12. Aflora
I didn’t join Ellafor sandwiches but did agree to follow her down to the bonfire with Trayton. Kolstov and Zephyrus had disappeared, whether together or apart, I wasn’t sure. I also didn’t care.
Or that was what I kept telling myself.
I shouldn’t care.
They were just two hot fae handling their own problems. It had nothing to do with me. My curiosity as to what the hell happened between them paled in comparison to my need to survive this new world.
Yet, a part of me kept hearing Ella’s casual statement about how the two men used to share women.
It wasn’t uncommon in the Elemental Fae realm for us to mate more than once, especially when a fae had access to multiple elements. Our new queen had access to all five elements and therefore required five mates to satisfy her ever-growing power. Yet, that wasn’t what Ella had meant.
She’d implied they shared women for pleasure.
And now I wondered what that entailed. Because being sandwiched between those two beautiful, fierce males? Yeah, that painted a pretty hot picture.
One I quickly doused water on because it would never happen.
At least, not outside my head.
Because in my head, it was definitely already happening.
And I really, really needed it to stop so I could properly focus on whatever Ella was saying beside me. Something about the bloodline colors.
Despite everyone wearing casual clothes, they all seemed to be dressed in similar shades.
“The Malefic Bloods wear solid black all the time. They never wear color,” she said, nodding toward a group of Midnight Fae socializing on one side of the bonfire.
“Because we’re at the Academy?” I wondered out loud. I’d opted for one of the Academy-regulated black skirts and a plain white button-down top. Nothing too fancy, but appropriate for the school grounds. Ella had chosen jeans and a tank top. Most of the others were in their cloaks, the females in skirts, the guys in slacks.
Except for the Elite Bloods. They all seemed to be showing off their fashion sense with a variety of different colors. I’d recognized them almost immediately because of the power swirling around them—it reminded me of Kolstov.
“No. They wear black everywhere regardless of the event or occasion. It’s their signature color.” She shrugged. “All the bloodlines have one. Death Bloods are purple. Sangré Bloods are navy. Warrior Bloods prefer a deep green, like the color of the LethaForest that surrounds our campus. Elite Bloods wear dark red. And Malefic Bloods…” She nodded toward the same group, finishing her statement.
Wear black, I translated. “What’s a LethaForest?” I asked, glancing around the open meadow and searching for trees. We weren’t near the campus buildings anymore, but we weren’t in a woodsy area either.
“Beyond the walls,” she explained. “We’re still in Academy proper. But if you go past the gargoyle-guarded gates, you’ll quickly find the LethaForest. Don’t go in there alone. There’s a bunch of scary shit that lives in there, and it’s filled with wild thwomps.” She shivered with the statement, something that caused Trayton’s lips to curl down as he approached with two glasses of some sort of drink.
He handed her one. “Are you okay?”
“Just warning Aflora about the LethaForest.”
His frown disappeared into a knowing grin as he held out the other cup for me. I accepted it with a softly uttered “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. And yeah, Ella isn’t a fan of things that go bump in the night. When I mated her, I didn’t realize she was afraid of phantoms. Had I known…” He let that hang, and Ella elbowed him in the side.
“Shut it. You grew up in this world. I didn’t. And those phantoms are freaky as fuck.”
He lifted a shoulder. “That’s why I don’t go near them.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
“Nope.”
She rolled her eyes, refocusing on me. “I may have gone exploring my first year here. And I may have found myself surrounded by ghostly knights with swords that weren’t corporeal, but very real. They were not happy with me for disturbing their nest, or whatever they called it.”
“Haven,” Trayton corrected. “You totally slept through our Wild Creepers course last year, didn’t you?”
“No. But your world is full of so many make-believe critters that it’s hard to keep them all straight.”
“Uh-huh. I think?—”
I dropped my cup as Shade appeared across the way, flanked by two male Midnight Fae. His gaze instantly met mine, his icy blue eyes smoldering from the embers of the flames separating us.
“Grr, I have things to say to you,” I growled, mostly to myself since Shade couldn’t hear me yet.
“What?” Ella’s forehead creased.
Trayton bent to pick up my glass, the contents all over the obsidian grass below. I couldn’t even take a moment to consider how improper that color was for greenery. “Aflora?” he prompted, arching a brow.
I could see the pair watching me from my peripheral vision, their expressions ones of matching confusion. Until Trayton followed my stare. “Oh.”
Yeah. Oh. “Hold my flowers,” I said, taking off toward my now smirking Midnight Fae mate.
“Hold her flowers?” I overheard Ella repeat behind me. “Is that supposed to be like holding a beer?”
“Maybe?” Trayton replied.
I ignored them.
My colloquialisms clearly didn’t belong in this realm. Just as I didn’t. But nothing could be done about that now.
