19. CHAPTER 19 #2
“Nope, but it’s okay… All is well. I felt a sense of power and tingling. And apparently, I am going to have GREAT powers, so they keep fucking telling me.”
“I wish I was there so I can kiss your dirty mouth and make all the things right in the world.”
“Me too. I am now heading to Professor Wormald’s class.”
“I am in Professor Hildegard’s class, which by the way, I have been flying since I was two.”
“Want to trade?”
“Ha-ha, no. I can zone out in this class… Wormald is… um different.”
“When can I see you?”
“Whenever you want…”
“Hmmm, you know what I mean…”
“Do I?”
“So, I can kiss all down your body, touch every part of you, feel your cock in my…”
“Hey, hey, hey, I don’t need to have an erection in class.”
“Easily bothered, eh?”
“Yes. You have that effect on me. Now, be a good girl and go to your next lecture.”
Our squad headed into the Bravo wing and entered Professor Wormald’s class. In his classroom, bookshelves lined the wall behind his desk with countless books. The room had a distinct, almost musty smell. We all found seats. This time, some of Electric’s platoon joined us.
“Welcome to History. I am the mighty, wonderful Professor Wormwald, and clearly, I am a Historian, but I am of High Fae, so don’t try any tricks in here," he told us.
“Yep, he’s a weird one,” I told Zane.
“I told you.”
He went on to tell us about the history of our school and the continent.
Most of us probably learned this in grade school.
Come on, there must be something better out there.
My mind drifted as he kept talking. I was trying to think of a time when I demonstrated power.
I started the fertility tincture at thirteen, like most girls do.
I didn’t remember shattering windows. I felt like that would be memorable.
Also, I hadn’t set anything on fire, which I would remember.
There was this thing about hiding in the shadows and manipulating my shadow to make shapes, but surely that was normal.
I wondered what powers Zane had or what made Thora’s mom’s ability classified.
I was no stranger to classified abilities, as my own dads was, which was why I assumed Vindex didn’t say anything except to confirm he was my dad.
My dad’s abilities made it exceptionally hard to lie to him or sneak anything past him—a simple touch in the right spot, and he’d know everything.
***
The class ended, and I honestly couldn’t remember most of what he said.
Oops. My brain completely drifted off. Sometimes it happened when the content felt dull to me.
It was lunchtime, and instead of going straight down to the first floor and into the courtyard, I decided to take a detour through the watchtower.
I rounded the corner of the tower to enter the Alpha Wing, heard footsteps behind me, and before I could fully spin around, I felt a dagger pressed into my back. Damn. I lowered my right arm and reached for the dagger on my right thigh. The dagger pushed deeper into my back.
“I wouldn’t fucking dare,” said the deep male voice.
It was the asshole Shapeshifter who stared at me this morning.
This bastard. I felt anger rise inside of me, crackling within.
With my hand still on my thigh, I quickly spun to face him whilst pulling my dagger out at the same time.
Before he could even react, I had my dagger at his neck.
His dagger was now pressed against my stomach.
We were both staring at each other with pure rage.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I snapped, my voice sharp enough to cut the air.
“You need to pay for your dad’s debts,” he shouted.
“The fuck I do. I am not him, and I don’t owe anyone shit. If you’re going to stab me, go ahead, I’ll have this in your throat precisely as fast.”
“I underestimated how fast you are.”
“Look, I am not the fucking one… trust me.” I pressed the knife harder into his throat.
Whoosh .
In an instant, Zane was there. I didn’t know how—one blink, he wasn’t, the next he stood in front of me. His eyes locked on mine, then he slipped behind the Shapeshifter. The name on his shirt read Elslurs.
“Is your boyfriend here to save you?” Elslurs drawled, his tone dripping with cocky disdain.
“She doesn’t need saving… I am here because I enjoy inflicting pain on anyone who thinks of hurting her.”
My eyes shot to him.
“Are there others?” I asked, down the bond.
“No, but he doesn’t need to know that.”
“I wasn’t planning on killing him.”
“Oh, but I was.”
“Maybe offer a second chance.”
“Well… I don’t have all day, and I wasn’t looking for a fight with two people,” Elslurs said.
“Maybe you shouldn’t look for fights at all,” I said. Our knives were still drawn at each other. Zane was behind him, like a prey ready to attack his predator, and I was pretty sure he would enjoy it.
ROAARRRRRRR
I jolted, heart slamming so hard it hurt. The sound cracked behind me, too close, too sudden. My head spun. A wolf crouched low, teeth bared, saliva stringing from its jaws. A growl rolled deep in its chest, vibrating through the ground under my boots.
