Chapter 15 - Luna
CHAPTER 15 - LUNA
I t was so good to have him back in class where he belonged. Close to me. The act made a huge difference to his listlessness, brightening his flame beyond what the purge of darkness did last night.
He strode along the line of students, outlining the lesson. Offensive spells. Our first time deploying them.
Astra listened intently to every word, while I examined my boyfriend for any sign of my grandfather’s evil. Orange and red flickers writhed in his sacred flame, outweighing the spots of darkness still present. I twisted my head, unable to break my focus. How did Blaze get any work done when watching them was hypnotic and relaxing?
Some nights when I couldn’t sleep, I put on a YouTube video of fireplaces, and the crackle and hiss of flame and burning wood drifted me to sleep. If I didn’t stop staring at that enchanting flame, I was destined for the same place.
Brimstone tugged at my ear, the sting snapping me back to the lesson. I gave a thumbs up.
“The first trick to offensive spells,” my teacher went on, oblivious to my lack of concentration, his voice returning to his authoritative timbre.
Crap. I needed to listen to this, but we slept in late, and Blaze left early to squeeze some yoga in, and I missed out on checking in with him.
In a minute. My assessment wasn’t complete, and I’d take advantage of my neat little trick while I still had access to the djinn magick. Across the month, it gradually faded, needing a top up at the Cairn of the Elements for recharging. A trip that wasn’t happening with the Terra Room heavily guarded, and my men and me under closer scrutiny for crossing the portal to the djinn realm to save Blaze.
The combination of my resurfacing snake powers and the elemental force granted to me told me that darkness lingered in his shadows. The Brotherhood slave curse Castor mentioned, waiting to strike at an opportune time and drag him back down. We had to find a way to remove the damn snake tattoo and prevent my grandfather from capitalizing on it. He profited from my bonded’s magick, and I feared the longer Blaze was separated from his power, the harder it might be to reunite them. I tried not to think the worst and focus on the here and now, otherwise I’d drive myself to the same despair.
I didn’t need the sacred flame to show me what a difference Castor’s magick cleansing made. Blaze looked like a different man from the one who hid in his room for weeks straight. Back straight, neck lifted, arms folded behind his back, he stood with the confidence I came to know. His skin, hair, and eyes regained their modelesque glow. The lines that scored his brow and mouth made a run for the hills. That panty-melting smile I came to love made a resurgence in small bursts during the lesson he delivered.
Astra nudged me with her elbow, getting me right in the rib, and I winced at the slice of pain. My bestie had the concentration of a damn lion on a hunt, and nothing, not even a handsome teacher, was getting through that.
I sharpened my focus on Blaze’s delivery. What were we learning again? Basics of offensive spells. Got it.
My teacher paced with his palms skyward. “Some of you have your own form of offensive spells, like Astra with her chemical dissolution magick.”
She swayed her hips at him singling her out.
“But you can’t entirely rely on your power, especially when you’re haven’t built up the magical muscle, so to speak.” He flashed his bicep, earning a few chuckles from the class, Astra included, who raised hers back.
The return of his humor was a really good sign.
Angela and Terry gave their usual huff from the end of the row. Astra pretended she didn’t hear it, Obsidian croaked what I assumed was a gargoyle cuss, and Blaze’s harsh glare dropped their gazes to the ground like scolded puppies.
The class held a different atmosphere without Nelle present, her sulfurous antagonism a thing of the past. The mean girls seemed lost and subdued without their ringleader, hanging at the back of the class. I wonder who Angela would copy her assignments and tests from now? I didn’t know if Blaze noticed and didn’t ask, remaining neutral and not abusing my privilege as his girlfriend. That was between teacher and student.
“Until your magical muscle is stronger.” A smile played at the corner of his lips again. “You’ll need to conserve your magick, or you’ll tire yourself out. This is why we call on the Veil for back-up.”
Yep. That was my man. Back to business. Teaching was in his blood. He was good at it, the way he explained concepts in a manner that was simple to grasp and master.
The despair burning in my chest reduced from twenty-five percent to five, and only because of the lingering threat etched into Blaze’s skin.
“Does everyone remember the symbol we learned about in yesterday’s class?” His attention panned the line of students.
Most nodded, some stayed silent, while Angela’s eyes widened and glued to the withered, brown flowers on the trellis of the back wall.
Our teacher honed in on her like a heat-seeking missile. “Angela, remind us of the symbol, please.”
Red splotches surfaced on her face. “I’ve got a headache, sir. I can’t remember.”
