“Why didn’t anyone tell me all the council members were Magicians?” I managed to bite out, trying to control my rapid breathing. “And lift the damn void!”
Alastair appraised me for a moment, completely ignoring my question. I wondered if he was taking in the crazy look I in my eyes and debating whether it was safe for me to have access to my magic again.
I honestly didn’t care what he thought right now as I stared him down, almost daring him to challenge me.
His eyes twinkled as he pulled on his own magic, and the pressure of the void eased off my shoulders.
My mind quickened, allowing me to push my magic out into Raena once more, seeking her injuries. They healed before my eyes. I had never actually looked when I had healed anyone. It was strange watching the bruises fade to green, then yellow and then disappear and see the cuts magically seal up, all scars gone.
My teeth snapped together, the pain excruciating
“So how much did you see?” I began, unsure of where to start. Blake had followed me back to my room where Elanora lay fast asleep in my bedroom.I had checked on her before coming back out into the lounge to see Blake staring at his hands, his expression odd. Of course, he had his wall up, so I was unable to read anything from him. I wondered if he did it on purpose when he was near me.“Do you like him?” he asked suddenly, his eyes darting to my face.Frozen where I stood, unsure of what to say, my mind seemed to go blank. Did I really like him? Or was it a way to forget Deakin, to forget his betrayal and to really live a little before I possibly died? I didn’t know. Every time I was in his presence it was like I was overcome, almost intoxicated by him. Did that mean I liked it?“It’s complicated,” I chose to say, not meeting his gaze. He knew I was avoiding answering the question properly. He always
The next day, I woke with a pounding headache and my insides like jelly as they swirled around.I could barely think straight. Whatever the hell was happening between Alastair, Blake and I, the energy required to sort through that mess was certainly not within my reach.Most of it was so unexpected that a huge part of me was left paralysed. Could I trust either of them, or anyone for that matter, with my heart again after what Deakin had done?Would I even be able to physical with someone without completely breaking down?When Alastair ran his hands down my body, it sure felt like I could, but afterwards, my skin almost felt like I needed a shower to scrub away the horrible feeling left behind.Just the memory of their lips on mine had my face burning, the emotions rolling through my stomach.Eating breakfast was extremely difficult. Something I hardly ever went without, as my stomach was too busy swirling around and making me feel unwell.
“Great job, Kida,” Raena called out as I managed to get a good hit in at Pollis with the Bo in my hand.After my dismal attempt at using a sword, they had decided to give up on the idea and focus on another weapon in the hopes that I could manage to be successful.I ran my hands along the long, wooden staff as Pollis turned, his teeth bared in anger. He didn’t like me beating him. It didn’t help his case that I had so much going on right now, that this was the only way I could deal with it – with weapon in hand. I felt in control while I was training, whereas in every other part of my life, control was slipping very quickly out of my hands.My conversation with Alana had been interesting, and almost insightful. Her words played on repeat in my head for a solid few hours before I had to do something to take my mind off them.Pollis swung his own Bo, trying to take out my feet. But I jumped it easily, bringing my own weapon aro
I glared at Enda, allowing my fury to pulsate in the room. Many of the Council members were sitting right back in their seats, their eyes wide with worry. There were only four people that would meet my gaze – Enda, Blake, Alana and Alastair. It was the first time I had been in the same space with Blake and Alastair together since the incident between them, and the tension was palpable. “When were you going to tell me about the scouts?” I tried to keep my voice calm and level, trying to control the anger that was swirling around in my chest, but it tinged my words, giving them a sharp edge. A flourish of emotions fluttered across my skin, too many for my magic to determine. The Council remained silent. I glared at Alana, who lowered her eyes, her shame shocking me. I had come to her literally only a few hours ago, and she hadn’t bothered to mention it. Being treated with kid gloves was getting old now. As I scanned the members
“Grab your things,” I said softly to Elanora. Her red locks flowed down her shoulders as she gave me an angry look. After I had finally calmed myself down last night, I had told her about the plan. She wasn’t happy, just as I expected, but the decision was my own. “I am responsible for you and your welfare,” I had said to her, all the while she screwed her tiny nose up at me. I just want to stay with you, she had argued. You will keep me safe. After this similar argument, which she had been stubborn about for over an hour, she had finally given in, but not easily. Her condition was that she stayed with me until it all began. I had begrudgingly agreed, but only to get her to accept the plan. I brushed her hair back gently and braided the strands into one long rope so that it resembled my own, just much longer. “Keeping you safe is the only important thing to me right now,” I said softly, trying to coax her from her bad
