A Magic of Many Colors

The world was full of magic until it was not.

When the young Empress of Aurora suddenly died a century ago, so too did the world's magic. Since then, the ghost of that power has been slowly fading away from the bloodlines of the empire's nobility with each generation, growing duller like the once vivid colors that paint every building within the city of Prism. Most families are but pale imitations of what they once were and those still possessing powerful abilities are few and treasured.

The Salazars' power has faded to a mere trickle.

Now, the responsibility of marrying well has fallen on the shoulders of Felix Salazar's well-tailored suit. Despite him having no ability whatsoever, his family has somehow managed to arrange his marriage to the widowed and older daughter of the prominent Van Brandt family, which boasts several powerful magicians within their bloodline.

His bride to be, however, is mediocre at best both in looks and ability, and to make matters worse, she refuses to speak to him.

The tragic death of her first husband has seemingly left her mute.

Felix quickly learns to ignore his incredibly quiet and strange new wife and focuses on enjoying the life of an aristocrat's husband, contenting himself with spending his new family's oodles of money. Until...the night he finally hears her speak.

And when she does, her voice is like fire and brimstone, as startling and vivid as the red of her family color.

Magic, she reveals, is not just fading with time. Someone...some...thing is stealing it and finding their identity may also lead to that of her first husband's killer. With all of the power she contains, Eleonora Van Brandt means to take back everything the thief has stolen, but with one dead husband already beneath her belt, Felix isn't too sure helping her would prove good for his health let alone this new marriage.

Written for NaNoWriMo 2020