“She already does.”
Chapter Nineteen
Ara
“Wake up, lazy bones. You’ve almost slept the day away.”
Groaning, I peeked one eye open to see Thana smiling at me with coffee and honeyed bread. I sat up, the blanket falling around my lap as I glanced out the window. The sun was already lowering on the horizon.
“No kidding,” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes with my palms. “I was working with Alden all night. He agreed to help me.”
“Oh, that’s great,” she said, pouring a cup of steaming coffee and handing it to me. “Did you make any progress, then?”
“None. At all.” The frustration from the night before bit at me and I took a deep breath, stifling it. We had spent hours in the ring, and I hadn’t wielded the electricity even once. It seemed to have a mind of its own, only responding to my emotions and not when I actually wanted it to.
Alden explained that I should view my magic as another limb, another extension of myself, and I should be able to control it like so. But no matter how hard I focused, it didn’t budge.
“I’m sure it will just take time. I don’t have magic, but my mother always compared it to muscle—weak at first, but as you train, you become stronger over time. Just keep trying. I’m sure you will master it in no time,” she reassured, patting my leg.
“Thank you,” I replied, although I wasn’t sure I fully believed her.
We ate in silence after that, eating our fill.
“I just realized I’ve never even asked about your family. How rude of me,” I said, wiping my mouth. “What are they like?”
She stilled, chewing her food slowly, before she swallowed, casting her face to the floor.
“I haven’t actually seen them in many years. I lost contact with them after their village was attacked and destroyed.”
“Oh… Thana, I am so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” She wrung her hands in her lap. I reached out to place my hand on top of hers, just as Livvy had done for me so many times, and she flinched. I jerked my hand back, dropping my gaze.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“No, don’t be.I’msorry, truly,” I said.
She sighed, closing her eyes.
“Yes, me too,” she uttered, clearing her throat as she rose to her feet. “I best return to my other duties.”
I was steeped in guilt at the horrific deeds of my father, and it was only exasperated by the pained look on her face. I bitterly regretted asking and resurfacing the memory. It was a miracle she could stand to be in the same room as me, much less be my friend.
“I-I didn’t mean to cause you any pain. I’m sorry for bringing it up.”
A tight smile pulled at her lips.
“I know. You didn’t know, and how could you? You are just as ignorant about the attacks as the rest of Auryna’s people.”
I flinched as though I had been slapped, but she was right. I had allowed myself to remain ignorant, blindly trusting whatever my father, Evander, said.
“I won’t be so clueless when I go back. He will have to listen to me.” I motioned to my ears. “His vendetta against the Fae cannot continue when I am one myself.”
She looked at me doubtfully, before bowing her head and exiting the room.
I paused for a moment and walked to the window, lost in thought. A small part of me worried what my father would think, whispering doubtful thoughts.
Would he love me any differently when he found out what I was? Or would things return to the same monotony, day in and day out? Would he still push for me to marry Finn?