My nerves were shot already, and the battle hadn’t even begun. I couldn’t remain still. My legs jiggled, or my fingers twitched – anything to keep my mind occupied Tori had informed me through mind-link that there was a huge army, led by a sole horseman, and they were approaching from the west of Callad. I shivered, knowing just who it would be. Tynan. This was something he couldn’t leave to chance. He would want to do it himself to make sure that it wasn’t messed up. Too many mistakes had been made already. I swallowed the panic that was beginning to build in my throat. Under me, Amber shifted nervously. I relayed Tori’s message to the others, who each reacted with differing emotions. Alana’s eyes darkened, her knuckles tightening on the reigns she held in her hands. Alastair had shuffled in the saddle, his emotions so blocked off that I couldn’t reach them even I wanted to. Jax was highly anxious. Part of it came from not knowing Tor
Once Elanora had let loose her power and revealed her identity, everything changed. A thick air of tension blanketed over the battlefield, and desperation tinged everyone’s movements. Now there was more at stake that simply driving off the enemy, for our side, it was protecting the next Earth Magician. For the other side, it was about capturing her, or worse killing her. Out of nowhere, one of Tynan's soldiers launched at me, his sword drawn. My fingers clamoured for one of my blade and he was mere metres from me when I finally managed to throw it with with deadly accuracy. Before I could move to retrieve my blade, a strange weightlessness overcame my body. A sliver of pain began in my head before it spread throughout my body, burning me from the inside out. It wove through every muscle, every fibre of my body, sending the searing pain exploding to the forefront of all my rational thought. The world wavered in front of me, pain smashing again and agai
For the next few days, I clutched at anything I could to continue breathing. The dream that I wished would be a reality, the one tiny sliver of a thought that I could fix this, was so small and out of reach. And none of it was true. The world pivoted and twisted in my grasp as memories wound their way through my dreams, changing them into nightmares. Each morning I woke screaming out her name, tears blurring my eyes and my throat raw and in agony. Every inch of it burned with a fire so excruciatingly painful, I thought it would kill me. And each time I opened my eyes from the continuous nightmares, the new reality of my world would sink in. Tynan had taken Elanora from me. And Alastair had been the one to help him do it. Alana’s smooth voice would pop into my head to update me at least once a day on the search for her and on any important information relating to her disappearance. It kept me informed but allowed me my time to wallow in my own inferior
My heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest and the darkness inside of me swirled, fighting to be released again. Why was everything always so difficult?Tynan had dragged me from the tent only for me to be met with glares of pure, utter hatred. Only fourteen of the hundred or so Dorcha Fae had survived my blast of power, most of them women. Each of them had the tell-tale veins snaking up their neck, but the only one with pure dark eyes left was Cillian. One I recognised, was the Fae who had been taking care of Elanora, Aoife.Just the thought of Elanora sent crippling waves of pain through me. I had let her down and failed her. She had suffered so much, lost so much and it was all because of my ineptitude.Aoife met my gaze, the only one of the Fae to not send death glares my way. Her eyes were red-rimmed and the shuddering sadness that enveloped me when she glanced my way, only added to the immense sorrow I already felt.Tynan pulled me along with him, his steps de
Rage and pain. They were powerful emotions that dwarfed anything and everything. And in that moment, they were at the forefront of my mind.The darkness I had kept at bay for so long, thrummed through my body, merging with my Spyrit and boosting my powers. Deakin wasn’t wrong when he said the darkness held so much power. But now I was going to use it against them.Before I could move, I was thrown backwards, launched through the air and landed metres away from the altar. Nyssa glared at me, her hands outstretched still after using her magic to send my flying, and a smug smirk lifted her lips. She had just signed her death warrant.Hurling myself forward, the manacles around my hands burned as magic poured into them, melting them, and freeing me. The Fae were running everywhere, some moving to intercept me, others running in the opposite direction.With a thrash of my arm, I threw power towards a group to my left, knocking them to their feet. It cleared my path as I ran full speed towar
When I woke, my head thumped out a steady beat and it felt like I hadn’t had a drink of water in so long. My mouth was dry and chalky. Pain radiated through every fibre of my being. My throat continued to burn as if I had tried to swallow a burning flame, the flesh sensitive every time I tried to swallow. The glow that had illuminated my skin, was snuffed out and darkness pressed heavily around me. The only sound that echoed in the small, metal cage was the sound of my own choked breathing. I wasn’t even sure if Cristian was still in here with me until I heard his soft whisper. “Finally, you are awake!” With a groan, I lifted my body up, leaning heavily against the warm metal. Now that I was accustomed to the darkness, I could make out the tiniest sliver of light coming in, the colour a deep red. “How long have I been out?” “Not long, maybe ten minutes,” he responded softly. I groaned, running my hand through my hair. Thank the Magicians I was only out for a short time. I knew as
