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“Phenomenal,” she breathed. “They both live in such beautiful harmony. They breathe together. They move together.” She cleared her throat, rubbing my hand again and allowing her magic to explode with more vibrancy that emanated under her skin.

“They speak to each other at all hours of the day.” She took a deep breath and exhaled a refreshing sigh.

“Absolutely astounding.” She squeezed my hand, my magic scattering in all directions like ants searching for the trail that would lead them home.

“Okay, let’s see what else we can find.” Her touch floated up my forearm to my elbow and back down before her calm face suddenly crinkled into something of disgust. With a tilt of her head and a furrow of her brow, she continued to rub my hand in a circle.

Fear struck me. Her face was significantly more serious than what it had just been. “What?”

“There’s something…” she huffed, “hmm… one second.” She was quiet for a long minute as she continued to mumble incoherent words under her breath like she was coaxing my magic. “It’s like your magic is—oh, darling.”

My other hand grew clammy with anticipation as it took a fistful of my t-shirt. “What?”

She opened her eyes and released my hand.

Was that it? It was over? Had she read all of my magic? I wanted to urge her to take my hand and try again. To tell her not to stop until she understood everything. I would demand her to cancel class and steal all her time if I had to .

She looked at me and her eyes sunk. She glanced at the sweat lining my temples and gave me a half-hearted smile, lacking the sincerity from the joyful look she had mere minutes before.

“It’s just a theory because I’ve never actually read anyone who has had this before, but if I’m correct, then you may have something called split magic. ”

A name. The unpredictability had a name. Split magic. “What does that mean? Is that bad?”

“Your magic is truly extraordinary, but,” she grinned like she knew the “but” would send me plummeting, “there’s a portion of it that is dark, toxic.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve only heard of one person who has had split magic. And he had described it to me as an infection that will one day eat your magic away,” she swallowed hard, “then your heart.”

My stomach flipped.

“But!” she said, sticking her finger in the air.

“It looks like your magic is doing a remarkable job at fighting back. Yours and Fletcher’s.

Both working in unison to fight this split.

” She took my hand again, her magic racing down her arms and mine responding where we made contact.

Her ceruleans and my aquas swirling together at our fingertips.

She nodded like she was having a conversation with my magic again.

“It would appear that your magic is using all its resources to fight the split instead of building a relationship with you. So, when yours or Fletcher’s magic does not answer to you, know that it is because it is protecting you. ”

A cloud of questions overwhelmed me. “How did I get a split? How’d this happen? Was I born with this?”

She pressed her thin lips in a straight line. “I’m sorry, darling. I really don’t know any more than what your magic has told me.”

“What about that guy? Would he know?”

She shrugged and leaned in closer. “I assume he would know more than me if he’s still alive.”

I gulped. What had that meant? That the infection had taken over and he had died? “Can you tell me about him?”

“It was when I was very young. And rumor says he had mentioned to a few of his friends that he had split magic before leaving to find a cure. But he never returned. Some say he was captured and killed by the Cidris, others say he went mad and threw himself off a waterfall. Some say the magic ate away at his heart. But it’s all merely speculation. ”

My heart pattered then pounded. “Do you think I shouldn’t use my magic then? Anything that could distract it from fighting the split would be bad, right?”

“I have no way of knowing.” She pursed her lips to one side in a look of disappointment. “It would make sense. I wish I knew more, Princess.”

What’s wrong? Fletcher’s voice permeated through my mind with sharp worry.

Should I risk answering him? Yes. It was important that he knew. I have something called split magic. It’s like a dark infection. Have you heard of it?

I haven’t.

I’m not going to be using my magic anymore. It might make the infection worse.

My eyes flitted to Talia as voices of children approaching filtered in on the breeze. “Thank you. You’ve been such a great help.”

Don’t be scared. We’ll figure this out.

The infection can kill me, Fletcher.

I will not allow that to happen.

