"If you aren't going to find a suitor, or further your studies, then you can do some volunteer work instead of lazing about the castle and doing nothing," Larania said to Morgana, during breakfast the following day. They were in the dining room where sunshine poured through the windows and made the rose entwined chandeliers sparkle. Light danced over platters of fluffy pastries and over bowls of colorful fruit. Ceramic pots of tea gleamed and steam curled out of their spouts.

Morgana wore a silky pink dress and her hair was in loose curls. She swallowed her bacon. "I haven't been lazy. I've been really busy."

Across the table Aelys shot Morgana a furtive glance. She placed a forkful of egg into her mouth. The sapphires on Aelys's blue gown winked and her blond hair was in a fishtail braid that was sprinkled with tiny blue flowers.

Erik and Damon were absent because they were having a meeting with Lord Auron in the council room, discussing the terms and duties of his newly inherited lands.

"And what have you been busy with?" Larania sliced open a blood red pomegranate that squirted juice onto her gold and white brocade gown. She sighed and dissipated the juice with her water magic.

"My um ..." Morgana couldn't exactly say she'd been trying to strengthen her powers as a witch. "I've been training with Damon and trying to stop the elements from getting out of control."

"That doesn't take up your entire day. You need to be more productive. Preferably in pursuing a suitor but seeing as that hasn't happened." Larania's lips pursed as if she'd eaten something tart. "Then you should do some volunteer work. Charity is a huge part of a lady's duties. When you get married, you'll throw parties and galas for charitable causes, so it's best you get some experience on what it's like to give back to the community."

So, after breakfast, Larania sent a reluctant Morgana off to the castle library to help Tithonia, the librarian. Morgana took her time getting there. She trudged through a hall where purple wisteria petals fluttered down from the ceiling and into a large aquamarine pool that was full of floating candles and glowing sprites that either napped on lily pads or squabbled on boats made of twigs. Pots of lemongrass sweetened the air, and a group of sprites rowed a boat into a candle and set it on fire. They dived into the pool, chittering with laughter as the twigs sank.

Morgana kicked a mound of petals out of her way, annoyed that she was going to waste an entire day shelving books when she should be training with Briar and Aelys. They'd initially planned a training session for the day. Morgana hoped that if she finished the volunteer work early, she'd be able to sneak in an elemental practice session before dinner. At least then the day wouldn't be a total waste. Feeling better with that thought in mind, Morgana turned a corner and entered the lower level of the circular rose quartz library where white coral vine climbed the walls. There was a staircase that curved to the upper floor, to where all the books were kept. A gold chandelier flickered light over the room, and a white sparkly mist covered the ceiling and scented the air with rose, lavender, and patchouli. There were pale wood tables surrounded by mauve chintz chairs, and beyond them was a curved glass wall that had a view of the green lawns and autumn-kissed woods. White lounges dotted the room, so that fae and faeries could quietly read. They'd usually have hot sunshine streaming over them, but today grey clouds had started to creep across the sky and the lounges were empty.

The library had only opened to the public about a year ago, a charitable move that wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for Larania. At first, Erik had been against it because he hadn't wanted the peasantry to come inside the castle. He hadn't wanted lower class faeries touching his books or stealing his expensive trinkets. But Larania had convinced him that it would show the villagers that he was a king that cared about all fae and faeries who lived in Golah Court and not just the elite.

Morgana snorted at the memory, at the falseness of Erik's charity. She went to climb the stairs, but paused, the hair rising on the back of her neck. A shuffling noise came from behind and she spun around, eyes darting over the empty room. There was a horrible moment when the air grew taught and heavy like the moment before a fideal, a malicious water faery, dragged its victims into a watery grave. Morgana gazed at a large shadow that was behind a chair and her skin crawled. An ominous feeling rushed over her, a feeling that something bad was about to happen. It was as if there was something inside the shadow, something that was staring at her.

