Chapter 5
Jupiter
The walk back was quiet and Rowan stayed close. My mind was reeling about Eliza. It made perfect sense now. She’d broken the Stardust Shield just as thoroughly as her brother had broken me. I guess assholery ran in the family.
When Rowan left me at the base of my tower, he gave me an odd smile, but his eyes held what looked like a million questions that he didn’t bother asking.
It was a smile that made my stomach flutter in a way I wasn’t so sure I wanted to feel.
Men truly were complicated creatures, and I’d never fully understand them.
Actually, I wasn’t sure I even wanted to.
“Get some sleep. Training tomorrow at six, remember?”
“I’ll be there bright and early, with coffee in my bloodstream.”
I climbed the staircase to my room, feeling the heavy exhaustion of the day finally catching up to me. Noodle slithered out of my sleeve the moment we entered the room, making a beeline for the warm hearth.
‘The golden female is treacherous.’
“Yeah, I got that impression too,” I muttered, stripping off the uniform and pulling on an oversized t-shirt to sleep in.
I crawled into bed, pulling the thick duvet up to my chin. As I closed my eyes, I braced myself for the inevitable onslaught of pain from the bond. I kept my mental walls fortified, a thick barrier of ice and steel to keep the Nightfall Shield out.
But tonight, something felt different.
Usually, the bond felt like a taut, agonizing string, vibrating with their distant emotions. Tonight, the string felt thicker. Heavier. The pressure against my mental walls wasn’t a distant throbbing, it was thick, urgent, and alarmingly close.
I frowned in the darkness, pressing my hands against my temples. It was probably just the residual stress of running into Eliza and thinking about Aiden. I forced myself to take deep, calming breaths, pushing the sensation away until exhaustion finally dragged me under.
But sleep wouldn’t fully claim me. Every time I drifted off, the suffocating weight of the bond jerked me awake, my heart racing as if a predator were standing right outside my door.
I needed a distraction. I needed to think about literally anything else.
My thoughts drifted back to the archives, but landed squarely on Rowan. I thought of the exact moment his fingers had brushed my forearm. The sheer, radiating warmth of his touch had sent a jolt straight to my core, a spark of electricity I hadn’t felt since leaving home.
I pictured him sitting next to me, his massive body completely dwarfing me.
He was so damn large, his broad shoulders and thick muscles shifting powerfully under his clothes every time he moved.
I thought about his long, dark curly hair pulled back into that knot, the rugged scruff of his beard, and those piercing eyes.
Without fully realizing what I was doing, I found my hand snaking down the front of my oversized t-shirt. My fingertips traced the bare skin of my stomach, the light friction sending a shiver down my legs.
A sudden spike of guilt rolled through me—just a phantom reflex tied to the men I left behind. I froze for a split second, my breath catching in my throat. But then I pushed the guilt away with a vicious mental shove.
They threw me away. They don’t own me. I deserve to feel good.
I slid my hand lower, slipping past the waistband of my underwear to find myself already slick and aching.
I pressed my fingers against my clit, rubbing in a slow, pressured circle.
A soft moan escaped my lips, echoing quietly in the shadows of the stone room.
I closed my eyes tightly, letting the image of Rowan take over completely.
I imagined his large, calloused hands wandering over my body, gripping my hips with a possessive strength.
I pictured him leaning over me, his lips peppering hot, wet kisses down my belly while his dark hair fell into his eyes.
The fantasy was so vivid, so intoxicating, that my hips bucked up off the mattress.
I dipped my fingers inside my pussy, stretching myself as I fucked my own wet heat.
I pumped my fingers to the rhythm of my racing heart, completely lost to the mental images of Rowan pinning me down to the bed.
The friction built like a wildfire, my breathing turning into ragged gasps until I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I clamped my free hand over my mouth to muffle my cries as I came hard, my back arching off the bed as wave after wave of intense, shuddering pleasure crashed through me.
I lay there panting in the dark for a long time, my chest heaving as the rush of endorphins slowly washed away the lingering anxiety of the day.
By the hearth, Noodle didn’t even stir. And for the first time in weeks, the heavy, suffocating pressure of the Nightfall bond was entirely drowned out, replaced by the lingering, phantom heat of Rowan’s touch.
I drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, the kind I hadn’t experienced since leaving Dominion.
When I finally woke, pale gray light filtered through the tower windows, and the fire had dwindled to embers.
Wrapped snugly beneath the heavy duvet, I felt warm and relaxed, momentarily forgetting my surroundings.
Suddenly, the bond surged. It wasn’t the dull, distant ache I’d grown used to; this was as if someone had yanked a fishhook deep inside me, trying with all of their strength to reel me in as I fought. Instinctively, I sat up, so quickly that the room spun, a hand clutching my chest.
“What the fuck…”
The pressure was overwhelming. Four distinct presences slammed against my mental defenses. No longer were they reaching for me across an ocean; they were close now.
‘Trouble,’ Noodle hissed, lifting his head and tasting the air.
“No,” I spat, tossing off the duvet and stumbling to the window. “No, no, no. They can’t be here. They wouldn’t—”
But I knew better.
I pressed my forehead against the cold glass, staring out at Imperium’s misty grounds. Though the thick fog obscured my view beyond a grove of oaks, I didn’t need to see them. Their presence burned against my mind like wolves clawing at a locked door.
My phone buzzed repeatedly on the nightstand, but I ignored it. Instead, I fortified my mental barriers, layering ice over steel over stone, until the pressure became bearable. My hands shook as I gripped the windowsill.
“They left Dominion. They actually fucking left.”
‘Foolish males. Shall I bite?’
“I’m heavily considering it.” I pulled away from the window and grabbed my training clothes and then my uniform to change into later.
If they’d left without Assembly approval, they’d be branded deserters. Everything—family legacy, their careers—would be at risk.
A rebellious part of me whispered, ‘They sacrificed everything to come after you.’
I squashed that thought and stepped into my leggings and sports bra. “They can’t do this,” I muttered, braiding my hair roughly. “They can’t destroy me and then show up expecting sanctuary.”
‘And yet,’ Noodle said, coiling up my leg, ‘they are here.’
Grabbing my bag, I headed to the door, determined to reach the combat hall before they found me. Training with Stardust was exactly what I needed—routine, normalcy—not four emotionally wrecked men barging into my life.
Bursting through the tower door into the misty morning, I almost collided with Phoenix. He steadied me with his strong hands, his copper-brown eyes widening at my frazzled appearance. “Jupiter. What’s wrong?”
“They’re here. The Nightfall Shield came to Imperium.”
Phoenix’s entire demeanor shifted. His warmth vanished, replaced by anger and coldness. He released my shoulders, eyes narrowing. “How close are they?”
“Like here here.” I pressed my palm against my chest, where the bond throbbed like a second heartbeat. “They must have flown overnight. I don’t even know how this is possible. Director Waverly told me they couldn’t follow.”
Phoenix swiftly dialed on his phone. “Lucas has to know immediately.”
“I don’t need protection,” I started, but his stern look silenced me.
“This isn’t only about your protection, Jupiter, though that’s the main issue here.
But there are four unauthorized shield warriors in Imperium’s territory.
If they step onto these grounds without the Headmaster’s approval, it becomes a significant issue.
” Phoenix spoke into the phone. “Lucas. We have a situation.”
Standing there in the damp morning air, I listened to Phoenix relay the information, trying to steady my breathing. The mist swirled around my sneakers, and in the distance, a bell tolled five-thirty.
Phoenix ended the call. “Lucas is gathering the others and alerting Professor Winters.”
“I didn’t ask for any of this,” I said, horrified as my voice cracked.
Phoenix softened slightly. He didn’t touch me again but positioned himself between me and the main gates, as if Nightfall was about to barge right through and sweep me out of here against my will. “I know you didn’t. But you’re not alone in this anymore.”
Footsteps crunched on the gravel path behind us five minutes later. I turned to see Jamie emerging from the mist, a cigarette already lit between his scarred fingers. His vivid green eyes were bloodshot, suggesting he hadn’t slept. “They actually showed up then.”
“Apparently abandoning everything. Reckless fucking idiots…”
Jamie took a drag. “Desperate men tend to act like idiots. What do you want us to do about it?”
