Lucia Grey was born a mage, the one thing that often meant death. Fortunately for her, her brother was close to the ruling house and by promising her marriage to the heir, her secret would be kept. When her brother told her of this arrangement, Lucia stormed off. It wasn't that she hated the prince, in fact, since his family had taken her in, she had grown quite close and fond of him, but she also knew the protection extended to her wouldn't protect other mages trying to stay hidden.
She found herself at the city's prison cells, a place she hadn't oft visited. Here she found Lukas for the first time. Like her, also a mage, capable of sensing and leeching another mage’s power to use as their own. Lucia’s compassion and innocent heart was an easy thing to manipulate for someone as cunning as Lukas was.
They spoke often and it soon became her routine to visit. She would bring books from the citadel and enjoy their talks. What she failed to notice was that every visit, some of her magic was borrowed.
All he needed now was for her to ignite the spark and Lukas would be free. Was it possible to convince her to leave? And if she chose to not, could she really convince the town mages weren’t a threat anymore after war with them nearly destroyed the humans?
It would be her wedding day when Lucia left Aaron at the altar. She arrived outside Lukas' cell in tears. Puzzled, he implored her to share what happened. Lucia showed him an orb of light in her hands and explained the arranged marriage her brother set up as a way to protect her from the prejudice against mages, but that protection would only apply to her.
In an act of what would seem like comfort to many, Lukas reached through the bars to wipe away her tears, but the contact would be the last bit of her power he needed to absorb and break free from the chains.