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Vincent

I didn’t know much, as I continued to prove with Luna, but I knew this wasn’t a great way to approach the topic of her magic.

Luna had magic—I fully agreed with that point, but my one attempt to discuss it with her had left me unwilling to broach the subject again without more evidence.

I had yet to find any.

I knew the look on Evelyn’s face, though.

Ambrose got it sometimes when he was deep in an experiment.

Luna’s inability to acknowledge her magic was now a blocker in Evelyn’s research.

“I don’t have magic,” Luna said coldly.

She folded her arms over her chest.

“I’m not sure that’s strictly true.” Evelyn matched her pose.

I let my head tilt back and stared at the ceiling momentarily.

Not how I would have approached the conversation, but Evelyn had known Luna far longer.

I hoped her angle would work.

“What do you mean? Not strictly true?” The knuckles on Luna’s fists turned white as she clenched them tighter .

“I mean that you do have magic. It’s...not always accessible.”

Ah, well, at least that helped me understand what I’d seen.

After the night I’d met Luna, I would have bet any amount of coin that she had magic.

The water had responded to her call.

I was sure of it.

But her reaction when I even mentioned it had left me confused.

My gaze shifted between Luna and Evelyn.

Was it possible Luna hadn’t known?

And Evelyn had?

“Not always accessible?” Luna repeated the words like they were a curse.

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know,” Evelyn said, throwing her hands in the air.

She was most definitely not equipped to speak with her friend right now.

She was discussing an experiment that wasn’t going her way.

I had to step in.

“Luna.” Her glare turned on me, and I regretted my decision immediately, but as Evelyn let out a breath and rubbed her temples, I knew I was best to handle the rest of this conversation.

“Are there ever things you do that can’t be explained?” I searched for an example I could give her, and immediately, the pieces clicked together in my mind.

“Like when you threw my drink at me?”

Her frown deepened.

I held up my hands, begging for patience.

“You said you didn’t throw it, right? But you were angry at me.”

“You were being an ass,” she said matter-of-factly.

My palms were still face up in supplication.

“Yes, and I smelled moonflower and juniper when the drink struck my face. Those scents shouldn’t have been present in the drink.”

Her brow furrowed as she tried to follow my logic.

“I smelled the same thing outside when the water rippled around you.” Then, the item in the locked room popped into my head.

The moonflower.

I remembered her quiet voice when she’d given me the tour, admitting that she stole the moonflowers when they bloomed.

I had known then.

I’d also known she wasn’t ready to discuss it.

My wind swirled in my chest as I broached the forbidden topic again.

I lowered my voice.

“You said the moonflowers bloomed for you?”

She tilted her head.

“Yes…I told you I stole them from Byrd.”

Ambrose’s eyes lit up as he heard the words and got a little too enthusiastic, jumping back in.

“Moonflower can only be kept by water fae.”

I glared at Ambrose, and his head hung as he stepped back next to Evelyn.

“What do you mean?” Luna replied.

“This whole place is the property of water fae. Darius is of the Norden Court, and so was Byrd.”

“Yes, but the flower can only be picked by a water fae.”

She bit her lip.

“I’m half water fae, but that doesn’t mean I have the magic. Maybe it’s just a technicality.”

She had a point, but I was also sure she was wrong.

Ambrose couldn’t help himself, stepping in again.

“The flower requires magic. It’s how they distinguish water fae from others. It doesn’t require intentional usage, only the presence of the magic. You could even be wielding without realizing it.”

“Seraphina and I found it odd that you wouldn’t admit to throwing the drink at him,” Evelyn said.

“We thought you were embarrassed because he was handsome.”

My wind preened.

“It makes more sense that you were unaware of the magic but that it still acted on your behalf. I’ve read about such things, especially in long-repressed power. It makes itself known eventually.”

“This is crazy,” Luna said.

Her gaze found mine and hung on like a lifeline.

No matter what she said, I could see her considering it.

Right when I thought she’d admit it, water rimmed her eyes, and I knew what she would say next would break my heart .

“Darius didn’t want me because I didn’t have any magic. He checked.”

My hands balled into fists, the nubs of my nails digging into the skin to keep hold of my emotions.

This wasn’t the time for me to overreact to what she shared.

There would be time for that later.

I couldn’t believe Darius would have said such a thing to her.

Then I thought of my parents and realized I could easily see them saying the same thing to me if I hadn’t had visible magic.

I took a step closer to her in the hallway.

I raised my hand to reach for hers, and then I realized she might not welcome it.

I dropped it, but when I found her gaze, it was fixed on my fallen hand.

Why was everything so difficult between us?

“I’m sorry he said that to you,” I whispered.

“I’m sorry the fae are so terrible, and that he was a terrible father on top of that for making you feel like your magic was the only part of you that mattered. I assure you, it’s not.”

