Chapter 28
I could actually feel my brain jostling around in my head as we ran. Raine had already hunched over a few times expelling whatever she’d managed to eat earlier. Briar almost looked as pale as me.
I chugged my water but no matter how much I drank, my mouth still felt thick and dry.
Knowing that this run was only our warm-up had my head reeling. If only I could stop constantly recalling my humiliating encounter with Laryk. Maybe that would lessen the pounding in my skull.
At least today, the sun was covered by the clouds and an occasional breeze would pass, cooling our clammy skin.
“I think I might die.” Briar’s voice was muffled. He was sitting in the grass with his head between his knees.
Raine was splayed out like a starfish beside him, her long eyelashes brushing the tops of her cheekbones.
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
I knew if I sat down now there would be no getting back up. I stood with my hands on my hips trying to catch my breath.
My attention was caught when I overheard Draven’s raised tone a few feet away. He was standing off against Baelor and Nazul.
“Everything you’ve been provided and everything you have and will achieve is all because of your father and family name,” Draven stated, with a determination I had never seen from him before.
“I’ve proven myself enough to be chosen for this faction. That merit is my own. However, I will proudly carry on my family's legacy, as every fire wielder before me,” Baelor responded unfazed.
I could see Draven’s frustration growing.
“How do you expect us to fight alongside you when we don’t even know what your focus is? Perhaps it's you who shouldn’t be here if you’re so ashamed,” Baelor continued.
“Draven, why won’t you just tell us?” Nazul chimed in, throwing his hands up.
“You’ll have to fight me to find out,” Draven seethed.
I opened my mouth to speak on Draven’s behalf, but my words were cut off.
“As you wish.” Baelor’s arm swung out in an instant, his fist rushing forward to connect with Draven’s face. The snap of bone echoed through the field.
I gasped and rushed over to him.
“Espirithe sake, Draven are you okay?” I knelt beside him, trying to get a look at the damage. Blood poured from his nose into his palm. He recoiled from my grasp.
“I’m fine,” he assured me, but the amount of blood told me otherwise. He did his best to distance himself.
“Draven, come on, let me help you up.” I stepped towards him again, but he shot me a horrified look.
That was when I heard a loud thud from behind us. I snapped my head around to see Baelor on the ground, his mouth formed into a tight grimace.
His fist, covered in blood, was deathly still. In fact, his whole body had stiffened into odd angles like he’d been frozen mid-step before toppling over. I would have thought he was made of stone if not for the desperate shifting of his eyes.
Raine looked between the two of them, a curious expression on her face.
“Woah… Draven. Are you a blood lock?” Her eyes were wide, and I could tell she was trying to stop herself from smiling as she looked over at Baelor’s frozen form.
Draven nodded, his head wincing at the movement.
“Paralyzing.” His voice sounded pinched.
“We should get you to the healers.” I took a small step back from him, not wanting to accidentally end up on the ground like Baelor.
Nazul was pacing around his friend frantically when he finally noticed Lieutenant Mercer.
“Draven paralyzed Baelor. What do we do?”
Lieutenant Mercer pursed his lips, taking in the scene.
“From what I saw and overheard; Soleil seemed highly interested in what Porter’s focus was. Seems like he found out.”
He had been there the entire time.
“How long will he be stuck like this?” Nazul knelt down.
“Only a few minutes. He will be fine,” Mercer said.
“I don’t know. This seems like the perfect time for sparring practice.” Raine grinned, her eyes sparkling.
“Esprithe!” Baelor spat from his position on the ground.
“See? The effects are already wearing off.” Mercer seemed to be fighting back a grin.
Another minute passed and eventually Baelor was up on his elbows, scowling. Nazul tried helping him into a sitting position, but Baelor shoved his arm away.
Draven left to see a healer, and the Lieutenant began setting up our agility course for the day. My eyes fell on Baelor once again.
“Don’t even look at me, Riftborne.” Baelor sneered at me.
I raised an eyebrow, choosing to ignore him.
He breathed out sharply, upper lip raising in a look of disgust.
“At least it's now clear why you’re allowed inside the gates of this institution.”
Everyone’s eyes shot towards Baelor. Sparks crackled at Raine’s fingertips. “Oh yeah, Baelor, why is that?”
“She’s corrupted General Ashford. They’re sleeping together. Both should be put to the blade,” he stated, satisfaction lacing his words.
