by Nika Gray
“How long have you been able to do that?” I asked.
“I've been working on it. I escape Gregory by coming here and practicing,” he said.
“Spending quality time with your dad is getting to you?” I asked.
“If I hear one more story about how amazing Anand is compared to me, I'm going to punch a wall. It's not that I mind my brother having accomplishments, it’s the way my father shoves it into my face. I hate being around him so much.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be around him so much then?”
“We’re still in the dark,” he grumbled.
“What about Sadie?” I asked.
“You’ve been shadowing her?”
“Yes, and I haven’t seen anything other than normal.”
“Really?”
“Well as normal as this time is,” I said.
His eyes narrowed at me. “You seem different,” he said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
“Your eyes. They’re brighter. Almost like,” he stopped and cocked his head. “It's happening to you too, isn’t it?” he asked.
My face flushed. My stomach dropped because I couldn’t read his expression. At all. My best friend for my entire life was asking me if I’d hooked up with his girl. I swallowed the lump in my throat. He was my best friend and deserved to know the truth.
“We kissed in the mirror world,” I said.
“And then the Fae fire came to you, too?” he asked. He didn't sound jealous but more matter of fact.
“Not exactly. I feel a change, but I haven’t created any new magic. This whole thing is making me uncomfortable. I like her. I don’t want to be shadowing her. I think she can protect herself, honestly.”
“You want to be with her?” he asked. His eyes turned that brilliant gold he’d shown me several weeks back when he confessed about his own Fae fire.
“The pull to her is beyond magnetic,” I said simply. “I don't know what it means, and I don’t know how much longer I can fight it.”
“Maybe you shouldn't fight it then,” Fergus shrugged. “I feel more alive and more myself than I've ever felt in my life. Follow your heart Dec, and we’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah, you make it sound so easy” I said, even though my heart was pounding. What would happen when the Fae fire came to me? Could I handle it? And what about the intense feelings I had for Sadie? Was I ok sharing her with Fergus and Cole? I thought I was.
Fergus shrugged again. “Suit yourself but whatever's coming is coming. In two months, we’ll be at the Borderlands. Let me tell you, this magic is powerful. The conduit ring feels like a dampener to the magic I have inside me now. And she did that. She opened that all up for me.”
“You love her?” I asked.
“It’s beyond that man,” he said.
I nodded and thought I understood what he meant by that. Again, I’d seen the universe in the mirror world and all I could think of was Sadie Bishop and when I would be with her next. Should I mention the nightmares I’d been having about the Borderlands? Was he having the nightmares, too?
“I have to get back before Gregory comes looking for me. He's really enjoying having me at his beck and call. He’s got me doing a lot of shit jobs and I'm just swallowing it without protest. I'm surprised he hasn't become suspicious yet. I thought my disgust for him was obvious at this point?”
“Your dad has somehow become an even bigger prick than he ever was,” I said.
Fergus’ face turned grim again. “You take care of yourself okay, Declan,” he said. He was as worried about what was coming as I was and neither of us knew what to do about it.
“You too,” I said. I took the clothes off again and shifted back into my wolf form. I had a lot of thinking to do and the night was still young.
I figured I had at least two to three hours of running before I was exhausted enough to go to bed.
Fergus disappeared into the woods and I ran in the other direction. He was okay with my being with Sadie, but why was I so terrified?
9
Sadie
I left the professor’s village behind me and walked on the path towards the main quad. The lake sparkled to the right of me as I followed the path through beautiful manicured lawns towards the buildings up on the hill.
I hadn't gone far when a familiar voice called my name. I turned to see Kelly Hotchkiss running towards me, her backpack bouncing on her back. I hadn't seen her in days and after all I’d learned from Professor Tremaine, I was so happy to see her. She caught up to me and I give her a gave her a big hug.
“I haven’t seen you in forever,” I said.
“I know I'm such a terrible friend. I'm really sorry I've disappeared,” she said.
“Yeah, I'm kind of the loser eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner all by myself now. Even Kyna and Sonia have left me alone because I'm such a loser nobody wants to deal with me. I'm not important anymore,” I said. I’d never thought I would blurt it all out like that, but apparently, I was losing my mind.
Kelly grimaced and gave me another hug. “I am so sorry. What can I do to make this up to you?” she asked.
“I know you're busy. How is Marcus?” I asked.
Kelly giggled and smiled. “He's amazing. I haven't spent that much time with him either, but whatever chance we have we do get together. He’s just the best kisser,” she said.
“Are you guys having sex yet?” I asked.
Kelly blushed and nodded.
“Like him, don't you?” I asked.
“Very much,” she admitted.
“So where have you been if you haven't even been seeing him?” I asked. We’d gotten close enough to the quad to see students streaming towards class. I checked the time and I still had another twenty minutes before Battle Magic and my sparring session with Declan.
“I'm kind of embarrassed to say,” Kelly admitted.
