Chapter Forty
Avari
Waking up in a land I never knew existed felt peculiar at best and nerve-wracking at worst. The bluish tint of the moonlight, their equivalent of daylight, proved difficult to get accustomed to.
Sure, it was bright enough to relay that it was daytime, but it was too far from what I was used to.
Though dim and moody, I appreciated that it was no longer as ominous.
Getting up, I solemnly acknowledged that the lack of the usual cherry and citrus scents on my bedding reflected on the quality of my rest. I wasn’t sure how to go about my day, even when I knew I was free to roam the estate—not a prisoner; they made that much clear.
Wanting me to grow comfortable and to get to know them, they did technically trap me in the Isles I could not escape from, but I was free to do as I wished otherwise.
Their generosity knew no limits.
The Lord, in his reawakened appreciation for the arts and knowledge, announced that I would be starting shadow-training with one of the most esteemed professors. He also said that we would be getting a new family portrait by the end of the week in honour of the now complete unit.
‘Morning,’ I greeted my abductor-turned-brother as I entered the dining area. His arms spread out on the table as he slouched, taking up the space of three men.
My presence sent a grin to his face. ‘Well, hello, hello. How was your first night in our humble abode?’
The house was anything but humble, though if the stray-collector were fishing for compliments, he could forget it. ‘As good as one might imagine given the circumstances.’
Alec looked at me, lost in thought, and paid me a glance that cradled sorrow. ‘It might be difficult to believe now, but I think this might be for the best. Think of the opportunities this gives you. Not a prisoner, leverage, or toy… This is your home; you belong here.’
How rich, coming from a stranger. ‘Why would you care? You don’t even know me.’
Averting his gaze, his voice lowered to a mere whisper. ‘I see enough of me in you to know you will learn to love the Isles, like we all do.’
That was slightly unsettling.
Was that why I judged him so harshly, too? Because I saw the resemblance? All this mind-fuckery was grating on my nerves.
‘It all just seems too surreal… I’m supposed to believe that after all this time, I am suddenly whisked away to my long-lost family and everything will work itself out?’
‘We weren’t lost, Ava. You were. We were always here. Had we known you existed, we would have brought you here a long time ago.’ The words sounded genuine but did nothing to douse the flames roaring inside my body.
‘I’ve never even heard of the Isles of Shadow. It’s not mentioned in any literature. Yet, my mother supposedly hit it off with your lord. And you—what a coincidence that you and River know each other…’
Alec cringed, straightening his back upon the sudden attack. ‘I don’t know enough about our father’s history with your mother to comment. If you are keen to learn more about my history with your king, just ask. I am an open book.’
Seconds passed, and as he leaned back, grinning and expecting me to break, I fought my curiosity long enough that I could feel the wheels of my mind overheat. Fearing that steam might exit through my ears, I eventually begged, ‘Tell me.’
He found it hilarious. ‘Like I said, we met at the university—we both attended Sycamore College. I met him as a young lad and don’t know him anymore.’
‘Because of a girl?’ A stab of envy struck me, a hot, choking tightness swelling in my chest.
The thought of another woman seducing River… I didn’t want to think about that. Pathetic. And yet, the ache wouldn’t stop.
A shadowed smile played across his face, betraying the dark designs within. ‘You best believe she was spectacular. Besides, it’s different with mates, and we both foolishly assumed she was ours. We duelled in her honour, though she honestly wasn’t worth it. The friendship didn’t survive that.’
I couldn’t help but wonder what the girl looked like; were we at all similar? Mortification bled through my senses as I recognised the pathetic drift of my thoughts.
Something didn’t add up. ‘How did you even attend the university if nobody knows about the Isles?’
‘Bless your innocent heart, child. Admittance is a sham… You pay them well enough, and they will enrol that snake off your shoulders.’
Not quite. ‘They still need to know what your kingdom is…’
‘I lied. Said I was born of an air fae and a human mating in the human lands.’
‘And they believed that?’ It seemed ridiculous that anyone would deem that colossus of a man a human halfling.
A wide, toothy grin stretched his lips as he wondered, ‘Why wouldn’t they?’
But I would kill him before I gave any praise, especially regarding his physique. Bleh. ‘You don’t command air.’
‘Ava, baby. You have no idea what I’m capable of.’ Alec sent a gust of air at my face, throwing my brown locks into a state deprived of gravity. Working my fingers through them, I couldn’t help the smile that etched itself on my face.
What? ‘How? Is your mother from the Air Kingdom?’
‘No. Command shadows long enough and you can make them invisible.’
‘This is so cool.’ I kept reaching for my strands that levitated against my will, just as I imagined they would if an air fae sent them flying. ‘So did you find your real mate?’
‘Not yet. Not everyone does anyway. Look at our father,’ he replied softly, analysing my face. ‘Can I ask you a private question?’
My heartbeat increased in pace; it seemed only fair given how many times I’d asked him, I nodded compliantly.
Alec looked unsure how to proceed. Brows furrowed, he inquired, ‘Is there something going on between you and River?’
A stab to the heart. ‘I thought there was.’
The hilly meadow my supposed father plastered me on with shadows overlooked the estate, though from such a distance I could also spot a village a few miles back.
