Chapter 6 #2
“We are one of the last magical lines of defense against the evil that threatens to decimate the entire continent, and your training here will reflect that reality.”
Alaire’s knee bounced restlessly.
“Veterans, I expect you to model the behavior and integrity we embody here for the novices.”
Someone hooted from the rafters.
“Get out of here, you scoundrels.” Headmaster Carth grinned. “First-years, remain in your seats. Unfortunately, you’ll have to endure my voice for a while longer.”
Groans erupted from the rows in front of them as the second-years began exiting. Headmaster Carth paid them no mind as he stepped away from the podium to speak with Professor Ross.
Alaire focused on the empty stage, until the familiar prickling at the back of her scalp returned. Turning her head to see what had triggered it, her knees locked.
Him .
The fae who’d pulverized her shoulder without a second thought stalked toward her, all sharp lines and simmering fury. Someone trailed behind him, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away. Each stride radiated barely restrained contempt.
That flash of black on his hands—tattoos peeking out from the cuffs of his leathers—was designed to make a lesser woman swoon.
Alaire desperately tried not to notice the way his jaw clenched, so tight it looked like it might snap under the weight of his loathing—for her or the world, she wasn’t sure.
The harshness only made him more alluring: faint stubble shadowing his jaw, dark strands falling messily across his brow. Raw, untamed beauty that made her chest tighten and pulse quicken.
Dangerous. Unrelenting. Off-limits.
A stone of dread dropped in her stomach.
“Alaire, isn’t it?” a low voice rumbled, laced with venomous sweetness as he halted in front of her.
She suppressed a shiver at the sound of her name tainted by his voice.
“I can see my reputation precedes me. I’m flattered.”
“An academy of this caliber isn’t meant for your kind .” His arrogance reeked of someone who’d never been told no.
He towered over her, so tall she had to crane her neck to meet his gaze. Standing, she’d barely reach his throat. This close, she could see the flecks of sea green in his aquamarine eyes.
A wry smile curved her lips. “My kind? I guess you’re right. I have felt out of place amongst the mediocre talent around here.” She pushed herself up to stand.
Yup . She didn’t even reach his chin.
She could practically see the hatred rolling off him in palpable waves. He looked down his nose at her, nostrils flaring.
An equally imposing figure with white hair stepped forward, grey eyes narrowed. “Don’t flatter yourself, human. Aeris Academy requires more than sheer luck and brazenness. Without magic, all you are is an inconvenience.”
The dark-haired fae’s gaze roved the length of her form like he was cataloging weaknesses.
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Alaire retorted, her gaze flicking between them. “I tend to stick around just long enough to see the look on people’s faces when they realize they’ve underestimated me. It’s quite the treat. You’ll be pleasantly surprised, I assure you.”
Kaia stepped beside her, arms crossed over her chest. She didn’t behave like any fae Alaire had ever interacted with before.
The one who’d slammed into her inhaled sharply, eyes narrowing to slits. “Don’t get comfortable. We don’t welcome outsiders here. You might find the academy… challenging in ways you didn’t expect.”
A drumming sensation pounded through Alaire.
“Is that a threat?” Her voice was calm, but her eyes sparkled. “Because it sounds like you’re trying to scare me, and if that’s the case, you’ll need to do better than that. It’s not like you’re telling me anything I don’t already know.”
He stepped closer, his presence oppressive.
“This place will chew you up and spit you out. You’re nothing but a spectacle—one we’ll soon grow tired of and stomp out on our way to bigger and better things. You don’t belong at Aeris Academy.”
Alaire leaned in, her shoulder brushing his chest as she bent close and murmured, “Here’s a little tip—don’t mistake my restraint for fear. I’m not the kind of woman who backs down. So if you and your shadow want to come for me, ensure you’re prepared for what follows.”
A sinful smile curved his lips. “It’ll be a pleasure to see this place tear you apart for me. I doubt you’ll last the month.”
Her heart jumped at his prediction, but she’d never give a fae the satisfaction of seeing her react.
“If you’re the bar for success around here, I’m sure I’ll have no problems.” Alaire grinned right back.
“Quiet,” Professor Ross warned, done with his sidebar with the headmaster.
Without another word, the broody fae and his shadow followed the rest of the veterans as they filed out of the hall.
Alaire let out a slow, deliberate sigh. “And here I thought this place would be boring,” she muttered to Kaia.
“Girl, you are so in over your head. Of all the people to antagonize, you went straight for Dawson Knox—the Prince of House Aetheris. And Caius Vale, his pet dog. They’re not brothers by blood, but they’re an inseparable pair all the same. Both are Aeris Academy’s most renowned fliers.”
Alaire shot a glare at her new acquaintance until Kaia finally added, “But I mean, I do love me an underdog.”
Of course he was a prince . She always had impeccable aim when it came to trouble.
When the door echoed shut, Headmaster Carth took his place back atop the stage. This time, though, he sat on the edge, facing the novices seated in one of the four tips of the diamond, legs dangling.
Smart—to make himself seem like one of them.
“Lying would be a disservice, and I won’t insult you in that way. Aeris Academy will test who you are at your core.” His gaze swept over the novices, widening in recognition when it landed on Alaire.
He knows exactly who I am.
“Monsters await you beyond our borders. How will you answer the call? What difference will you make?”
He clapped his hands on his thighs. “The decisions you make and what you learn here will help you shape that. However, first and foremost, Aeris Academy is an educational institution—one where you’ll learn, question, and study all aspects of society.”
Alaire looked down her row, surrounded by fae novices her age who’d spent their entire lives preparing for this moment, while she’d spent hers simply trying to survive. Most sat with squared shoulders—bred for this. Others fidgeted with their fingers, staring up at the impressive ceiling.
Headmaster Carth aimed to intimidate, and he was succeeding.
“During your first year at Aeris Academy, in addition to your classes, you will need to pass two trials. These are not mere examinations. They are competitions that will determine whether you advance to your second year or…” He paused, letting the implications settle.
“Find yourself pursuing other opportunities outside of Aeris Academy.”
Alaire’s spine straightened.
“Most elementals novices will participate in the same set of trials—ones designed to test not only magic ability, but also wit, loyalty, and strength of character. However, those bonded to Celestial Familiars will face entirely different challenges. Trials that will either forge you into Elithian’s elite fliers—or break you completely. ”
Alaire’s stomach clenched. She had no magic. She was an empty husk.
Already doomed to fail.
“ Make no mistake,” Headmaster Carth continued, “these trials have claimed lives before. The academy’s standards are absolute, and the trials will separate those destined for greatness from those who merely hoped for it.”
Whoops and cheers erupted in the crowd.
Kaia elbowed Alaire in the ribs. Ow .
Headmaster Carth’s voice rang through the grand chamber, echoing off the vaulted ceilings.
“True power derives from the courage to confront one’s vulnerability—to strip back the facade and reveal the raw, unvarnished truth of one’s soul.
Fear is a constant companion, shadowing every stride you take toward greatness.
You must not cower before it, for failure is merely a step toward success. ”
Each word seemed to hang in the air, a challenge and an invocation urging each listener to rise with a fierce and open heart.
Alaire’s heart lodged in her throat.
She’d keep her mask of snark and indifference exactly where it was, thank you very much. The last thing she needed was to give these noble bastards more ammunition.
But his words about trials nagged at her.
What exactly did they expect from someone without magic?
What tests awaited the woman who didn’t belong?