“Don't be embarrassed,” I said. I took her hand and squeezed it. “Are you as terrified about being sent to your death at the Borderlands as I am?” I asked.
She guffawed at that. “How did you know,” she said.
“I'm pretty scared about it,” I said.
“Can I admit something to you?” she asked.
“Of course. You're my best friend here and I'm here for you whenever you need,” I reminded her.
“I never really wanted to be here at the Protectors Academy. My mother was a witch and I would've much preferred to go into her line of work making concoctions in my kitchen and selling little spells and potions. I only got into the school because my dad is headmaster here. I kind of actually begged him not to take the job, but there weren't that many job offers coming for him because he’d married my mom and he felt like he couldn't refuse it. I never thought I would be going to the Borderlands and figured I’d find a way to either flunk out or find another job I could do,” she said.
“What’s your skill? I didn't even ask you that. God, I haven't seen you in weeks I guess,” I said as we turned onto the path going to Bloodstyne Hall.
“I'm a Water Skipper,” Kelly said.
“And what is that?” I asked.
“I can control water to protect us from the deadly Fae fire. Now, I don't think I can protect anybody from anything, but I am able to tell water what to do,” she said and grimaced again.
“What class do you have now?” I asked her. When they’d shuffled our classes around, she’d been put into a different group than me, which was another reason our schedules didn't match up anymore.
“I have Magic History, what are you going to?”
“I have Battle Magic now. And I was assigned Declan LongBane as my sparring partner,” I said.
“He’s a shapeshifter, right? What are you?”
“Brute strength,” I said.
“Oh, I guess that makes sense,” she said. “Can we do dinner tonight?”
I smiled and some of the tension left my shoulders. “I would love that. It would be great to do a proper catc
h up,” I said.
“Haven’t you been hanging around with Fergus and Cole?” she asked.
I shook my head. “They’re still trying to figure out what the Magic Council is really doing here, and they seem to think the council’s trying to find another way to get me in their clutches, as it were.”
“I've asked my dad about that, but he's been mum. I've also heard the resistance has gone even further underground. Each time I've seen one of the members, they just look at me like they’re afraid of me and run away,” she said.
“That's kind of been everybody towards me,” I said. “It's been really lonely.”
“Hang in there, honey. I promise I'll be around much more now. I had a little meltdown when they moved up the trials and my dad's been helping me with some spells and potions so I’m not having constant panic attacks,” she said.
I smiled at my friend and hugged her again. “I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time.”
I felt lame blurting out what I had to her because we all were going through our own panic and uncertainty as this new reality was thrust upon us. At least, I wasn’t having panic attacks.
Kelly checked the time and waved. “I’m going to be late,” she said.
I gave her another squeeze and we parted ways. I would be on time today. I walked through the double doors and heard a slam behind me. When I looked back, I saw Sonja and Avery pointing and giggling in my direction.
I shrugged them off, buoyed by conversation with Kelly. It was the first time I felt at peace in weeks. I was more in control because I was learning about the magic I had, and I still had my friends, even though they might not be around as much they had been.
I entered the auditorium and sat down. Declan joined me in the back row.
“I haven't seen you around, shadow,” I said, trying to keep my tone playful.
“I know you can handle yourself, Sadie,” he said.
I gave him a smile, happy that he’d said that out loud. “Thank you for that. I’m not the kid sister who needs to be looked after. I’m a grown woman,” I quipped.
Declan gave me a grin and we both turned our attention to the front of the class as Professor Mathonwy took the stage with Aiden Wilkinson. Poor Aiden looked pale and a little tired. I couldn’t lie and say I didn’t get a small amount of pleasure from seeing him not is best.
“Today we’ll go straight into sparring,” Aidan announced.
Well, that was that, I thought. Why did Mathonwy even show up?
Declan led me back up to the small gym room where we’d practiced the day before. We both saw the pile of his clothes when we walked in and I giggled as he shook his head. He created the portal with his conduit ring.
“Could you do that extra spell also?” I asked.
He nodded and said the same spell under his breath as he flicked his fingers back and forth in a pattern. “Done,” he said and gestured for me to go into the portal first. He followed behind me and the portal closed with a soft click.
“Why did you want me to put on that spell?” he asked.
“The message you sent me was sweet,” I said. He blushed and hid his eyes. He was the absolute cutest.
“Okay, if you won’t admit you sent it, and I know it was you, tell me something else,” I said.
“What?” he asked with the sweetest smile on his face.
“How long did you know that my magic was Fae fire?” I asked.
His smile disappeared.
“I wasn’t sure if it was that.” He shook his head.
“I spoke to Professor Tremaine about Fae fire and she gave me the skinny on how it works in battle. Did you have an idea? Were you holding back on me?”
Declan avoided my eyes and stayed silent. I’d put him on the spot. I decided to make things even more uncomfortable.
“Are you changing because of our kiss, too?” I asked.
Declan looked up at me with an expression of such longing and desire that my heart skipped a beat.
“I don't know what I'm doing,” he said helplessly.