Except maybe kick the tulip arse of the Midnight Fae who had forced me into this situation.
He watched my approach, amusement dancing in his features. “Hello, gorgeous.”
His expression and words infuriated me so much that I couldn’t stop my fist from landing right in his face.
A hush fell over the air around us, shock displayed on the faces of those flanking Shade. I didn’t care. I wound up my fist, ready to hit him again, only to find my wrist caught in his hand.
His smirk died behind a mask of annoyance as he used his grip on my wrist to yank me into his hard body. “It seems you need a lesson on how to properly greet an old friend.”
“Old friend?” I huffed a laugh. “Yeah, you’re certainly not that.”
My knee angled upward, aiming for his groin.
But I hit his thigh instead.
His eyes narrowed threateningly. “Who taught you how to fight? A flower?”
He whirled me around in a cloud of smoke that clogged my lungs and blinded my vision. I spun, searching for freedom, only to find my back pressed against something hard. Squirming, I tried to escape, but another wall hit my front, two strong palms grasping my hips and holding me in place.
“Let me go!” I demanded.
“Too late for that, princess,” he replied, his lips against my ear. “You’re already mine.”
I grasped his shoulders—confirming Shade was the wall in front of me—and tried to use the surface at my back for leverage to shove him away.
But he remained immobile, his strength overpowering mine far too easily.
A whimper caught in my throat. He’d ensnared me in less than a minute, capturing me in this thick, smoky blanket. “Don’t you dare bite me again,” I snapped, feeling utterly helpless and infuriated at the same time.
“You came at me, baby,” he whispered menacingly. “What kind of mate would I be if I didn’t punish you properly, hmm?”
“I’m already being punished, you willow stump!”
He chuckled, shaking his head against my neck. “Darling Aflora, we really do need to improve your vocabulary.” He kissed my racing pulse, sending a shiver down my spine that seemed to settle in my lower belly.
No, not a shiver.
A tremble.
One that ignited a subtle quake inside that terrified me even more.
Because it meant some sick and twisted part of me enjoyed his touch.
I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing that sensation to subside. No. No. No.
His teeth grazed my skin, stirring goose bumps down my arms. “Please don’t,” I begged, my nails digging into his cloak.
If he bit me again, it would deepen the bond. Kolstov said Shade had only initiated the bond and a second bite would seal it. Then a third… I shuddered, unable to finish the consideration because I couldn’t allow that to happen.
Or any of it.
I needed to stop him.
To fight.
To escape.
He murmured something that I didn’t hear beneath the chaos rattling around inside me. The noose around my neck kept me from accessing my earth essence. But somewhere within, there was a link to dark magic—because of Shade. I just needed to use it against him.
Pushing away from reality and ignoring the shadowy smog cloaking my vision, I searched deep in my mind for some sort of link. Anything that didn’t belong. Anything that I could use.
His tongue danced up the column of my throat, his touch temporarily drawing me back to the hands on my hips and the growing arousal pressing into my lower abdomen.
The flame inside me inched higher, yearning to dance with him in an intimate way that neither of us could afford. It had to be the bond. This compulsion to give in to him sexually and do whatever he requested.
I clenched my jaw, refusing to cave.
I’m stronger than this.
Don’t let his mind tricks overwhelm you.
Focus.
With a deep breath, I dove back into my mind, frantically searching for a path to follow that would lead me out of this complication. Because giving in to him and these indecent urges wasn’t an option.
Tying myself to him more would harm us both.
Not that he seemed to care.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Aflora,” Shade murmured. “I know I have, but it was never my intent.”
“Lie,” I choked out, torn between what he was doing and saying and my desire to fight.
“No, darling. I’ve never lied to you, nor will I ever lie to you.” He kissed my jaw, working his way to my mouth. “You can hate me—and you should—but I promise there’s a reason.”
“What reason?”
“Fate,” he replied cryptically before sealing his lips over mine.
I refused to open for him.
Refused to kiss him back.
Refused to fall into this lustful trap.
He made no sense. Had ruined my life. Wouldn’t give me any details on what he wanted. And now had me trapped against some tree or wall, surrounded by a thick essence I couldn’t see through. Were we still at the bonfire? Or somewhere else entirely? He seemed to be able to teleport, in addition to controlling my mind. What else could he do?
Heck, was this even real?
I’d dreamt of him almost every night this week, waking up in a variety of orgasmic states, all brought on by his mouth and hands. Were the dreams a response to his bite? Or was he manipulating me?
I hated that I didn’t know.
Hated more that I didn’t know how to stop him.
His tongue danced along the seam of my mouth, requesting entrance.
I denied him.
