Chapter 12
It’s been two days since we got Vale out, and we’ve been hiding in the caves with no word from Lyra or Aster.
I don’t think the Umbral Authority have Lyra or any clue where we are, but they are focused on tearing up the forest. They’re trying to figure out a way to get to us, and their Mindless have endless patrols in the forests, but these caves are well protected.
Years of spells for shifters to hide and protect them, and so far, those spells are working.
Even then, all of us are on alert since coming here because we are well aware that our luck could change at any moment.
We have a plan to leave through the sea if they find us.
We can get to the edge of the forest with Vale and Kane, thanks to them testing the boundaries of the spell, but they can’t stay long.
They begin to feel weak and sick the further away they are from the academy.
Even on the land here, they feel an urge to return to the academy itself.
I clear my throat, turning back to reading one of the many books down here about potions and curling up in Black’s lap as he rests his eyes.
I sense the magic in the air seconds before a note falls straight into my lap out of thin air.
Maz, who was sharpening his daggers, turns his head towards me.
Vale and Kane are on watch at the door, and Maz calls for them as I turn over the folded letter, seeing a dragon drawn onto the front and feeling the familiar magic wrapped around it. “It’s from Lyra.”
I quickly read it out to everyone.
Juniper—
I distracted the Umbral Authority long enough with illusions, and I drew two of them away from the academy before I had to leave.
From what I can tell, you’re okay, and so are your bonded.
Two of the Umbral Authority are following us, and I plan to kill them in time.
You will be left with Bael, who will not leave the academy.
Between your bond and your magic, you can kill him.
I didn’t risk returning to you, not when I am being tracked.
They have always wanted you, the power of my bloodline and the dragon, and they will stop at nothing to control you once more.
But a dragon cannot be tamed, my daughter, never forget that.
This world, it is this way in part because of me and my actions, and I must end it.
The witches must go back to the world they belong in, and you, my dear daughter, must not lose those you love to make that happen.
I have altered my plan to destroy this world, and I will be travelling to place the spells needed to end it.
I’m going to destroy the world, but I’ll leave Bloodstone Academy protected and under your charge.
You must figure out how to destroy the evil in the basement of the academy and replace it so the academy can stand alone, as it has done for many years.
The power of the goddess’s weapons should be enough to hold Vex, but you’ll need more than pure power and destruction—you’ll need something that can take its place and keep these things working forever.
We have two weeks. Use that time to find a way to destroy what’s down there, and just as importantly, to build or secure whatever can replace it.
If that evil falls and nothing stands in its place, I don’t know what happens next to your bonded.
We have researched more, but there is no spell to undo the blood and life bond to the academy. I wish there were.
Be safe. Be smart. I will return to you.
Lyra, your mother always.
I look over at the pile on the brick wall near the fire—the tarot cards and the watch.
Minnie’s around here somewhere too. I’ve seen her a few times; she’s come for food and cuddles before vanishing as usual.
I know what the answer is, but it is a risk, and something that we won’t be able to take back.
“I have an answer to half of our problems. We could bind all of ourselves to the academy. Kane and Vale are already bound to it. Adding our power, we could do the spell again, but this time for us. I don’t know another way to make sure the academy is safe. ”
“You won’t be able to leave,” Vale warns, walking away from Kane, who is silent. “Don’t do this for me.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Tell me you wouldn’t do the same for me.”
He goes silent. Maz steps closer. “I’m in. This has always been our home, and the choice to leave or not was made when Kane nearly died and Vale did the spell.”
“I go where Juniper is,” Black answers.
“No!” Kane snarls, his eyes pleading with me. “You deserve—”
“What? What do I deserve that you don’t?
” I ask him. “You’ve barely spoken to me since we got here, and now you want to argue?
News flash, I don’t need your permission, Kane.
” I know exactly what he was going to say.
“We aren’t given a choice, not really. My mother is right—the world needs to be destroyed.
