Chapter 31

Milena's smile across from her was a little too bright for how early it was. Dessa was still trying to wake up herself after tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep. Her mind was racing...and she might have been playing around with her magic into the early morning hours. How could she not when she thought she'd never have it?

For not even having it for a full forty-eight hours, she was surprised at how easy it was for her, how natural it felt. Her shadowflame was what fascinated her most, watching as the glittering onyx flames dance around her wrists, weave in and out of her fingers, expanding past her body into the space around her. This magic was wholly her own, though she had to try out some of her ancestral magic she got from both her mother and father, which was what they were working on then.

Dessa had on her riding leathers, mostly to cut through the chilly morning air, and even had her cloak wrapped tight around her. One hand poked out of the front, palm up to the orange-pink sky as the sun started rising in the east over the hills past the Branvon estate. It was just the females for now – Dessa, Milena, their mothers, and Cleo. And the dragons, of course, though they were cozy and still sleeping in the dragon quarters.

"You're not going to get it on the first try, Des, so don't worry, all right?" her mother told her. "Len still can't manage it for long."

"She's three. Her magic is strongest when her temper and sass gets the best of her."

"Just another thing both of you get from me," Lyv grinned. "Jai already blames me for that gray hair he found this morning and not the fact that he's almost three hundred and fifty."

They all burst out laughing, but it was Dessa who they focused on then. Because as soon as she stopped concentrating so hard on trying to get her magic to cooperate, it finally did.

A tiny glowing orb of blueish light no bigger than the size of a pea appeared in the palm of her hand. The light illuminated the space between them. Dessa's heart raced in her chest, excitement bubbling up inside. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her mother's bright smile and tears glittering.

"I take back what I said about you not getting it on the first try," Lyv said, furiously swiping under her eyes. "You're doing it perfectly."

Dessa wanted to keep going, wanted to push herself to see how far she'd be able to go. That tiny orb of light started to steadily grow as she willed it to, feeding more of her magic into it until it was a few centimeters in diameter.

Until it sputtered out like a dying matchstick.

"Let me try again," she mumbled, shaking her hands as if to prepare herself again.

But when she did...nothing happened. She could feel her magic humming through her, but it didn't want to do what she wanted it to. Growling, she tried again. And again. Nothing.

"Well, there we go. My magic's nothing again."

Milena was the first one she saw to roll her eyes. "It's not nothing, Dessa. It's literally day three of you finally having it. It takes time to build it up, to figure out what you're able to do. You'll get there."

She wanted to get there now, but knew they were right. She didn't get so good with a blade overnight, though she could have poked a few holes in someone when she was little. She had to practice, build muscle and stamina, and hone her skills and regularly use them. It would be the same with her magic.

So, Dessa practiced.

The first day was mostly with her mother and Cleo with Milena and Thia cheering her on. Lyv not only continued helping her with the orbs of light, but also seeing just how similar their healing magic was. She grimaced as she stared at Dessa's hand before looking up at her.

"What?" she asked.

"There's really only one way to figure out how well your healing magic works. When I was little and mine first appeared, it took several minutes for even the smallest of cuts to heal."

Dessa held no hesitation before pulling out her dagger. "Like you said, there's really only one way."

And sliced clean across her palm.

Having always panicked any time she'd been hurt, Lyv went into full mother healing mode, though she squeaked out a cry at the sight of blood as her healing magic jumping into action. Dessa, though, held up her uninjured hand after dropping her dagger, trying to not wince at the sharp sting or panic at the blood pooling in her palm.

Before Lyv could even surge forward and grab her hand, all of them watched as the blood began to recede, then the cut slowly stitching back together with Dessa's healing magic. All she could do was stare and stare until the wound was completely healed.

Lyv took her hand in hers and Dessa felt her mother's healing magic poking around, making sure everything was in order. "Mother above, no wonder Jai freaked out when I showed him that," she breathed out, turning her hand this way and that. "Are you all right?"

