Page 158 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

“It’s a unique blend that Alec conceptualized for your weapon. A mixture of tungsten, a stone from the petrified roots of the willowbane tree, and a ground pearl from a llylian oyster. Your weapon puts mine to shame. Fenwood is rare and expensive. That,” Nana points a manicured nail at my staff, “is one of a kind and truly priceless with all that it contains. First, having one of those stones from the tree is highly illegal. To be caught with one, even the size of a thumbnail, is punishable by immediate death on the Mother Continent. A pearl from a llylian oyster takes thousands of years to form and can only be obtained if it is gifted to you by a syren of the deep personally. The syren who offers it calls it back to herself if it passes to a hand that it was not meant for.”

I stare at her, my jaw gaping comically as I try to wrap my mind around just how much care Alec put into my weapon.

Nana laughs at my surprise.

Unclipping the staff from my back, I hold it in front of me to inspect.

The unique color shifts and shimmers in the brilliant sun, swirling with endless shades of purples, blues, creams, yellows, and everything in between. I run my hand over the cool metal, my thumb tracing the etchings of jasmine and ivy vines.

Emotion suddenly coats my throat. I knew the weapon was special and personally made for me, but I thought Alec putting the emerald into the staff was the extent of the priceless items it holds. I never would have imagined that he had a metal blend created with rare items.

All for me.

Nana is gazing at me affectionately. “I probably should have let Alec tell you that. I’m surprised he didn’t. He is very proud of himself. Gods, he was insufferable the last time we visited when he showed it to me after years of trying to perfect what he envisioned for you.”

Pursing my lips to hide my smile, I reclip the weapon behind my back when we stand to leave.

Alec communicated to Nana during my appointment the time he had in mind for us to meet at the village of ruins nearly ten miles from The Capital. We jump, heading there a few minutes early. Small dilapidated stone buildings—abandoned to wither in the dry desert heat—sit half buried in the rust-red sand.

I’m unsurprised to see Alec already here. His two large swords peek out from over his bare shoulders, his bronzed skin, dark hair, and brutal scars on full, glorious display.

“You used to wear a shirt to train,” I state, as I scan my eyes over him appreciatively.

“I prefer not to, but I always wanted to be appropriate. Then it became a necessity when you began maturing. You were not discreet.” He stretches an arm behind his back and grins arrogantly as my eyes roam over him, watching his muscles shift and strain.

“I heard a syren of the deep gifted you a pearl from a llylian oyster.” I cross my arms and raise my brows. Alec’s responding grin while he continues to stretch is infectious, and my face breaks to mirror his.

Nana’s voice cuts through the air. “Sorry, Alec. She asked me what kind of metal you used.” I turn to her quickly, having alreadyforgotten she was here.

“How were you able to put the pearl into a gift for me without her calling it back?” I ask.

“Because you are my mate. You are an extension of me,” Alec states simply.

“Did you already have the pearl when you started designing my weapon?”

“I did not. Nor did I have a stone from the willowbane roots.” He strides towards me planting his lips on my forehead. “How was your appointment, my clove?”

“It went well,” I tell him honestly, and he breathes relief.

“That makes me very happy to hear.” He kisses me again and returns to stretching.

“I expect the stories you left out on the other rare objects you have gifted me when we get home,” I tell him.

“Of course,” he replies, and I catch a glimpse of the pride Nana mentioned in the swelling of his chest.

I unclip my staff and twirl it several times. “We already know that the emerald has increased the power of my currents. Will it affect my Sight as well?” I ask neither of them in particular.

It’s Nana who answers. “I don’t know how it would. Your gift is already more powerful than any Seer in recorded history.”

“I want you to try something,” Alec says from behind me before plucking the staff from my hands. I purse my lips, and he chuckles.

“Try to wield your currents without the staff.” I turn to him quizzically. “I am curious if you must continue to have the gem in your physical possession to use its power or if it simply lives within you now.”

Sitting in the hot sand, I dig my fingers into the scorching, gritty earth. I wince at the scalding heat on the surface but as my hands dig deeper, the grainy sands begin to cool. The soft powder aroundmy hands is soothing; telltale warmth bubbles within me as the energy of the earth and sun combined soak into my skin, fueling my magic.

The spool of golden thread in my belly hums—a living force begging to be released. My well of power is fuller than ever. Where that spool used to shimmer softly when I would reach for it, it now vibrates and thrums in happy anticipation, an excited pet eager to be set loose.

Focusing on the crumbling sandstone straight ahead of me, I hold in my sights the broken building with empty windows like lifeless eyes.