Page 36 of The Serpent Prince

In an instant, darkness poured from her hands. Growing thicker, the shadowed darkness started moving around the room.

It felt good, so good to just let it free.

Imani clutched her wand and felt the haze of powerlessness slip away. She could do anything. She could kill anything. The magic was a gift, a blessing from someone somewhere. Maybe her father.

Not for the first time, she wished she knew him. But those sentimental feelings had no place in this training session, and she choked them back down.

Just as she moved to strike the witch, Master Heirwyn covered herself in a halo of gold magic. Imani pushed her wand and palms forward, muttering various incantations, but nothing could penetrate the barrier. She needed thicker darkness and more of it—like the blast that had killed Malis.

But before Imani could call for more darkness, the halo fell and the nymph dove for Imani, a vicious look in her eyes. Imani managed to block the attack with her darkness, and their magic pressed up against each other. The force dropped Imani to her knees. Then she rolled onto her back to avoid another spell.

A mistake, as Master Heirwyn straddled Imani, punching her hard in the jaw.

Imani’s head snapped back, but with her next strike, the elf caught the master’s fist in her crushing grip. Reacting without a thought, Imani slammed her elbow into her face. The naiad grunted out a curse then locked her fingers around the wrist of Imani’s wand arm, twisting it painfully. Imani managed to wrench her wrist away and slip out from under the other witch. But weakened as she was, with blood pouring from her nose and the side of her mouth, Imani landed face-down on the floor.

The air left her body.

With a groan, Imani pushed herself into a sitting position and gritted her teeth in anger. With a sharp swipe of her wand, she sent the darkness pummeling toward the nymph. It smashed through the halo this time, knocking the master onto her back.

Lifting her head slightly, the nymph just smiled. She looked more ragged, animalistic than her usual elegant self. Imani cocked her head to the side—the spell must have ripped away an illusion. It made her giddy to know her magic was more powerful than the naiad witch’s illusion magic.

“You wear glamour? I never sensed it.”

Panting, the deceptively strong nymph witch looked pensive, watching Imani curiously. She looked the same physically, so what was the glamour hiding?

With just a small movement of her arms, Imani saw the brands covering her arms—including a massive gold band.

Imani pointed. “What in the Saints is that brand?” Imani’s voice was barely above a whisper.

The nymph just shrugged. “I suppose it’s only fair you know my secret now, too—I’m high-naiad but my father is from the Upper realm. It’s quite common for first-generation mixed breeds to have different-colored brands.”

Shock rolled through her. “Is this why you had to leave Essenheim?”

“That, and I murdered the king.”

CHAPTER 13

The wheels in Imani’s head were spinning, and she felt dizzy with the knowledge that half-breeds from the Upper realm were living here in the Mesial realm. Her heart skipped a beat. She was filled with joy that she wasn’t alone. Questions tumbled around in her mind, as well, but Imani didn’t trust Master Heirwyn.

Because there was only one murdered king in recent Essenheim history, and the murderer wasn’t exactly someone to befriend.

“You’re… you’re Zolyn,” Imani stated.

“I go by Zadie Heirwyn here. We never even utter the name Zolyn except under critical circumstances—this being one of those.”

“I figured you were dead.”

“For all intents and purposes, Zolyn is dead.” She sighed and recast her glamour over her brands. “It isn’t for lack of trying by many parties, though.”

“Kiran trusts you.”

“He does. I was allowed sanctuary here in exchange for training him to use and control his magic. I’ve known him since he was a boy.”

Imani had a feeling she’d taught him how to fight dirty, too, with how he’d tripped Tanyl the day they’d left Essenheim.

A reverence swelled inside Imani. “Why would you waste your time teaching me?”

“Because you went and got yourself more tangled up with us—against my advice—and without control of your magic, you’re a liability. We can’t have you killing random people, or yourself. And while not illegal, we can’t afford too many people knowing about it, despite the more tolerant openness to different types of magic Essenheim does not endorse.”