Chapter 25 #2
Just before I hit the ground, I’m suddenly grasped between giant white claws that meet iridescent scales.
It’s an enormous dragon with four feathered wings, just like the one who flew above Estrella.
Up close, I can see her large crescent-moon-shaped horns, almost kissing at the top, making an incomplete circle.
Multiple spikes make up the crown framing her face.
Lightning radiates all around us as we soar.
Her deep raspy voice booms in my head. “Not yet, Nebulight.”
The sound of the dragon’s voice echoes in my head, awakening me from the dream.
My heart thumps wildly against my chest, remembering the wicked, fanged smile on the mysterious female’s face, deep within the Blackwood.
She’s stunning, with an ominous draw to her, an indescribable pull.
As if, had the dragon not caught me, the female would have.
Which is absolute madness, because I would have left an enormous crater in my wake falling at such a speed.
The beautiful, iridescent dragon was larger than any other I’ve ever seen fly over me in the sky. Her size would dwarf the more common breeds. Not that dragons are as common as they once were.
I peer at my Rune Tech alarm to see it’s not set to go off for several more hours.
I decide rather than trying to fall back to sleep, I’ll rouse one of my neighbors to run off the adrenaline scorching through my veins.
I think back to the rotation. I believe it’s Juniper’s turn.
I appreciate that the friendliest of our team got stuck with rooms next to mine.
They were likely just too nice to say no.
I get dressed quickly. Brushing my hair from the twisting and turning of the night. Pip has already jumped on my arm, ready for the day. I guess my bad dream woke him up too.
I open the door, and to my surprise, S?las is leaning against the wall. I’ve never seen him stay this late, although I guess he may have just arrived. It’s hard to tell with the heavy shadows that hang under his eyes. The look he is going for certainly doesn’t shout well-rested.
His eyes widen, drinking up the surprise sight of me.
“Monsters keeping you up?” I whisper.
“They seem to have found their way into your head as well.” His voice wraps around my body like smoke. I suck in my breath at the sensation.
“I was going to wake Juniper to train with me… I bet she’d be thankful if you took her place, since you’re already awake?”
“Are you sure you can handle being that close to me? Lately, you seem to avoid my company,” he quips.
Quite strategically, in fact. I needed some space to heal the wound he kept picking at.
“Psh, you are literally always around me, whether I like it or not. I, for one, have been focused and not giving in to the little mind games you love to play with me. So do you want to train or not?”
“Are you not at all concerned that you have not manifested your Celestial Gift? The bonding event is awfully close.”
My eyes narrow on him, his ice blue gaze piercing deep into my chest. Sometimes, they’re difficult to look at, as though the shadows swirling within might pluck me right off the ledge and I’ll never stop falling. But with my blood brimming with adrenaline, I hold my stance and square my shoulders.
“It’s been weeks since I let that slip to you. How are you so sure that’s still the case?”
“I’m more than a Shadowmancer. I am the shadows themselves. They whisper to me. I see everything hidden beneath the umbra.”
“Where was that ability when I was getting ganged up on by four males?” I mumble under my breath.
He clenches his jaw and then dips his head low in defeat.
“Maybe your shadows missed it. The Warded Hollow is well lit after all.” I shrug.
“I’ve been watching you in Combat Magic. I’ve never once seen you use a magic that is unique to you.”
“Well, maybe my magic is just being good at every kind of elemental magic.” I huff, knowing even I don’t believe the words I’m saying.
“You’re wound up so tight, trying to control yourself rigid, rather than feeling any emotion.
It’s no wonder your Celestial Gift hasn’t been able to break through.
You keep yourself barricaded to the world.
You’re likely blocking out the very emotions that would let you wield your magic.
” He’s now pacing before me. “I’m willing to bet that, on the first day of classes, when you were past your breaking point and finally lost some semblance of control, that’s when your magic was released. ”
I don’t do feeling. Feeling is messy. Feeling is what led me to being vulnerable with him in the first place. And a whole lot of good that did me!
I deflect with a scoffed lie. “Manipulation of objects is hardly a unique and powerful magic. We all have that ability. Plus, magic is not supposed to be tied solely to your emotions.”
