Silene seems to understand. “Alright, boys, that’s enough,” she calls out. The whirling ball of light and metal they had become slows, and they look over, both panting and smiling widely. Thorne’s eyes immediately find mine, and he frowns.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, but Silene cuts him off.

“We’re just tired of watching the two of you show off. I for one am ready for dinner.” With that, she hooks her arm through mine and marches me toward the door. I give her a look that I hope conveys my gratitude. Fionn and Thorne pick up the room, then follow us back to their apartment.

The dinner tray’s already been delivered to their rooms when we arrive. Silene unhooks herself from my arm and prances over to her and Thorne’s bedroom, hollering that she’s going to change, and we better not start dinner without her. It’s a good reminder of the reason I won’t explore my attraction for Thorne. If they’re just friends, as he says, why does she sleep there? Why does she keep her clothing there? Of course I know that many sexual partners don’t have rules of monogamy in their relationship, and maybe that’s the situation with Thorne. But if that were the case, why not tell me that instead of some lie about there being nothing between them? Does he consider sex to be so insignificant?

“Stay for dinner,” Thorne says, his low voice startling me. I hesitate, not wanting to intrude. I’m about to decline when he adds, “Please. Fionn and Silene might have an update from the rebels.”

He knows how to convince me. “Fine, I’ll stay,” I say with a long-suffering sigh I don’t really feel. He grins.

“What did you think of today?” he asks.

“It was a good lesson,” I respond genuinely. “I haven’t learned something new with my magic in at least a hundred years.”

He smiles wide, and this one is the real Thorne, not the winking and smirking prince. “Pretty soon you’ll be sparring with me like Fionn does. I’m sure of it.”

“As loath as I am to compliment your massive ego, that was impressive. I can’t imagine ever being able to fight like that.”

“You’ll get there, witchling.” He nudges my shoulder. “You have more power than the two of us combined. You just have to learn to let go and let your instincts take over.”

“I’m not entirely sure that’s wise.” What I don’t say is that the idea of totally letting go terrifies me. If I could put up a mist barrier that can’t be undone when I was untrained and barely coming into my power, what horror might I unleash with three hundred years of deepening my well of magic? If I let go, I might destroy my kingdom. Might destroy the world.