When Cillian escorted me out of the tent, I could hardly contain the spike of adrenaline that surged through my body. Dozens, if not hundreds of men and women lingered around a grouping of tents pitched on an outcropping of stone. Just beyond that, was a small lake, the water lapping against the shore with each shift of the slight breeze. Each one of them, I assumed, were Dorcha Fae. It was easy to see why. Most, if not all, had the visible, dark black veins crawling along under their skin. Some were like Cillian where the veins had travelled so extensively that their eyes were completely swallowed by the black. Others were in between and some only had minimal black veins tracing along their hands, but not anywhere near their faces. I was oddly curious, but also terrified. What in the Magicians name had they been doing to cause such a disfiguration to their body? Whatever it was, I was more than sure that it would be nothing I would agree with. Cillian continued to drag me throug
When I woke, everything was shrouded in white. My body ached as I forced my eyes open, blinking rapidly, trying to take in my surroundings. Sitting up slowly, I took in the makeshift cot I was lying in and the soft blue dress that clung to my body. The thought that someone had changed my clothes while I was unconscious sent the darkness within me writhing in pleasure and my breath coming in gasps. I tried to move, but was jerked back by a large, metal chain attached to my wrist that I hadn’t even noticed before. It ripped at my shoulder, sending pain spasming through it and along my arm. A low hiss escaped my lips. Kida? A soft voice whispered in my mind. My head whipped around, cracking my neck as I was met with the deep, green terrified eyes of Elanora. “Oh, my Magicians, Elanora!” A sad smile lifted her lips as my eyes hungrily took in her appearance. All things considered, she looked healthy enough and unharmed. Dark circled clung underneath her red rimmed eyed as if she had
If there was ever a moment that I thought I might burst from my own emotions, it was now. Deakin’s kiss was ravenous against my lips, his tongue forcing its way into my mouth and battling for dominance before he sucked my lower lip into his mouth. A breathy moan escaped from my chest, causing my cheeks to flare with embarrassment at the pure sound of lust it held. It seemed to be the thing that snapped Deakin out of his haze as his movements stopped and he pulled back to stare at me. His iridescent gaze met mine, a look of confusion flickered through his eyes before they seemed to shutter and the darkness swept through them, taking him away from me. Deakin lurched backwards off me. A ripple of pure agony swept through my body in response. “What the fuck Kida?” Disgust clouded his features, sending another shard of pain slicing through my chest. He really knew how to affect me instantly. “You jumped me,” I said breathlessly, righting myself and brushing the dirt from my clothes a
We travelled for what felt like days without stopping, but I knew was merely only hours, until my eyes felt like they were about to fall out of my head. The sun had set long ago, and the almost full moon hanging in the dark, inky sky was a haunting reminder that time was running out. We didn’t have long to reach the desert before they sacrificed Elanora. It was the ever-present thought that hung in the back of my mind, continuously being dragged to the front. Time was slipping through my fingers. Deakin spoke very little as the time stretched out, seeming content with his own silence. I could slowly feel his magic starting to thrum back to life, its potency tingling along my spine, knowing that if he wanted to, he could simply incapacitate me. The rational part of my mind questioned as to whether it would work anymore, or if I was now stronger than his particular brand of magic. When I finally brought Midnight to a stop late into the night, my body aching with fatigue and my stomac
Leaving the mysterious Orion in charge of the two horses, I ran as quickly as I could back along the path and past the stables, only slowing down once the school came into view. It would look rather suspicious if I was spotted running around the school and in the direction of the dungeon no less. As I reached the final door of the dungeons, the two burly guards looked up, their gazes narrowing in at me. “I’m here to question the prisoner again,” I commanded, trying to force as much authority into my voice in the hopes that it would drown out the ever-growing levels of anxiety that were building within my chest. One wrong move, and all of this would be for nothing. The guards spared each other a look, before opening the door. I could feel their eyes burning into my back as I moved past them, a nervous energy sparking in the air that tingled along my skin and sent the hairs on my arm standing on end. It wasn’t until I had moved past the line of magicians along the corridor, that I
Halfway to the dungeon, I realised that I was still dressed in the infirmary gown. I was too distracted, too absorbed in the feeling that still lingered on my skin from Blake’s touch, to think about much else. But that needed to change.I took a quick turn and headed to my room, closing the door behind me as quickly as I could. Even though I now had the strength and control to be able to shut off my connection to magic, I was far too exhausted and overwhelmed right now. Every emotion from the passing students, guards and teachers had washed across my skin, making it even harder to think clearly.But now wasn’t the time to get lost within their emotions. I had too much to do.Moving swiftly around my room, I threw on a pair of riding pants and a shirt, sliding a jacket over my shoulders. My leather satchel hung from on the edge of one of the chairs and I snatched it up, shoving spare clothes and things I would need into it as quickly as I could.A tingling feeling washed over me, and my