Chapter 22
Rynlee’s POV
Later that evening, I lay awake in bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, my thoughts swirling like a storm I couldn’t quiet.
I had gone to my aunt to ask about the second-year girl who was found dead, Alice Stark.
But she’d refused to share anything, brushing me off with a firm, “It’s confidential, Rynlee. ”
Confidential my ass. If she wasn’t going to tell me, then I would have to find out for myself.
Careful not to wake Gia, I slipped out of bed and pulled on my dark cloak over my pajamas.
The faint hush of her breathing filled the room, and guilt tugged at me for a second, but the need to know was stronger.
I summoned a soft flame to hover just ahead of me, casting a warm glow as I sneaked through the halls and made my way to the medical ward.
Once inside, I crossed to the filing cabinet. I gave the drawer a tug. Locked. “Of course,” I muttered. Slipping into my aunt’s adjoining office, I found the small silver key tucked in the same drawer she always kept her dried herbs in.
I unlocked the drawer and flipped through the files until I reached the back.
There it was… Stark, Alice. My fingers hesitated for a moment before pulling it free.
The autopsy report was… strange. No signs of struggle.
No puncture wounds. No defensive injuries.
But all her blood was gone. My breath caught.
No blood? No cuts? How does that even happen?
“Gods,” I whispered, sliding the file back and locking everything up again.
As I walked through the quiet courtyard, my flame flickering low now, I noticed movement in the darkness.
Aiden. Even cloaked in darkness, I could feel it was him; the pull of our bond was unmistakable.
He moved fast, slipping out through the side gate, his shadows curling around him like smoke.
Where the hell is he going? The urge to follow clawed at my chest, but exhaustion was stronger. Besides, he was probably off to go get laid or whatever. Rolling my eyes, I made my way back to my room.
I shed my cloak and reached under my bed, pulling out that black journal.
The one I’d found hidden in the library weeks ago, the one I still couldn’t reveal.
I took a seat at my desk before flipping it open.
My breath stilled. There was something there that hadn’t been before.
On the inside cover, written in looping, ancient script, was a riddle.
Before fire, before form, I flowed.In the stillness beneath Olympus, I marked the first oath.
Gods have tasted me in wrath, mortals in silence.I seal pacts, I feed furies, I weep from wounds not of water.
What am I, drawn forth in death,yet sworn to life?
I whispered the last line aloud, the words tasting strange and old on my tongue.
The letters on the page shimmered faintly as if acknowledging my voice.
This journal… It was magical. I remembered reading about ancient spellbooks that came locked with riddles.
If you solved them, the book would open, revealing its secrets.
But what the hell was this one talking about?
I kept re-reading it, trying to figure out what could possibly be the answer, but eventually exhaustion took hold and my eyes fluttered closed.
“Rynlee, get up.” Gia’s voice was soft, but the gentle shake of my shoulder jolted me awake.
“W-what time is it?” I mumbled, realizing I’d fallen asleep hunched over my desk. My neck ached, and my back protested as I sat up.
“It’s morning,” Gia replied, her brows raised. “Come on, or we’ll miss breakfast.”
I groaned, stretching slowly as my spine popped. “Alright, I’m up.” She glanced at the open journal in front of me. “What were you doing over here?”
“Nothing,” I muttered too quickly, snapping the book shut and rising to my feet. “Let’s go.”
As we headed toward the feeding hall, I noticed Ivy and Erebus near one of the side columns, talking low. My stomach twisted at the sight. Without thinking, I grabbed Gia’s arm and pulled her into the shadows beside a stone wall.
“Rynlee, what are you—”
“Shh,” I whispered, peeking around the edge to listen.
“I think I lost my connection,” Erebus said quietly, his tone sharp with frustration.
Ivy nodded. “I can schedule us to spar with them again. Get you close again.” My blood ran cold. They’re talking about our unit. About me.
“No. No, that’ll look suspicious if we do it again,” Erebus muttered, cutting her off.
“Besides—” he stopped abruptly. Shit. I yanked Gia behind me, pressing our backs to the stone wall.
We held our breath. Seconds ticked by. I slowly peeked back around the corner…
empty. They were gone. It’s almost like he knew I was here, that I was listening.
“Shit,” I breathed.
“What’s wrong?” Gia asked, resting a hand on my shoulder.
“I think Ivy and Erebus are up to something,” I whispered, gaze scanning the spot where they’d stood. “I just… get this feeling they’re planning something. That they’re targeting me.”
