CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
I ’M GOING TO FUCKING KILL them.
How dare they try to harm Nero. He’s an innocent creature and my best friend. I hold his wet, shivering body close to my chest as whatever they managed to drug me with fights to leave my body. Thankfully I didn’t eat much of my dinner—it was tasting off, and I couldn’t stomach the taste. I thought it was just from exhaustion and not eating as much lately, but clearly I was wrong.
“ You make them pay, Rav. I’m fine, I just need to catch my breath and dry off so I can fly in the morning. ”
I manage to hold back a sniffle at how close I came to losing him, how close we both came to dying. If it wasn’t for the twins forcing me to wake up, who knows what would have happened.
Ember is now being held back by Rozen who is staring at the two females with unfiltered rage, while the rest of our two squads are awake and sitting up where they passed out, staring at the chaos that’s unfolding in front of them in shock.
I rise to my feet and move towards Ember, knowing she needs something to calm her from her magick rage. I’ve known her the longest out of everyone in my squad and I trust her with my life—even if she can’t know all my secrets.
“Can you hold him and keep him safe while I deal with them?” I ask her, nodding to Nero’s wet form in my hands.
She blinks, glancing down at me, before her gaze softens, taking him gently from me.
Spinning, I turn to face the two I have trapped in the earth from their necks down, and try not to wince as I realize what I did. I showed an element that wasn’t fire. At least it was an element and not something else. This I can explain.
Pushing away those matters for future me, I stride towards Cresida, slapping her across the face, seething at her. “How dare you attack me when I haven’t done a damn thing to you. To either of you. I don’t want your mate. I just want to survive this fates-damn place. I should kill you for what you’ve done here tonight!”
Evera laughs from where she’s being held. “Cresida has told me all about you. You don’t have the nerve to kill us.” She smirks. “You’re just the village whore, doing all their grunt work. You might as well have been living in the pigs’ trough.”
I smirk back. Her words may cause a reaction later, but I’m too pissed to care right now. “Maybe I won’t kill you… not right now, but I know something I can do to you that’s worse.” I pull the knife I’ve been carrying on this trial, and with precise movements I lop off the point of one of Cresida’s ears before doing the same to Evera.
Blood streams down the side of their faces as their screams pierce the night. I pick up their bloodied ear points and burn them: a disgrace that happens when you brutally offend a fae, one that will make it hard for anyone to trust them. For these females, that’s almost worse than death.
Evera manages to get out of the earth hold when I release my magick from it and then she frees Cresida.
“When we arrive back at Phixmery, I will be asking for you to be removed from our Squad, Cadet Gannon.” I turn to the others in my squad behind me. “Does anyone else have a problem with that?”
A murmur of ‘no’s flutter through the air. Even Cresida’s squad is peering at her with looks of disdain.
Suddenly a loud roar, followed by two more, shakes the ground as three ogres come stumbling into our clearing. The puke-green, wart-covered skin blends into the surrounding foliage as their fangs drip with saliva, and wooden, spiked clubs bristle in their hands. Fates, these things are massive—the largest being at least three of me tall.
They charge us and we scramble to get weapons. I summon my flames, Bracken and Lennox adding to my fire as we surround them, stopping them from advancing. The ogres bellow with unbridled rage as they swing their clubs at the flames. Thankfully from what I remember, these beasts aren’t the brightest, but they won’t hesitate to rip you limb from limb before eating your flesh right off the bone.
We use the elements and our weapons to fight them off while our Szellemi fae distracts them with illusions of smaller beasts running around their legs. With a short sword in my hand, I strike my flint and summon a flame to my off-hand, attacking from a distance but keeping myself protected. The shorter, stocky one swings its club and bashes a cadet upside the head with a sickening crunch. The male’s body falls haphazardly to the ground, his limbs twisted unnaturally.
The fight doesn’t last long, and by the time they’re dead, I’m drained emotionally and physically, just wanting to get clean and slip into a warm bed with Nero snuggled up next to me.
Nero.
I glance around and see he’s still in the arms of Ember, who looks a little peeved she had to sit out of the fight because I entrusted her with my familiar. My legs are moving towards them with energy I don’t possess. “I’m so sorry. Thank you for watching him. I should have grabbed him when the fight started,” I ramble off to her as I scoop my feathered friend into my arms.
She waves me off. “I wouldn’t have been too much help against them. If you didn’t notice, the Vopn Fo cadets were patrolling the boundary to make sure nothing else snuck up on us while you guys handled those.” She nods towards the dead beasts that are currently being dragged away, deeper into the woods. “Watching Nero for you after what just happened was an honor, Ravina. I’m grateful you allowed me to do that for you because I know you don’t trust easily. Fates, I’m the same way. But I’m here for you, however you need me… as long as you stop trying to push us away,” she teases.