Dark houses among thick trees and specs of tiny glowing bits on the ground, presumably the strange mushrooms I had noticed earlier.
I made a mental note to ask about them after the training session, since my witchy curiosity was unable to move past it.
It was an itch I couldn’t scratch: a restless, twitching horde of green coils of power that kept trembling with excitement at the opportunity to connect to something new.
But I decided against it, not until I understood the Isles better.
With how turbulent my life had become, I didn’t need to tempt fate for any more surprises.
‘Show me your shadows.’ A tall, tanned man in a tailored black suit appeared behind me, his tone a grave bark, as though my mere presence had already ruined his day.
Taking a step back, I wondered what it was about me that evoked such explicit negativity in people I had never met before.
Perhaps they needed to be given a reason to respect me. My fidgeting witchcraft swirled excitedly at the opportunity to teach him a lesson. ‘How about a good afternoon or hello?’
Snarling, the man stepped closer, trying to intimidate me by using his size to take up space around me.
Tough shit, I was used to that already. Not a smidgen of originality marked his actions… Was that a universal go-to when it came to the bothersome overload of testosterone?
Lame.
‘What makes you think you can talk to me this way?’ His energy enveloped us, ready to strike if he wished to. But my overactive witch powers felt confident he wouldn’t.
‘What makes you think you can talk to me this way?’ I mocked his serious tone, unbothered by his growing frown and clenching fists.
Was it wrong that I enjoyed seeing the stranger at his wits’ end? After all, he wasn’t the cause of my frustration. Or not entirely.
Considering my options, I took a minute to calm myself down. A sigh or two later, I turned to face the scowling tutor. ‘Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot.’
Arms folded, I treated the display of toxic masculinity like bad theatre—hard to watch, harder to take seriously—as he threatened, ‘Perhaps I should just let my shadows teach you a lesson.’
I would love to scorch some marks into his stupidly polished face, too. ‘I can’t see Daddy Lord of the Isles being too happy with that.’
He cringed at my words. I struck where men clawing their way up the ladder were softest, his meal ticket. A win for the princess of… well, whatever kind of princess I was anymore.
It was becoming increasingly hard to decide who I identified as. But like all of my other issues, it was a problem for another day.
Assessing his broad stature, accessorised in tailored clothing, I had a pretty good idea of who he was.
He came from money and looked rugged but preppy.
He obviously cared about his looks, though he tried to hide beneath simple choices that fit well.
Not a crease or mark out of place—another control freak.
‘Listen, Mister I-don’t-even-know-the-girl-but-will-show-up-and-burden-her-with-my-emotional-instability, we can make it easy or hard on ourselves, but as far as I understand, this show will go on.’
The man’s eyes never faltered either, though a glint of surprise and violence shone there as a warning to compose myself.
The slight turn to a corner of his lips indicated one of two things: the professor reflected on his previous approach, reaching the same conclusions, or things were going to go seriously sideways.
‘Perhaps you’re right.’ Welp, that was a relief. Of course, I could try to burn him, but what if his shadows made him inflammable?
I wasn’t exactly sure where shadow and fire stood in the food chain when it came to battle. Didn’t Alec mention a duel with River? I added it to the list of things I needed to enquire about.
‘So, truce?’
‘Only because you’re a Nightborn.’ The man was serious, and it looked like his previous threats were real.
I pitied the people who got on the wrong side of him with no leverage. For once, sharing somebody’s blood proved useful.
‘Okay. That’s progress. Yay.’ The pretended enthusiasm clearly rubbed him the wrong way as he cocked an eyebrow, an incredulous look dominating his face like he couldn’t school it away.
The professor bent into a low curtsy, his glare shooting daggers. ‘Would you so kindly bestow upon me a precious gift of revealing your shadows? A plebeian servant such as myself would need to assess those to train accordingly.’
Having faced enough ridicule in my life, something inside me snapped.
‘Oh, cut the crap!’ I stormed off, heading downhill towards the estate, ignoring the man’s shouts to come back. Only upon reaching the very bottom, toes strained due to shoes incompatible for hiking, he appeared in front of me in a storm of black clouds.
Annoying as he was, that trick was great.
‘We need to train,’ he warned, standing between me and the route back to the estate. I was never tempted to physically harm anybody, but at this point, I wouldn’t mind wiping the floor with the obnoxious professor.
As if he sensed the direction of my thoughts, he stepped closer in a challenge. He was ready to battle, his power ready ever since he landed; it kicked my witchcraft into overdrive. Laced with heatless power, I could probably even do some real damage.
‘Well then, you should have thought of that before you arrived, acting like a dick.’ I moved to take a step before the same vicious storm that he had exited from snatched me back to the top of the hill.
Though they looked more violent than Alec’s, they portalled with unparalleled gentleness before dropping me a foot above the ground.
Prick.
Displeasure warred with a flicker of delight on his sculpted features. The man was aggravating. ‘I’m not here to make friends; I’m here to train you. The sooner you understand it, the better.’
Talk about delusion. ‘Who said I want a friend like you?’
‘I am your professor, for Gods’ sake. Behave like it.’
He could cry me a river. ‘Listen, man, I don’t know what kind of bullshit you’re projecting on me, but deal with your personal crap at your own time.’
Maybe training wouldn’t be so bad if it meant wiping that smug look off his face.