Dessa nodded. "I...I think so. Is it still supposed to feel like its tingling?"

"Yes. The outer wound is what heals the quickest, then the repair of the inside is continued. That was...that was great, Des."

"Really didn't do anything."

"Of course, you did," her mother laughed, looking back up at her. Her tears finally fell down her cheeks and she quickly wiped them away. "Now at least I don't have to freak out every single time you go out with Eria or train with the boys."

At that, Dessa had to roll her eyes. No matter what, her mother would worry. Her father, too. Now that she had her magic, it would probably get worse until she managed to somewhat control it.

And it definitely did. Over the next three weeks when she wasn't finishing up with school, Dessa was training with someone. Sometimes it was her parents or Milena or Cleo. They went over everything – her healing and fire magic she shared with her mother, then the magics from her father. Milena would help when she could, sharing them with her, too. And much to her amusement, Jai didn't push her out into the pouring rain when she was practicing her wards. Her mother grumbled under her breath at that, which had him winking at her with a wide grin.

What had Dessa more than happy was that she got to train some with Lenora, who was learning about their magic herself. Len was absolutely elated to share these sessions with her big sister. Dessa even made a show of needing her to help show her what to properly do, which had the three-year-old grinning from ear to ear.

When she trained with Cleo, though, she wanted it to mostly just be the two of them after that first day.

That morning, she'd been trying to get a hold of creating orbs of light as she waited in the dragon quarters by herself. Eria was the only dragon inside, still dozing in her plush corner. Roshan, Erly, and Ollyn had been gone since before sunrise. Lyv and Cleo were at the entrance and talking in voices low enough for Dessa not to be able to hear. Of course, she glanced over every few moments and strained to hear, but then her mother was gone, leaving only Dessa and Cleo.

"Everything all right?" Dessa asked, the tiny orb of light flickering out in her palm.

Cleo gave her a strained smile, a clear tell that something didn't sit well with her. "Lyv...she's just worried about you. And will never stop blaming herself for your magic. The darker side of it, I mean."

"Well, she needs to stop. I'm fine."

She reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tight. "You are. I'm surprised you've done as well as you have these last few weeks."

"With the little things," she said, rolling her eyes. "I'm starting to get a hang of my elemental magic and am getting faster with my healing also, but what about the stuff I can't do yet? Like create a ward that don't sputter out in a few seconds? Or have control over my shadowfire?"

"Which is why you're training with me now, kid, because my shadows and your fire are more alike than I think even we know."

She was right, of course. Just like Dessa knew, her shadowfire was more of a sentient presence always around her, though it didn't show itself too often. For now, it only appeared when she was feeling strong emotions like anger or rage. Cleo could call her shadows up at will. A pang of jealousy washed over her when she did, watching as they curled themselves lovingly and protectively around her, while she couldn't even manage a flicker. And after a week of just training with Cleo, Dessa couldn't even manage to make them curl around her fingers until she got so frustrated with it. Then they teased her, doing what she wanted for just a few moments before disappearing again.

Tears of frustration prickled in Dessa's eyes until she quickly swiped them away without Cleo seeing.

"You're thinking too much," Cleo told her then, poking at her forehead. "You don't need to. Your shadowflame is a part of you. An extension. It'll probably be stubborn and not want to listen, but you're the one in control." To show what she meant, her shadows appeared around her. "It'll take some practice, just like the other aspects of your magic, but I'm sure you'll get a hang of it as quickly as everything else."

"Doubt it," Dessa mumbled, swiping her hand across her sweaty forehead.

Cleo raised a brow. "You've had your magic for barely a few weeks. The rest of us have had decade and centuries to master it. You'll get there, Des, and you'll probably rival us all with the amount of power you have, me included."

As soon as she said it, Dessa heaved out a breath, closing her eyes. Flashes of her nightmare of her being surrounded in darkness and shadowflame appeared, then Cleo and an unknown female standing with her, Elys just a short distance away...