“Targeting you?” Gia’s brow furrowed. “Like how, exactly?”
“I don’t know. I’ve only caught pieces of their conversations, but Erebus seems focused on getting close to me. The day he bit me… it seemed intentional, like he planned it.” I pulled my collar aside and showed her the scar. “This still hasn’t healed.”
Gia leaned closer, inspecting it. “But why would he bite you? What would he gain from that?”
“I’m not exactly sure what he would gain from it, but I’m starting to think he was trying to form a connection,” I replied, my voice quiet but firm.
“Firebeard told me an interesting bit of information yesterday. And for now, keep it between us.” I recapped what he’d said: that the High King was pulling black magic from the Celetian mountain, but that wasn’t what was causing the Eastern Encampment to fail.
Something else. Something darker, more ancient, was draining the wards. And I told her about the dark magic that could be sealed through blood.
“Holy shit, Ryn.” Gia blinked, stunned. “It’s like… a massive conspiracy.”
“Exactly.” My voice lowered. “The High King might be working with the Blood Assassins or with something even worse. Or both. And whatever it is… it’s coming.” We reached the doors of the feeding hall, but neither of us moved to open them.
“Do you think we’re the only ones who know?” Gia asked.
“No,” I whispered. “The professors know too, and they aren’t telling us. Out of fear or being paid not to.”
“Holy shit,” Gia whispered
“Are you two going in or just going to stand here?” Jackson asked, startling both Gia and I. “Whoa, sorry,” he put his hands up.
“Yes, we are going in, babe,” Gia replies sweetly, taking his hand.
We all took our seats at our spot. My heart fluttered the moment my eyes landed on Aiden at the unit leader table.
Black leather clung to his muscular frame like a second skin; the dark ink along his arms snaked down in jagged, elegant lines.
He lifted a mug to his lips, and I found myself watching, completely transfixed, as his mouth brushed the rim.
My breath caught. I remembered what those lips had felt like on mine.
Gods, I wanted that again. I wanted him again, his mouth tracing down my throat, his hands tangled in my hair, the way everything else had disappeared the moment he kissed me.
“Ryn?” Alaric’s voice snapped me back to reality, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. “You, okay?” he asked, concern creasing his brow.
“Y–yeah,” I replied quickly, tearing my gaze from Aiden and forcing my attention onto Alaric. “Sorry. Just… distracted.” He studied me for a moment, clearly unsure. And that was when it hit me, harder than I expected. The warmth I once experienced with him had vanished.
It wasn’t gone entirely, but it was dimmer. Fading. Ever since he’d left me alone to face my punishment, something between us had shifted. I wasn’t angry anymore, not really, but it still stung. And after kissing Aiden… gods, everything felt different.
I saw Alaric differently now. Maybe it was the bond. Maybe it wasn’t. The thought twisted uncomfortably in my chest. What if I was falling for Aiden? No. That was ridiculous. He resented me. He’d said it himself. That kiss had been the bond, nothing more.
I risked another glance toward the unit leader table just as Aiden leaned closer to Jasmine and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Jealousy ripped through me. White-hot. Wild.
Fire surged beneath my skin, heat pulsing through my veins so sharply I had to clench my fists to keep it contained.
My nails bit into my palms as I forced myself to breathe, forcing the flames back down.
“Whoa, Ryn,” Alaric raised his hands in surrender, eyes flicking over my faintly glowing skin with unease. The fire inside me surged, threatening to spill over.
“Shit. Sorry,” I muttered, forcing it back down.
But the fury didn’t leave. It coiled tighter.
So, Aiden had moved on. Fine. So, would I.
Before I could think better of it, I grabbed Alaric by the front of his leathers and yanked him into a kiss, right there in the feeding hall. In front of everyone.
His hands instinctively gripped my hips, trying to pull me away, but I wrapped my arms around his neck instead, pressing my body flush to his as I kissed him harder.
Deeper. It wasn’t about Alaric. It was about the one person watching.
Then, suddenly, I was ripped away. A strong hand yanked me backward by the arm, and I stumbled straight into Aiden’s chest as he dragged me out of the hall, boots echoing sharply against stone.
“What the fuck was that, Ruin?” he growled, fury rolling off him like a storm about to break.
“Oh, I’m sorry, did you not like that?” I shot back sarcastically, shoving at his chest. He didn’t budge. Instead, he slammed his palm into the wall beside my head, his deep jade eyes burning into mine.