Seasons of Magic Volume 2 by Selina J. Eckert

Author:Selina J. Eckert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fairy tale, mermaid, anthology, carnival, ghost
Publisher: Selina J. Eckert
Published: 2021-11-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

HALI MADE HER way back to her study slowly. She’d tried so hard to be the queen the Coldwater wanted, but she could never live up to their first queen. Iclyn’s mother.

And now Iclyn’s powers were here, and Hali would be forgotten completely.

She opened the door to the study, then tucked the key back into her dress’s pocket. This was her one safe place, the one place the servants avoided and Leven ... well, Leven was always too preoccupied with his work and his daughter to come looking for her. She couldn’t really say she was surprised though; she knew what she signed up for when she’d married the man.

She was a queen, but she wasn’t the one everyone loved. She was merely filling a vacant role, one Leven had been desperate to fill. But no matter what she did, no matter what she accomplished for the Coldwater, Iclyn would always be more important. She’d always known that.

She just hadn’t realized how much it would hurt.

Hali took a seat in front of the vanity, touching up her makeup. It was her only weapon against Iclyn’s beauty, her only tool to distract the king long enough to pay any attention to her. At least before Iclyn had magic, they were almost on a level playing field. Hali had been lucky the king was desperate when they were married. Otherwise, he would have picked someone with more to offer, someone with magic and who could hold the people enraptured, like Iclyn did.

But not for much longer. Leven would see Hali’s value. He had to, and she had to make him.

Hali slipped a small book and a box tied with green ribbon out of the top drawer of the vanity, placing them in front of her with reverence. They had taken weeks to arrive, and the sea witch had charged her almost more than Hali could sneak from the city’s treasury without notice.

It was time to see what her efforts had bought her. And it had better be worth it.

Hali pulled the ribbon free of the box and lifted the lid. Inside, a shining white pearl rested on a pillow of deepest blue. She ran a finger along its smooth, cool surface, feeling the magic crackle at her touch.

“Magic, magic, from the sea,” she quoted, following the witch’s instructions to the letter. “Listen well and answer me.”

“Sea’s great magic, you will see, provides the answers that you seek.” The pearl glowed with a soft silver light, not unlike the moonlight that regenerated the magic of most tribes of mer.

Tribes other than Hali’s, the Tidewater. The only tribe without magic.

Hali faltered. Iclyn’s mother had been the last Moonwater, the most powerful line of mer. But now ... would Iclyn have that same power?

She shuddered, her chest tight. She couldn’t tell if she was more angry or afraid of the girl’s magic. And now she would be forced to bond with her, as the girl’s surrogate mother. Another slap to the face.

At least she would get the chance to test the strength of her magic.

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