The Aspect of Essence (The Aelfyn Archives, #1)

by Samantha Amstutz

But then again, Serenna had spent the entire time defiantly holding her own, even after his cousin had constricted her with his power. I’m the one unable to muster the will to fend for myself. In fact, Serenna had been the one to rescue him in the healing wing. Still bewildered, Jassyn couldn’t fathom why she had defended him. Vesryn was as stunned as he was—someone had dared to lay hands on him. Jassyn didn’t miss the prince’s tell, the slight twitching of his fingers. There was still some satisfaction to be had at witnessing his cousin’s discomfort. Jassyn unapologetically burned Vesryn’s incredulous look into his memory when Serenna charged at him with nothing but her bare fists. Jassyn had no idea why Vesryn’s attention had drifted to him as if he were supposed to offer an explanation or, better yet, help him out of the situation he’d snared himself in. Frowning, Jassyn studied the vines as they slid across the ground and wound around his boots, realizing the prince had never once directed his dark magic toward him. Surely that was a coincidence. Well, Vesryn knows he can torment me in other ways. He doesn’t need Essence for that.