Eloise raised a single, elegant eyebrow, her arms remaining crossed over her chest as she watched me with quiet curiosity. "Oh? And what exactly am I looking at?"
Instead of answering, I took a deep, steadying breath, letting the grounding memory of the greenhouse soil and the pure joy of the orphanage courtyard wash over me. I relaxed my shoulders, just like I had done at the planter table, and reached deep inside for that warm pool of power. I didn't force it this time; I just invited it to flow.
I held my hand out between us, my palm facing the sky.
Within a heartbeat, a tiny, brilliant violet spark flared to life at the tip of my thumb. Eloise’s posture instantly stiffened, her eyes widening slightly as she leaned forward. But I wasn't finished. Keeping my focus entirely soft and st