Class went by in a blur as I clasped The Wizened Navigator tightly to my chest. I watched as kids demonstrated their skills with Talia’s guidance, but all I could do was sit and absorb what I could. I refused to use my magic in case the split got worse.

Before I knew it, the class was ending and the queen had appeared by my side, gripping my arm tightly and teleporting me to a bedroom I assumed was in the castle.

The cream walls were adorned with dark-wood picture frames and highlighted with gold.

The large bed was impeccably made, and with the emotionally draining morning I had had, it looked like a cloudlike invitation.

Sheer fabric drooped down in a romantic swoop from the canopy bed posts.

Accents of baby pink were spread throughout the room, and there were curtains that covered the glass double doors which led to a cemented, curved balcony.

The large room held little else except for a full-length mirror propped in the corner, a sofa, and a dresser that held an assortment of flowers .

“This was your room,” she whispered, walking to the bed and letting her fingertips brush across a beige gown that sparkled with thousands of tiny gems ranging from shades of citrine to brilliant whites. Sheer fabric lined the flowy dress.

“I’ll let you get dressed for your ceremony.” Her voice held a tinge of disapproving harshness that seemed to stick to my skin and sink me further into an anxious slump. “I shall return.” The queen vanished.

I huffed, wishing the ceremony was already over. I just wanted to be with Fletcher. I wanted to give him his magic back so we could take down the Cidris together. This was just a step I had to take to inch my way closer to that goal.

Feeling dazed, I carefully placed Fletcher’s favorite book in the top drawer of the empty dresser for safe keeping before I undressed and delicately put on the gown.

It weighed heavy on my shoulders and hips, and not just from the sheer amount of ornamentation.

A woman wearing a simple frock and a neutral expression strode into my room and approached me.

She tied up the back of my gown so that the bodice hugged my upper body snuggly, gently flaring out until the gossamer fabric dusted the ground.

The woman did up my blonde hair into a low bun that was wrapped in twirls of more hair, making it look elegant and sophisticated.

Then, makeup was applied. A tone slightly darker than my strawberry-tinted lips was painted over them to accentuate the natural color.

Black liner swept across my upper and lower lids then smudged out to pointed edges.

More black shadow was added to my lids, making my iced-gray eyes radiant and piercing.

A hint of highlighter and rosy blush brushed across my cheekbones.

I stood in the mirror, not recognizing an inch of myself.

My face looked more angular than it actually was.

My already plump lips appeared even poutier in the darker lip tint.

The dress pushed up my breasts, and the flare of the skirt accentuated my faint curves.

The woman who looked back at me was feminine, beautiful, powerful.

She was confident. She would never let anyone tell her she was anything less. This woman was the epitome of royalty.

An ache touched my heart as I saw the empty space next to my reflection.

I wished Fletcher could see me like this.

His reaction—first his eyes would widen in surprise, then his mouth would open to let out a soft chuckle in admiration.

Finally, his arms would cover me in warmth.

An intense pang of longing shot through my chest. This wasn’t right.

He should be here by my side as Elizy welcomed me back.

His absence felt wrong standing in this bejeweled gown.

I felt like I was betraying him somehow.

I wouldn’t be here without him—he was in the reason I was in Elizy at all—yet he could not join me.

“Wow,” the queen’s voice rang out from the door, startling me in its abruptness.

I looked to my right and saw her standing in a blue lace gown that she was holding off the floor in one hand, revealing matching heels. Her other hand was firmly pressed over her heart while her face was marked in makeup similar to mine.

“You are spectacular, Ripley.” Tears gathered in her eyes, but I couldn’t tell if they were genuine or if they were a clever ruse to gain my sympathy.

“Thanks,” I answered flatly, not wanting to show much emotion toward the woman trying to keep Fletcher away from me. “Have you thought at all about my proposition?”

She dabbed away the tears, sniffed, and answered, “Of course I have.”

“Well? Have you decided?”

She stepped to me, gently shaking her head. “No, not yet. I still have time. Let me just enjoy seeing my beautiful daughter.” Then, she circled me as a farmer would inspect the animals they were to buy.