His grip on my hips tightened, causing me to wince. I grabbed his neck and dug my nails into his scalp in response, needing to harm him in some way.
Yet all it did was make him smile against my lips. “I love that you’re not giving in,” he admitted softly. “Proves you were the right choice all along. An easy mate would bore me significantly.”
“I’m an unwilling mate,” I snapped. “You ra?—”
He took advantage of my retort, sliding his tongue into my mouth and stealing my breath away. I nearly bit down, then remembered what that did in my dreams. His blood made me crazy with lust.
No.
Allowing his kiss made more sense.
Only, I didn’t want any of this, even if my body seemed to crave his touch.
I returned to my inner search, navigating the complex webs of my mental state for anything out of place. When I found nothing, I dove into my soul, desperately seeking out my link to earth.
So dark.
Black.
Wrong.
Wait, what’s that?A glint of cerulean blue light caught my focus, drawing me nearer. It blended into the inky abyss but began to glitter as I approached. Tugging on the thread, I followed it into the deep recesses of my spirit.
A chill slithered over me, followed by a wave of warmth as Shade deepened our embrace. For as much as I hated him, I had to admit the male knew how to work his tongue. I couldn’t help responding, my body arching into his as if being pulled upward by a string.
“I hate you,” I muttered against his mouth.
“You’ve said that before,” he acknowledged. “And I’ve admitted to hating myself for what I’ve had to do to you.”
“Yet you won’t tell me why.”
“Because I can’t.” He recaptured my lips, silencing our conversation, and drew his palms up my sides as if memorizing my body for the first time. And maybe he was. I really had no way of knowing if he visited my dreams or if they were all in my mind.
I couldn’t even tell if this was real or not.
The glimmer of cerulean drew me deeper, dividing my focus between Shade’s touch and the mysterious puzzle unfolding inside my soul. Something was unraveling, a lock of sorts that I seemed to be distorting with this odd wisp of beautiful blue.
“I can feel that,” Shade whispered. “Whatever it is you’re doing.”
I ignored him.
He couldn’t possibly be this deep into my soul.
Dancing in the darkest recesses of my being.
“We’re mates,” he added. “My bite sealed us together for eternity. The sooner you accept that, the better.”
“I’m not a Midnight Fae,” I replied, irritated all over again.
“Are you sure about that?” he countered, causing me to blink up at him.
The smoke had dissipated, allowing me to catch his azure irises. I am pressed up against a tree, I thought, finally able to see my surroundings.
We weren’t anywhere near the bonfire.
So either he’d teleported us or I was lost in a dream state again.
“Release me, Shadow.”
“I can’t.”
“That seems to be your favorite phrase,” I replied coldly. “You can’t tell me why you bit me. You can’t release me. You can’t explain?—”
“You talk too much.” He kissed me again, causing me to growl in frustration.
The cerulean rope in my mind tightened suddenly, causing me to stiffen just before a wave of power rippled across my skin. Shade flew backward, landing on his ass a few feet away, his eyes wide in shock.
And the tree behind me withered to dust.
I gaped at the bright blue flames dancing along my palms, then shivered as they disappeared.
“What the fuck was that?” a sharp male voice demanded.
“Her power awakening” was the drawled reply.
I spun around to find Kolstov glaring at me and Zephyrus leaning against another tree. “I didn’t mean to do that,” I said, a note of pleading in my voice. “I just wanted Shade to release me.”
“Well, it worked.” Zephyrus seemed amused.
Kolstov definitely did not share that opinion.
Neither, it seemed, did Shade as he shoved off the ground to stand at my side. “Touch her, and I’ll fucking destroy you.”
I blinked, surprised by the protective quality in Shade’s tone. He’d just been taunting me moments ago, refusing to explain anything and kissing me without my permission. Now he wanted to stand up for me? How ridiculous.
“I’d love to see you try,” Kolstov replied, folding his arms. “You’re handicapped and alone.”
Shade lifted his arms, revealing the leather cuffs against his wrists. “Oh, you mean these?” The bands disappeared a second later. “Yeah, I deactivated those almost as soon as Chern put them on. But thanks for the accessory.”
Energy rippled around Kolstov, his expression thunderous. “Do you have a death wish, Death Blood?”
“Is that meant to be some sort of oxymoron?” Shade asked conversationally. “Because you’ll have to be more direct. I skipped a lot of my language courses throughout the years. Well, those and other classes.”
“Your arrogance is going to get you killed.”
Shade grinned. “Is it? Good to know.”
“Can someone tell me what just happened?” I asked, interrupting their little testosterone-filled fight. “Why did I turn blue?” The fire had since dissipated, but I felt it roaming through my veins, waiting for me to call upon it again.
“Blue?” Kolstov repeated. “I saw purple.”
