Page 50 of A Monarch's Fall

I cleared my throat. “You’re still here,” I stated, “I thought you were leaving?” I questioned angrily, finding my voice again.

“Young Jack isn’t interfering with you,” Lady Flores assured. “Take stock of yourself, you would feel his pull if he were,” she instructed.

Angrily, I didn’t want her instructions or her help. I wanted to be angry, to feel anything other than that longing for something I could never have, that I never did have.

“Leave us, Jack,” Lady Flores commanded.

“Are you sure?” he asked hesitantly.

“I’m sure,” she replied sweetly, but I saw the way her eyes tightened in irritation.

“Okay, I’ll be close,” he replied as he turned to leave.

“Close enough to use his magic?” I questioned.

Jack turned back and gave me an irritated look as he opened the door.

Lady Flores laughed once the door was shut.

“Jack’s gift is novel and wonderful, but he needs to be close to the individual he wishes to be with and…” she hesitated for the word.

“Manipulate,” I supplied.

“Yes,” she agreed.

“Novel abilities are rare,” I said, and it was also a question.

If my own novel ability sent Selene running with me to the hills of Ardens, why had I never heard of Jack, the Coactus witch with the ability to compel? Heidi would have surely let such a piece of gossip slip by now; she wouldn’t have been able to contain her pride in her coven.

“They are meant to be, aren’t they?” Lady Flores agreed.

“I thought so,” I said, as I carefully put the photograph back in the frame within the book and closed it.

Lady Flores reached out for the photobook, and I handed it back to her.

“You want to know why you’re here, Percy,” she stated with the photobook sat on her lap, her hand protectively resting on it.

“Yes,” I replied tersely. What else would someone in my position want to know?

“I understand that you are likely feeling unhappy with your current predicament. I’m told that you are quite fond of the Borealis girl,” she continued, and the way she spoke about Selene offended me.

“She’s not some girl. She’s the Princess, and I’m not simply fond of her; I love her,” I replied, trying and failing not to sound as angry as I was.

Selene was safe. Arvid had confirmed as much now that she was back in Borealis and with her father. I tried to calm myself down.

Lady Flores hummed, “Many are speaking of the Princess’s clear…” she hesitated, “…appreciation of you.”

I didn’t reply. Selene loved me. I knew that. It didn’t matter if this woman, warlord, grandmother, thought so or not.

“Why am I here?” I questioned after a calming breath. I needed to remember my goal was to get back to Selene as soon as possible. The sooner I discovered what Arvid wanted to know, the sooner I would be back with Selene.

“You and Jack are similar, aren’t you?” she asked me.

“I guess,” I answered, we both had novel abilities.

“The two of you share more than the gift of a novel ability,” she told me, “Chloe, my eldest, is Jack’s mother.”

“We’re related,” I said numbly. No relatives apart from my father all my life, and now suddenly I meet two.