And that chuckle from another male...gods, it made her shiver.

"What's going on?" Cleo asked her then, voice soft.

Not only was she asking because Dessa withdrew into herself, but her shadowflame appeared, curling along her wrists. It wasn't just at her hands and wrists, though. They were growing, curling around her arms, tickling across her skin. She didn't see it, though, only felt their touch. When she looked back at Cleo, they immediately disappeared.

"What was that?"

Dessa shook her head, curling her hands into fists before she crossed her arms against her chest. "Nothing."

"It's not nothing. Not when that's the most I've seen of your fire magic other than when it first appeared."

She grimaced. "Don't remind me."

"I don't see Elys around here anywhere, so that can't be it. They love him just as much as you oh so obviously do..."

Dessa squeaked so loud, Eria rustled from where she napped. "Don't say it like that!"

The sound had Cleo grinning before she let out a laugh. "Like what?" Cleo asked all too innocently. "Like your shadowfire and your dragon, both of which are bound to you indefinitely, love not only you, but him as well?"

"Shut up, Cleo."

Didn't she realize she already knew that? Thought about it way too much over those last few weeks? And unfortunately for Dessa, she wasn't exactly the best in hiding her growing attraction to the boy she'd grown up with, the male who was an ever growing presence in her life now after a five year absence. Of course, Milena saw the way Dessa stared, the way she unconsciously put herself as close as possible to Elys when they were in the same room.

Her mother saw.

Her father and Uncle Gideon did, too...and they were being extra hard on Elys during their regular training sessions.

Everyone noticed.

Except for Elys, of course. Funny, being a Seer and all.

Cleo laughed again, then urged her to continue with training. "Enough of that. Come on. Let's see what you can manage by yourself. If anything, I can get Elys to come to let you can practice on him."

Dessa grumbled, kicking at the ground with her boot. "Yeah and burn him to a crisp since he's been super annoying lately."

"Annoying how?"

"Annoying by just being there."

It didn't help her at all. Not with training. Not with her concentration. Nothing.

And once again as if she called for him to come, there he was.

Elys strode into the dragon quarters, pushing up the sleeves of his tunic as he did. Sword strapped across his back, leather pants tight in all the right places, Dessa's eyes trailed him from head to toe, a look that Cleo caught and grinned at. Immediately, her face flamed, but she blamed it on the fire that blazed in the center of the cavernous room.

She'd barely seen him over the past week and a half since he was usually gone before breakfast with Eamon and Archer and came home long after she went to bed. Of course, she tried to stay up and catch him, craving his company more than she let anyone know.

"Well, if it isn't the very male we were just talking about," Cleo crooned as he stopped beside them. She reached up and slapped his face gently. "Have you come to save the princess from me?"

Elys raised one brow. "Do I need to save her from you?"

"Never," she smiled all too sweetly, then turned to Dessa. "We'll continue this tomorrow if you want, though I have a feeling you'll get a better grip on your shadowfire now that this one is here now."

"Because I can practice on him."

Her sweet smile turned wicked. "Exactly."

Elys stepped closer to Dessa's side as they both watched Cleo walk toward the cave entrance, then disappear into her shadows. "You can't be serious when you said you wanted to practice your magic on me, correct?"

"Of course, I was."

"You're so mean."

"I get it from my mother."

He snorted out a laugh, rolling his eyes as he smiled at her. "That you do."

Dessa turned toward him, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked him up and down. "I thought you males were training with the guardsmen again today."

"I thought I'd come see how my favorite is doing instead."

Dessa gave him a small smile...and then he continued as he looked over at Eria.

"And I've come to give that lovable dragon as many cuddles as she wants since someone's been too busy to take her out flying much over the last few weeks."

Eria perked up at the sound of Elys's voice, then managed to stumble over to where they stood. Humming deep in her chest, the dragon curled herself around her second favorite person after Dessa herself, making him fall against her side. And as if to say 'See, you haven't been paying me any attention,' her gray eyes narrowed at Dessa as her tongue flicked out.

