Chapter Thirteen
Bechora
After breakfast, I made my way across campus to the tall tower where my astrology class was held.
It was in a secluded area, but it wasn’t hard to find since the building was the tallest on campus.
The circular building lay empty aside from a lone winding staircase that left me winded by the time I reached the top.
Slipping into the classroom, I noted the seats were spread out around the wall and the large telescope in the center of the room, just near a large wooden desk where the Professor stood.
“You’re the last to arrive, Ms. Knight.” The portly, balding man spoke with a smile. “That will make you today’s volunteer.”
I bit back my retort as Professor Vatorgan motioned for me to stand beside his desk.
My eyes scanned the smug faces of my classmates, catching sight of the rude blonde girl and her friend from my first day at the academy.
My pulse quickened when my eyes landed on Dante, the guy I met in the communal bathroom, seated beside her.
As if sensing my reaction to him, he smirked and shot me a wink.
“Prince Vallynn, if you would be so kind as to be my other volunteer for today.” The professor spoke, causing my gaze to fall to the handsome male rising from his seat beside Dante.
“As those of you raised in the realm are aware, Vallynn’s chart was completed upon his birth, as are those of any royal.
It will provide an excellent example of what you may find in your own, while we use Ms. Knight to show you how to get started. ”
Vallynn prowled through the circular room and stopped just beside me without a word. Before I could politely introduce myself, Professor Vatorgan leaned toward me and asked my birthday.
“November fifteenth,” I replied quietly.
“And do you know the time of your birth?” he asked.
I shook my head in response. It was a miracle I knew my first name and birthday to begin with.
I was found wandering the streets alone when I was three, with only the name Bechora and born November 15 scrawled on a piece of paper clutched in my tiny fist. The social workers weren’t able to locate my birth parents, and by the time I fled my latest foster home at sixteen, I’d given up hope of ever knowing where I came from.
“Very well, your chart may not be as accurate, but it will be close enough.” The professor smiled before waving his hand in the air. “Now, if you will all turn your attention to the ceiling.”
Tilting my head back, I let out an awed gasp.
Sparkling along the ceiling was a system of planets and stars unlike anything I’d ever seen.
The lack of similarity to my own solar system only made it clearer that I wasn’t in the human realm anymore.
The Professor’s hand waved again, and a series of golden lines formed, connecting various stars and planets.
“This is Prince Vallynn’s star chart, plotted along the galaxy.” Professor Vatorgan started. “Would any of you like to make an attempt at interpreting part of it?”
“I will, Professor.” A nasally, feminine voice called out.
“Very good, Daena. What do you see for the prince based on his chart?”
“His chart starts in planet Nomia, like all royals,” she began, “but then it reaches out to the star Etraalis, which means a happy soul bonding.”
Vallynn stiffened beside me, and I could have sworn I heard him mutter a curse as Daena shot him a saccharine smile.
“Excellent.” Professor Vatorgan praised. “And what of the placement of Mebiphus in his chart?” I couldn’t help the satisfaction that rolled through me when the blonde fae frowned, unable to answer. “Anyone?”
“It means I will be tested,” Vallynn spoke, his voice rolling through me and causing me to shiver. “That the outcome of whatever trials lie ahead for me could alter the course of the rest of my chart.”
“Exactly!” The professor clapped. “Which brings me to a very important point. While our charts can often provide a clear picture of what is to come, there are times they can be altered. Given the proximity of Mebiphus to Nomia in Vallynn’s chart, it is likely the tests he will face are the academy’s own trials.
Which, as you are all aware, can alter the course of any student’s life.
” He waved his hand again, and new silver lines appeared.
“This is Ms. Knight’s star chart, based on the date of her birth. ”
“Professor,” Daena interrupted. “Are you sure that’s right? Her chart starts in Nomia, too.”
Professor Vatorgan frowned and moved his fingers in the air as if recalculating something. “Are you quite sure that you were born on November fifteenth?” he asked me.
“As sure as I can be,” I frowned.
The professor studied me closely for a moment, his brows knitted together.
“Most interesting,” he mumbled before addressing the class again.
“While not common, we have seen historical accounts of star charts starting in Nomia for non-royals. It seems Ms. Knight is one of those rare instances. Now, would anyone like to take an attempt at interpreting part of her chart?”
Tilting my head back to study the illusion above us, I tried to make sense of it. While I didn’t know any of the planets or stars floating near the ceiling, I didn’t miss how many of the silver lines of my chart followed a similar path to the golden lines of Vallynn’s.
“Etraalis connects to Zoax,” Dante snickered. “Looks like Ms. Knight is gonna have a hard time keeping her mate.”
The rest of the class laughed along with him, and I felt myself flush with embarrassment. I was seconds away from racing from the room just to escape the laughter and taunts when Professor Vatorgan got the class back under control.
“Mr. Vazgurr’s interpretation brings me to my next point.
” The professor spoke. “If one stops too soon with their interpretation, they miss the true meaning of the chart.” He traced the line from a dark, angry-looking planet to a bright star slightly to the planet’s left.
