The princess knelt before the circle, gasping in awe at the symbols etched into the wooden floor. Tribal swirls sprouted from the center; the Goddess carved into a blooming lotus blossom tree—a tree of life. Her slender arms enveloped her chest, birds, lotus flowers, and tiny Faeries dancing about her form.
“This is incredible,” she breathed.
Only half-listening, Quinn eyed the towering cedarwood shelves on the wall near the door. Ancient, thick, and sturdy, they supported a never-ending stock of herbs both dried and fresh, flower petals, oils, and roots. Clay bowls, mortar and pestles, clean rags, bandages, and salves occupied the shelves closest to the door.
“You must have been gathering all this for years.” She turned to him, eyes shimmering with curiosity. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-four. This was Fallon’s collection. He doesn’t use magic much now, but when he discovered I possessed the gift, he taught me.”
“Is Fallon your father?”
“No, he found me when I was a boy. He always said my mother was a healer. I never knew her. I was only four when she passed into the Nightlands.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He shrugged. “I don’t remember. I blocked it out.”
She still twisted her damp curls around a finger. “Could you teach me? Magic, I mean.”
Quinn laughed outright before he could stop himself. He didn’t need to look at her to feel the fire radiating toward him. “It’s impossible to teach someone who doesn’t already possess the ability to wield magic. I could try, but I doubt it would do much.”
“You are my warrior, aren’t you?”
Quinn narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?”
“From the prophecy. You, Jenson, Maya, and the others are my warriors, correct?” He folded his arms across his chest, raising an eyebrow. “So, you have to do as I say. I want you to try. I want to learn.”
“I understand what you’re asking, but I’m not sure you understand—”
“I’m not asking.” Her sweet voice was surprisingly firm.
Quinn held back the snarl in his throat. “You are a feisty one, aren’t you? Figures I’d get stuck teaching a feisty one.” Joseline tapped her foot. “Alright, fine. I’ll consider it. But I decide when, and your safety always comes first.”
She held out a hand. Quinn rolled his eyes at the formality but shook it, his hand consuming her small one as she said, “We have ourselves a deal.”
“See all the small bottles?” He pointed to the shelves she could reach, handing her a bag with compartments and clasps lining the inside. “Put them in here, and for the Goddess’ sake make sure you wrap them in rags or secure them.”
Joseline worked with an ease as if she’d handled such things before. He almost forgot she was with him until she spoke.
“This is lavender, correct?” She held up a dark tinted bottle, a sprig of lavender tucked under the rope around its neck.
“Smell it and tell me,” he challenged.
Without breaking their stare, she uncorked the bottle and sniffed, wrinkling her freckled nose in disgust. Quinn raised an eyebrow.
“Definitely lavender.” Replacing the cork, she asked, “Why so much?”
It helps me sleep, keeps the nightmares away, he almost said. But instead replied, “It’s useful when dealing with a number of things. Fatigue, insomnia, headaches, menstrual cramps...” he thought he saw her blush.
“I most certainly did not need to hear that from you.”
“Your womanhood is nothing to be ashamed of. It isn’t something you can control. Maya swears by the stuff in her tea, that’s the main reason I have so much.”
The blush deepened. “That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“It’s also a good natural sedative,” he said.
She strapped the jar into the satchel. “Do all your oils and herbs have so many uses?”
“Most have at least two. Fallon taught me the benefits of having multiple options for healing.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, for when I’m an expert.” Quinn stifled a chuckle. “Is that funny to you?”
“The princess who wants to be an expert on anything other than dancing and courtship? Yes.”
Joseline glared at him. “Aren’t you the one who is going to teach me self-defense so I might stop a demon king?”
He had no answer to that.
She shoved the satchel into his arms and marched from the room, making sure to slam the door behind her.
Quinn rolled his eyes. Spoiled brat.
It was well past dusk before Quinn finished packing. He bathed until the steaming water turned cold, nearly passing out in the herb-filled bath from sheer exhaustion, and slipped into his room, the towel still hanging from his hips.
The nightmares were getting worse. The flickering dreams tormented his mind every waking moment.
A woodland cottage that smelled of herbs and fresh bread.
A young girl with silver hair.
A monster, reaching in the darkness.
Nothing constant, nothing concrete.
He hadn’t had more than five good nights of sleep a month. He glanced at the useless twig of lavender hanging from the wall, a second twig barely visible beneath his pillow. Worthless, and ineffective. He tossed the dirty clothes and damp towel toward the growing pile near the wash basin and pulling on a clean tunic and pair of pants before collapsing into bed. An owl hooted outside, the steady sound calming. Quinn closed his eyes, praying tonight would bring him rest from the tormenting dreams at last.
FIVE
THE DISTANT BELL tower struck midnight before Joseline sat up, pulling her knees into her chest. Despite all efforts to sleep, her mind wouldn’t relax.
Aeron, one of her most feared childhood terrors, was real. The palace she had thought of as both prison and sanctuary her whole life was no longer safe. Quinn, the most mysterious and sought-after man in the capital, belonged to a secret organization of warriors and was risking his life to protect her from a legion of demons.
In one afternoon, a world she’d thought so concrete had shattered.
It was confusing yet exhilarating all at once. She didn’t know how to feel or what to think about any of it.
Then there was the matter of the strange, irrepressible power that stirred inside her.
She couldn’t explain it.
An almost ancient feeling awakened in Quinn’s presence that used her voice and her mind, urging her to give them her trust, as if it knew, for her own safety and the safety of her people, she must. It was otherworldly, uncontrollable—like the Goddess herself had reached into Joseline’s soul and spoken through her.
She imagined the look on Julia’s face, her younger sister’s innocent fascination with ancient myths making her lips twitch into a small smile. But the emotion was short-lived as she thought of how little Julia would react to the procession returning home without her. She would be terrified for Joseline’s safety, and there was nothing Joseline could do to comfort her.
With a sigh, her head fell into her hands.
“Can’t sleep either?”
Joseline gripped the edge of the couch to keep from falling to the ground. She hadn’t even heard him come downstairs. Her cheeks heated at the sound of Quinn’s chuckle.