Chapter 5
FIVE
Percy
I was still seething when Director Waverly’s assistant found me after the declaration ceremony.
The Nightfall Shield had retreated to our common area, and I’d been pacing like a caged animal while Draco watched me silently from the couch.
Eris was trying to lighten the mood by watching shitty TV, and Aiden was on the phone with his father, his voice tight with barely controlled rage from behind his closed bedroom door.
“Director Waverly would like to see you and Mr. Reece immediately,” the assistant said, not quite meeting my eyes.
I didn’t respond, just grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. Aiden emerged from his room, face like thunder, and fell into step beside me. We walked in silence through the corridors, students parting for us automatically.
“This is about her,” Aiden said finally.
“Of course it is.”
“The 13th fucking zodiac.” He shook his head. “Bullshit.”
I didn’t reply. I’d seen that light from the casting stone. It wasn’t faked. But that didn’t mean shit. Something was wrong with this.
Director Waverly’s office was on the top floor of the east wing, with windows overlooking the training grounds.
She was standing behind her desk when we entered, two Assembly representatives flanking her like sentinels.
I recognized them from previous gatherings, high-ranking officials who rarely bothered with academy business unless something significant was happening.
“Mr. Whitlock, Mr. Reece, thank you for coming,” Waverly said, gesturing to the chairs across from her desk. Neither of us sat.
“What’s this about?” I asked, though I already knew.
“Jupiter Black,” she said simply. “The Assembly believes she may be the most powerful axis to manifest in centuries. Her Ophis designation gives her unique capabilities that would significantly enhance any shield she bonds with.”
“And?” Aiden crossed his arms.
“And the Nightfall Shield would be the logical match.” She looked between us. “Your combat scores are unmatched, your designations complementary. The Assembly strongly suggests you consider her before another shield claims her.”
I felt my magic flare, heat rushing through my veins. “You’re suggesting? Or ordering?”
“The Assembly doesn’t issue orders regarding shield bonds,” one of the representatives said smoothly. “But we do offer guidance based on compatibility assessments and strategic considerations.”
“And I suppose these ‘compatibility assessments’ just happened to determine that your precious 13th zodiac should bond with the most politically and socially influential shield at Dominion.”
“Your cynicism is noted, Mr. Whitlock,” Director Waverly said coolly. “But the facts remain. The Nightfall Shield has operated without an axis for three years. You’ve compensated admirably, but you cannot reach your full potential without one.”
“We’ve managed just fine,” Aiden said. “We’ll choose our own axis when we’re ready.”
“Time is a luxury we may not have.” The female Assembly representative stepped forward. “Bane incursions have increased thirty percent in the last year alone. We need every shield operating at maximum capacity.”
I laughed harshly. “So this isn’t about compatibility at all. It’s about weaponizing us.”
“I won’t lie to you. Yes, it is about that. She is a weapon like it or not. We were running on guns and ammo before, and now we have a nuclear bomb.”
I hated this, hated the idea that the Assembly was engineering my bond, that my future was being decided by committee.
The Nightfall Shield was mine. Ours. We’d built it from nothing, fought for every recognition, earned every accolade through blood and sweat.
And now they wanted to insert some unknown variable into our perfectly calibrated unit.
“We’re not interested,” I said flatly.
Director Waverly sighed, setting her palms on the desk. “Some destinies are larger than personal preference, Mr. Whitlock. I suggest you consider that before making any final decisions.”
I stared back at her, the words echoing in my head. Some destinies are larger than personal preference. Like I hadn’t heard that my entire life from my father.
“If that’s all,” Aiden said, already turning toward the door.
“Just one more thing,” Director Waverly said. “Ms. Black will begin regular training rotations tomorrow. I expect the Nightfall Shield to extend her every professional courtesy.”
“Of course,” I said, my voice dripping with false sincerity. “We’re nothing if not professional.”
We left without another word, the door closing heavily behind us. In the hallway, I walked faster than necessary, my boots echoing on the stone floor.
“My father already called,” Aiden said beside me, keeping pace. “You’re about to get the same speech no doubt. The Reece family is very invested in adding the Ophis to their collection of achievements.”
I didn’t answer him, just walked faster. My phone was already buzzing in my pocket. Aiden shot me a knowing look before breaking off toward the training hall, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the inevitable conversation I was about to have.
Back in our dorm, I slammed the door to my room and finally pulled out my phone. My father’s name glowed on the screen.