“Okraxih would indicate the struggles that Ms. Knight and her mate will face are ones they will work together to overcome.” With another wave of his hand, the illusion above us vanished to reveal the dome ceiling.
“Thank you for your assistance. You two may take your seats now.”
Vallynn moved first as my eyes worked to find an empty seat.
When I found one three rows behind his friends, I moved toward it, walking behind the prince.
I’d just started to pass Daena when she slid her foot into the aisle, causing me to trip and stumble forward.
Vallynn moved as quickly as Zypher that morning, turning to face me and catching my bare forearms in his hands faster than I could blink.
Heat shot through me as I steadied myself against his hold and looked up into his face.
Our eyes locked, and my mind struggled to comprehend the unrestrained awe shining in his gaze.
“Vallynn,” Daena called, her tone harsh. “What in the realm are you doing?”
The reverence in his face dissipated, and his expression smoothed into a mask of disgust. Shoving me back slightly, his upper lip curled. “Ensuring the trash doesn’t molest me further.”
“Fuck you,” I hissed, shoving past him and stalking to the empty seat I’d spotted.
“I doubt he’d touch you with Professor Vatorgan’s cock,” Dante snorted, causing Daena and her friend to snicker.
I flipped them off over my shoulder and took my seat, slumping down in a poor attempt to disappear.
The rest of the class went by in a haze of growing anger, and I barely heard anything the professor said as he talked us through the first few chapters of our textbooks and walked us through the steps of utilizing our birthdate, time of birth, and name to create our star charts.
The moment he dismissed us, I fled the tower for the safety of my dorm room.
“What’s wrong?” Shadrie asked, jumping up from our sofa as I slammed the door behind me.
“Fucking mean girls.” I snapped.
“Tell me who and I’ll ice their asses.”
I began to pace angrily, staring at the floor as I told Shadrie what happened in astrology class. Replaying the scene only served to make me angrier, and I was boiling with rage by the time I finished talking.
“Oh, shit. Bechora.” Shadrie squeaked, causing my head to snap up. “What in the seven hells? How do you have shadow magic?”
The common area of our dorm was rapidly filling with inky, black shadows that seemed to suck all the life and heat out of the space. The edge of them brushed against Shadrie’s calf, causing her to cry out in pain before she jerked backward toward the door.
“Call them back, Bechora!” she called out.
Panic laced through me as I looked at my friend. “I don’t know how!”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Shadrie chanted. “Selir damn it! Stay here, I’m going to get help.”
“Please, hurry,” I wailed, the shadows growing thicker in my panic.
Shadrie nodded and ran for the door, letting it slam shut behind her. I begged, pleaded, and sobbed aloud for the shadows to stop, but they seemed to be fueled by my distress. I was in near hysterics when Dante burst into the room, his body made of stone.
“You have to calm down,” he shouted, grabbing me by the shoulders. I blinked at him in surprise. “That’s it. Take a deep breath in and let it go slowly.”
I did as he instructed, letting him talk me down through a simple breathing exercise.
Each breath calmed me a little more than the last, and the shadows slowly began to recede until they’d disappeared entirely.
The moment they were gone, it dawned on me that Dante was gently stroking my hair with a hand made of granite.
“What the fuck?” I demanded, jerking out of his reach.
His head snapped back like I’d slapped him, and he frowned as his body shifted from stone to skin. “I should be asking you that. Shadows are Fae magic, and unless you’re hiding under a glamour, you aren’t fae.”
“Get out, Dante,” Shadrie ordered, stepping into the room from the hallway.
“You’re the one that dragged me out of the common room up here to help,” he retorted.
Shadrie placed her hands on her hips and stared the male down. “Because I knew you’d know what to do after being with Vallynn for so long. You served your purpose, now get out before I call the head of house and report you for trespassing in our room.”
Dante shook his head. “Whatever, Sha. Next time your roomie implodes, you can sort it out on your own.”
“Oh, go take Vallynn’s cock up the ass, gravel for brains.” Shadrie snarled. “It’s all you’re good for outside of skulking on buildings.”
“Skulking on buildings?” I asked, trying not to laugh at her ridiculous insult.
“He’s a gargoyle. They love hanging out on ledges and shit. When they’re not being massive jerks.”
Dante scowled at Shadrie and opened his mouth as if to speak before snapping it shut again. With a low growl, he stalked from our dorm and slammed the door behind him. My roommate smirked before turning to face me.
“So… that was interesting.” She started, her expression growing serious.
“I don’t know what happened.” I sighed, moving to sit on the sofa. “This has to be that elemental mage stuff you were talking about.”
Shadrie shook her head and sat beside me. “I don’t know how you manifested shadows, B, but Dante was right. Only fae have that ability.”
“I’m not fae, though.” I frowned. “I think I’d know if my ears were pointed.”
“I know.” She replied, grabbing one of my hands and giving it a gentle squeeze. “Even if someone glamoured you to hide it, the magic would be broken to reveal you as fae at orientation.”
“What is happening to me?” I whispered.
“I don’t know, B.” Shadrie shook her head, squeezing my hand again. “But I promise I’ll help you find out.”