A Trial of Sorcerers: Book One by Kova, Elise (universal ebook reader .txt) 📕

“Stop using that excuse.”

“It’s not an excuse.”

“You’re not helping me, you’re hurting me!” She gripped the arms of the chair with quivering hands. “Everyone in this whole family says they love me, but all they do is hold me back, cut me off at the knees whenever they can, and have no faith in me. You claim it’s to help me…but I think you’re just trying to make yourselves feel better.”

“Eira.” Fritz’s voice raised a fraction, summoning her inner child and hushing her. “What you did today was reckless, and might endanger you for the rest of your life.”

Now he believed she could hear voices. “Not everything I do endangers me.”

“Think about what you just showed to the world.” He slammed his palms onto his desk. “You showed that almost no secret is safe with you around. That not even secrets taken to the grave die because of these voices you hear.”

Eira’s back pressed into the chair as his words startled her. “I— That’s not—”

“That is how every senator, every minister, every man and woman with aspirations saw your power to hear echoes.” Fritz tapped his fingers into his desk with every word. “And they will either want you for their own now, or to see you eradicated, or worse.”

“You’re overreacting.” Eira sank farther into the chair for stability.

“I’m not. None of us are. We’re trying to keep you safe. You’re a danger and—”

“I’m a danger?” she whispered.

“You— I didn’t mean— Your magic— In danger—”

“I’m a danger.” Eira repeated with a shake of her head. “You said exactly what you meant, Uncle.”

“That was a slip of the tongue.”

She stood. “I don’t think it was.”

“We’re not done with this discussion.” He rounded his desk as she started for the door.

“I was done with it before it began.” Eira glared back at him. “Careful, Uncle, or I’ll be done with you next.”

Eira slammed the door as his face crumpled and started down the tower. Luckily, for her uncle’s sake, he didn’t follow her. With the way she felt, she’d have no problem telling him off for all the Tower to hear.

Wrenching the door to her room open, Eira saw a figure on the bed from the corner of her eye. Assuming it to be Alyss, she started right into her tirade. “I can’t believe him, he really just—” Eira froze. Her eyes met Ferro’s. “What’re you doing here?” she whispered.

“I came to say congratulations.” His words were as fluid as his movements when he stood. Eira had never been aware of how small her room was, or how close he stood. “I couldn’t wait until tonight. I had to see you,” he whispered breathlessly.

“What if someone sees you coming or going from my room?” she breathed. He was so agonizingly close.

“They won’t. We’ll be careful we’re not discovered, just as we have been this whole time.”

“Dinner will start soon… They’ll wonder where I am.”

Ferro slowly lifted his hand, fingertips trailing along her jaw to hook behind her ear. He had her in stasis with the lightest touch. The feeling of his breath, hot on her lips, had Eira’s toes curling.

“I know, we don’t have long. But will you come to me when I next summon you?”

“I will,” she murmured, all too aware of how alone they were. What would he do if she kissed him? Would her affections be welcomed? Was his heart hammering against his chest as loudly as hers was?

“Good. I will try to make it as soon as I’m able.” Ferro eased away and a low whine rose up in the back of her throat that Eira thought she strangled before he’d heard. But given the grin on his face, she was wrong. He reached into the pocket of his coat. “In the meantime, I have something for you.”

Eira accepted the folded papers from his long, elegant fingers. “What is it?”

“The rough plans for the next trial.”

“Am I allowed to have this?” she whispered.

“I’m the one who’s planning the trial. Whomever I deem fit can see it.”

Eira suspected that wasn’t true. “Thank you,” she said anyway.

“Thank you for your display today. It was truly a sight to see. And for all you’ve done for me while I’ve been here. I couldn’t have designed this without you.” He tapped the papers lightly.

“It’s been my pleasure.”

“I assure you, the pleasure is all mine.”

They stared at each other for a long moment. Her stomach bubbled with effervescence. She felt like she wanted to say something, or he wanted her to say something, or she should say something, maybe all of them at once.

“I should—”

“I must go. But”—he caught her hand—“I cannot wait until we are alone together again, my delicious secret.”

“Neither can I,” she whispered with a shiver.

Ferro brought her knuckles to his lips and slipped out of her room, leaving her aching and wanting.

* * *

Banging on her door woke her the next morning. Between her meetings with Deneya and Ferro at night, and her practicing during the day, she had been burning the candle at both ends for a week and it was finally catching up with her. She’d been sleeping much more heavily than normal these past few days. Blinking away the pleasant dreams she’d had following last night’s discussions with Ferro in their study, Eira got herself upright.

“What?” she grumbled, swinging open the door.

“Really? That’s how you greet someone bearing gifts?”

“It’s too early, Cullen.” She yawned.

“It’s almost ten. It is certainly not early.” He pushed himself inside. “And if you don’t start dressing now, you’ll certainly make us late for court.”

Oh, that was today. Eira cursed under her breath. “Well, get out then so I can get ready.”

“Don’t want me to help you with the laces?” He grinned.

“I don’t want you to help me with anything involving my clothes, thank you very much. Out with you.” She pushed him out the door, closing it with a smile. Since when had Cullen become someone she could laugh and joke with?

Maybe