The Lord of Illusion by Kathryne Kennedy

Author:Kathryne Kennedy
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 2011-12-06T23:00:00+00:00

Ten

Despite her best attempts to stay awake, Camille must have drifted off to sleep, for when she opened her eyes again, the night had turned to deepest black. She tried to untangle herself from Drystan without waking him, but he sat up when she fetched her clothes.

“What are you doing?” he asked. “My magic still holds… we can stay here ’til morning.”

But at his words they both felt a chill breeze and saw a hint of falling snow.

Camille had actually been surprised when she had woken to a warm summer night instead of the dead of winter. Drystan had more powerful magic than he realized, to keep up an illusion for this long. Too bad he could not seem to control it.

She slipped her chemise over her head. “I made a promise to see Grimor’ee tonight.”

Drystan sat up and groaned, ran his fingers through his hair.

“I believe,” she continued, “your illusion coincides with the natural world. Magic usually takes the path of least resistance, and it feels like late evening or early morn—oh, Drystan, look.”

He stood and glanced around, his eyes widening. Camille felt his warm hand close over hers as they both stilled in wonder.

The waterfall glowed. No, the crystal glowed, lighting up the water as it spilled into the small pond, casting myriad sparkles of reflected light off the glassy surface. Tiny flowers had opened in the moss at their feet, each blossom containing a small spark of luminescence, the whole of them glittering like thousands of diamonds. Something similar had happened to the flowers and plants lining the gravel path, for they all sported their own phosphorescent colors of blues and reds and deep purples.

“This is not my doing,” said Drystan. “I could never have imagined anything like this. I changed the garden only from winter to summer.”

“Elfhame must be beautiful,” murmured Camille, “and the elven lords mad to have left it.”

“Indeed. Here, allow me to help you dress, my love. I am coming with you.”

His casual endearments—as if they had spent years together instead of days—made her feel warm inside. As if they had, indeed, known each other all of their lives. Camille flushed, wrapped her stays around her, and presented her back. “To see Grimor’ee? I am not sure that is wise, Lord Hawkes. After all, he threatened to turn you into a toad.”

His warm fingers tugged at her laces. “I believe it was a frog, but it does not signify. I do not trust that dragon, and I shan’t let you meet with him alone.”

Camille shrugged. She had been meeting with Grimor’ee alone for years. She had done everything alone for years. What an odd feeling to have someone who wanted to cleave to her side. It would require some getting used to.

When they finished dressing, Drystan headed off down the path, stopping to investigate an occasional glowing petal. Camille gave the waterfall one last sad glance before following him. She would never forget this place as long as she lived.

Hand in hand, they

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