“Are you changing?” I insisted.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Your eyes. They’re so much more vibrant,” I said.
He shrugged and turned away. “I’ll shift now, and we can get started,” he said.
I turned around and gave him some privacy. After a moment, I heard a rustling of clothes again and then a quiet growl telling me he was ready. I turned back around and saw his silver-gray wolf stalking back and forth on the other side of the room.
I took off the conduit ring and released my Fae fire, the brilliant red tendrils flicked through my fingers. He howled and shook his head twice.
He didn’t want me taking off that ring, but I didn't care. I wanted to see what I could do.
Professor Tremaine said no creature could withstand Fae fire, but what if the creature was Fae himself? I closed my eyes. Our bond was strong enough that I could feel him pacing back and forth.
I released a little ball of energy in the opposite direction from him and opened my eyes to see a burst of red flame skitter through the air. I could control it.
I loved the feeling of that. He gave a small howl and lunged at me. This time I hit him with a boom of strength that I’d been practicing. It barely missed him, and he lunged back at me.
I jumped to the side and his fur brushed against my bare arm. I spun around and sent a little burst of fire at his tail. I saw it make contact, but instead of singeing or burning him, it crawled up his tail and met light green tendrils rising out of his fur.
I’d been right. He had changed.
Declan turned his head back around and watched the green and red fire intertwining on his tail. He shifted back into his human form and sauntered over to me in all his beautiful, naked glory. The heat rose through my body.
I stood in place, my eyes never leaving his. His eyes were green and brown and flashing. The expression on his face was confusing to read but my heart knew before my brain did.
The war inside of him had been won.
I’d won.
He moved in close to me, the green fire in his eyes. His muscles tensed under my touch and his tattoos seemed to move on his skin.
“I can't fight this any longer,” he said.
“You don't have to,” I said, and our lips met.
Stars burst in my vision again as our universes collided. He clutched me so hard to him that we melded together.
Our tongues teased around each other’s as his hands caressed my back, exploring the curves of my body.
He pulled back with a ragged breath, his muscles straining. His sparkling eyes met mine once again. The look he gave me took my breath away.
“More,” I managed to whisper.
He dipped his head slowly down to mine and his kiss was now gentle and teasing.
The green tendrils came out of his fingers and raced over my skin. My red fire skittered over his face and into his hair. Our magic played with each other over our bodies as the energy between heated.
My hands explored his back, his chest, his face. I wanted him inside me right now or I would burst.
And it was just a kiss.
He pulled himself away from my lips. “We need to get out of here,” he said. “The mirror world dampens feelings remember?”
“I don't know if I can survive the fire between us in the real world,” I exclaimed.
He kissed me again and the stars scattered through my vision. This kiss was so unique to us. His kiss was intense yet gentle and my soul tugged at his. It was beautiful, and mysterious, and oh so very hot.
“I'm not doing a very good job of teaching you how to spar with a shape shifter,” he said, taking the time to catch his ragged breath.
I was panting as my eyes searched his. “Declan, what are we?” I asked.
What do you mean?” he asked.
“I've activated your Fae fire,” I said.
“I know,” he said.
“That's three of you
now. I don't understand why this is happening. I gave Kelly a hug just a second ago and she wasn’t affected the way you guys are. Is it possible you’re all Fae, too?”
“I don't know. We have to find out though because it’s central to the council’s plan. We have to assume we all have targets on our backs now,” he said.
“Is that why you held off for so long?” I asked.
“No, sweetheart. That wasn’t the reason.”
I leaned in for another kiss, but he pulled back.
“We shouldn't do this here. It’s the mirror world first of all, and second, I don't know how good of a spell I cast for anybody to come and spy on us. We should go somewhere private, especially now that our Fae fire is so out in the open when we touch each other,” he said.
“You're so beautiful,” I said and touched his cheek.
“I’m nothing compared to you,” he said.
I watched him get dressed and had to fight to keep my hands off him.
“What about the sparring?” I asked.
“Don't you want to get what's between us out of your system first before we have to fight each other,” he said with a wicked smile.
I shivered all the way down to my toes.
“Alright let's go,” I said my heart thumping in my chest. I can’t even imagine what it would feel like for him to touch me, to be inside of me, to have those lips touch my skin.
He opened the portal again and I walked through it into the small gym. He came out after me with his clothes on and without touching, we left the gym and walked down the hall.
We were about to take the stairs when someone called Declan's name from behind. We both turned to see Aidan Wilkinson striding down the hallway, a serious expression on his face.
“What does he want from you?” I asked.
“I have no idea. Do you want to meet me back at the dorm?”
“Don’t take too long. I don’t think I can stand being away from you for much longer.”
“I promise,” he said, his luscious lips turning up at the corners. He was working hard not to grin.
“I'm going straight there,” I said.
I left Declan waiting for Aidan and hurried down the stairs. Aidan Wilkinson gave me the creeps and I was happy to leave the two of them alone.