10. Callum
CALLUM
“It’s not like you to turn down a pilaeria match, especially with the Aurelite Guards in the running,” Axel stated as he flopped down on the sofa across from me, remote already in hand as he flicked through the channels.
We’d been in Solis Quarter for six days .
. . Six entire days of scouting, and we had yet to uncover the reason for the corruption rapidly spreading throughout Solis.
We’d spotted a few Remnant on the streets—messages and warnings being spread.
But we’d also witnessed the pure devotion of those in Solis Quarter to their gods.
The mockery and disregard they had for the Remnant.
The level of devotion they gave to their temples and the false gods they worshipped.
The way they elevated their king to a god-like status.
With a quick glance down at my laptop screen, I scanned the remainder of the article I’d been reading.
“I don’t have time to watch the match today,” I said, a weary sigh escaping my lips as I resumed scanning the data I’d been searching for.
“I already made Eleana promise she would record the match at the Guild so I can watch once we’re back from this scouting mission. ”
“Or you could just watch while working. It’s called a work-life balance, you know .
. . Plus, you never know if this scouting mission will become something more.
” He swirled a glass of ambrosia in his hand as he reclined even further, tilting his head to watch the match broadcasting from the Golden Pitch, back home in Aurum Quarter.
“I’m busy,” I stated, not bothering to look up as I pulled up a new Astra Tech database and cross-referenced it with the previous data.
“Come on . . . come on . . . come—” Axel’s voice rose with every word as he jumped up in anticipation.
“For the love of Aeternus!” My own voice rose as I cut a glare toward my second from where I sat across the room. “I—actually, we have work to do. And I can’t concentrate with the stars-damned match playing.”
“Since when have you been too busy to watch the Guards get their asses beat?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I bit out as I began yet another new search through the Astra Tech database. “I didn’t realize it was shit on each other’s team day, but since you started it, when was the last time the Water Wings won a match?”
“At least we have a decent outside wielder this year. Not sure if the same can be said for the Guards.”
My eyes narrowed as I glanced up from the screen briefly, flickering between Axel’s shit-eating grin and the score displayed on the TV that read 3-0, in the Guard’s favor.
“Just watch the remainder of the match. We can finish the research after and still have time to sneak into the Solis Court before we need to report to Elion.”
“No.” My voice was firm as I stared at the screen before me.
“Okay . . .” Axel’s voice grated on my nerves as he spoke. “If you don’t want to watch the match, then do you at least want to discuss the starbound mark that appeared on your wrist? It’s been days since it first appeared. I know you have to be able to feel her emotions through the bond by now.”
My jaw ticked, teeth clenching as my gaze flicked up toward the idiotic male who sat there grinning like he just won a fight.
“No, I do not want to discuss the bond.”
“Come on, Cal,” he grumbled. “You’ve got to accept it at some point.”
“Do I?” My eyes narrowed as the words left my lips.
“The way I see it, she isn’t even aware we are starbound.
I’m here on a mission—a mission that will eventually end with me returning to Aurum.
I don’t see any reason to acknowledge this bond.
Not when it would just interfere with the reason we were sent here. ”
“You can’t be serious.” Axel’s head shook even as he watched the match playing out in front of us. “You’ve got to be feeling the bond by now.”
I remained silent, hating that he was right, because I could feel it. The starbound mark often allowed those marked to feel their match’s emotions and any pain. And I could . . . I felt every instance. The starbound bond pulled at me, demanding I focus on her.
But I couldn’t.
“You know what,” I ground out as I shut the computer screen with more force than necessary, knowing there was no way in Aurelia I’d be getting anything done with Axel’s incessant cheering.
“I’ll watch the match . . . but only so I don’t have to talk about this,” I said, gesturing toward the gold mark on my wrist. “And only if I don’t have to listen to you grumble about losing all day. ”
“Hey—” Axel attempted to protest, but he had no argument as I gestured toward the score currently being displayed with a smirk.
The noise of the crowd roared through the display, fans from both sides cheering on their teams as one of the Aurelite Guard’s left forwards flew across the pitch, colliding mid-air with an outside wielder.