"Oh, sure, you two. Be that way," she stated...but then ended up in the dragon cuddle herself when Eria nipped at her shirt, pulling her forward.

Dessa practically fell against the dragon's side next to where Elys sat. The shifting of legs and wings had her stumbling and falling backward right into his lap. The male was laughing at her as she tried to right herself, blowing her hair out of her face as he helped her straighten her shirt, which had ridden up and exposed her stomach. Another huff...and Dessa glared at her dragon, who just gave her a sharp-toothed grin instead.

"No bruises since I'm pretty sure I elbowed you in the face just now?" she asked Elys then, moving herself out of his lap to sit beside him.

He reached over to take her hand, resting their intertwined fingers against her leg. "I think I came out of that unscathed. We'll test your healing abilities with others if I notice anything wrong."

"Doubt that. I only seem to be able to do it for myself."

"Practice, Dessa Jai. Practice."

Dessa sighed, leaning her head back against Eria's warm side. "I'm tired of practicing. If you really loved me, you would have come here to save me from it, but I think you have other ideas."

A slight flush appeared on his cheeks as he looked down at their conjoined hands, then he smiled as he looked up again. "Well, sorry to say I'm here to practice with you."

"Of course, you are," she groaned dramatically.

"Have you even tried your portal magic again?"

"If I say yes?"

"That would be a no."

"Sure."

"You do realize I know when you're lying to me, right?"

"Damn you and your Seer abilities. What else have you seen?"

A wicked smile appeared as he winked. "Lots of things."

Dessa immediately dug her nails into the back of his hand, making him wince.

But Elys just tugged her up as he stood. "Come on. Portal magic time."

If only it could come as easily as the other aspects of her magic.

It didn't.

She couldn't even manage a small one that first afternoon, no matter how hard she tried. All her concentration went to finding the certain part of her magic for portals, but it was just as stubborn as the rest. What did appear easily was her shadowfire, especially since Elys was close by. Though the flames burned dark and speckled with silver, it didn't burn him as it billowed out from Dessa to him, caressing him rather than hurting.

Finally, though, she managed to create a small portal that hovered just above the palm of her hand. The air distorted as a soft breeze blew her hair across her face. She was concentrating so hard she didn't even realize Elys reached over and tucked the rogue strands behind her ear.

"I think I've kind of got it," she said quietly, eyes still focused on the tiny portal just a few centimeters across.

"Where is it coming out to? Do you know?"

She focused on where she wanted it to. "I...I think so."

"Then let me try something."

Elys reached over, picking up a small rock that laid between them on the ground. Moving to her side, Dessa had to change where her portal would come out to. He tossed the rock through the distortion...only for it to appear in the space right above his head.

"What the hell?" he cried out, not expecting it.

Dessa's laughter broke her concentration, especially seeing the look on his face, and her portal flickered and disappeared.

The second day, Elys had woken her up bright and early by coming into her room, throwing her clothes on her as she groaned and press her face into the pillows.

"No sleeping in like you do when you train with Lyv and Cleo," he told her.

"Go away," she mumbled into the pillow, clutching it tighter.

"Not going to happen."

What didn't help was him yanking the covers from her grip and throwing them to the end of the bed. Dessa almost immediately turned over to glare at him, but it turned into a sly smile when she saw he'd frozen, staring down at her exposed stomach, lace-covered backside, and legs since her nightgown had ridden up.

"Maybe this will teach you not to come barging into a female's room and pull her bedding off her when she sleeps," she crooned, sitting up. She already knew her hair had to be a tangled mess and ran her fingers through it.

Meeting her gaze, Elys gave her his own sly smile. "I'd rather not learn that lesson, thank you. Now get up. You've got half an hour. You're the only one we're waiting on."

Jaw slack, Dessa watched as he turned on his heel and strode to her open door.