My lips roll between my teeth as I nod. “I’m doing my best, and there’s things you can’t know about me, but I promise I’m done pushing you all away. You’ve grown under my skin like an infection,” I tease back, trying to lighten the mood as I hold Nero even closer to me.
“ Rav, I love you, but I can’t breathe. I think I’ve had enough of not breathing for one day, ” Nero caws, nipping my finger where our bonding mark lies.
“Shit,” I murmur, loosening my grip a bit.
Ember nudges my shoulder. “The best infection you’ve ever had.”
Chuckles escape us as we look over the mess of our campsite. A frown pulls at my lips as I notice the lack of bickering. “Where are the Banshees?” I ask Ember, Roz and the twins as we all stand near the fire together.
They all glance around, and even with the warm flickering light that’s casting shadows around the small clearing, everyone is accounted for—including Squad Six—except for Zoella Spade, Cresida and Evera.
Roz shakes his head. “They probably ran off. Let them. Lennox and I will take the next watch. Try to get some sleep. We will make sure no one disturbs you and Nero. And if all goes as planned, tomorrow night we will all be sleeping in our own beds. With real food,” he cries clutching his stomach, making our two groups laugh as everyone tries to get comfortable.
Ember and Melissandre take either side of me, giving Nero soft pets and wishing him goodnight before succumbing to their dreams.
But I don’t sleep.
I can’t. Not after what transpired. Not with those three lurking somewhere in the forest, most likely waiting for their moment to strike again. Something tells me these next couple months before The Choosing are going to be a lot of sleepless nights and making sure we make it out alive.
THE NEXT DAY I’m all but dragging my feet as we trek up the Dreki mountains, taking the same path we did to arrive. A few fae questioned me about my new-found earth element, but I think I managed to play it off like I had no idea, and it was just as much of a shock for me as it was to them. Ember keeps giving me knowing looks, so I don’t suppose I fooled her, but she doesn’t push. She never does. Which only makes me feel worse.
I get lost in my head, dreaming of a world where I don’t have to hide as I watch Nero play with a lark. The two birds teasing, flying and chasing each other seem to be our source of entertainment on this last leg of the trial.
The path becomes familiar as we reach the forest we first came through to get to Phixmery during the first trial.
“Brings back memories, huh?” Bracken asks as he slides up next to me. “I’m sorry for leaving you that day and snapping at you. And for all the times I didn’t stand up for you at home. I can understand why you wouldn’t want me around.”
An exasperated sigh leaves me. “I get it, why be friends with the outcast null, when you want to be popular—”
“But you’re not a null—”
“I do forgive you Bracken, only because I don’t want to hold on to all this hate. But you’ve stood on the sidelines for far too long. I can’t trust you. Do you understand?” I glance at him and his face drops as he nods.
“Yeah, I understand. But I really do like you, Ravina. I’m going to earn your trust. You’ll see.” His bright smile returns as he jogs ahead with energy I wish I had, his blond locks swaying behind him.
The rest of the trip goes smoothly, and me and the earth Elemis make steps in the giant cliff face for everyone to get down safely. A few freshly splattered bodies lay broken at the bottom, and thankfully I don’t recognize any of their faces.
When we finally arrive back at the castle, I want to collapse to the ground with exhaustion, but the thought of getting clean and filling up with warm food before debriefing in the training yard keeps me going.
As we get up to the Squad Four chambers, the first thing I do is head over to my bed and collapse on it. Evera and Spade aren’t here; I wonder if they made it back to Phixmery yet.
“Cadet Solace,” a male voice sounds from behind me, and I jolt up to see Sergeant Driscol’s massive frame standing in the doorway. “You and your squad are to head down to Major General Rune’s office about a situation that took place during your trial,” he grumbles, his gaze darting between Nero and me with rage and confusion.
“Yes Sergeant,” I reply and he grunts, practically running away from our chambers. I turn to the others: Ember, Rozen, Melissandre, Lennox, Bracken, Gregor and Bren Hayes. “I’m sorry you’re all being dragged into this mess.” I rub the bridge of my nose in frustration. The Banshees must have got back before us.
Rozen shrugs. “We were tired of all their drama anyway. At least now we can truly become a squad and help each other with our Choosing trials.”
“What he said,” Lennox nods. “But we should get this over with. I’m starving, and my sister’s stomach is louder than mine, and I don’t want to deal with her when she’s hungry,” he rags on, earning a punch to the arm from Mel. “See,” he mouths.
We shake our heads in exhausted amusement, a few of us letting out yawns before heading back down through the castle, hoping that this is the last of the Banshee problems.
WHAT'S LEFT OF our squad ambles down to Rune’s office, practically dragging our feet with exhaustion. I’m annoyed we have to deal with this now, but I understand why it has to be done. What I did to them is—from what I’ve heard, never seeing it done myself—is one of the worst insults you can inflict upon another fae. Our delicately pointed ears are a symbol, something we take pride in, and I just lopped them off without a care. But they were trying to kill Nero. They were trying to kill me.