"There you are," said Tithonia from the top of the staircase.

Morgana jumped, heart racing.

A chuckle. "Sorry I scared you. At least you've come in on a slow day." Tithonia frowned. "What are you looking at, dear?"

"Nothing. I thought I heard something."

"Well, come on then." Tithonia smiled. Her teeth were as white as the pearl bracelets dangling off her wrists. She wore her grey hair in a wavy bob and her dress was made of petals that were splashed with orange and red like a sunset.

"Okay, I'll be right up."

Morgana spent the entire day with Tithonia, shelving books, and checking off ones that had been returned. But she still couldn't shake the horrible feeling that she was being watched. Every now and then her eyes would go to the long shadows cast by the tall bookcases, as if something were hiding there, hunting her like a jaguar peering through the foliage.

After Morgana finished with Tithonia it took a long time for that horrible feeling to leave, but even then, traces of it still lingered when she reached her bedroom. Morgana had to go to dinner soon, but instead of getting ready she sat on her bed and decided to do some training by fluttering the leaves of her plum tree with earth magic. It was an easy enough task. Or so she thought. A few minutes went by, and Morgana tried to summon the element earth. She tried to conjure up the presence of timeless mountains and rich earthy soil. She tried to conjure that connectedness to something bigger than herself.

A leaf twitched.

She strained, sweat glazing her red face. Morgana squeezed her eyes shut and gave it everything she had. After a moment she stopped trying, unable to continue. Morgana was breathless, drained. Nothing else had moved. Why hadn't it worked? She groaned and placed her head in her hands.

Perhaps picking a plum would be easier instead?

So, Morgana concentrated on doing that with all her might. Sweat dripped down her back and the air became thin like she was trying to sprint up a sand dune. Her chest heaved, and she cried out as her earth magic erupted. It crashed into her desk and knocked over a stack of books to the floor. The blue butterflies on her mirror scattered into the air.

"Dammit!" Morgana flopped back onto her pillows and watched the fireflies and butterflies flutter across her ceiling. It had only been a short while ago when Morgana had been so confident with her magic. She'd been able to use the elements, eat a spy's memory, create storm clouds, and have visions without a problem.

Now, she couldn't even move a leaf or pick a plum off her tree.

Why is it so hard?

What is wrong with me?

She grabbed a pillow, slammed it over her face and screamed in frustration. Morgana didn't believe that her sudden magic failure was a result of burn out because she was only using one element. She didn't feel tired. No. It had to be something else. Morgana rolled over to her side and stared at the pale gossamer curtains fluttering over her open balcony doors. Outside, storm clouds had blocked the moon and stars from view. Thunder rumbled. Morgana wished she had answers, or someone she could talk to. She wished there was another witch who would know why her magic was failing, but Morgana was the last of her kind and would have to do her best with what little she knew. The grimoire wasn't much help either. It had been so full of answers when Morgana and Aelys had discovered it, but these days it lay quiet, having fulfilled its duty of informing Morgana of her history and the destiny ahead of her.

A shuffling noise came from the balcony and Morgana bolted upright. She stared at the darkness. Waiting for someone to emerge out of it. That same sense of being watched crawled over Morgana. The hair on the back of her neck prickled.

"Hello?" she whispered.

The answering silence seemed to last for hours. Morgana stood up and walked cautiously over to the balcony doors, shoulders tensed, ready to spring into action. She stepped out onto the balcony and a chilly wind snapped across her body. Morgana glanced around. Lightning illuminated her empty balcony with stark light. She turned and ran back inside, locking the balcony doors. Morgana rubbed her arms, a chill still lingering over her despite the warmth in her bedroom. She stepped back and caught her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were wide with fear, her skin had paled. Morgana swallowed, debating whether she should tell Aelys about her suspicions of being followed. Not just because they were sisters, but because in a few hours' time they had a meeting with Caliath in her room.

And if Morgana was being followed by something or someone, then they were in danger.