My lips parted. Shame overcame me. Nothing had happened… but I couldn’t have imagined the way we looked last night… If he saw us.
Which he clearly did. I thought I heard two sets of footsteps.
My breath caught in my lungs at the thought.
I had wanted it, like a bloody fucking idiot.
If it had been up to me… Baelor might just be speaking the truth.
Regret began to weigh me down, but I needed to defend myself all the same.
Nothing happened…The General had made sure of it.
I tried to dispel the sadness that the realization brought with it.
“That’s not true–” I began to object.
“He’s a disgrace to the Guard,” Baelor spat.
“You will stand before the disciplinary court for the sentiments you’ve railed against our General. Wishing death upon any of our leaders will be met with swift punishment,” Mercer said, voice unwavering.
Baelor looked towards the sun, dusting his shoulders off like he hadn’t a care in the world.
“I’m the son of the most powerful General to ever serve this realm, I’ll remind you, Lieutenant.”
Mercer simply blinked, pausing momentarily before calling the lesson for the day.
My heart raced as I walked to the gym. After last night, how would Laryk behave? Would he be upset? Would we address whatever that moment was?
A sigh escaped me. It shouldn't matter. He had a point, of course. Sober me would have never put myself in that situation, intoxicated in a Compound full of people who could or could not hate me… could or could not kill me. But I was an adult, capable of making my own choices.
Baelor’s comments had my head spinning in every direction. Deep down, his words had stabbed me harder than if they had been true. Desire still lingered in my mind, but I forced myself to believe it would smother itself in time.
My mind drifted to Ashford… our time in the darkened halls of the Compound.
Against the wall…
My face heated at the thought. His presence was seared into my mind in vivid detail. It was almost maddening. Sweat clung to me desperately. I suddenly became all too aware of my racing heart.
Almost on demand, the sky bottomed out. Threads of rain lashed down over the city, instantly drenching me and dousing the embers that had started burning under my skin.
I let the torrent wash away the memory as I made my way into the gym. Lightning cracked behind me, illuminating the street.
Reaching the practice area, it became clear that I was alone.
Darkness filled the room, thick and silent.
No sign of the General. I opted to start without him, practicing visualization exercises with my eyes open–anything to avoid succumbing to the pulls of sleep.
I counted the vertebrae as the tendrils danced up my spine.
I couldn’t help wondering where he was.
Probably working on something far above my level of knowledge. Perhaps Wraiths were descending on Luminaria at that very moment.
If only I could convince myself I believed that.
If I was being honest, my mind kept going to that dark place. The one I was ashamed to admit existed. The one where two redheads were entangled, twisting in sheets, mirroring the rage of the storm outside.
My eyes burned at the thought, and I quickly shoved it from my mind.
Stop acting like an Esprithe-damned schoolgirl.
The General eventually sauntered in, seemingly oblivious to how late he was.
“Any progress?” he asked with a tone of indifference.
Breaking my concentration, I stole a glance in his direction.
Laryk’s hair was slicked back and dripping, creating a small puddle on the floor. The button down he wore was nearly translucent from the downpour, clinging to every dip and contour of his frame.
“Y-yes, actually. I’ve been practicing with my eyes open today. I can’t hold onto it for too long, but I’ve been able to call it forward consistently,” I stammered, shifting in my seat.
My eyes were locked on him, railing against my better judgment. I hated how much I loved looking at him.
He tugged at the collar of his shirt with no regard to my lingering stare. “And you’ve been able to keep a hold on it during group training? Nothing has set you off?”
His fingers deftly worked on the shirt's buttons, each one revealing more ivory skin that glistened in the dimly lit gym, giving way to the defined muscles and sculpted shoulders beneath.
Fire surged through me, followed by an icy chill. I was instantly grateful for the cold fabric that clung to my skin.
A round of thunder reverberated through the room, shaking the equipment around us.
"Yeah, I guess the training did pay off," I murmured, finally managing to look away. It was true. The things that Baelor said earlier that day used to unravel me, but somehow, without even realizing it, I'd integrated those mental exercises into my daily life.
A blush warmed my cheeks as the accusations echoed in my mind. What would Laryk think if he knew the rumors that had been spoken into existence today? The threats rallied at him?
I certainly wouldn’t be the one to bring it up.