Page 115 of The Starlight Savior

Her skin tingled as Conor steered her away from the gates. Their bodies were hidden by the large trunks of pine trees lining the castle grounds.

“It’ll be okay,” he murmured, finger brushing against her cheek.

“Can you sense what I’m feeling or something?” Saige laughed halfheartedly.

“No, but I can see it. No matter what, you and I will be fine. I told you that you’re my priority. Always.”

“Always,” she breathed. “I just…”

“Don’t know how to act when we walk back into the castle?”

She nodded, concealing the nervous smile tugging her lips up.

“We don’t have to act any differently, Saige. It’s all up to you.”

She bit her lip, already regretting the words. “With everything going on…I need to focus on training. The mist. But after everything…” She buried her head in her hands. Gods, what was she saying? She just had the best evening with someone who cared for her. And she was going to stop it?

“Hey.” Conor pulled her hands away from her face. “I understand. It’s a lot to take in, and if we begin something too soon, it’ll be a distraction. To everything. We’ll take all of this slow. Go at your pace. I’m not going anywhere.”

Saige couldn’t help but steal a quick kiss. His lips were soft against hers, his body leaning forward. His fingers tangled with the damp knots forming in her hair. But as she pulled away, her mind reeled. The decision to not pursue further didn’t exactly feel wrong, but her chest felt bare knowing they wouldn’t be doing this for awhile.

They kept walking until they reached Athalos’s empty halls. Before they fell into their respective rooms, she turned to Conor. “What about what you want?”

His smile was soft. “I want to be by your side. No matter what.”

She nodded. “Me too,” she whispered before closing her door.

The heat on her lips still lingered even as she fell asleep.

Chapter 42

The silence in King Vospella’s councilroom was so thick that Saige could swipe through it with a dagger. The king’s court sat before Saige on a raised platform, the Vospella family directly in the middle. The king’s white hair fell around his shoulders, an amethyst crown glittering on his head. The queen’s high collar hugged her throat, eyes coated in charcoal. Prince Markus leaned back in his large chair, one hand resting on his chin. Saige shifted under his gaze as she examined the rest of the court. General Zathos, Lady Zathos, Maester Tobin, and a handful of wielders awaited her. Even Eva had come to watch her demonstration.

Tonight was the full moon.

Conor rested against the wall near the door. Unshaven with dark circles forming under his silver eyes, his exhaustion was apparent. They spent the last handful of days harnessing her starlight magic, avoiding the risk of burnout. Since she was strongest at night, their sleep schedule was upside down. Supper became their first meal as they trained until dawn. Traveling to the cave and lagoon, Conor led drill after drill. Pushing her harder, observing how deep her starlight reservoir truly was.

One thing was evident. Starlight magic was not quiet, nor demure. It was dangerous. Volatile and explosive. Rock walls speared from the ground, threatening to impale Conor. Orbs of water wrapped around Saige’s body, protecting her from harm. Balls of starlight decimated everything in sight.

The only peaceful part of her magic was through healing. Whether she restored decayed plants or mended surface level wounds, even that felt intense, shaking her core.

The councilroom was cleared out to accommodate the five basins circling around Saige. A skylight above illuminated the room with moonlight. Peering at the king’s court, Saige awaited direction.

“Lady Nerestel,” King Vospella said, leaning forward, “I hope you are prepared this evening.”

“As ready as I possibly could be, Your Majesty.”

“You’ve resided for over three moon cycles in our kingdom with expectations to assist us in fighting back the mist and healing the land. What we’ve seen of your capabilities has been minimal. If we continue to invest time in your training, you must prove the extent of your power to not just your instructors, but my court.” The king raised his hands, pointing to the basins. “You’re familiar with the ways of our trials?”

“Yes, your majesty. I have practiced harnessing the elements with Maester Tobin.”

The king nodded with satisfaction. Saige’s gaze met Tobin’s, his eyes wide. His hands shook on top of the long table. She had never seen such a man so nervous. But she supposed his nerves would be frazzled. This was his idea. His plan. Her success determined how influential his word would continue to be.

“This,” the king said slowly, “will be different.”

Saige’s brows furrowed. She leaned on her toes, hoping to spot what was in the basins. But they were too large. Too deep. Where earth was, tips of blackened plants edged the surface. The fourth one was covered by a glass dome, but she couldn’t see past it.

“I do not care if you can grow plants, control water, harness flames, connect to spirit, or summon lightning. What I care about is how you will be of use to me. To give Etrane the opportunity to not only fight back against Tiranos, but the mist as well. So you will be tested for such a thing.”