It is full of Mindless, traps and spells to keep the population locked up under the Umbral Authority.
We have to take them down. Bloodstone Academy must be left, and if it’s the only place we can do our last fight for this world, then so be it.
I never wanted to go to another world. I never wanted anything other than family and peace—a life where I’m just not being tortured and used and having my memory wiped and being used again.
That is all I’ve ever known. So don’t stand there and judge me and tell me that I should want more, deserve more, or how I need to see this other world without you.
I don’t need that. I have never needed that. I’ve only needed you four.”
“We can make anywhere our home, and somewhere Juniper is safe,“ Maz softly adds, nodding at me.
“You are talking about forever,” Kane growls. “Forever trapping her here.”
“It’s hardly a trap if it’s something I want and am willingly going to walk into,” I counter.
Kane shakes his head, walking out the door. I sigh. “I’ll go after him.”
No one bothers to argue with me. Vale softly touches my hand as I walk past him, speaking into my mind.
“He feels guilt over everything. He feels like he is losing you.” I nod once before I follow Kane through the caves until we come to a small opening.
Kane punches the wall straight—leaving a deep crack up it with fire burning from his knuckles, flames glowing within the crack.
“Why won’t you talk to me?” I ask.
“Seems like you’ve got it figured out. Why do you need my opinion at all?”
“Kane, it’s not like that—”
“Are you sure? It feels like it’s like that. It feels like nothing I say or do is going to stop you from making this choice.” He turns to face me.
“I want this choice with you, Kane. You were my best friend as a kid, and then we were split up for so many years, and then again by the tarot cards. Kane, don’t you see?
Our lives have always revolved around each other.
It’s just—we’ve been taking time to get to it.
I know it’s risky. We’re talking about destroying a pocket world that a goddess made.
But we will save all the people in it, and think of what they have endured too.
They have lived a life of slavery, and their children would be the same, and so on.
The life here we can have—would it really be that bad?
Four of us, in Bloodstone Academy, where we’ve been for years.
I want that. That future. I’ve always felt at home here, and I want to fight for it, and I’m choosing to.
” I take a deep breath. “I’m asking you if you would fight at my side. ”
“Don’t you get that I’ll always be at your side? I just want more for you. Not for you to be trapped here.” He breathes out.
“I’m not trapped, Kane.” I close the distance between us. “I never have been when I’m with you.”
“Juni,” he whispers, touching my cheek.
Kane pulls me to him in a way that says mine without a single word needing to be spoken.
His lips find mine and there is nothing gentle about it—it is consuming, desperate, his hands burrowing into my hair and holding me like he is terrified that if he lets go, I will dissolve into the darkness of this cave.
I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. Not from him. Not ever.
Whatever is waiting for us beyond the mouth of this cave—the danger, the blood, the uncertainty of everything we have walked through to get here—none of it matters.
If the world wants to burn, it can burn.
I will be standing at Kane’s side when it does, and I will be happy about it.
He is my best friend, the one I have always wanted since before I can remember.
Every time they took our memories, we found our way back to each other, and it is the way it is meant to be.
I have three mates, and Kane is my fourth.
I search his face for some sign of understanding. “Tell me you love me.”
He walks me backwards until the cool stone wall of the cave meets my spine, his body a wall of warmth against me.
The fire from the cracked walls is bright, throwing amber light across the jagged walls, painting everything in gold and shadow.
It catches in his black eyes as he pulls back to look at me, and for a moment, he simply does that—looks.
Just looks at me, like I am something he cannot quite believe is real, and I almost don’t need him to say it.
To tell me everything he is thinking, but I love when he does.
“I have loved you before I can remember even existing, Juni. I have looked for you in every year of the academy, bonded with you in each of them too, and begged the goddess to never take you from me again. Love never seemed like enough of a word, Juni. I am yours, every possessive, jagged bit of me, and I pray you will take me as I am.”
“Kane.” His name leaves me barely above a whisper. “Be my mate.”