Chapter 52 #2
I’ve shattered her heart, and she’s trying to fix things in her own fucked-up, broken way. She really believes killing him will send me running back to her.
“If you kill him, it will kill me.” Terror constricts my heart admitting our weakness aloud for everyone in the dining hall to hear, including Chet. This puts us and our team in real fucking danger. Yet my friends don’t balk, my entire Zenith standing in defense around us.
Fenwick casts a golden light shield around us, blocking out the rest of the conversation from prying ears.
Seraphina’s water works in tandem with S?las’ shadows to snuff out the flames binding him.
I focus my Chaos Magic, separating the oxygen from the air around her flames that tighten on him, starving them from fuel until he’s finally free.
I catch Kivi from the corner of my eye, quickly working to heal his wounds. I’m too afraid to fully look or run to him with Winx casting her full well of power at her fingertips.
Winx’s serrated screech frays the air, blasting a shock wave of flames at all of us.
I unleash a wall of chaotic destruction, devouring every particle of her power; not even heat makes it through my shield.
I consume it all greedily, my magic vibrating with the extra surge of power.
To my knowledge, no one can consume magic but a Siphon.
They can wield the magic they consumed. However, my power devours magic and chaos alike, adding to my strength in a different way than a Siphon.
My darkness bucks and thrashes, lashing against my ribs, howling to be unleashed. An insatiable hunger seeking gory vengeance for hurting my mate. I grit my teeth, refusing its pleas. I’ve already hurt her enough.
My Chaos Magic spreads out, changing the structure of air around her, depriving it of oxygen. Her screech cleaves to a choking gasp as her flames wither away. Crumpling to her knees, struggling for air, which I release back to fill her lungs.
I kneel down beside her, lifting her head up to see her eyes pooling with tears.
“You love him, don’t you?” she whimpers.
“I think I do,” I whisper.
“I could see it in your eyes when I pulled him away from you. It’s why I lost my mind …
and control.” Her head dips in regret. “I’m sorry.
I just feel things so intensely sometimes…
It’s so easy to give in to the flames. It hurts so much to see him give you what I wanted to.
” Silver tears paint her beautiful face.
“He is my Fated mate, Winx. There’s nothing you could have done. I would’ve ended up breaking your heart either way,” I whisper, hoping the truth will ease her pain.
Her mouth gapes, closing and opening several times before finding her words.
“I never stood a chance, then.” She looks down with defeat before meeting my eyes once again. “How is that even possible?”
“I am starting to learn it’s unwise to question the Fates.
It seems, even with the loss of the Celestials, they still have the power to give this gift.
We’re connected at the soul; we both die without the other.
The bond pulls us together. It’s unbearable without his presence.
It’s why it’s so easy for me to be touched by him, even in public.
It wasn’t that something was wrong with you.
But what’s between me and him, it’s different.
Our connection is unlike anything I could ever put into words. ”
“Well. I guess it turns out he does have something I can never give you,” she scoffs.
I laugh in response. “Yeah, and it’s not something between his legs.” I wink. I do everything in my power not to think about what’s between his legs. I don’t want to send Winx spiraling again.
Fenwick pops into her light, bubbled around us. “Are you two okay?”
Winx wipes the tears from her face, and I stand up, offering a hand to help her do the same.
“Not really.” Winx tries to muster a smile but fails. “I suppose there’s no chance for us now.”
“As friends, there still is. Now your heart has the chance to move on, and I hope you find someone that matches the fury of your love. You deserve all of that and more.” I smile sweetly.
She gives me a side eye before bowing her head and fiddling with her hands nervously.
“Sorry for convincing Chet to help me suppress S?las’ shadows.
He figured out that smearing his poison on someone without piercing their skin can suppress their magic for about thirty minutes.
Not take it away, but weaken it. In my desperation, I said I’d finally give in to fucking him if he helped me.
You probably think I’m a horrible person now.
” I expect shame to pool in her violet eyes, but instead, they’re just empty.
“You are fucking wild.” I chuckle, trying to cheer her up.
With a knuckle under her chin, I lift her gaze back to mine.
