Page 32 of Of Curses and Courtship

“A hot bath will be no problem. This palace controls fire, you know.”

“I did not know.”Of course, I know. Prince Emyr showed me sunlight in that little room above the inn. I plan to forgethim, but I will remember how it felt to channel magic with him. “I know nothing.”

“And what about our gifts?” She gestures between us. “Do you know whatyoucan do?”

That captures my attention. This fae may have led me to this strange place, but perhaps she can help me with my magic. “As I said, I do not know a thing—aside from the wishes and portals, neither of which I seem to have much luck with. Will you tell me, or is it a secret?”

“Magic has little to do with luck. You canlearnto grant a wish and make a portal.” She busies herself around the room, scribbling on a piece of paper. “Many Moon Fae are psychic.”

“Then I am supposed to look into the future? No. I certainly can’t do that.”

“Some can. Others can tell when they are being lied to.”

If I could do that, I would have known the prince was lying about his interest in me.

I scoff. “I can’t do that either.”

She continues on, as though this is a perfectly ordinary conversation. To me, it is anything but.

“Some may remote view current circumstances.”

No. I don’t have any of these gifts. Perhaps I have no abilities at all.

I bite my lip and look out the window. “These things all feel outside of my control, Madam.”

Even though it’s not yet sunset, it’s nearly pitch black outside.

Isa throws the letter into the air, and it flies away. The paper behaves like it sprouts wings, pushing through the air with purpose and speed.

I take a step back, startled.

“Now that you’re here, you have plenty of time to learn more about your magic,” Isa says.

“And what was that?” I gesture to the window, my eyes widening. “That?—”

“It’s how we send messages, dear.” She giggles. “Just within the palace—farther messages require greater magic. I asked someone to bring you a bathtub. We can talk more once you’re clean. Everything will feel better then.”

I doubt it, but perhaps the bath will give me time to spend in the water to enhance my gifts, as Isa suggested.

No,I was correct. I have no gifts.

The bath does little to change my perspective, but at least I no longer have layers of dirt and tears coating my face and body.

Isa leads me through the palace once I’m clean. The sun has now fully set, but the lamps are lit, filling the dark hallways with flickering light. Isa has no trouble leading the way in the dark. She comes with a glow of her own, one I cannot match even with my glamours at rest.

She leads me down a winding staircase to a hall that splits off into several small bedchambers with open doors, each with two tiny beds. The bedchambers are not our destination—a small study is.

At the desk sits a tall, muscular fae—a woman in trousers and a tailcoat. Her age is impossible to tell, but she fixes us with such a stern look that I imagine she’s older. She doesn’t carry the carefree, youthful energy of the prince, or even his grumpy companion.

This fae is neither sun nor moon. She must be something else. Shadowy tendrils emanate from her, wrapping around her like an old friend, and dark wings stretch out behind her, nearly like the prince’s feathery ones. Standing in a room with her makes me shake.

“It seems you had safe travels,” the fae says. “I welcome your return, Lady Isa.”

“And I thank you.” Isa smiles warmly. “I would ask you to put on tea, but I’m here on business.”

“What business could you have with me?” The unfamiliar fae tilts her head to the side.

“It’s not my business I’m attending to.” Isa steps aside and gestures to me. “This one is looking for a job, Lucille.”