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I nodded and headed upstairs to change.

?????

I walked onto the training field that was behind the castle and looked over at the men waiting. Dozens upon dozens of them stood watching me in their blue uniforms. I tugged at my blue uniform and sighed heavily as the weight of everything settled on my shoulders. My eyes had become even more black than they had been before, but surprisingly, most of these men did not stare in disgust or malice.

I walked to the front of them and looked over their faces. They looked at me with respect, and that caught me off guard. All of them saluted me.

“Who has been in charge since I…went missing?” I asked.

A man stepped forward. He was tall, muscular, good-looking, and heavily tattooed.

“Me, Captain.” He bowed his bald head to me. His dark skin glistened with sweat as he stood up.

“Your name?”

“Jeb,” he said, looking up at me with his dark eyes. “I did my best to continue how you trained us. I hope it is to your satisfaction.”

“Thank you, Jeb. You will lead today so that I can get acclimated to this role again.” Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing. Cassius’ words from the day I went to get the witch’s bloodstone popped into my mind.You are a great warrior, Thea. Even without your magic, you are clever, smart, tactical, and strong. You are the best captain of any guard the realm has ever seen—a true leader. You just need to believe that about yourself.

Even if his words weren’t true, they comforted me as I stood there, clueless.

“It would be my honor.” He bowed again and came to stand next to me. “Men, let’s impress the captain today with our fighting skills.”

I watched as the men instantly fell into their places and immediately obeyed. I walked around with Jeb and watched them practice their hand-to-hand combat. I realized that no one used magic.

“Who here has elite magic?” I asked Jeb. His eyes widened at my question, and he looked around before leaning closer.

“Only you. All the other elite magic holders disappeared when you did.” My brain spun at his words—all of them?

“Okay, who has any magic?” I looked up when I noticed the men had stopped fighting at my question. Obviously, this was a touchy subject. “Who?” I demanded.

“I–I’m not sure,” Jeb stuttered. He was clearly flustered by this simple question. It made me want to push the topic further. Why was everyone acting strangely about magic?

“Very well.” I turned to the men. “If you have magic, step to this side of the field.” I pointed to my left. “Those without magic will be on the opposite side.”

The men looked at me without moving. Then they really pissed me off when they looked at Jeb.

“He’s not your fucking captain anymore, so I suggest you start moving your asses!”

That was all the encouragement they needed. The men scattered quickly until only about a dozen stood on my left. But as my eyes caught sight of a familiar face within them, I paused. Leer was trying to hide behind the other fae, but he stuck out too much. He was taller by at least a foot, and I could never forget him.

“Jeb, continue working hand-to-hand with the men who hold no magic,” I ordered.

“B-but.”

I turned to him quickly and stared at him.

“I didn’t ask for your opinion. Do it now.”

Jeb clenched his jaw and turned to follow my order. Slowly, I walked to the men with magic and watched Leer practically shake from fear. My darkness hummed at the sight of him, quivering like a coward in front of us. Cerithia men were not allowed to compete in the trials, so how did he? My brows knitted together as I realized Leer had to have known who I was before he forfeited. Was he sent by my father? If he was, why did he apologize?

“In a line,” I said.

They listened immediately.

“I want to know what magic each of you has.”

I walked down the line, listening to them each speak out their magic, all common. Light manipulation, nature magic, water manipulation—none of it elite. Then I stood in front of Leer, who was last. He stared at me like I would call him out, but something told me not to.