“I don’t want or need you to do anything, Jamie.
None of this is on any of you and it’s not fair for me to just drop my drama in your laps.
I just want them to go home. I came here to get away from them.
I thought I could start over here, and maybe find a way to sever the bond.
But if they’re here, the proximity might actually make it impossible. ”
I hugged my arms against my chest, realizing I’d rushed out in such a panic that I hadn’t even grabbed a jacket. The thin fabric of my sports bra offered little protection against the damp morning.
“You’re freezing,” came Theo’s low voice as he emerged from the mist, Lucas and Rowan close behind him. Before I could protest, Theo shrugged out of his coat and draped it over my shoulders.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, even as I instantly leaned into the warmth. The coat smelled like clove cigarettes and peppermint, which I realized I liked a bit too much.
“Just take it,” he said. “No need to freeze on top of everything else.”
I reluctantly slipped my arms through the sleeves, which hung well past my fingertips. “Thanks.”
Lucas stepped closer. “I just spoke with Winters. She turned the Nightfall Shield away when they arrived in the middle of the night.”
I blinked, momentarily speechless. “They’re gone?”
“Not gone, but denied entry to campus. Apparently, Winters received a call from Dominion before they even landed, warning that they’d disobeyed direct orders and left for London without authorization.”
“So they’re just, what, sitting at the gates?”
“They’ve been put up at an inn in the village. Winters made it clear they’re barred from stepping foot on campus until you explicitly grant permission.”
Relief washed over me in such a powerful wave that my knees nearly buckled. Phoenix steadied me with a gentle hand on my elbow.
“So I don’t have to see them?” I clarified, hardly daring to believe it.
“Not unless you want to. The decision is entirely yours.”
I wrapped Theo’s coat tighter around myself, trying to process. “I don’t understand. Why would Imperium go to so much trouble just to protect my feelings? At Dominion, they would have thrown me to the wolves.”
Lucas’s expression softened slightly. “Because that’s not how things work here.Volatile shields can be dangerous for everyone, not just their axis. Until there’s resolution—either through breaking the bond or reconciliation—the school stands behind the enrolled student.”
“This isn’t special treatment,” Theo said. “It’s standard protocol. Shields in crisis are unpredictable. Their magic can become unstable, especially when emotions run high.”
“But Winters made it clear they can’t stay in the village indefinitely. Eventually, they’ll either need to return to Dominion or get formal transfer approval,” Phoenix said grimly, as if he thought that’s exactly what they might do next.
I let out a long breath, feeling the tension drain from my shoulders. The relief was so overwhelming that I almost felt dizzy with it. I had time. Space. A choice.
“Thank you for going to Winters. I kind of freaked out there…”
“Anything for you. We should head to training,” he said, checking the time on his phone. “If you’re still up for it?”
“Definitely. I could use the distraction. Maybe if I hit something really hard I can pretend it’s their faces.”
The guys laughed, and Theo muttered something about Eris’s face being particularly punchable.
As we walked toward the combat hall, Rowan fell into step beside me. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I think so. I just... I wasn’t ready to face them yet.”
“You don’t have to be ready on anyone’s schedule but your own. They were wrong to just show up like that. It’s reckless, and they know better.”
The combat hall was already warm and bright when we arrived, with equipment laid out for morning training. I slipped off Theo’s coat, handing it back with a grateful smile before moving to the mats to stretch.
As I bent forward to touch my toes, I felt my mental barriers shift slightly. The Nightfall Shield was still there, their presence a persistent pressure at the edges of my consciousness, but now that I knew they couldn’t reach me, it felt less threatening.
I had a choice. For the first time since this nightmare began, I had real agency in what happened next.
“Alright—” Lucas called, clapping his hands to gather everyone’s attention. “Let’s see what our American friend can do. Jupiter, how do you feel about a friendly sparring match?”
I straightened, a small smile playing at my lips. “Who’s my victim… I mean opponent?”
Lucas grinned, and there was something adorably predatory in it. “Me, sweetheart.”
My body hummed with anticipation as I stepped onto the mat. This was familiar territory.
“Show me what you’ve got, Ophis,” Lucas challenged, dropping into a fighting stance.
I mirrored his position. “Gladly.”