My breath caught sharp in my throat. My hands twitched, unsure where to go first. I forced my eyes back to the Elslurs—don’t lose sight, don’t turn away.
The air shifted, and Zane appeared at my back, his shoulders locking against mine. Solid. Steady. My pulse thundered, but at least I wasn’t alone.
“I see you called for backup?” Zane snarled.
“I didn’t… actually,” he said. He genuinely sounded as confused as I was.
The wolf stalked around to the side and snarled at Elslurs.
Interesting. The wolf turned his head toward me and gave me a wink.
What the hell? In a flash, Jeremy stood next to us.
That was him? Holy shit. He could transform.
I had so many questions, but now wasn't the time as I clearly had a knife pressed to my stomach, Zane wanted to end him, I wanted to offer a second chance, and now my basic squad mate just shifted.
“Asmoth, are you fucking stupid? Do you have any fucking common sense?” Jeremy asked him, giving him the death glare.
“I… I... only wanted to get my revenge. Her father killed our sister,” he said.
Oh shit... they were brothers, and in the same year, they had to be twins. Oh, this was not good. Did I trust Jeremy right now? I mean, of course I did. If he wanted me dead, there were plenty of times for him. He helped make sure I made it down the pass alive.
“Yes, her father did. She did not. Auriella is a good person. I spent weeks with her. Her father doesn’t define her. Drop the fucking knife.” He scolded his brother.
Asmoth lowered his knife, and I lowered mine.
Relief never had the chance to land. A sudden stab ripped into my left side, hot pain flooding down my hip as blood soaked through.
I gasped, staring at the red spreading across me, brain lagging to catch up to what had happened.
Zane moved like a shadow loose from its tether.
In a blink his dagger sank into Asmoth’s right arm, blood spilling fast down his sleeve.
He wrenched the blade free, hand rising for a second strike.
Jeremy darted forward, eyes wide, his voice breaking without words. The plea was written across his face—mercy.
Zane froze, blade hovering. His chest heaved, eyes still locked on Asmoth, but he lowered the weapon. Then he turned to me, dropped to his knees, and pressed his hand against the wound in my side, his jaw tight with fury.
“Get him the fuck out of here, before I fucking snap his neck?” Zane growled at Jeremy.
“I might snap it myself.” Jeremy grabbed his brother’s arm and dragged him away.
“She fucking deserves it,” Asmoth yelled .
“You fucking deserve to die,” Zane snapped.
“Let’s fucking go, you idiot,” Jeremy growled.
The whole situation was a fucking mess. There was blood all over the floor—both mine and his.
And for what, something my dad did. I had no clue why or when my dad apparently killed his sister.
I didn’t think my dad would do it without just cause, but I also didn’t feel like I knew my dad anymore, either.
Zane looked at me, his eyes filled with rage.
They no longer had the pure, pale blue eyes that had once looked at me.
Instead, their eyes had darkened to a deep indigo, a rich, intense shade.
“Let’s go to the Healers and get you patched up,” he said.
“I am fine, or I will be. I’ll be stitched and continue on.”
“I should have killed him the moment I entered the stairwell.”
“So violent…” I said, giving him a little smile.
“I can be, and I won’t be as willing to offer second chances anymore.”
We went to the Healers, and they brought me in to tend to my wound.
Two others were there, getting stitched up, but I thought they were upper-class students.
I didn’t pay much attention because, honestly, my side was throbbing, and my shirt was soaked in blood.
Zane stood right next to me, watching everything the Healer did.
“ I’ll be fine, you can go to your next lecture,” I said mind to mind.
“No, I will not until you are stitched, and they say you are good.”
“ You don’t have to stare at them like they are plotting against me.” He looked at me, our eyes locked, and for a brief second, I swore they flashed back to his light blue and then back to the indigo color.
“I don’t think you realize the enemies your father has.”
My eyes widened at him, eyebrows lifting. What did that even mean? Every time we were at a fort, it seemed like everyone liked my dad. He said it as if there were a lot. Of course, being the general, I figured there would be some.
“Yeah, I didn’t think you did, and that shocked face you have confirmed it.
I came into this place harboring intense hatred for him.
You know the saying, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
I made a lot of friends here. Of course, now I have you, which complicates some of those friendships.
I made it clear that you were off-limits, or they wouldn't live to see the next day. That doesn't mean they like you or that others like Asmoth don’t exist.”
“I guess I didn’t realize my dad was a villain in everyone’s story.” I dropped my head.