Chapter 31 Velra #2
“You might end up surprised. You never know until you try. But I’d work on yourself first, take more recovery time, before you take that on.”
“You know, they whisper about you in the Dark Fae Realm still? I went back a few months ago where I foolishly introduced Rennick to my parents. They’re all about power and might so they loved him.
They were also proud that I was expelled from Maven Academy, especially for the reason behind it.
” Off my look, she said, “Yeah, that’s the type of people they are. ”
“Then it’s all the more amazing that you’re working on breaking that fucked-up generational cycle.”
“You went a long way toward doing that. You belonged to one of the prominent families of the Royal Fae Court and you formed a resistance against corruption and tyranny. They still talk about it like I said. Most in reverence.”
“And the rest in disgust, I’m guessing.”
“No. Fear. Especially with your advanced physiology now—the extreme power of your Wraith side.”
Intensity passed between us as that heavy revelation settled.
She snapped her fingers to herself. “Let’s take this conversation somewhere a whole lot lighter, shall we?”
I broke off a piece of the amazing muffin. “Fire away,” I said, before popping it into my mouth. Oh hell… amazing. So good.
“Tell me,” she said, propping her elbow on the table and resting her cheek against her palm. “How the hell do you manage the likes of Lazriel Thaine and Sylas Morgrave? The fierce and insanely wild King of Graverun, and then if that’s not enough to handle, there’s the Almighty Necromancer.”
“Oof, don’t let Lazriel hear you say he’s being managed. He can’t stand that.” I laughed. “Nah, in all seriousness, I don’t manage either of them. It’s just shared respect, us getting to know each other, you know?”
“That sounds really nice. So sweet, actually.”
“Tell me about this position that you’re up for with the Coven Unity Division. You know that’s a major honor, right? To even be considered, especially while still a student?”
She grinned. “I know. I couldn’t believe it.
And it came at such the right time with all the shit that had been happening.
It was Selix Nyvarra who put my name forward, our Weaving & Shadow Architecture professor.
She noticed the way I use my magic, saw the uniqueness to it as well as the inherent dangers and darker edge that I’ve been trying to overcome.
She said she believed I would have a specialized perspective that would benefit the organization, something that should be incorporated into Coven curriculums and the way they approach magic like mine—rooted in the concerning side of Dark Fae power usage. ”
“Wow. She’s a hell of a guiding force, for sure. This is amazing. She’s the one who really helped me with how I approach my shadow magic.”
She took a sip from her drink. “I know. Honestly, coming to Wraeven Academy has been really awesome. It’s made a big difference already.”
“I get exactly what you mean.”
She finished the last bite of the muffin, then rose to her feet. “I’ll get our next taste-tester. We said the Frosted Moon Petal Cake, right?”
“Yep.”
It was a lemon cake with white hibiscus frosting.
I couldn’t wait.
But as she went to head over there, a sudden chill rolled through me.
More than that.
It was a sensation that had once been all too familiar, something I’d trained myself to watch out for, yet something I’d let fade into the background so much lately.
Because I was safe.
No.
Because I’d thought I was safe.
Adrenaline shot down my spine as I saw my watch glowing.
Blazing, really.
No. No. No.
I shot to my feet and snagged Kelsana’s arm.
Her eyes shot wide, and it must have been all over my face, because she asked, “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
“Go,” I told her. “Get out of here. You can’t be seen with me. You’ll be tarred as a sympathizer, marked too.”
“What are you—I’m not leaving you. If trouble is coming your way, I’m here. Just like you’ve been for me lately.”
“This is different. Run.”
She didn’t.
Son of a bitch.
I hurriedly pulled my phone from my pocket and handed it to her. “Teleport back to campus where the boys are, and call Warlow Boyd. Tell him that I need Cornelius to—”
My words were cut off as a horrific blast of gray light tore through the room, shattering the windows, making the staff and two other customers scream as glass shot everywhere.
“Go!” I told Kelsana again, her eyes wide, about to call her power.
She held my phone tightly, then nodded, scrolling to his number, as she teleported away in the next second.
Fortunately, the staff and customers followed suit in a panic.
Just in time, because before I could do the same thing, another blast hit, this time turning the surroundings into kindling, then slamming into me and blowing me right through the rear wall of the bar.
I landed with a grunt on my back on the grass twenty feet from the now ruined place.
Groaning, I rolled onto my side, then pushed to my feet even as my body screamed in protest because I was bleeding from so many different places.
I staggered, lightheaded, and looked down to see a hole in my left side.
Fuck.
It would heal.
I knew that.
But it was a real bitch of a thing right now with a threat still out there.
A threat I knew all too well.
I went to call my power, wiping blood out of my eyes with the back of my arm.
My magic sparked, then snuffed out.
I needed some healing time first.
Another blast of gray magic lit up my surroundings a moment before he was there, snagging my throat in a brutal grip that had me gagging.
That layered deep red hair brushed the shoulders of his black turtleneck that was tucked into a pair of distressed jeans. His magic pulsed violently and I could feel it radiating from his tall, lean form, as he turned his nose up at me.
“Sorin…” I rasped against his hand that was close to cutting off my breathing entirely.
“Long time, sister,” he seethed, a moment before he ran me back into a nearby tree, making me choke.
His magic sparked on his free hand and a dagger materialized.
My Dark Fae side recoiled, feeling the iron blade.
“Déjà vu, hmm?” he said, flashing a sadistic smile. “I’ve been assured that your Immortal Golden Retriever can’t spare you twice. One shot deal, I’m afraid.” He spun the knife in his hand, careful not to touch the blade himself. “Now you go where all abominations must go.”
He brought it down toward my heart.
My frost and shadows surged at once, the frost seeping up his wrist and covering his fingers, making him curse out into the night as it rapidly caused some brutal frostbite.
My shadows wrapped around the blade itself, fighting to keep it from penetrating my skin.
They shook uncontrollably because of my wounded state, and I saw my frost petering out quickly as well.
Come on. Come on.
“Stop… this hatred… it’s twisted you… we’re… family,” I choked.
“Hybrid filth is not my family!” he roared, pushing harder against the blade, and employing his magic.
I gasped as I felt it scrape my skin through my top.
“You are a stain on our name! On me! And your wolf hybrid lover will be next! We’ll make an example out of him, hang him from his entrails and shove his head on a fucking spike. They’ll know our true power, then! Go to the grave knowing that, sister.”
I growled low in my throat, trying to make my magic surge, to react to the dangerous cocktail of terror and rage for Lazriel coursing through me at his despicable plans for him.
But I just… couldn’t.
It wouldn’t come.
Sorin’s eyes flamed with victory.
He called more power.
And then the iron blade drove straight into my heart.
Blood sputtered from my throat.
He released me in disgust, not wanting my hybrid blood on him.
I slumped to my knees as he teleported out.
I reached for the handle of the blade, my hands trembling.
Breathing became impossible all too quickly, the infection of the iron already working to destroy me.
I needed… I needed to call my Wraith abilities.
Now.
Right now.
I had just seconds before it was too late.
But I couldn’t even grasp the handle.
My body wouldn’t cooperate.
My magic wouldn’t even spark anymore.
I collapsed onto the grass.
And then there was nothing.
To be continued in AMETHYST AND IRON