“It was something much more than manipulation magic or even telekinesis. I felt the waves of power cascading off you in the hallway earlier that day.”
“Let me guess,” I say, continuing sarcastically in air quotes, trying to mimic his smoky mysterious voice, “‘You have your theories’ on what my unique magic is?”
“First of all, my voice is much sexier than that. And of course I do. I’ve discussed them at length with Atlas. Not that you’ll believe me, but he concurs.”
“You’re obnoxious, you know that? Why are you just now telling me this?”
“I told you. You just haven’t been listening to me.”
“Not this again. You have barely spoken a word to me in weeks. In fact, I take back my invitation to train with me. I’m going to get Juniper.” I wave at him dismissively, heading for Juniper’s door.
Then a whirling mass of shadows unfurls in front of me, revealing S?las conveniently blocking my path as he leans his shoulder against the wall beside me.
“And ruin all my fun? Come on. I want to take you somewhere. An experiment much more important than sparring, which we already know you’re deadly at.”
“A fun experiment with you sounds like the very definition of a bad idea,” I snarl.
“Live a little, Savaé,” he purrs. The sound of my name on his lips whips another ray of light, sneaking through the glacial walls, right into my heart, shifting its shape a little, giving it life to beat a little more steady. My chest tightens, holding on to the morsel of light.
I close my eyes and sigh, wondering how that will come back to bite me later.
“Fine,” I agree sourly and against my better judgement.
But I know there’s no way Juniper will wake up this early to go anywhere with me, so he’s all I have to distract me from my nightmares.
If there’s some chance he’s right, I guess my heart will be a worthy sacrifice to complete my dream of becoming an Ellian Knight.
I follow him out to the edge of the Mysticwoods. The cold winter air bites at my skin beneath my magical cloak, blending me into the shadows of the early morning before the sun has woken. The moon is almost full; we don’t even need fire magic to light our way.
He moves with long, tall strides, one with the night. I can hardly keep up as he leaps amongst the shadows.
Suddenly, his hands are on my shoulders, bracing me to a halt. The warmth of his touch fans the embers, relighting them aflame. I try to push the feeling right out my favorite window.
“Stop.” His words are a daring command.
“Stop what?” I enquire. I have indeed stopped moving.
“Stop pushing away your feelings.”
“How do you know what I’m feeling? I don’t feel your Persuasive powers at work.”
“Celestials, you’re terrible at listening, even when I use my words aloud.
In the shadows of the night, I become the shadows.
I open myself up to my feelings to sense everything around me.
I can feel the shadows whispering to me, allowing me to sense things deeply, especially in the dark.
Just as I can sense the creatures as they move in the woods, I can sense your feelings here, as you are drenched in the umbra of the forest. Or better yet, your lack of feelings.
Shadowmancing is rare. You’re the only one who knows I can do this, knows the secret of my Celestial Gift.
My ability to sense people’s emotions when enveloped in shadows.
So, I’ve told you one of my secrets. Now, trust me. Close your eyes.”
“This feels like a rather invasive experiment.”
“Close your eyes, and stop talking.” His glare deepens with shadows.
I suppose he did tell me a rather revealing secret.
Perhaps I can let my guard down a little.
Especially if he and Atlas are right about my powers.
Although I don’t like the idea of his shadows whispering nothings about me alone in my bedroom.
I guess I’ll be sleeping with the lights on from now on.
He continues to glare at me, tilting his head slightly with a curve to the corner of his lips. Challenging me with his request.
“Fine.” I huff and obey, closing my eyes. I shift uneasily as the golden light wall of my mental shields falls.
I let the feeling of his touch sink in instead of rolling it off.
Indulging the feeling effortlessly sends my pulse skittering as his muscular, tattooed hands grasp my shoulders tighter.
His thumbs skim down my arms, finding their target of bare skin beneath my cloak.
His index fingers gently shifting in small rhythmic circles.
The touch is so faint, I can hardly feel it, leaving me craving more.
“Stay focused only on what you are feeling right now,” he whispers.
I squint one eye open to see a smug half-smile on his face, but his eyes are shut. Mine flutter shut again. I soak in the rhythmic circles on my skin, the warmth of his body close to mine.