Chapter 20 #2
The next few days after meeting Percy’s parents were a blur of intense training sessions. My muscles ached in places I didn’t know could ache, but I welcomed the physical exhaustion. It kept my mind from dwelling on the thinly veiled threats Charles Whitlock had made.
The Nightfall Shield had been pushing me harder than ever, running drills that tested the limits of our bond.
Yesterday, I managed to maintain a spatial distortion field around all five of us for nearly an hour, a new record that left me drained but exhilarated.
I even started to implement darkrending, but I was still too nervous to use it in the presence of anyone else.
“Keep your focus,” Percy called from across the training arena as I dodged Aiden’s attack, rolling beneath his extended arm and coming up behind him.
I tapped Aiden’s back with my practice blade. “Dead.”
He turned, eyes narrowed but a smile playing at his lips. “Getting faster.”
“Or you’re getting slower,” Eris teased from the sidelines, earning a rude gesture from Aiden.
I wiped sweat from my forehead, taking a moment to catch my breath.
The training hall was busier than usual today, with several shield teams working through their own drills.
I noticed the Dreadwatch Shield in the far corner, their movements professional and synchronized. Rafe was calling out commands.
My eyes caught on a familiar figure watching from the observation deck—Melissa. She was staring at me with such naked hatred that I almost laughed. Almost. Next to her stood Lyssa, her hair pulled back in a severe ponytail, her expression equally venomous.
“Your fan club is here,” Draco murmured, coming to stand beside me.
I snorted. “They really need to find a hobby.”
“They had one,” he replied. “It was fucking shield warriors.”
I couldn’t help but laugh and cringe at the mental image that assaulted me. “Yucky.”
He handed me a water bottle. “Ready for another round?”
Before I could answer, Percy called an end to our session. “That’s enough for today. Jupiter, don’t forget your meeting with Director Waverly this afternoon.”
I nodded, taking a long drink of water. As we gathered our gear, I felt the weight of Melissa’s and Lyssa’s stares like daggers between my shoulder blades.
When I glanced up, Melissa was making a show of running her fingers through her blonde hair, eyes locked on Aiden.
Lyssa had moved closer to the training floor, clearly hoping to intercept Eris.
“Subtle,” I muttered.
Aiden followed my gaze and rolled his eyes. “Ignore them.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one they’re trying to murder with their eyes.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch lingering. “They’re jealous. And they should be.”
The possessive note in his voice sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. I felt his desire spike, along with similar responses from the others. It was still disorienting sometimes, feeling all four of them at once, their emotions tangling with mine.
“I need to shower,” I said, stepping back before I did something inappropriate in the middle of the training hall. “I’m meeting Lydia for lunch.”
He nodded, though I could feel his reluctance to let me go. “We’ll see you tonight.”
I gathered my things and headed for the locker rooms, deliberately avoiding Melissa’s and Lyssa’s section. Their petty glares were the least of my concerns right now.
After a quick shower, I changed into jeans and a black t-shirt. Lydia was already waiting at our usual table in the dining hall, an untouched salad in front of her and an excited gleam in her eyes.
“You look like you’re about to burst,” I said, sliding into the seat across from her. “What happened?”
She leaned forward, voice dropping to a whisper. “You’re not going to believe what I did.”
“Try me.”
“I cornered Valeria in the library yesterday.” Her eyes were wide, cheeks flushed. “And I kissed her.”
I nearly choked on my water. “You what?”
“I kissed her,” Lydia repeated, looking both terrified and thrilled. “And Jupe... she kissed me back.”
“Holy shit, Lyd. What brought that on?”
She pushed her salad around with her fork. “I was just so tired of watching her with Rafe, pretending there wasn’t this thing between us. So I found her in the ancient magic section, and I just went for it.”
“And then?”
Her blush deepened. “And then we ended up in the restricted section at the back of the library, and... well...”
“Lydia Harlow!” I gasped, delighted. “You fucked in the library?”
“Shh!” She looked around frantically, but no one was paying attention to us. “Yes, okay? We did. And it was incredible. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
I reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “I’m so happy for you.”
“There’s more,” she said, her expression turning serious. “She talked to Rafe and the rest of Dreadwatch after. They want me to consider becoming their axis.”
My jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”
She nodded, a mixture of excitement and fear in her eyes. “They’ve been watching me for months apparently. Valeria said they’ve all been drawn to me, but Rafe was the most vocal about it.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. Part of me is terrified. This is a huge decision. But when I’m with her, when I feel the way she touches me...” She shook her head. “There are real feelings there. Not just physical attraction. I wasn’t expecting that.”
I thought about my own experience with the Nightfall Shield, how what had started as a reluctant bond had grown into something I couldn’t imagine living without.
“If it feels right you should go for it. Being an axis is complicated and messy and sometimes overwhelming, but when the bond clicks into place, it’s like finding a piece of yourself you didn’t know was missing.”
“That’s exactly how Valeria described it,” she said, looking relieved. “Rafe said they’d give me time to decide, but they’re all hopeful.”
“Dreadwatch would be lucky to have you. And I can’t think of a better shield for you, the guys all say good things about them.”
Lydia’s smile was blinding. “Really? You’re not just saying that?”
“I’m genuinely happy for you, Lyd. And a little proud that my best friend might be the axis of one of the most powerful shields at Dominion.”
She laughed, finally taking a bite of her salad. “Look at us. Who would have thought we’d end up here?”
I shook my head, still amazed at how much had changed in such a short time. “Not me. But I’m starting to think maybe this is exactly where we’re supposed to be. Like the stars aligned or some cosmic bullshit.”
“Jupiter Black, getting philosophical on me.”
I was about to respond when I felt a sudden spike of adrenaline through the bond that stopped me cold. “Lyd, I have to go, something’s wrong with one of the guys…”
“Do you need help?” she asked, eyes wide.
“No, I’m sure it’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow though.”
“Keep me posted,” she said. “And Jupe? Thanks for being happy for me.”
“Always,” I promised, giving her a quick hug before leaving.