She rips her face away, and I sigh. “I’m sorry I hurt you so badly, it pushed you to do these terrible things.
I’m in a forgiving mood. Why don’t we just start over and forget about this whole thing? ”
“Really?” Winx’s jaw drops, mirroring Fenwick’s expression. Apparently, everyone thought I was going to handle this quite differently.
“Really. But if you come after my mate again, I won’t be so forgiving a second time.” I shoot Winx a knowing look, causing her to audibly swallow.
“You put my magic—at full power—out so easily. I think I’d rather not know what your wrath looks like.” She shifts her weight nervously at the thought.
“But friends is good!” Fenwick chimes in, trying to ease the new tension.
I smile at them both. “Yes, friends is good.” I pause, feeling the profound ache in my chest. “I need to check on S?las. This bond is threatening to rip me apart if I’m not near him after you hurt him.
Please, do me one last thing: do not tell Chet about this.
He already wants me dead, and I can’t have him knowing that taking out my mate is just another way to get what he wants. ”
“I promise. I don’t want to have to deal with that either.” She nods and then turns to walk away. Fenwick lowers her shield, freeing us.
Everyone in the dining hall is staring at me. I snarl at them to kindly fuck off, and they quickly go back to doing anything but looking at me. I may have a weak spot for S?las and my Zenith, but I’m happy to keep everyone else afraid of me, especially if it keeps him safe.
I rush over to S?las, cupping his face in my hands as I look him over.
“I’m fine. Kivi pulled the poison from me and healed the burns. I can’t say I’m not proud of how you wielded your magic with perfect control. I guess we’ll have more time to ourselves to do other things now that you won’t be needing early-morning training sessions anymore.” He winks.
I smack him, then crash my lips into his violently.
“What was that for?” He raises his hand to his cheek.
“For reminding me of the frustration you left me with this morning.” I smirk, and he smiles in response.
“As much as I enjoy seeing her smack a wink right off your smug face, we need to get to the field for training,” Seraphina says. “Unless you’re going to keep slapping him because fuck it, I’ll grab some more food and stay for the show.”
“It’s best not to indulge her, or she’ll be finding her way into our room hoping to be a third.” S?las tilts his head towards Seraph, suggesting that’s something he’s experienced before.
“Celestials, you’re no fucking fun since ya found her.” She waves her tattooed arms up in the air as her blue war braids whip around her, turning towards the door. I let my thoughts wander, exploring what a night like that would entail between the two of them.
He pulls my body back into his with a possessive grip of my hips, growling along my neck.
“Easy with those wicked thoughts of yours. You’ve lost your mind if you think I’m willing to share you when you won’t even let me have all of you yet.”
Indeed, a wicked smile curves on my lips. “Leave me wanting like you did this morning, and maybe I’ll find myself warming someone else’s bed.”
He draws me in closer, the hard length of him grinding along my center. He bites into my neck, ripping a moan from my lips.
“You wouldn’t fucking dare. But just in case, I left a visible mark so everyone knows you are mine,” he purrs with violence.
“Feeling extra possessive today, aren’t you? I think everyone already knows that, especially after I saved you.” A sarcastic grin curling on my face.
“I’m not ashamed to be saved by you. I loved watching you master your power with ease to protect me.
Honestly, it fucking turned me on. You did it so effortlessly.
It’s beautiful to see you so uninhibited.
And don’t think I couldn’t hear your thoughts through that shield.
” His smug smile tugs at his lips against my skin, but it does nothing to stop me from stiffening in response.
“Savaé Entropaé actually thinks she might be in love with me,” he croons as he kisses the sore spot on my neck, a bruise already blooming. One I have no intention of healing with Sangre magic.
“It makes sense now why the bond has been acting so ferociously today. I was losing my mind holding myself back while you were in the shield with Winx, but I knew that conversation needed my absence to happen.” He lays another kiss on my neck before continuing, “I’m proud of you, for forgiving her.
I know how hard it is to fight the bond’s urge to protect.
