Chapter 13 #4
“For weeks, we raged against each other. My sun never set, scorching his lands. Without the moon, tides failed, crops withered, unrest spread. So, he retaliated, plunged my people into an endless night. Cold. Famine. Disease.” Her gaze drifted.
“We were so consumed by hatred; we didn’t see the suffering we were causing. ”
My chest tightened. “So… what changed?”
Hemera smiled faintly, but her eyes stayed distant. “That story’s for another time.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but her expression turned solemn.
“Rynlee,” she said quietly, “whatever’s coming is darker than anything I’ve seen in eons.
And it’s coming fast.” Fear crept cold through my veins.
She took my hand. “You may not like Aiden now but stop fighting the bond. Try to understand him. And the power you share.” Before I could respond, the golden field dissolved around me.
I was back in my room, staring at the same ceiling I’d tried to escape.
But Hemera’s warning lingered, heavy and unshakable.
The next morning, I trudged out onto the training grounds, my limbs still aching from yesterday’s beating. Professor Firebeard was already there, arms crossed, standing tall like a boulder of authority with the dreaded obstacle course behind him.
Great.
Aiden walked up beside me, looking like he’d barely run a comb through his hair.
His jade eyes were hooded, and was that a hickey on his neck?
My fists were clenched. Rage ignited in my chest, spreading like wildfire.
The urge to go and hurt Jasmine and make her regret it was borderline feral.
But I shoved that feeling down reminding myself this was Aiden, the devil himself and I didn’t care who the hell he decided to fuck.
“Alright, you two,” Firebeard began, his voice clipped and clearly unimpressed, “let’s try this again.
This time, actually work together. You’re not competing, you are surviving.
So, I’m adding another element.” He turned toward the obstacle course and snapped his fingers.
From the earth, a massive wooden roller covered in spikes burst forth at the starting line.
“If you don’t outrun this together, you die. ”
My eyes widened. “But that’s—”
“I guess you better keep up this time, Ruin,” Aiden whispered, a smirk curling at his lips.
“Shut up,” I snapped, teeth clenched. Fury boiled just beneath my skin. You know what? If he wanted to play dirty…fine. There’s more than one way to slow someone down. Fuck this mate bond.
We stepped to the starting line. The moment Firebeard gave the signal, we ran. Aiden, launched into the course as if it was made for him, perfect jumps, flawless balance, not even breaking a sweat. The spiked roller thundered behind us, and adrenaline surged through me like a second heartbeat.
But I wasn’t focused on the spikes anymore.
I was focused on him. I pictured Aiden in my mind and, for the first time, visualized a shield forming around him.
Right as he leapt toward a platform, my light flared to life blinding and solid slamming into place.
He collided with it mid-air and dropped back to the floor below, stunned.
I darted past him, flipping him off over my shoulder.
“Ruin!” he roared, pounding his fists against the glowing wall.
“Let me out!” The roller was almost on him.
For a second, our eyes met, and I felt it.
His panic. It bled into me like ice water in my veins.
My smirk faltered. Shit. With a snap of my fingers, the shield vanished.
Aiden launched himself just in time, the platform behind him splintering as the roller crushed it.
I made it to the end first, panting, grinning like a maniac.
Victory tasted sweet… until Aiden came storming up and grabbed me by the arms, fingers digging painfully into my leather armor.
“What the fuck was that, Ruin?” he snarled.
His voice was a low growl, thick with fury.
“Oh, I’m sorry, didn’t like being left behind?” I snapped, glaring at him.
“You could’ve gotten me killed.”
“But I didn’t,” I replied sweetly. “You’re welcome.” His jaw tightened, a muscle twitching beneath his skin. He pulled me closer until our boots touched and his breath was warm against my face.
“Do something like that again,” he growled, “and as your unit leader, I’ll punish you.
” He turned and started to walk away but the words set my blood ablaze.
I lifted my hands, fire curling in my palms like twin flames of rage.
Before I could second guess myself, I hurled a fireball at him.
It hit him square in the shoulder, staggering him forward.
“Watch it, Ruin,” he warned, turning toward me, eyes glowing like jade embers.
“Why?” I challenged, raising both flaming hands. “Afraid I might actually beat you?”
His expression darkened. “Trust me, you don’t want to do this.”
“Don’t I?” He raised his hands. Ice formed at his fingertips, swirling up his arms like smoke frozen in motion.
“Fine,” he said, voice like thunder. “You want to play? Let’s fucking play.” My heart pounded. My instincts screamed, this was reckless. But gods help me… I wanted to fight him.