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“Over Kost’s dead body.” I shook my head. “But no, Noc wouldn’t do that.”

“Even if it’s the only place capable of containing him?” Something I didn’t recognize swirled in her umber gaze. “There are wards and ciphers all over that place to keep magic checked. Mages built it at the behest of one of your kings centuries ago, but some of ours have found themselves imprisoned there, too.”

Ah, that’s what twisted through her eyes. Apprehension. Maybe sadness. “Someone you knew?”

That forlorn look was gone in a flash, and she cocked a single brow my direction. “Not everyone has a sordid past, you know.”

I seriously doubted that. “Right, sorry.”

“It’s fine.” She waved me off and then started toward the dining tent. With the clearing mostly put back in order, the Charmers Council—minus Kost and Gaige—had begun to gather around the long table. Goblets full of wine were passed between them, and they sank to the benches with obvious exhaustion.

Clearing my throat, I tried to think of some way to keep the conversation going. “Do you know how to create wards like that?”

“Nah, that’s not my type of magic.”

My mind whirred. Kost had said something like that when we’d first met Isla. “What type of magic do you have?”

Her booted feet slowed, then stopped. “You saw me fight against Varek and Yazmin’s forces. You know what I can do.”

“Right…” I stalled, thinking of how her magic had singed the grass and turned her enemies to burnt outlines in the earth. “I just was curious.”

“In my experience, curiosity is just a way for people to find new ways to get what they want.” Her eyes narrowed. Slowly, she studied me from top to bottom, and her gradual appraisal caused a flush of warmth to creep across my cheeks. I would have given anything to know what she was thinking in that moment. Whatever conclusion she came to, though, was kept from me.

She relented with a short sigh. “There are five classes of mages. I am a Projector. I can use the magic in my veins and shape it into raw energy, which I then shoot.” Holding up her hand, she gave her wrist a tight flick, and electric blue sparks jolted from her skin. The flame in her irises ignited to a full-blown wildfire. After a breath, she let it recede.

“That’s incredible,” I murmured, gaze still transfixed on hereyes. “Do you prefer electricity? Can you do other things, like fire or water?”

“I do know some additional spells,” she hedged.

“Can you show me?”

Her eyes went cold. “Another time, maybe.” Shoulders stiff, she power walked toward the group without bothering to see if I’d follow.

I rushed after her and, without thinking, grazed the back of her arm with my fingers. “Isla, wait. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

She jerked out of my touch and rounded on me with fury much too great for a question that felt so small. Drawing herself to her full height, she managed to tower over me without her head rising above my clavicle.

“Look, I don’t know what your angle is. You seem nice and all, but we’re allies. Not friends. I’m sure we’ll see each other from time to time, so I simply request that you keep the inquiries about me to a minimum. Understood?”

Eyes wide, I let my hand fall away. “Understood.”

“Good.” She spun around and walked back to the tent on her own. Her hair flicked behind her in time with her agitated gait, and she barked a loud order at one of her soldiers before securing her own goblet of wine and draining it in one swallow. I couldn’t even begin to fathom why she’d suddenly snapped. But as I moved toward the table and replayed our conversation in my mind, one thing cut me more than I expected.

We’re allies. Not friends.

My shoulders sagged. Even if a romantic relationship was out of the question, I’d at least hoped wecouldbe friends. And yet one horrible conversation from me, and that was swept off the table. I’d respect her wishes if that’s what she wanted. Everyone had boundaries, and the last thing I wanted to do was make her uncomfortable.Still, as I palmed a mug of ale and watched her from a distance, I hoped that one day she could learn to trust me enough to call me a friend.

TWENTY-THREE

KOST

Night had already fallen by the time Gaige finally opened his eyes. At some point during his respite, I’d gently extricated myself from the bed and snuck out to check on things with the Council and Isla. She assured me she could wait until Gaige woke to examine his shadows and compare them to what we’d witnessed today. Fortunately, peace had settled over Rhyne, and the skirmish along their southern borders with their neighboring country had died. Between the princess coming into power with a spectacular beast at her command, and Rhyne’s reestablished allegiance with Lendria, no one wanted to take their chances against that kind of might. In other words, Isla had plenty of time.

I’d snagged a book to pass the hours and slipped back into the room to occupy the single armchair tucked into the corner. The candle on the nightstand had illuminated the pages well enough without disturbing Gaige. Until now.

Gaige groaned as he rolled to face me, lids barely open. “Tell me I didn’t sleep for days again.”

“Not this time.” I pressed my finger to the page to hold my place. “You can go back to sleep. There’s no reason to rush.”