts to play it cool.
Callon watches me for a moment longer, his gaze lingering just long enough to make me wonder what he’s thinking. Then, out of nowhere, he asks, “Food or exploring?”
“What?” The question catches me off guard, and I stare at him like he’s just spoken in a foreign language. Is he seriously offering to spend time with me?
He chuckles, the sound low and warm. “Let me try this again,” he says, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “Would you prefer to eat, or would you like to see Coire? Or both,” he adds with a casual shrug, as though the choice is no big deal.
My stomach growls at the mention of food, and I can’t deny it much longer. “Both,” I blurt out, unable to resist the idea of both satisfying my hunger and seeing more of the village.
“Okay, let’s go,” Callon says, already moving down the hallwayas if he knew that would be my answer.
As we near the dining hall, I spot Ingrid emerging from the kitchens, balancing a tray of roasted turkey in her hands, heading toward the dining rooms. The smell hits me first—rich, savory, and impossible to ignore—as I feel my stomach tighten in anticipation. “Hi, Ingrid,” I wave after her.
“Eva,” she exclaims, slowing her pace to walk with us. “I see you finally found Cal,” she says, nodding in Callon’s direction. “How did your training go?” she asks, noting the bruise on my jaw from Izzy.
“I can unlock doors,” I reply, and that smile appears again. I am way too proud of myself over something this simple.
“Good for you,” Ingrid replies, her eyes warm with approval. “And you,” she turns her attention back to Callon. “Have you had a chance to show our special guest around yet? I noticed you were conveniently absent this morning.”
