Chapter 45 #2
My teeth sink into my bottom lip, struggling to stifle the trembling terror lashing down the bond from Calais, eclipsing my worry of any possibility of losing S?las.
I get that this is not good news, but everyone in my mind is freaking out more than is necessary. We are safe at this location.
Suddenly, I’m smacked with why they might be so terrified, blurting out, “Which strongholds were attacked?”
Professor Gloomnight’s face pales. “Strongholds: Dragon Spire, Emerald Lake Tower, and Raeya’s Stronghold.”
I swallow. Kissa’s hand clasps mine, claws darting out to nip at my skin as the mauve fur bristles on her arm.
Those are not strongholds deep in the thick of the Blackwood. They’re the smallest bases, along the tendrils of the Blackwood closest to Gildorea.
This is no longer a war we bring to them, but one they are waging at our doorstep. They’ve never overstretched themselves to coordinate such a large assault so far from the heart of the Blackwood. Whatever they’re looking for is here on campus.
“Do we have any theories on what they are looking for?” an ensign I don’t recognize asks.
“It’s obviously something near or within Gildorea. This may even be a distraction. Their real target could be the sacred nesting grounds deep within our section of the Mysticwoods,” Professor Gloomnight responds.
Calais and Scáil’s eggs. That must be why she’s so terrified. Luckily, they are hidden and safe.
“Now, I want to hear from you all. How might we prevent an attack like this in the future?”
“We should have more Scouting Rogues patrolling the corrupted Blackwood nearby so we can have a warning of an oncoming attack,” Eko suggests.
“The Runic Engineers can work on the wards to create an early warning system along the borderlands, like we have here at Universitás,” Gearin adds in.
“Both great suggestions. Ones we already have in the works,” Professor Gloomnight encourages.
A sigh of relief escapes me. There are powerful wards protecting the campus and the Mysticwoods.
It’s why the temperature is always perfect.
My thoughts slip to the storm of chaos I released on the northern field; thankfully, I didn’t drawn their attention to us.
A shudder skips down the bonds that I don’t understand. I guess he hasn’t thought about how we could have been attacked last night either.
Several other students suggest ideas, and Professor Gloomnight notes how they’ll be pulling Knights from other areas to reinforce the strongholds closer to campus. Which means some of our classes will be shifted this week due to their absence until the new wards are up.
Our next class is Warrior Physics, which flies by. Then we have Defensive Magic, which focuses on ways to strengthen our mental shields and how different types of magic can be used to create a physical shield. Finally, we cover advanced protection wards.
We all have access to elemental magic. We can create temporary shields of water, air, fire, and earth, but we can only wield one type of magic at a time.
I wonder if I can create a shield from my Chaos Magic.
I doubt it, given it only ever wants to break things apart.
However, it will be extremely advantageous if I can physically shield and wield my destructive power simultaneously.
“Tomorrow morning, we can wake up early, and I’ll let you practice physical shielding against me in the Warded Hollow.” S?las’ smoky voice in my mind almost makes me jolt in my seat. Kissa notices me tense and gives me a long look before focusing back on the professor.
“And what if my magic rips you apart?”
“Shadows are absence. There is nothing for your magic to destroy,” he muses.
I can’t help how his shadows felt like anything but absence last night.
He lets a low growl curl around my mind. My skin instantly heats, remembering that sound rumbling against my neck and in my mouth.
Kissa’s glaring at me, and Eko whips his head around to sling me a scowl too, nostrils flaring at the lust radiating off us. The combination of their varying shades of bright green eyes pinning me down zaps the heat from my blood.
I can’t even think of cold showers after feeling S?las’ bliss as my own this morning.
Fuck.
I take a deep breath. Recalling the nights of sleeping outside, ice frosting my bones, dread coiling inside of me, wishing I had a safe home with a family who loved me.
Sadness and anger radiate through the black velvet ribbons, threading tighter on my wrists. I forgot he can feel my memories.
I’m overcome with exhaustion from having too many beings around me and in my head.
I need to be outside. Alone in the fresh air, where I can think clearly.
It’s hard to breathe realizing I won’t ever be alone again.
I’m now essentially bonded to two beings, even if I haven’t accepted the Fated mate bond.
It’s not like I can ever reject it and kill someone who doesn’t deserve it.
His regret seeps down the ribbons at my thought.
I can tell the last thing he wants is my pity regarding something he accepted.
I wonder if he realized the consequences when he did.
How could he have possibly known? The last-known Fated mate bond outside of magical creatures was over five hundred years ago.
“Knowing the consequences of my decision would have not changed my choice.” His words a mere whisper. Well, now I know he’s positively mad. I can’t understand how he could just accept something like that without knowing more.
The bells chime, masking my grumbling stomach ready for lunch.
I walk up the steps, surprise snipping at me when S?las drifts farther away with each step.
I turn around to see him talking with Atlas.
I tug on the ribbons wrapped around my wrists in my mind.
I can feel the worry he’s trying to block from me.
I swallow the anger threatening to rise with the fact that he’s blocking me. Again.
I blink, and immediately, he’s by my side.
“I’m sorry. I did it without thinking. We were discussing the attack.” His hand makes its way to the small of my back, guiding me to walk. I don’t want to walk. I want to know why he felt the urge to block me out again.
“He asked me to stay in the penthouse with you, regardless of whether you decide to accept the mated bond or not. He said it would be safer for both of us to be together. He asked me if I am strong enough to do so. I didn’t want you to feel my answer.”
“And what answer was that?”
“I told him I don’t know.” His hand threads through his messy raven waves. “It’s harder now to control myself after last night. Especially with your shields down and me feeling your every thought.”
I gaze up at his eyes, storming with shadows once more. I can feel his confliction: wanting to keep me safe and the fear of losing control.
“What would happen if you lost control?”
“I would make the choice for you regarding our bond.”
The air is seized from my lungs, suffocating me. I really had no idea how reckless I had been last night. I gasp, comprehending just how much he could have taken from me without my knowledge.
But he didn’t.
He could have ended all his suffering and had all of me, but he is letting me choose. The world falls from beneath my feet. His arm tightens around my hip, reminding me we’re still in an auditorium with other ensigns who are trying to get around us.
My hand reaches for his, a profound sense of gratitude waving through me. I don’t have all the power in the choice of this bond, but he has gifted it to me anyway.
He stays right by my side as we walk to the dining hall. I fill up my plate and scurry outside. I need a break from everyone, and I theorize Pip growing wings overnight makes him as hungry as I am.
I hide in the shadow of Sully’s statue, sharing my plate with Pip, who inhales the food.
A laugh bubbles up at the sight of him. He chirps happily, wings fluttering with excitement.
I notice his colors have changed. It isn’t just his wings that are blue; there are shades of purple and yellow streaking through his scales now.
Everything is changing overnight.
My eyes drift up to the statue of Sully. I wonder if he’s disappointed in me for failing to heed his warning. He couldn’t have possibly known he is my mate.
My mate.
The words are foreign and familiar all at once. I know Sully wouldn’t have asked me to stay away from him if he knew. He always wanted me to be happy. After all, that’s why he trained me to be an Ellian Knight—even though he didn’t want me to be one.
I still wonder why that’s the case. So far, nothing seems suspicious here. Maybe he found the opulence here as ridiculous as I do. I am sure he’d agree we could do with less and lower the taxes for the working folks of Cascara. I guess I will never truly know.