Chapter 27 Velra
~Velra~
Combat and Power Synergy with Professor Drenn Voxe was being taught in The Crucible, which was basically a combat chamber. Although, very unlike the illicit Graverun.
It was a long rectangular space with shimmering walls on all four sides that were fused with every type of magic under the sun, resulting in them basically looking like rainbow walls. They’d been developed to repel or absorb any magic blast—save Celestial magic. That was another thing entirely.
The floor was reinforced and boasted a bold geometric design with a glowing gold quadrant in the center, wherein the professor could activate a holographic screen that would lay out the lesson ahead.
When activated in the right way, it could also be used to knock out all magic and supernatural power within the entire space if an emergency occurred or things spiraled out of control.
As I searched for Lazriel and Sylas as I stared at the open double doors across the space while the class started to fill up, Kelsana caught my eye and made her way over to me.
She was wearing a black velvet bodysuit, her long green hair pulled up into a swinging ponytail, and she walked with a bounce in her step.
“Hey,” she greeted me.
“How are you doing?”
“Good. Much better.” Her bright smile faltered a little as the truth she hid so well behind her mask seeped out. “Taking it a day at a time, you know?”
I did know. Very well. “That sort of violation, especially by somebody you cared for in Rennick, isn’t something you can just shake off.
It takes time. It needs healing.” I reached out and rubbed her arm gently.
“You’re doing really well. Don’t put more pressure on it than that.
You’ve cut off contact with him since we got him kicked out, you’re going to classes, you’ve applied to intern at the Guardian Movement’s Coven Unity Division.
” It improved the curriculum, structure, standards, and governance of Covens across the supernatural world.
After what had happened to her with Rennick controlling her lately with illicit magic, she wanted to join that division to work toward ensuring other magic-wielders coming up and learning were guarded against that sort of thing, and that others were taught much more in depth about the dangers of using those magics.
I didn’t blame her for wanting that, and it was actually a really powerful response to what had happened to her—choosing to make the world better through it. She really was trying to evolve beyond her mean girl reputation that she’d garnered at Maven Academy.
“Would you be up for getting a drink at that fusion bar down the road sometime soon?”
“I’ve wanted to go to that place ever since I set foot in here. But I… venturing to unknown places… it’s been strange and foreign to me for a while.”
“So you immediately discounted it, even though you wanted to do it?”
“Pretty much.”
“I get it, believe it or not.”
“Let’s do it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’ll be fun.”
“Great,” she said, brightly. “I’ll message you in a couple of days or something?”
“Perfect.”
“Where the fuck is he?”
We both jolted at the sound of Sylas’ voice, as he burst through the crowds and came right up to me. He registered Kelsana there and how he’d made her jump. “Evening,” he said, forcing a politeness that he was barely managing right now given the state he was clearly in.
“I’ll… leave you to it,” Kelsana said, edging away, and eyeing Sylas awkwardly. That last part was because of her flirting with him initially, which she’d since moved away from after he’d had that talk with her.
As she took off deeper into the room to prepare for class, I focused on Sylas. “You’re talking about Lazriel?”
He nodded, frantically looking around. “He told me to meet him outside in the quad twenty minutes before class. Said he had something to discuss with me that I should brace myself for. He didn’t show.”
Ah. Got it. “He won’t be making it to class.”
“What? This is one of the classes he’s most been looking forward to. And it’s with his favorite professor, the Dragon-Wolf hybrid.”
“Something has come up, but he’s fine, I promise.”
He scrutinized me. “What’s going on, Velra?”
“He’s resting after enduring something… taxing.”
It wasn’t my place to say, especially because I hadn’t actually been told either. I’d felt it through the Soul Brand from Cassius—him and Lazriel… experimenting.
“Taxing? For Lazriel Thaine?” he mused to himself, that analytical, calculating mind of his working overtime.
And all too quickly. “There aren’t many things that can impact him to that extent of requiring recovery time or—” Realization hit and his gaze snapped to mine again.
“He’s with Cassius. It’s why you’re trying not to divulge details.
You interpreted it through your connection to him.
It wasn’t conveyed or publicized by either of them. ”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s certainly… something. One hell of a development, actually.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You think so?”
“Don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. I just wasn’t sure whether you’d see it the same way. You made peace with Cassius, but that’s very new, there could still be animosity. And you’re very protective over both Lazriel and me.”
He smiled and laid his hand on my shoulder, then surprised me as he recited my own words from the other night back to me.
“Lazriel can’t feed from either of us because our blood is toxic to him.
The closer we grow, especially sexually, the more that need will be awakened from his vampire side.
He’ll need it and he would have faced continued denial, unable to experience that, something that, despite his denial and fear over it, is innate to his vampiric nature.
But with Cassius now in the picture, there’s the possibility for that to be fulfilled.
So long as we can help him to maintain control with the potency of Cassius’ Immortal blood. ”
He kissed my cheek. “They’ve both already found that comfort and long-denied need in one another now.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket at the same time as his did.
We both pulled them out and took in the message that had come into the Group Chat.
Cassius: Lazriel is well. He is with me. Sleeping currently. My apologies for the delay, but I was slumbering for some time also.
Sylas smiled at me.
And then he typed rapidly.
Sylas: Still on for dinner, or will Lazriel still be in that blood-sex coma? Assessment? Thoughts?
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously?”
“Oh, absolutely. And don’t forget, Dark Beauty, humor can serve well to normalize situations such as this, especially when I’m sure Cassius is confused and ill at ease in the proverbial harsh light of day.”
“Huh. That’s actually really sweet of you.”
