Chapter 31 #3
The mushrooms on her head are now long tendrils intertwined with budding caps sweeping over her shoulder.
I imagine it’s her take on a side braid.
“Sorry, the healers needed extra support today with all the injuries.” Kivi’s weary eyes flick to me with her last words.
Maybe I should have just let Calais eat Chet and Brock after all.
“Yay! I saved you some sparkling fermented tea for the toast.” Juniper cheers, her happiness springing petals from her hair, lilting on an invisible breeze, as she passes a flute full of a bubbling pink liquid to Kivi.
“Celestials Blessings, Juniper, and to our newly anointed Chivalry,” Kivi toasts.
We all clink our glasses in a resounding cheer. Smoky heat slides down my throat, igniting my taste buds with tingling desire. My tongue swirls, pondering if this is what S?las would taste like in my mouth.
Kissa punches through my molten thoughts, jostling me into S?las as she claws her way between Seraphina and me.
“So,” she purrs in barely a whisper, “am I finally free from the suffering scent of tension between you two?” She nods to S?las, whose back grazes mine with each breath as he speaks with Cinder.
“I don’t know what you’re on about.” I shift my weight away from him onto the table.
His fingers make a lazy gesture. Slow and deliberate. Rolled-up sleeves baring skin to brush against mine as he braces his arm on the table. Heat flushes my cheeks with the skin-to-skin sensation.
“Why would you think that?” Lifting my glass to gulp away the twitch of my lips, attempting to snap my reins of control. Regrettably, the smoky taste filling my mouth only stokes the flames singeing the fraying straps of my bridled restraint.
“Hmm… well, the giant cloud of shadows in the landing field was pretty conspicuous.” Kissa raises a knowing brow as I attempt to stifle my whole face from turning the color of Orion’s hair.
“I’d watch out for Winx if I were you. She combusted into furious flames at the sight of you swallowed up into his Shadowveil.
I know you’ve been dodging that conversation you need to have with her, but something tells me she’s not finished with you.
And definitely isn’t thrilled about someone else touching you.
” Kissa’s chartreuse eyes narrow on me with warning.
It’s hard to focus on her words as velvet tendrils of shadow lace around my ankles, continuing their course, curling up my legs.
Kissa doesn’t miss my pebbling skin in response.
She rolls her eyes, mumbling under her breath as she drains her drink, “I was hoping you two fucked this Ritherin-shit out of your systems. Anything more stays the fuck out of Zenith Wing. If this goes up in flames, you’ll burn all of us.
” Her fur bristles, tail whipping as she storms off to vent to Flint about my pathetic composure.
She’s absolutely right, of course; there’s too much at risk.
I need a distraction that isn’t tall, dark, and handsome.
It’s foolish of me to even consider trying to give in to what he wants.
His feelings for me, even if I could be all in, will only put our Zenith in danger.
He can’t be choosing me over a strategic move that saves the rest of our team in battle.
I need to snatch back my reins of control, unhitching the ominous weight of feeling things that require more of me than is safe to give.
“Kissa, perhaps a little chaotic distraction would do me some good?” I wink at her. She huffs in reply, realizing I’ll be causing trouble of a different sort by not heeding her warning.
I finish my last sip, bidding my delicious smoky drink farewell as the empty glass clinks onto the table, leaving him behind with it. Time to indulge in a fiery distraction that burns with less-frightening promises. The shadows coil tighter around my legs before letting me go as I step away.
I know my distraction will hurt him, but it’s for the good of our Zenith. Even if I want to try, failing would be utterly catastrophic for team dynamics.
“You seem to like to test the Fates. Chaos Magic suits you more than you realize.”
“Not now, Calais. Trust me, you’ll likely want to stay out of my head for the rest of the night.”
“I would hate to have a dragon come busting through the wall to ruin the mood.” Her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Smart ass.” I huff in return.
I prowl over to Winx, managing to grab two coupes from a serving tray along the way.
A new color scorches through her hair, back to violet, matching her eyes when her power flares, just like her dress.
It has a long slit up one leg and is entirely backless.
I take in the view as I walk up. I shift both the glasses to one hand, freeing the other to slide along the small of her back.
“A violet flame of beauty as always. Sparkling Moonwine?” I give Winx a sly smile as I motion the glasses her way. She takes one with delicate ease, her eyes flaring neon as she gazes over my new markings.
“I’m glad you’re finally taking my advice about your markings. I like the new ones, too, even if I don’t care for the company you walked in with.”
“Is that jealousy on those beautiful lips, Winx? You know it’s never suited you.”
“Oh, and why is that?” She pouts her violet-stained lips.
“Because your beauty and power burn every other female here,” I purr.
Her eyes flare to the rhythm of her accelerated pulse, signaling I’m on the right path as she sips her drink.
