Chapter 27
The raucous dining hall is alive with the thrill of the Celestial Bonding event dawning tomorrow and the party to celebrate after.
As we walk into the room, silence falls. Ensigns give me an unusually large berth, refusing to make eye contact with me. Fae I know and don’t know alike.
“Fucking freak. I didn’t realize being a grim reaper was considered a Celestial Gift,” Chet condemns loudly for everyone to hear.
Swiftly, S?las positions himself between me and Chet while Flint comes around to protect my other side.
I notice Seraph walking close at my back, while Atlas and Kivi lead the front.
Gearin, Highin, Fenwick, Juniper, Eko, Orion, and Cinder fill in the gaps.
Kissa walks right next to me, holding my hand.
They create a living shield around me. Normally, I’d be irritated by being protected; instead, their proximity is grounding, comforting, allowing me to retreat into the shadows their bodies cast. Despite their unwavering support, I’m still grappling to block out the terror of my Chaos Magic.
“She’s more like a walking curse. Maybe you should let her have Winx after all. Jinx and Winx has a nice ring to it,” sneers Brock. Chet’s face twists in disagreement, elbowing Brock hard in the gut for that comment.
“Looks like Zenith Wing just went from our leading asset to our ultimate liability,” Lorgan denounces with a chuckle that grows boisterous as the adjacent males join in.
A blur surrounds Kissa, her form shifting into an enormous Chimera, colored in turquoise fur and a sienna mane. Towering horns pierce out from her head, mirrored by elongated fangs extending beneath her maw. A long black tail ending with the head of a snake snaps at Chet’s neck.
“Say one more fucking word, and half of Nadir Wing will be in need of replacement,” Kissa roars, shaking the faerie chandeliers overhead, splattering Lorgan in thick, dripping saliva.
The color drains from their faces. Victus and Draven actually jolt up and run for the door.
Another haze whips around Kissa as she returns to her natural form.
Even the quiet Highin extends his wings to them, creating a giant gust that causes their plates to blow off the table, shattering on the floor.
“Ya hear that? Ya mess with one of us, you mess with the whole fuckin’ lot of us.
Don’t tempt me with the fun of spilling your blood on these floors.
The white marble could use a little color.
” Seraphina cuts the entire room with her glare, battle axes raised in each hand.
She chuckles, sheathing them along her back.
We sit down at the table. Instead of sitting tall, I want to crumple into the shadows, and my team seems to sense it.
“Savaé, your Aura’s a fucking mess. I’ll drop off a grounding crystal to your room after dinner. It’ll help you focus on one emotion at a time,” Orion whispers. I can’t even rally the words to tell her I had been focusing on one emotion when I obliterated every target in the Warded Hollow.
“There’s a reason this magic was gifted to you. You are appropriately terrified of its immense potential,” Atlas astutely remarks.
“I shudder to think what someone like Chet would do with that kind of power. It picked the right being; we all know it!” Fenwick gleams. I can’t argue with either of their points, but nonetheless, it still feels like a curse.
The universe and the Fates are certainly laughing at me in their endless ploy to see me break.
Part of me wants to give up and crumble, but as I behold the smiling faces of my Zenith, I know I have to be strong for them. I can’t fail them. Not after everything they have done for me. Unlike what S?las asks of me, this is another skill I can master. Just like all the rest.
My resolve cracks, a seam splintering in the glacial palace, letting enough light in to melt the icy thorns; even the black ice retreats. I sit up straight in my seat, throwing them a devilish grin.
“Ladies and gents, I do believe Savaé is back in the game.” Seraph raises her powder-blue, tattooed arm in a cheer, her matching war braids tumbling behind her.
“And she’s ready to play.” S?las winks with a smug grin. I swear the sadness melts from his eyes for just a moment.
“So, who’s volunteering first for early morning training?” I ask with a newfound determination.
They all let out an exhausted moan before erupting into laughter.
“Why do you have to be such a morning person? We need our beauty sleep.” Vex pouts.
“Vex, when have you ever made it to morning training with her? You have always convinced someone else to take your rotation.” Orion throws her a side-eyed accusation.
“It’s hard work looking this beautiful all the time. Something the rest of you mangey lot clearly don’t appreciate.” Vex flips her mane of perfect black curls around her curved matching horns.
She isn’t wrong. We all look a little worse for wear after a day of training, but not a single black curl is ever out of place on her red head, and her makeup is always flawless. I guess being a Infernai from Emberhell, she has a higher tolerance for breaking a sweat than the rest of us.
“Fuck it, I volunteer. At least with my Visci abilities, if you shatter me into a bunch of water molecules, there’s hope I can put myself back together again.
” Seraph chuckles as she smacks me in the back.
My laugh’s a little more nervous in response.
Would she even be able to put herself back together again afterward?
“First things first: Zenith Chivalry must bond their magical creatures,” Atlas levels.
Gearin’s lips curl into a smile beneath his imperial mustache.
“Then we work on controlling that which, at its very nature, cannot be controlled. However, I have just the rune in mind that may blunt your powers a bit while you’re learning to control them, making them more manageable as you learn the mechanics.
” His white dreadlocks are worn down today instead of his typical ponytail.
The gold-dipped ends glimmering against the deep tones of his skin.
“Thanks for giving me hope, Gearin. You always have something up your sleeve.” I toss him a side smile.
My tastebuds erupt as I scarf down savory meat stew and several small cakes before shoveling a few into a napkin for Pip.
We make our way out of the dining hall into the Grand Conservatory before splitting off to head to our rooms. I walk with Juniper wrapped around one arm and Fenwick around the other. The hairs on my neck lift ever so slightly, telling me S?las is keeping his distance but still around.
My door shuts, and I soak in the peace and quiet of my room. I unravel the napkin on my desk as the ravenous little orange dragon swallows up the food like he has never been fed.
“I wish you were bigger and had wings. Then we could be bonded and fly through the skies together.”
Pip tilts his head so far to the side in response, I think it might just fall off his neck.
“I know it’s a silly idea, but we’re already such a good team. You’re my family. It’ll be strange being bonded to a different creature instead of you. Plus, then I could hear your thoughts.”
He tilts his head to the opposite side now, no doubt thinking I’m crazy.
“Who am I kidding? I already know what I’ll hear. Endless conversations about food and when our next meal is.” I chuckle.
He licks the remaining crumbs off his face, confirming my hypothesis.
I remove my battle leathers and the tight cloth that binds my breasts.
For once, opting for a silky nightgown left boxed on my bed a few weeks ago.
There was no letter saying who it was from, but I imagine Winx left it for me.
I can’t envision the hulking frame of S?las walking through a shop of dainty lacy things.
The silk on my skin reminds me of the conversation I need to finally have with Winx.
I’m utterly spent from the long day that started well before dawn. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m out.