Falling Kingdoms

Magnus stared at her. He could barely breathe. “You speak nonsense.”

Her eyes sparkled. She took delight in his confusion. “Of course, you were never told anything about this. No one was, at Gaius’s insistence. After being unable to carry another child after you, Althea, too, agreed wholeheartedly to keep this secret. All for the chance to claim a beautiful child as her own daughter—even if that princess was delivered to her by someone she’s always loathed.”

“What you’re saying is impossible.”

“Not impossible.” Sabina grasped the back of his neck and brought their faces closer together so she could whisper. “Lucia is not your sister by blood, Magnus. Does this revelation fuel your passion, or does the thought that your heart’s desire is no longer forbidden make it less exciting?”

“You lie.” He grabbed the front of her dress. “You’re trying to play with my mind.”

“I’m not lying. She’s not your sister.” Her eyes narrowed. “However, she was raised as your sister and knows you only as a brother. She doesn’t feel the same toward you as you do toward her. So tragic.”

He let go of her and stared at her with shock and confusion. His entire world was in tumult, spinning.

“Maybe I’ll have a little talk with Lucia.” Sabina’s smile was unpleasant as she stroked away the crease he’d created in the front of her crimson dress. “Would you like her to learn your dark little secret and see what her reaction is? I’d be happy to tell her myself.”

“Secret?” The door squeaked open to reveal Lucia standing beneath its arch. Magnus froze. “What secret?”

• • •

When Magnus hadn’t joined the family for yet another dinner, Lucia began to worry. After studying for most of the evening, she was ready to do some more practicing. Magnus had served as an excellent tutor. Tonight she wanted to focus on her fire magic.

She left her room and wandered the halls until she came to her brother’s room. The door was mostly shut, but she heard raised voices inside.

And her name, and something about a secret.

She pushed the door open and was surprised to see Sabina standing only a foot away from Magnus. Both of their faces were flushed and they cast angry glares toward her as she entered.

Perhaps she should have knocked first. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Such a sweet girl,” Sabina purred. “Isn’t she, Magnus? So very sweet, your sister. Like honey melting on your tongue.”

“Leave her alone,” he growled back. Lucia was surprised to hear the catch in his voice.

“I’ve left her alone for sixteen years,” Sabina said, her words clipped. “Both my time and patience grow short.”

“She’s innocent in all of this.”

“Or perhaps waiting under the surface is something harder and less breakable, just like I sensed with you.” Sabina turned a smile on Lucia, one that made a chill run down her spine. “If you don’t wish to experience my personal tutoring, Magnus, maybe she would. Less fun than the sessions I had planned for you, of course, but still very necessary.”

“Magnus?” Lucia asked, frowning. His face was as tense as she’d ever seen it.

“You should go,” he said.

“Why?” Sabina asked. “This is an excellent opportunity for the three of us to get to know each other better. Lucia, dear, how are you?”

Lucia tightened her lips. She didn’t trust this woman. “Fine, thank you.”

“Really? You haven’t been feeling strangely lately?”

Lucia watched her warily. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Magnus told me how powerful your magic is.”

It was as if she’d just been punched in the stomach. It took effort not to stagger back from the blow. “What?”

“I said no such thing,” Magnus snarled.

“Perhaps not.” Sabina gave each of them a thin smile. “But now I know everything I needed to know. It’s true. Your powers have awakened.”

Cold fear washed over Lucia that this woman knew anything about her. This was the continuation of their last confusing conversation in the halls about dangerous secrets. Sabina knew.

“Don’t be worried,” Magnus said calmly. The anger had left his voice and expression, but it still burned in his eyes. “Your secret is safe with Sabina. For I know a secret about her—she’s a witch.”

Lucia’s mouth dropped open at this revelation.

“Now that we have all of this out in the open,” Sabina said, gazing at her curiously, “perhaps you can tell me what you’re able to do.”

It took a moment for her to find her voice. She raised her chin and looked directly in the older woman’s eyes. “Not much at all.”

A look of frustration crossed Sabina’s face. “Can you be more specific?”

“No, she can’t.” Magnus came to stand next to Lucia and put his arm around her shoulders. His proximity comforted her immediately. “It’s late. This is not a discussion we should be having right now.”

“Is that why you came to Magnus’s room?” Lucia demanded. “To question him about me?”

“That was one of the reasons,” Sabina said with a twisting smile. “Shall I tell you about the others?”

Magnus shot the woman a dark look. What secrets did he have that he’d chosen to tell Sabina, but not her?