Zephyrus frowned. “It was red to me.”
The two males shared a glance as Shade looked down at me. “Blue?” he asked softly, his tone different from the one he’d used with the other males.
“Yeah. Bright blue.”
“Like a lighter shade?”
I nodded.
“Interesting,” he mused, glancing back at Kolstov. “Are we going to have a problem here?”
“We already have one,” the prince replied on a snarl. “You bit her against her will.”
“Is that what she said?” he returned, sounding far too entertained. “Well, she might be right. But our laws still make her mine. Fascinating how that works, yes?” His smile was cruel. “It is your family who stands behind those archaic politics, Kolstov. Can’t go breaking the rules now, can we?”
Kolstov appeared ready to murder Shade.
But his words were rolling around in my thoughts.
Kolstov’s family allows the males to claim females in the manner Shade did? Without reprimand? Why?
“Elemental Fae choose their mates,” I said out loud. “It’s a much better practice. And I will choose mine.”
Shade chuckled, his expression indulgent. “An adorable thought, but impractical in our world. You already belong to me, Aflora.”
“I don’t belong to anyone.”
He grabbed the back of my neck, pulling me to him. “Keep denying it, baby. That makes our dance so much more fun.” He pressed a quick kiss to my lips before releasing me and refocusing on Kolstov. “So I’ll ask again. Are we going to have a problem here? Because she’s mine and I protect what’s mine.”
“I don’t need you to protect me,” I corrected him. “I’ve survived a lot worse than this, and I’ll continue to survive, thank you very much.”
He ignored me.
As did Kolstov.
Some sort of strange conversation happening between the two males.
“It was a minor explosion of power,” Kolstov said after a beat. “She’s safe from reprimand.”
“Good.” Shade’s shoulders seemed to relax a fraction, suggesting he’d been tenser than I realized.
“Why would I be reprimanded for protecting myself?” I asked, confused.
“In a normal situation, you wouldn’t be. But nothing about your circumstances is normal. Any and all signs of you morphing into an abomination will be considered and taken into account by the Council.” Kolstov arched a brow at me. “I don’t think I need to tell you what will happen should they decide you’ve grown too powerful as a result of this mating.”
I swallowed. Oh.
“Well, this has been fun,” Shade interjected. “Aflora and I will be going now.”
Wait, wh?—
“No.” Zephyrus finally pushed off the tree, his expression still bored yet somehow holding an edge. “I’ll escort her back to the Elites, as she’s under my protection.”
“Yeah? And who protects her from Kolstov should he decide to make a regal decision in regard to her life?” Shade countered.
“Perhaps that’s something you should have considered before you jeopardized her life for your own selfish need,” Zephyrus returned, avoiding the question. “Let’s go, Aflora.”
I stared at all three of them and shook my head. “Yeah, no. I’m good. I’ll just escort myself, thank you.” I turned on my heel, heading toward, uh, darkness. Then spun around again, only to find another thick layer of ink painting my vision. Not because Shade was messing with my mind, but because he’d taken us somewhere without a lot of light.
When I turned around, it was to find three pairs of amused gazes.
“Lost, sweetheart?” Kolstov prompted.
My jaw clenched. “Just point me in the right direction.” As soon as I said it, I realized the error in my words.
Even if they gestured a certain way, I couldn’t trust them to tell me the truth. With my luck, I’d end up in that LethaForest Ella mentioned earlier. Or somewhere worse.
Gritting my teeth, I caved and refocused on Zephyrus. “Fine. Escort me back.”
His lips actually twitched as if he approved of my downfall.
Dick.
“This way, princess,” he said, gesturing to the path behind him.
I didn’t reply or look at the other males as I followed the headmaster in silence.
Maybe Shade and Kolstov would kill each other in my absence.
One can only dream, I thought. Then grimaced at the realization that everything Shade had done to me tonight had been real.
And with my luck, he’d probably go much further as soon as I closed my eyes.
“This world stinks,” I grumbled to myself.
“Sucks,” Zephyrus corrected. “Or you could say it’s shit.”
“What?”
“Consider it a vocabulary lesson,” he tossed over his shoulder. “I am a headmaster, after all.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, you’re a brilliant teacher.”
For a brief second, he almost appeared entertained by my jibe. But it disappeared a second later behind his usual expression of stoicism. “Do me a favor, Aflora. Try not to explode in class tomorrow. Another display of power like that could be your death sentence.”
With that, he led me back to Kolstov’s suite without another word.
Ten minutes later, he left me in the living area, and I felt even more alone than I had every night this week.
Because his words had served as a not-so-subtle warning, one that told me my life was very much in danger here. Something I already knew, but the reality still stung.
How could I control a power I knew nothing about?
And worse, what if I couldn’t control it at all?