The ball, wielded by someone’s water affinity, flew through the air before swirling in circles as it made its way through the fire gate.
“I’ll drink to that.” I glanced at Axel, a victorious grin smeared across my face as I snatched the glass of ambrosia from his hand and drained the remainder of his drink. “Losing looks good on you after all.”
“There’s still another half of the match left,” he grumbled as our left forward flew a victory lap around the pitch.
My phone buzzed in my back pocket just as I stepped out the door of the safe house, the lock securely clicking into place behind us.
With a sigh, I removed my leather glove, the golden tattoos on my forearm glowing in the low lighting of the hallway, before fishing the device from my back pocket and skimming the text thread.
“What’s Eleana want?” Axel grumbled up ahead, his usually cheery mood gone after his beloved Water Wings lost the match to the Aurelite Guards.
“To let you know that she is not sorry for your loss today,” I replied with a chuckle as I repocketed the device.
“You’ve got to be joking.” Axel half-heartedly kicked the wall as I shot him a victorious grin.
“It’s not our fault you chose to support a losing team,” I replied. “Some of us just have a habit of choosing winners.”
“Did she only message to gloat?” he inquired as we moved through the building on silent feet. “Or was there an actual purpose to her messaging us?”
“She said Elion needs details sooner than we thought. She will be dropping by in two days to relay what we’ve discovered to Elion.”
“And we’re going to stay here after that?” Axel questioned, his eyes narrowing as we ducked out the side door to the building and into the darkness of the night.
“It was one text, Pierce,” I bit out as I climbed onto my bike. “Not a love letter. I know just as little as you.”
“You’d think you’d be in a better mood, seeing as the Guards won today, but no. Why would that happen?”
“I’d be in a better mood if I could fly,” I snapped back, feeling the familiar itch where my wing marks were.
But I knew the risks—we knew the risks. It was one thing to masquerade through the Solis Court as royal guards, it was another thing to fly through the skies of Solis Quarter with golden wings, clearly marking us as members of a different Quarter—as followers of Aeternus.
We couldn’t risk it.
“Let’s just get this over with,” Axel mumbled as he secured his helmet and glanced toward me. “The sooner we uncover Lucanus’s secrets, the sooner we gather all the information Elion needs to make his next move.”
The bike hummed to life beneath me as I flipped my visor down, blocking the sand as I revved the engine and kicked off, leaving Axel in the dust as I left the safe house and headed toward the Temple District. Toward Lucanus and the secrets buried deep in the depths of his Quarter.
We’d nearly made it to the third floor of the High Temple before we encountered the first of Lucanus’s guards roaming through the temple halls.
Ropes of fire shot forward before the guards had even spotted our location, twisting around the first of the angels now advancing toward us.
I felt the flames of my fire affinity hold for mere seconds before a water affinity in the distance doused the flames, and the guard crumbled to the ground in pain.
Reaching behind me, my hand collided with cool metal as I drew the gun strapped to my back and took quick aim, ensuring the guard on the ground remained where he lay.
He slouched even further as I hit my mark, his form unmoving as I turned my gaze toward the remaining two guards advancing on us from down the hallway.
I felt the water swirl around my ankles before I could aim toward the closest guard.
My muscles tightened as I called upon my own affinity.
The flames built as they collided with the ropes of water already threatening to immobilize me.
I guided my affinity, pulling on the cords within me as I called on my fire to lick away at the water.
A low hiss fell from my lips as hot steam bit at my ankles. My affinity swallowed the weaker water affinity, and freedom followed a moment later as his water vaporized.
The guard to my right let out a low whistle, and I cursed as he charged toward me, his assault rifle raised.
A disgruntled shout sounded from my left as Axel raised his hand and fired his gun. Two shots rang out, one after the other in rapid succession, and the remaining two guards dropped to the ground.
“Well, shit,” Axel huffed as he slid his gun back in its holster. “That didn’t go as planned.”
“Really? You don’t say,” I retorted sarcastically. “So much for a silent entry.”
“Not sure why we hadn’t expected this many RSG to be wandering the High Temple at this time of night.”
“Maybe because they shouldn’t be here,” I retorted as I nudged the closest guard’s body into an empty room.