The Spark of a Feudling by Wendy Knight Page A

feels. Learn to do it right, Ada.”
    She felt the tears in her eyes but refused to let them fall. That would only make him angrier and she wouldn’t give him more reasons to hit her with his spells. Richard rarely hit with his fists. It was the tricky little spells she had to watch out for.
    Raising her hand, she started again. There would be more attacks coming, she knew. She’d lived with this half-man, half-monster her entire life, although she hadn’t realized what he truly was until now. Even knowing what he was, she ached for his approval. He was her father, after all.
    ****
    â€œWhere have you been all day? I’ve been sick with worry!” Christian exclaimed as Ada climbed tiredly through the briars.
    â€œTraining. Sneaking. I don’t know,” Ada mumbled.
    â€œAre you unwell, Ada?” Charity’s soft voice wafted from across the pond, but Ada had to squint to see her. The burns around her eyes made them swollen, and it was difficult to see clearly.
    â€œNo, I—”
    That must have been when Christian caught sight of her face. He jerked her to her feet and studied her in the dim twilight. “What happened to you?”
    She turned her face away, feeling her cheeks flush. “I… fell.”
    â€œInto a fire? Do you think me daft, Ada?” Christian exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. She winced.
    â€œHer father did it.” Charity’s voice was dull, and Ada didn’t have to look up to know her silver eyes were glowing.
    Christian’s face turned an alarming shade of burgundy, and his eyes blazed. Ada backed up, stumbling against the briars. “Why did he do this to you? I’m going to murder him, Ada. I’m going to—”
    â€œI was training. He’s training me and — and this is what happens when you train.” Ada raised her chin, hoping Christian would let it go. She didn’t want to fight. She was tired and she hurt and she just wanted to be with her dearest friends in the world.
    Christian’s face slowly returned to its usual paleness, leaving his eyes big and dark. “He was training you? Training you in what?”
    â€œIn the spells he has made up. He has a whole book of them, and he caught me with it earlier. When I was looking for proof—” she stopped abruptly, looking over his shoulder at Charity.
    â€œAh,” Christian said quietly.
    â€œI didn’t find it. But I told him I wanted to learn his spells.” She finally let her face break into a smile, despite the burns. “And once I learn them, I can teach them to you!”
    â€œYou… you would do that?” Christian asked slowly. Light blue flames licked his fingertips as he raised his hands to her face, letting the fire heal her. She felt the soreness slowly fade as new skin mended over the wounds, the flames wrapping around the burns until they were gone.
    â€œThank you,” she murmured. “And yes, of course I would teach you. What a silly question.”
    He didn’t move his hands, his face only inches from hers. His thumb brushed her cheekbone as his eyes dipped lower, to her lips. She felt them tingle with something she didn’t understand, and she raised her face.
    â€œIf they catch you, they’ll kill you.” Charity’s voice dragged Ada back into a consciousness she’d nearly lost in Christian’s eyes. She and Christian jerked apart, although Christian couldn’t seem to tear his eyes from her face.
    Charity finally appeared from the shadows where she’d been sitting, crawling to the edge of the pond. “Teaching him, I mean. Carules shouldn’t be able to do Edren magic. Edrens should not do Carules spells. It blurs the lines.” She lay on her stomach and let her finger skim the surface of the water, watching it ripple away from her.
    â€œThey can try to kill me. My father says I can be the most powerful sorcerer the world has ever known.”