Chapter 38 #3
With all that money, my family would want for nothing. Emabelle would even be able to branch out and pursue her dreams of becoming a teacher. More importantly, my family wouldn't need the handouts and sustenance from Thayden's father.
And Blackthorne and Jameson? Gods be good. They would be so enraged and consumed with finding heretics using black magic that they would leave my family alone.
Apart from worrying about me, my family truly were fine. “You did so much more than anyone has done for us.”
“I always keep my word. I said I wouldn't let them suffer, and I meant it.”
“I can't thank you enough.”
“Don't thank me yet, Ziyka. We still have a curse to break.”
A curse to break and the darker parts of this journey to do with Father. I dared not mention him, and I dared not hope for mercy, even though in my heart I did. That was a burden I'd have to deal with when we got to that stage.
“Before you ask about Thayden,” Wolfe intoned with a sly grin, “your betrothed is looking for you in the savage lands. He'll be busy for a while.”
I hadn't even thought about Thayden, other than to acknowledge that my family wouldn't need to rely on his family so much. “Thayden is not my betrothed.”
Wolfe inclined his head and gave me a thin stare. “I know. I just like testing your reaction.”
“There is nothing to test.” I kept my voice firm, so he'd know where I stood. “I was supposed to marry him for my family's sake. I've never had any love for him and I never will.”
“Noted, my Lady.” His eyes bore into me, reaching past the layers of my walls, beyond my soul, as if he was trying to learn everything about me. Everything, from the way blood flowed through my body to how my mind worked.
“Looks like you took care of a lot.” I steered the conversation back to safer paths.
“I did.” His gaze softened, and he seemed to school his thoughts. “Now we can all focus on what needs to be done for the spell.”
“What will I do in the meantime? I'm not doing anything besides learning basic magic with Arielle. Outside of that, I'm just here...”
“I've arranged for you to go to Hyxian with Arielle,” Wolfe answered, straightening.
My spirits lifted so fast I could barely contain myself. “Hyxian? The mage academy?”
A smooth grin slid across his lips. “Yes.”
“When can I go?”
“Today.”
“Oh my gosh.” I pressed my hands to my cheeks. “This is so exciting.”
“You'll like it there. They'll teach you whatever they think you'll need to learn. I know you'll be interested in learning about their healing techniques since you want to be a healer.”
My breath caught, and I gazed at him, surprised he knew such a thing about me. “How did you know?”
“I can sense it in your blood. I also sensed that you’ve always dreamed of learning the skills but you couldn’t in the mortal realm.”
My chest swelled with gratitude. “Yes. My mother was worried because of the curse. We had to be careful. People would definitely suspect witchcraft if I slipped up and I couldn’t remember anything from one month to the next.”
“That won’t happen here if you’re still with us on the next reset. We’ll figure out a way to smooth things over.”
“Thank you. I never thought I'd get such an opportunity.”
“Well, now you'll have a chance to refine your powers and learn new things.”
I could barely contain my excitement, but at the mention of my powers, my thoughts drifted to the dragons and my strange connection to them.
“What do you think about my powers, Wolfe?
You said I shouldn't have been able to communicate with or fly the dragons.
And I shouldn't have been able to hear their song.”
He studied me for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly with the shadow of worry as he weighed his answer. “Your powers come from ancient magic from old bloodlines. Creatures like dragons recognize and honor it. That's as much as I know right now.”
“Ancient magic?” That was the purest of all magic. As a mage, it gave you a deeper connection to the heart of the Fray. And beyond that. “My grandmother never said anything about us being linked to ancient magic or bloodlines.”
“She may not know. Mages have mixed blood from their Fae and Elvin predecessors that have tangled over centuries.
You can't always trace mage magic through lineage.
And you... you're half-human. That changes things.
It's like starting with a blank slate. The magic doesn't follow old patterns. It adapts. Evolves. Sometimes, that makes the ancient parts stronger, not weaker.”
Goosebumps slithered over my skin. It was hard to imagine me having such power. But I felt it. Even now, I felt it, and I knew what he was telling me was the truth.
“I guess we'll see how much they develop while you're here in the magical realm,” he added in a softer, reflective tone.
“Am I still to keep quiet about flying the dragons?”
“Yes. Just focus on embracing your power as it comes.”
“Does that mean I can see the dragons again?” I threw him a hopeful stare.
“No.” His gaze hardened.
“But if I hear them singing, it means I'm to go to them. Right?”
He frowned. “The fact you know that is insane enough and does not sit well with me.”
Guilt pinched my insides. It was Zyrra who'd told me how to find the dragons. I couldn't tell him that because of my promise to her.
I knew I should tell him she'd figured out he was looking for the ring. But I didn't want to risk ruining this breakthrough we'd had.
Her knowing about the ring didn't appear to be a bad thing. I also never exactly confirmed anything to her—though I knew I'd said enough.
I hadn't seen her since the day I flew Hedion and no one had mentioned her.
Perhaps when I saw her again, we could talk about her disagreement with Wolfe. I didn’t want things to become more awkward with her secrecy.
“I don't know if I could ignore the dragon's song if I hear it again,” I muttered, pushing Zyrra out of my mind for now.
“Come and find me the next time you hear them.”
“Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?” I smirked. “I can never find you.”
That smooth-as-silk grin returned to his handsome face. “You'll figure it out, mage.”
I raised my brows. “How?”
“You just will.” As his grin widened, his fangs lengthened again, and a pang of desire shot through me.
“Your teeth... They're long again. Tell me what it means?”
It had to be something sexual. I suspected that on the ship but I wanted to know for certain.
He leaned forward and lifted a lock of my hair between his fingers, the touch so gentle it sent shivers down my spine. While he twirled my hair around his finger, he held my gaze with predatory intensity. The simple touch made every nerve in my body come alive in ways that only happened with him.
“You'll figure that out, too.” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper that made my pulse race.
He released my hair with another smile, then leaned against the wall with that casual dominance that made him look so captivating.
His bare chest rose and fell with each breath like sin wrapped in shadows and ink.
Every line of muscle emphasized dangerous beauty that made it impossible to look away.
It wasn't until he snapped his fingers and the sharp click of the door unlocking echoed through the room that I broke free of the dangerous trance I'd fallen into.
“Get some breakfast.” He dipped his head. “Arielle will be along to fetch you soon.”
“Alright. I’ll see you later.”
“Later.”
I took a quick breath, tore my eyes away from him, and walked through the door.
He kept his gaze on me. A few steps down the corridor, I glanced back. Wolfe stood in his doorway, arms crossed, still watching me.
I continued on, feeling different.
Different like... I wasn't a prisoner anymore. And like I'd become something else to him. Something more.
Wolfe Nightblade had become something more to me, too.