Classic excuse.
“Then you should attend the infirmary immediately for herbal medicine.” His disbelieving glare chased her from the room with a curse under her breath.
Without Nelle, she was going to struggle to pass her second-semester classes.
Blaze’s hard gaze softened, and he repeated the question. “Yes, Astra?” he said when her hand launched into the air.
My bestie traced the symbol in front of her, calling on a ball of Veil energy, rolling it between her palms.
“Very good. And what is the alternative way to summon this power?” He stared right at Terry.
“Vocarus.” She recited the angelic word for summon, which was eerily similar to the Latin word vocare.
“Excellent.” The snip in his voice conveyed his disappointment that he didn’t get to award her with extra homework. Of the three… now two mean girls, Terry was the second smartest, next to her fallen queen.
Demonstrating for the class, Blaze lifted his hands and traced out a spell in the air. Nothing happened. He repeated the motion. Still nothing.
“Vocarus,” he ground out with slight annoyance, and a spark of power illuminated his hand. “Magnare.” He used the word for larger, but the magick didn’t respond. Looking flustered, he shook his hands, blew out air, and tried again. “Vocarus.” Flashes exploded from the tiny ball.
Cheeks reddening, Blaze snatched Astra’s energy ball, and it shrank in his palms. A column of darkness sprouted in his sacred flame, and it spat ashy flares of light.
“You sure you don’t have a headache too, sir?” I said, covering for him.
Blaze recovered quickly with, “Balls of Veil light act as an electric shock that stun a foe into retreat or knock them out, depending on their countenance. Dragons and larger beasts require a few blows to discourage them from continuing their attack.”
Brimstone shivered and fluffed his wings, echoing my sentiments. I hoped I didn’t encounter a dragon anytime soon.
“You’re going to practice hitting these targets.” Our teacher pointed at the boards spaced at sixteen-feet intervals apart, featuring images of alternating gantii—Lycans, vampires, bigfoot, yeti, and Fae.
Djinn elements scratched at my skin, begging for expression, and I rubbed my hands to restrain it.
I took stock of the gantii, intimidated by their hulking size, claws, fangs, bulging muscles, and fur. Vampires and Fae moved at great speeds, were incredibly dangerous and cunning, ranking high on the levels of difficulty to subdue or immobilize. Yetis had unpredictable reputations for ripping off their foes’ arms.
Blaze came to a stop next to the Fae target in Astra’s line of sight. “I know your text outlines where to hit each gantii. That doesn’t matter for this lesson. We’re just practicing hitting them. Future lessons will narrow down your targets for the gantii’s weak spots.”
I recalled our lesson yesterday where we learned that a shock to the heart and head of a gantii incapacitated them for enough time to ship them home.
Astra clapped her hands together, excited to practice.
Djinn elements surged under my skin to breathe life into the drooping, lifeless flowers in the courtyard that Blaze brought to life for decorative purposes. The elemental magick responded to the natural setting, rejoicing at the wind tugging the bushes, the moisture in the soil, the stillness in winter that allowed the plants a few months of withdrawal and peace, and the decay beneath the soil’s surface, generating the flicker of heat. Energy I had to withhold and rely on Veil power only for this lesson. No one must know that we crossed over into another world to save Blaze.
Our teacher got out of the line of fire, coming to stand at the side wall of the courtyard, collecting his clipboard. “Put your gargoyles aside for this task.”
Everyone moved to the back of the courtyard, setting our familiars on the wooden railing. Brimstone gave me a cute chirp, which I interpreted as a wish for good luck. I patted his head and moved away.
“No, Obsidian.” Astra wrestled with her gargoyle to let go when he had separation anxiety issues and a serious case of puppy love that made Brimstone’s affection look minor in comparison. “Bad, gargoyle!” she rebuked him, and he fell into line, sniffing the air.
I smiled at her when she stepped up to our standing mark.
“It’s so quiet without Nelle.” She brushed the hair fuzzed by her gargoyle.
Blaze silenced us with, “Get ready, class. Practice spelling the symbols and reciting the words.”
The class jumped into action, forefingers writing the angelic runes or uttering “Vocarus,” blue-white balls of light bursting into students’ waiting palms. Glimmering bombs of power lobbed through the air, some hitting the ground, scorching the grass, others hitting the walls, the magick repellents sparking, and half of the shots burning holes in the paper targets.
“Very good,” Blaze praised, marking his check sheet of who struck targets.
While I called upon the Veil, I peeked at my bonded, smiling at the content flicker of his flame.
