“Of course you will. You’ve never been able to stay away from her for long. She’s the only one you’ve ever truly cared about, isn’t she?”

A muscle in his scarred cheek twitched. “Wrong, Mother. I cared about you. And I could again, if you let me.”

His words had succeeded in bringing a glistening to the queen’s eyes, but her only reply was a shallow nod. He shifted his gaze to Lucia. “I’ll return soon. I promise. Please . . . don’t fall asleep again.”

Then he left them alone just as the queen commanded.

Chapter 12

LUCIA

AURANOS

The majesty of the room around her took Lucia’s breath away. Compared to her more austere chambers in the Limerian palace, this was the very definition of luxury. The floors and walls shone as if set with precious metals. The breeze from the open balcony window was warm, not frigid. The canopied bed was soft, covered in imported fabrics that were colorful and silky, with fur throws that were pure white and as soft and warm as Hana’s pelt.

So very strange—it was as if she was still dreaming.

Dreaming.

Alexius . . .

At first, she thought it had been him sitting vigil at her bedside as she woke. But Alexius’s hair was bronze, not black. His eyes golden and full of joy, not dark brown and pained. She hoped Magnus had not seen the disappointment in her own eyes that it was he she saw, not the boy from her dreams.

The queen sat back down on the edge of the bed and pressed her cool hand to Lucia’s forehead. “How are you feeling, my darling? Thirsty?”

Lucia nodded. “I don’t remember waking before. But you say I did?”

“Yes. Twice. But it was only for a moment.”

“Only a moment . . . not like this?”

“No.” The queen smiled. “Not like this. Then you drifted off again.”

Her gaze moved to the balcony, to the sliver of blue sky she could see beyond it. “I want to see Father.”

“Of course. Very soon.”

The queen moved off to the side to pour her a glass of water and brought it back, holding the silver goblet to Lucia’s lips. The water was blissfully cool as it slid down her throat.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“I’ve heard what you did. How you used your elementia to help Gaius take this palace. Take this kingdom.” The queen sat again beside Lucia. “Many people died that day, but your father got the victory he desired.”

Lucia swallowed hard. “How many died?”

“Countless innocent lives were lost. I arrived as quickly as I could. I wanted to be here with my family, no matter what the outcome of the war. Gaius didn’t know I’d be traveling so soon. In fact, he was angry with me that I’d arrived unannounced. But I’m here. And I’ve watched over you ever day since.”

Countless innocent lives.

She couldn’t blame herself for this, she told herself frantically. Her father and Magnus had been in danger—all of Limeros had been in danger. She did what she had to for her family, for her kingdom. Magnus had nearly died in front of her from injuries he’d sustained in the battle. Only her earth magic had healed him in time. Without it, he’d be gone.

And she’d do it again—every bit of it—if necessary to save those she loved.

Wouldn’t she?

Her eyes were so heavy. She was weary after only being awake a short time. It worried her that she might fall asleep again as her mother said she had before.

“Your elementia is destructive, Lucia,” the queen said softly. “You’ve proven that—both with Sabina’s murder and the horror of what you did here.”

Lucia’s stomach twisted. “I didn’t mean to kill all those people. And—Sabina . . .” The memory of the flames, of her father’s mistress burning, screaming, sent a shudder through her. “She had a blade to Magnus’s throat. I . . . didn’t think. I didn’t intend to kill her, only stop her.”

The queen gently stroked the long, dark hair back from Lucia’s face. “I know, my darling. Which makes it even worse. Gaius celebrates everything you can do, but there’s a heavy price that must be paid for such dark power. He’s not the one who will be forced to pay it, though. You are. And you don’t even realize it yet.”

Her mother’s words confused her. “You call it dark power? Elementia is natural magic . . . from the elements that created the universe itself. It’s not dark.”

“It is when it’s used to destroy. To kill. And that is what Gaius wants you for—it’s all he wants you for.” Her expression soured. “His endless quest for ultimate power. But at what cost?”

“He’s king. A king wants power.” Lucia moistened her dry lips with the tip of her tongue. “You don’t have to be afraid of me, Mother. Despite our past differences, I swear to the goddess I would never harm you.”

The queen smiled humorlessly at this as she lifted the goblet to Lucia’s lips so she could swallow another mouthful of the cool, soothing water. “There will soon come a time when you don’t realize whom you’re harming with your magic, Lucia. When you have no control over it anymore. When its evil completely takes you over.”

“I’m not evil!” While she’d rarely received anything but sharp words from this woman in her sixteen years of life, rarely had she been as wounded from them as she was right now.

The queen placed the empty goblet on the carved ebony bedside table and turned to grasp Lucia’s hands in hers. “I’ve sought answers to questions no one has asked. You don’t know what’s ahead—what to expect. You have so much elementia inside of you that now it’s awakened it can only grow larger—like a volcano simmering, ready to erupt. And when that eruption happens . . .”