Cassius: I don’t believe it would be defined as “sex” per se. I am unsure. But he did ingest my blood, albeit I ensured he did not become intoxicated. However, it still “packs a punch” as he himself stated.
I looked at Sylas. “What do you think he means by that? I don’t get every graphic detail… just… sensations.”
“Knowing how Lazriel operates, some rubbing and grinding while he was feeding.”
“That’s actually a major step for Cassius.”
“Because of you.”
“Me?”
“Your talk with him shifted things in a monumental way. His entire approach to things and his outlook. What’s just happened is a direct result of that.
” He smiled and gave my hand a squeeze. “You did it. You helped him. You brought him close and he’s already immersing himself in it.
This development tonight makes a great deal of sense.
Cassius is unsure and uneasy about his inexperience and Lazriel mirrored that when it came to his approach to his bisexuality, so he can understand that very well coming from that vantage point.
Cassius connecting with him first, taking the next sexual step with Lazriel is exactly what was needed—before he feels confident enough to open to you in that way.
His bond to you is so deep and there’s so much buildup between you that I can imagine the idea of going there with you without a bridge of sorts first seemed like a near insurmountable thing. ”
I beamed out at him. “Thank you, Sylas.”
“Of course. Any time.”
Our phones buzzed again.
Cassius: To clarify, dinner is still set. It will be a casual affair, no airs.
Wow. This was amazing—all of it.
Velra: Can’t wait.
Cassius: I’m well aware. I don’t believe it’s conducive to the mindset you need for class to be so stimulated, little shadow. I will put my phone away now to relieve that for you. Sylas, don’t exacerbate it for her. She needs to focus.
Sylas: Yes, Professor. Hmm… yes, you’re Lazriel’s professor. You should square that away with him when he wakes up, assert boundaries for when you’re in class. If you don’t, he could prove to be quite the headache.
Cassius: Duly noted. Thank you. I await your company later tonight.
I beamed down at my phone for a moment, before putting it away.
“So, you and Kelsana are becoming more than mentor and mentee regarding the moral use of Dark Fae magic, I see,” Sylas commented as he did the same with his phone, then regarded me.
“I guess we’re becoming friends.” I smiled to myself.
“We’re going to go out to that fusion bar nearby.
I know it sounds silly, but I couldn’t have imagined being in a place to do that a few months ago—to venture to an unknown place and with a new friend at that.
When I first came here several weeks ago I was still very much in survival mode, having my panics, my power eruptions, being closed off in so many ways to people and experiences.
But now there’s you and Lazriel in my life.
I’m taking classes not just from the standpoint of acquiring more knowledge and skills as a means to protect myself against my enemies, but for actual fun and interest. I’m using my shadow magic and even my frost in fun ways too.
I’ve made a friend. I was even able to counsel Cassius on not living in survival mode anymore.
He was shocked about a lot that I conveyed that day, but me being able to do that was definitely one source of that shock.
Because it wouldn’t have been fathomable long ago. ”
“I’m truly happy for you. You’ve come a really long way.”
“I mean, I did almost have a setback when Lazriel and I discovered those vampires watching him, when I briefly thought the threat against him could be Puritas. But I was able to move past it and accept I was just being paranoid.”
“You almost had a setback because of that?”
“Yeah. I did.”
He worried his lip between his teeth. “I see.”
“What?”
“Nothing. I just would absolutely despise that for you after how far you’ve progressed.”
“So would I.” I gestured at my watch. “I might even put this away soon.”
Intensity flared in his eyes and he shifted his weight uncomfortably.
“It was just brief, Sylas. Besides, what we’re all building together, it’s set in stone, you know? I promise you don’t need to worry.”
Before I could say more, a sharp clapping cut through our conversation and all those around us of the sixty students gathered around the room.
We turned to see Professor Drenn Voxe striding in, a whole lot of power rolling off him.
He certainly cut a severe figure with his towering and broad frame, his shaved head with a scar sliced down his left cheek.
His crimson-gold eyes glowed as he smiled out at us and gave a chin lift here and there.
He was wearing combat leathers with no sleeves, revealing tons of tattoos and draconic markings all over his arms and his back.
“Welcome, eager students,” he spoke with a voice that boomed through the entire room with barely any effort.
Although the tone was pleasant and even accommodating.
The guy was a walking contradiction, really.
“This class will explore what happens when raw power, supernatural instinct, and emotion collide,” he began.
“Throughout this year, you will learn how to harness that collision into something formidable. Now, to be clear, this isn’t about silencing your magic or taming the animal within for you shifters out there. It’s about partnering with them.”
Huh. No wonder Lazriel liked him.
No repression here, just empowerment.
I was all for it.
I saw Sylas smirking, though not fully trusting in it, a lick of suspicion present.
That was him.
What wasn’t was this withdrawn state he’d been in lately. There was a heaviness weighing on him that neither Lazriel nor I knew the source of. He hadn’t spoken about it and we’d given him time, but he still hadn’t offered anything up.
So that was it. I wouldn’t upset this dinner that Cassius was making such an effort over so the four of us could bond. But right after we got back to the Academy, we’d have it out with him.
It honestly bothered me that after everything we’d been through together, all the ups and downs, everything that had been spoken, he seemed to still be carrying burdens alone, rather than sharing them with our unit.
Even as we began class and immersed ourselves in sparring across Circles to understand how different magical types functioned and also could impact, amplify or destabilize the power of others, he stayed in the background, no showy magic, just going through the motions. Very not him.
Things had come so far now, I wouldn’t let anything impact that.
I wouldn’t let anything hurt my boys and what we were building.