That night in the Mysticwoods, when Lorgan had you, I thought I was going to destroy the entire forest holding myself back. ”
I hadn’t even thought about how hard that must have been for him, nor do I have time to now as the bells chime overhead. Shit.
“Don’t worry.” He smirks as we become shrouded in shadows. My stomach flips as we appear next to our dragons on the field.
I shove him away, annoyed, realizing he could have done that this morning, leaving more time rather than having us walk to class.
“That definitely wouldn’t have been enough time, and you know it.”
I roll my eyes in response. It’s annoying when he’s right.
I glide on air magic, mounting Calais.
“You two certainly took your time swooning over each other. I see he enjoys shamelessly marking up my rider, as well,” Calais barks in my head.
I laugh in response. “I thought you’d finally be happy I’m no longer fighting this bond.”
“I’ll be happy when you are no longer tempting the wrath of the Fates by only partially accepting the bond. I don’t enjoy unpredictable magic playing with the life of my rider,” Calais snaps as we take off.
I smile, wind rushing through my hair. I’m more alive and freer than I’ve ever been before.
“You’re glowing again. And it’s not because of me. I’d be jealous if you didn’t look so breathtakingly beautiful,” S?las purrs along my mind.
I look down—I am glowing, rays of pastel rainbows shimmering around me.
“As much as I enjoy seeing you shine, Luxsula, you’re going to need to know how to control that, or you’ll be a beacon on the battlefield.” Worry needling S?las’ words.
I dream up a better idea. It settles on my skin like a second layer as I rip apart the water molecules of the clouds. The mist coats my skin, floating all around me. Every molecule. Then something in me shifts.
I become unbound.
My essence leaking out, forging new polar bonds. I swirl through the air, gliding over Calais’ wings, twirling in ribbons along her tail.
“Where the fuck did you go? I can sense you, but I can’t see you.” There’s panic in S?las’ voice, fear radiating from all three of them.
“I'm right here, flying with Calais,” I say sweetly. Hiding the sarcasm in my voice, torturing them just a little longer.
“All I see is mist,” S?las responds.
“Exactly. I’m no longer a beacon. I’m hidden but still radiating my light within each water molecule.”
“That’s not possible. Even Seraph can’t do that, and she’s one of the most powerful Visci.”
“You told me to dream, and I am. Nothing is impossible anymore.” I drift down, swirling around him, leaving a subtle dampness on his skin.
He smiles, lifting his hand, spreading his fingers through the mist, through me.
“Look at you, having fun. I hope you can rematerialize in time to cast your magic. I can see the targets up ahead.”
“A Fated mate bond chooses those who are equal in every way. Now she’s showing off as much as you, S?las,” Calais grumbles, but I don’t miss the undertow of happiness.
I wish I could enjoy this new experience longer, but I’m excited to see what my magic can do now that I’m one with power rather than fearful of it.
I rematerialize without another thought. My eyes gaze over my body, happy to find everything where it should be.
“Do you feel exhausted after that stunt?” S?las inquires.
My power crackles along my skin with an entirely new zeal, no longer feeling shackled.
“I feel like I’m finally awake, like a shroud I didn’t even know existed was holding me back. Now that it’s gone, my power feels… limitless.” I smile confidently.
My words a claiming.
Curiosity coils down our bond. S?las doesn’t seem to know what to make of me in this moment.
Targets moving on the ground and whizzing through the air come into view. I wonder if I can use the mist to blink into different locations. The way S?las can Shadowwalk.
“Let’s not try that here. Maybe another time, when Scáil doesn’t have his own rider to mind so he can catch you if I am not fast enough,” Calais remarks with an unusual gentleness to her raspy voice that I can’t disobey.
“Look at you admitting who the faster dragon is.” I smirk as she grumbles beneath my thighs.
I release my Chaos Magic, static charging the air.
I latch onto the electric current, cracking lighting through the targets around us.
Conjuring shards of ice down to impale the moving marks near the ground, while others simply burst into dust. Magic flowing through me with ease, leaving me craving something more challenging.
A feeling I soon regret as we hear a blaring sound sundering from Gildorea. The new wards have been triggered.
My heart stills as chaos ensues.