I have no remorse for what I’ve done. I’ve been patient, or at least as patient as I could be. I have no intentions of taking her chosen mate, despite what my traitorous body thinks, and I’ve made that clear more than once. Her insecurities are not my problem, and she doesn’t get to take them out on me. She should be speaking to her mate about it.
Nero is perched on my shoulder as usual, while Ember and Mel flank me, the rest of our squad trailing behind as we knock on the door.
“Enter,” a gruff voice says.
The door cracks open. We push through, and the first thing I notice is the view: the sun is fading below the peaks of the Dreki Mountains, casting a warm, orange glow across the muddied snow of the training yard below, evergreen trees as far as the eye can see. It’s picturesque—stunning.
As we approach the desk, I notice a smug Evera, Zoela and Cresida standing just behind him with a couple other Captains from our lessons, including Captains Reiner and Batsil. The Major’s arms are crossed, and the lines between his furrowed brows are prominent as he assesses our group.
“Cadet Solace, I’m assuming you know why you and your squad have been asked to join us?” he asks, his voice measured and slow.
I snap to attention as I stop a few paces away from him. “Yes Sir,” I state clearly, putting all my focus on him, because I know if I look their way, I’m not sure I’ll be able to rein in my anger.
“You understand that actions have consequences. And due to your lack of control, I have no choice but to put you on trial right now for crimes against Cadets Fellowes and Gannon—”
“I’m sorry Sir, but that’s not fair,” Ember snaps, attempting to cut him off.
“The punishment for the crime is death. Depending on the outcome, you may be allowed to choose how you perish.” He nods to Batsil who moves quickly to restrain me.
“Wait! I didn’t do whatever it is that they said,” I rush, feeling panic clutching at my chest. “They tried to kill Nero!”
Rune’s gaze snaps towards mine and then spins to face the females. “Did you?”
“No,” Evera states. “We would never do such a thing. We were just trying to sleep, and she jumped us. Mutilated our bodies. My father is furious. I’m supposed to be mated at the end of the year, and she wants my mate,” she cries, tears spilling down her pale face. “She’s jealous, and someone so unstable shouldn’t be allowed to join our ranks. Especially with what she did.”
My eye twitches. The assessment trials are a free-for-all. No one cares if cadets die during them, so why the hell is this being made into a bigger deal than it should be?
“Well it’s a good thing we are holding a trial for this, to figure out what actually happened,” Reiner adds, gifting me a small smile and a nod of encouragement.
Batsil sighs. “I have to admit, Major General Rune, Cadet Solace has been nothing but an upstanding Cadet who, considering her background, has excelled in all her lessons. This would be very out-of-character for her.”
Rune seems to ponder their words, his neck straining with frustration, like this wasn’t the outcome he wanted. “Tell me your side, Solace,” he states, staring me down.
I recount the incident that happened during the trials, Ember, Mel, Roz and Lennox filling in the gaps from when I was unconscious. When I finish, he taps his finger on his forearm like he’s debating on going through with the punishment anyway.
A knock sounds at the door. “Sir,” a rough voice grumbles through the wood. “A word.”
Sergeant Driscol opens the door on Rune’s command and the Major General sighs, rising to his feet “This isn’t over, just wait here.”
The moment he’s out of ear shot, the Sergeant’s voice is far too low for me to hear anything, especially with the door between us. Evera saunters towards me and whispers so that only I can hear. “My father and the Major are great friends. You don’t stand a chance, and you have no one to fight for you. You should have just let me finish the job in the Nairiden Woods,” she seethes.
“ Please, for the love of all that is sacred, please let me remove her eyes to match her ears, ” Nero begs, his plumage puffing up in anger.
“ No, we are better than this. And considering the position we’re in, that won’t look good on us. I’d rather try to get out of this alive, ” I remind him, which calms him—only a bit.
Rune storms back in and the Sergeant from Wing One strides away in the opposite direction, and that’s the last I see of him before the door is slammed shut again. “I’ve taken both stories into consideration. You both will remain at Phixmery. Gannon, Spade, and Fellowes, you will be joining a different squad, comprised of other cadets who lost their groups. Solace, I suggest keeping a better eye on your bird and your anger in check. Emotional balance is required if you want to rise within the ranks. This will be going on your permanent file.”
My nails dig into the meaty part of my hands, and I know I’ll have crescent indents marring the skin, but I’m alive. This is all the more reason I need to keep my head down and stay the hell away from them. Evera leaving our squad will definitely make this easier. But how is this just? The fact that the Major is in Evera’s father’s pocket is just a testament to this place and what it seems like she can get away with. If it wasn’t for whatever Driscol said to Rune… I may have had to fight my way out of here.
Maybe I shouldn’t have gone after them like that, I should have chosen my battles. But they’re going to be keeping a closer eye on me now. The stakes are even higher for me to leave.