“What?” I answered.
“I’m going to pretend you greeted me with respect.” His voice was ice, the same tone he’d used my entire life when I failed to meet his exacting standards.
“I’m busy.”
“Not too busy for this conversation.” I could picture him perfectly, sitting in his leather chair in his study, probably with a glass of scotch. “I’ve just spoken with Assembly Director Orion.”
Of course he had. “And?”
“The 13th zodiac has manifested. This changes everything, Percy.”
“It changes nothing for me.”
“Don’t be naive. Your grandfather served on the Assembly Council. Your position at Dominion was secured through family connections—“
“My position was secured through combat trials and field performance,” I cut in. “And I don’t need you to remind me of our illustrious family history.”
“Apparently you do, if you’re considering rejecting an Ophis axis.” He paused. “The Assembly has indicated that the Nightfall Shield is being considered as a potential match.”
“The Assembly can respectfully kiss my ass.”
“Your shield exists at the pleasure of the Assembly,” he said coldly. “Don’t forget that. Everything you have—your training, your position, your future—all of it depends on their continued support.”
I felt my magic surge, Ares red crackling along my fingertips. “Is that a threat?”
“It’s reality. One you’d do well to accept. The Ophis designation is the strongest axis possible. With her, the Nightfall Shield could become legendary. Without her, you risk becoming irrelevant.”
“I’m hanging up now.”
“Percival—”
I ended the call before he could finish, throwing the phone onto my bed with enough force that it bounced off and clattered to the floor. I stood there, breathing hard, my magic pulsing beneath my skin, demanding release.
The knock at my door came an hour later. I ignored it, but Aiden came in anyway, a bottle of Jack Daniel’s in one hand.
“That bad?” he asked, noting my scowl.
“Fuck off.”
He laughed humorlessly and threw the bottle at me. “I figured. Mine threatened to pull funding for the shield if we don’t at least ‘consider’ the girl.”
I caught the bottle and unscrewed the cap, taking a long pull. The whiskey burned all the way down.
“What are we going to do?” Aiden asked, leaning against the doorframe.
I took another drink. “What we always do. Whatever the fuck we want.”
His phone buzzed, and the corner of his mouth quirked up as he read the message. “Melissa and Jenna are heading over. You in?”
I wasn’t, not really. But the alternative was sitting here alone with my thoughts, with my father’s voice in my head and Director Waverly’s words echoing on repeat. Some destinies are larger than personal preference.
“Yeah,” I said finally. “I’m in.”
An hour later, I opened my bedroom door and let the two girls out. They were giggling quietly as they slipped past me, Melissa’s lipstick smeared and Jenna’s hair disheveled. I barely acknowledged them, just nodded as they left.
I stood in the doorway shirtless, bottle of Jack in my hand. Aiden was zipping up his jeans, his chest still bare, hair messed up from where Melissa had gripped it as we took turns fucking her. We locked eyes, and I saw in his face the same emptiness I felt.
The sex had been okay. Just another physical release without connection. I couldn’t even remember most of it, just flashes of skin and heat, of Jenna’s mouth on me, bouncing on my dick like she was auditioning. All the while I stared at the ceiling, thinking about everything but the girl in my bed.
“She’s going to be a problem,” Aiden said finally, tying back his disheveled dark blonde hair that fell almost past his shoulders now in need of a cut.
The women loved Aiden. He was pretty, and they gravitated towards him without knowing that the prettiest shells sometimes contained the most toxic contents.
I didn’t need to ask who he meant. “She’s already a problem.”
“Did you see her tattoos? Those serpents?” He shook his head. “Draco’s getting some info on her designation tonight. I think we need to do some research.”
I had seen them. I’d seen everything about Jupiter Black—the silver eyes, the long black hair that fell to her ass, the tattoos that wound up her arm, the defiant tilt of her chin when she faced down a room full of skeptics.
She’d stood there alone, the only one of her kind, and she hadn’t flinched.
I took another drink, letting the whiskey burn away the memory of silver eyes challenging mine across the Convocation Hall. “The Assembly wants to control her. They want to use us to do it.”
Aiden nodded. “So what’s the play?”
I considered that, turning the bottle in my hands. What was the play? Reject the girl outright and risk Assembly intervention? Accept her and become pawns in whatever game they were playing? There were no good options.
“We watch her,” I said finally. It would be hard not to.