“Yes!” I hooted as she scored her second triumph, hitting her Fae in the leg and arm.
“Go, bestie!” Astra grunted as she launched her second round, hitting the leg of the board, singeing it. “Damn. I need better aim.”
One thing she wasn’t good at. I gave her a pat on the back.
Blaze’s eyes flicked up, and he frowned at my blast.
Ifrit fire swarmed beneath my skin as I prepared my next shot. “Yes!” I squealed at hitting my target, a mean-looking werewolf threatening to tear my throat open if I didn’t contain it.
Blaze’s wrist moved in a tick motion.
We continued like this for another ten minutes, until our targets were smoking, the images charred.
“Very good, class.” Blaze resumed position in front of us, gesturing for us to huddle. “We’ll be back to practice more tomorrow. Let’s break for lunch and meet back for theory this afternoon.”
The group dispersed, and his grandmother, the Hadrian assisting the class got busy, putting out burning targets, and cleaning up the mess.
I paused to smile and wave at my boyfriend.
He came over with a heart-warming smile just for me. “Hi, sweetness. You did good today. You too, Astra.”
Astra gave him a nod and wandered off, waiting by the exit of the courtyard, giving us privacy.
I resisted the urge to touch him, sticking to the whole professional student-teacher relationship, refusing to give the Council reason to expel us or his grandmother an excuse to mind wipe me. She muttered in Polish as she lugged supplies away.
“How are you?” I wanted to check in with him before I ate lunch.
“I’m feeling much better.” He brushed a hand down the front of his Gildron uniform. “I felt hungrier this morning and ate a full breakfast.”
Heat charged in my flame, and it spurted up my chest. “That’s wonderful.”
He could barely stomach food, only tolerating sliced apples, and it was a struggle to get through a whole fruit. His low food intake made him weak, tired, and had me really worried.
I didn’t know how he’d take my next question, but I had to ask. “What happened with the Veil magick?”
“I don’t know.” He frowned, rolling back his sleeves, checking the gray snake tattoo on his forearm. “I felt a deep ache when I used the angelic words. Almost as if the dark magick reacted.”
“Want to speak to Gable or Castor about it?” I asked. We had the biker’s phone number on the card he gave us.
Blaze replaced his clothing over his arm, depriving me of his lean muscle. “I’ll wait to see what they come up with.”
With that topic broached, I tackled another. “Are we on for dinner tonight?” It was our weekly date, and we hadn’t had one in weeks.
“We sure are, Darkfire.” He broke the cardinal no-touching rule, tucking hair behind my ear.
My fingers ached to catch his wrist and hold it. “Are you cooking, or shall I bring cafeteria food?”
“I’ll bring the food. I’ve got the afternoon off to prepare.”
“Can’t wait.” I waited, unsure whether to kiss him, or smile and leave.
He took the liberty, softly outlining my lips with his, and my flame heated twenty degrees. “See you at six.”
“Bye,” I whispered when he pulled back and started removing the targets.
A little dazed from his kiss, I stumbled back to Astra, touching my tingling lips, savoring the feel of him.
“I’m happy for you two.” Astra dragged me in for a side hug. “You look adorable together. He doesn’t stop looking at you with adoration.”
“Thanks, bestie.” I circled my arm around her waist. “When did you realize?” I asked out of curiosity.
She pinched my shoulder. “My romantic radar went off pretty early on.”
“Oh, God.” I rubbed my eye.
“He stole glances at you every chance that spelled forbidden longing,” she said like an anguished romance character.
I hummed. “I can’t hide anything from the romance queen.”
“Don’t even try. My romance radar has an accuracy of ninety-nine point nine six percent.”
I laughed and bumped her with my hip. “Those are awfully specific odds.”
She shrugged. “I’m a chemistry nerd.”
“And queen of the class now too.”
“How’s my magical muscle?” Astra broke out hug, and pumped her lean bicep in the air.
“Not bad.” I squeezed it.
She laughed and said, “I can’t stop thinking about a dirty euphemism for our magic wands or cock.”
I smacked my sex-mad friend’s arm and laughed back. “You’ve got cock on the brain, romance queen.” That could only mean one thing—she wasn’t getting any. “How’s vanilla mage?” Her name for the guy she took to the Winter Ball.
“Single,” she said, ending the discussion.
I wrapped my arm over her shoulder and patted her arm. “There’s a harem of morally gray shifters, warlocks, and superheroes out there just for you.”
She sighed and then groaned. “Hope so.”