The music picks up, a slew of delightful string instruments.
The notes are warm, reminding me of the first days of blooming spring.
When the earth is cool beneath your skin while the sun warms your soul.
I close my eyes, letting my body gently sway to the beat as the voices of Winx, Tyranny, Rizz, and the others fade into the background.
A dainty tap to the back of my arm snaps me from the ballad like a misplayed chord.
“You never cease to keep us on the edge, whether it’s destroying every target in the Warded Hollow or bonding the largest dragon in Cascara.
Do tell—what’s the next scandal for our beloved Savaé?
” Rizz pries, his pink hair swirled into a neat dollop at the crown of his head.
Eccentric slate eyes shimmer above a crescent-moon smile, hanging on a cliff’s edge, awaiting a bold response to rival his attire.
A sly plot weaves through my mind as I take in his dapper white waistcoat frosted with pink velvet florals.
“Hopefully convincing you to ask Flint Rockwell to dance.”
I lean in, chin perching on my knuckles, head titled with a coy smile hooking up, basking in the blush sketching his high cheekbones.
“Oh, stars. I do say, it’s never a dull moment with you around.
” Flustered, Rizz adjusts the high collar of his blazer.
“I keep begging Winx to keep you close. Flint is quite a sight to behold. Hmm.” He taps his chin with a lacquered finger.
“I may just take you up on that challenge.” He throws me a wink before finishing his last sip of liquid courage.
The walls of my glacial palace chest fracture a little under the undeniable warmth of watching Rizz sashay over to Flint. I didn’t think marble could blush, but Flint’s chiseled cheeks prove me wrong. His face pinching with a bashful smile.
I bite my bottom lip as I watch my friend nervously take Rizz’s hand. With the way Flint’s body moves during sparring, I have no doubt he’ll be a vicious partner on the dance floor.
Winx lashes a wary gaze at Rizz with Flint, ever the protector of her beloved cousin. I’m more than happy to distract her so Flint has the chance to enjoy himself unshackled from her looming wildfire.
“Speaking of dancing…” I extend out my hand in front of Winx. “Will you grant me this Celestial Blessing?”
“Gladly. My gift is yours.” Winx places her hand in mine as we saunter to the dance floor together.
The music quickens, reminding me of a midsummer sun shower. I let the melody seep into my bones, washing away my worries in the flood.
We twirl and swirl, smiling and laughing as we continue to drink more and more Moonwine. I swear the glasses are enchanted to never empty. I’m as carefree as I was flying with Calais, wind spinning through my hair.
I gaze over Winx’s shoulder, savoring the smile on Flint’s face as he spins Rizz around. Kivi is swaying next to Atlas while Juniper and Fenwick prance in a circle holding hands, dancing to a beat entirely their own.
I find S?las splayed in a chair with a bright red liquid swirling in his glass. Tyranny is practically dancing in his lap. He has a devilish grin painted on his face, but I see through his mask. There is boredom in his eyes as he stares off into the distance.
As the song changes to a slower pace, I tug Winx tightly into my arms. A part of me wonders what it would feel like to dance with S?las. To feel his closeness in an intimate moment, to actually let myself indulge a connection that is more than physical lust.
It’s something I’m afraid I’ll never know.
To be held like I am something precious. To be loved, unconditionally. Just as I am. A safe place where I can shed the weight of all my invisible armor, left pooling on the floor as I let myself rest my weary soul and just be.
Yet I can’t make sense of how he or anyone could possibly love my wretched, mosaic mess. My shattered edges only serve to sever and shred, flaying and hacking anyone who tries to hold me gently, leaving them raw and bloody. Just as the world has left me.
I’m still bleeding on jagged, broken bits I’ve barely reconstructed. Each sliver I manage to snap together is met with the haunting echo that continues to shackle my soul.
You can never love or be loved…You beckon darkness to consume everything you hold dear.
Every time those words claw at my resolve, another layer of black frost is summoned to creep across the thorny glacial palace of my heart. I cannot beckon darkness if I hold no one dear… if I refuse to let anyone into my heart.
I paint a charming smirk across my lips, hiding what lurks beneath the glittering cage of my gilded markings.
I dip Winx, plucking a beautiful laugh from her lips.
Drinking in the sound, heady with the sensation of positively too much sparkling Moonwine.
I bring her up, dusting her neck in kisses topped with a small nibble.
Violet fires blaze brightly around blown pupils as they lock onto my shimmering gold and obsidian irises.
The next thing I know, her lips are on mine. Chaotic trouble indeed.
My power rumbles beneath my skin, knowing the repercussion of my choices, almost feeding off it. It calls to me, wanting to be released, craving ruination. Yet there’s something different to it now. It’s as though I can feel the chaos beyond destruction.
The subtle hum of creation.