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“What was that for?” Taly asked.

“You didn’t answer my question,” Azura replied as though it should’ve been obvious. “Have you met Kato yet?”

“You mean Skye’s asshole of an older brother?” The same one that had discovered her magic and threatened to give her over to the enemy. “Yes, we’ve met.”

Azura sighed, and her eyes took on a faraway look. “I know he’s a little grumpy right now,” she said, “but once he lets go of all that anger, he’s not so bad. And I know, I know, you and Skye have history. But just wait. Just wait until you see Kato’sabsbefore you make any life-altering decisions.”

“I have no interest in Kato,” Taly said, hoping that would buy her a few moments of silence. “Or his abs.”

“That’s too bad,” Azura replied sadly, “because you two definitely have chemistry.”

“Shut up.” Taly turned, facing the opposite direction. She tugged on her aether, harder than she intended, but it was no matter. The spell began to form, and she imagined a bubble. Whenshe had been attacked by shades in the streets of Ebondrift, the spell had looked like a bubble.

“Aiden’s not too bad either,” Azura went on. “In fact, your boys are in a three-way tie as far as I’m concerned. I’m still not sure which I’d choose if I had the option.”

Ignore, ignore, ignore,Taly chanted silently, even as the edges of the spell stuttered.

Azura was still talking—something about Aiden and transmutation charms.

And now just earth mages in general—how they had an almostprimal—

“I don’t want to talk about Aiden either,” Taly snapped, pulling out a little more aether and testing the barriers of the enchantment.

Azura rolled her eyes. “Let me guess—because ofSkye?” A snort. “Shards, and we’re already back to Skye, Skye, Skye! Can you never talk about anything else?”

“You brought him up,” Taly pointed out, taking several long breaths. Too fast—the spell was progressing too fast.

The shimmering film of golden energy surrounding her began to ripple.

“He’s never far from your mind, dear.” Azura stopped in front of a gilded mirror, preening. “And I suppose I can understand your infatuation. After all, the boyishandsome. A little lean, but I know you like your men lanky.”

Taly hissed. She could feel time beginning to unwind, but it was twisting and tangling, and she didn’t know how to reel it back in. She reached out a hand, plucking at the translucent web and trying to pick out the snarls.

Azura completed her circuit of the room, coming to stand behind Taly’s chair. “I know you’relistening,” she said, eyeing the spell with a slight frown, “so don’t even try to pretend otherwise. The only thing about Skye—and don’t ever tell him I said this…” A pause. She drummed her fingers against the back of the chair. “Well, it’s thatwifeof his—so possessive.”

Taly’s breath caught in her throat, and she lost her grip on the spell just as the web coiling around her tightened and snapped into place.

Her aether extinguished, and she scanned the surrounding room. There was no flicker of magic, no remnants of the spell she’d been trying to cast.

Overall, nothing seemed out of place. The room looked about as normal as a room in a magical palace could look.

So why did she feel so nauseous? Why wouldn’t her hands stop shaking? Had she failed?

No. At least, she didn’t think so. She’d felt…something. A tug. A release. So where had the magic gone? What had she done?

“It’s thatwifeof his—so possessive.”

Slowly, Taly turned to look up at the Queen. The woman still stood behind her chair, fingers drumming against the frame.

“It’s thatwifeof his—so possessive,” she repeated.

“Stop it,” Taly hissed as something in her chest tightened to the point of pain. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing now, but that’s not funny.”

Azura was still unmoving, still just…standingthere. Ignoring her. Not even looking at her. “It’s thatwifeof his—so possessive.”

Taly shot to her feet. “I said stop it! I’m tired of your fucking bullshit!”

“It’s thatwifeof his—so possessive.”