She was still staring at my hand clasped into a tight fist at my side.

Should I reach out again?

See if she took it?

I don’t want her to feel alone.

“I do have to admit, Luna, I was sure you had magic the night we met. It didn’t occur to me that could be the reason behind the drink in my face. I was pretty sure I’d earned that myself. Outside, though, the water in the moat came to life around you. I’m not sure what triggers your magic. I understand it can be different for many half-fae, but I think you have it somewhere.”

Her eyes widened.

“You thought I was fae that night?”

I let my eyes close momentarily as I tried to think through how she’d react to that.

“I did.” I’d continue to be honest with her, no matter where it got me.

“I knew you were half-fae when I went to the court records room. I figured it out with where your name was in the book.” I didn’t want her to think I hadn’t known what I was doing when I’d asked her to speak with Darius.

While I might not have known the extent of the pain it would cause, I’d known it wouldn’t be good.

I stepped closer to her and lowered my voice again, hoping Ambrose and Evelyn couldn’t hear.

My fingers reached for hers, brushing against them, and with it, my wind circled where our skin met.

“I followed the scent of your magic to the moat. It was heavenly. No matter how much you disliked me, I had to know more.”

Her big blue eyes widened farther, and a faint blush touched her cheeks.

Hopefully, that meant she believed me.

Only time would tell.

She held my gaze.

“You think I have magic.”

My wind circled her hands as she pulled them away to stare at them.

She smiled softly, looking at them like she’d never seen them before.

“I don’t know how to use it.”

I smirked.

“You have some magic experts here that might be able to give you instruction. Be careful, Luna. Don’t push yourself too hard. Half-fae magic is unpredictable. It’s different for everyone.” She knew this, but I felt it bore repeating before she got her hopes up.

“Some have full access, some have one day a year. Others only with the seasons. It’s entirely unique, like the individual.”

She gestured back to where Evelyn and Ambrose stood.

“I understand, but I don’t know how to attempt to open the door.”

“I’m sure they can explain it to you. In overly long, dry detail.”

Her laugh surprised me, and it looked like it surprised her, too, which I liked.

At the sound the scholars jumped back into action, scurrying to the door, their gazes locked on us.

Evelyn spoke first.

“Your magic is the connection between the lock on this door and whatever magic it holds. Someone close to you must have cast it.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked when it looked like Luna wouldn’t .

“Well, it’s someone who realized she has magic. It’s no accident that her power is the connection to the lock.” She glanced at Ambrose.

“But if we’re correct, it’s a memory that keeps the door sealed.”

“Memory?” I asked.

“Isn’t that Suden magic? And very few Suden, at that?”

I remembered the memory stone in the packet Patricia had given me.

There were more ways to hold memories than Suden magic.

“Blood magic could work, too,” Ambrose said as I realized the same.

“It’s becoming less taboo now that all the Compass Points have learned about it. It was always available previously, if maybe a little looked down upon.” He waved his hand.

“As were many other things that didn’t make much sense. The fae courts may have been unwilling to recognize it as valid, but that didn’t mean it didn’t exist.”

We all stood in silence at that.

“So, do I need to find my magic or the memory?” Luna asked, pulling us back to the conversation.

“Your magic,” Ambrose said.

“The magic is required to unlock the door. We suspect the memory will reveal itself once you get inside.”

“Then what’s the point of the memory?” I asked.

“Well…” Evelyn tilted her head.

“She’ll have to decide what to do with the memory. I assume it’s one she’s a part of.” She glanced apologetically at Luna, then spoke to her directly.

“I suspect the memory is simply the intention used to fuel the magic. Blood magic works from intention. The memory will be a strong one, something that drove the need for the magic in the first place.”

“If I’m a part of the memory, would I remember it?” Luna asked.

“Not necessarily,” Evelyn replied.

“We’re in an inn. I presume this room has a bed like any other.” She shrugged.

“ Maybe you were asleep when the driving memory happened.”

Luna gasped.

“There was only one night I slept in a room at the inn.” She glanced down the hall as if realizing where she was.

“It was in this room.”

Evelyn seemed to understand what she was saying, though Ambrose and I did not.

“You really think something happened that night?” Luna asked.

“It’s the only thing that makes sense right now.” Evelyn said.

“I want you to prepare for the worst.”

Ambrose ran his fingers through his hair again.

“I obviously don’t know the memory.” He shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter. I agree with Evelyn’s assessment. I know Evelyn didn’t confirm it earlier, but the other item we’ve failed to discuss is the full impact of this magic.”

Luna’s gaze shot to Evelyn’s.

“Your hypothesis. You’ve confirmed it?”

Evelyn nodded slowly.

“The magic makes the inn…unappealing to travelers. If we don’t remove the magic, I don’t think even Vincent’s recommendation will help the inn.”