Eddy paled, Gemma turned, both of them looking at me with wide eyes.
“Did you just invite us to the palace,” Eddy asked with a deep chuckle, the guys' eyes still wide and staring.
“Yeah. You two, and Greer. I have to watch my baby sister, so I think it would be fun to take some…” I paused, weighing every single word I could put there. Wanting so much to say one, but saying another instead. “Friends.”
They looked at each other, some hidden language passing between them before Eddy laughed.
"You are inviting the girl who tried to murder your family in your home?" she asked, raising one of her brows and sending the piercing there glittering.
"Yes, it is quite possible I have gone mad." When she phrased it that way it did, anyway. "I seem to recall you saying you have never met Angela and as chance would have it, she would like to meet you."
“She said--” Her voice trailed off, her eyes unwavering as she stared at me, chewing her lip.
There was something there, in her eyes. Something I wanted to calm and soothe and chase away. But, I wasn’t sure how. Knowing her, if I tried she’d bat me away.
I knew she could do it herself. I still wanted to be beside her.
I stepped closer.
"Well, we better get going!” Eddy said loudly, cutting the silence like a butcher. “Gemma and I have a castle takeover to plan--"
"You can go, Ed. I'll catch up later." Gemma cut him off, she didn't even move, she stayed there, leaning against the broken trunk, eyes closed to the sun. “I gotta talk to Prince Douche anyway."
Nice to know my nickname lived on.
"Ha! Douche." Eddy chuckled with a weird sound, grabbing his jacket and laughing his way down the hill without another word.
Leaving us to drown in our own awkwardness.
She laid calmly beneath the broken branches of the silver tree, I writhed my hands behind my back as I tried to figure out what to say.
"Is there a reason you are keeping it a secret?" She asked, dragging me into the pit of nerves that was twisting around my feet, holding me in place. "Or am I sacrificing everything I believe in for some stubborn royal."
"There is a reason," I whispered, my heart beating so loud it thundered along with each word, shaking my vision.
"Which is?" She opened one eye and then the other when it became clear I wasn't going to answer her.
"Fine," she sighed, leaning forward and grabbing a handful of grass, throwing it at me although it didn't get anywhere close. “You can leave then. I’m busy.”
“Throwing grass?”
“Yes.”
She drifted to silence, her magic still pressing against me, wanting me. I shifted closer.
"Draks are super powerful. I mean, you saw my mom..." I let the words drift off, knowing it was only part of the truth. I only knew part of what had happened in that interrogation room so many months ago. But the way her lips had pulled into a tight line made it clear she had not forgotten. "I’ve always pushed the power away. When I was little," ‘and now’, I added to myself, "my dad had to bind my magic to keep me from hurting myself or others."
I paused, watching as her face contorted in a shock that I didn't quite understand.
"It's a danger having me here at this school, to be honest."
"Well, sounds like we have a few things in common.” She forced a smile and as she scooted closer, closing the cavern between us, although still not close enough that I could reach out and grab her. "We are both super-powerful mega beings that have our magic bound."
She gave me a wink. I couldn't help but laugh, so much of the weight that had been sitting on my chest pulling away. As though I wasn't holding as much of the world anymore.
Stupid Atlas.
"Well, you did blow up quite a few buildings..." Her smile had faded that straight lipped smile making a return. I exhaled, scooting myself closer to her this time. "Thank you for covering for me. Thank you for keeping my secret."
"You owe me is all," she teased, knocking her feet against my knee and sending a twist of power through me. Even without skin contact I could feel her. Weird.
"Well, I think I have that covered," I jumped to my feet, heart tight as I held my hand out to her, waiting, terrified she wouldn't take it.
She stared at my hand, at the tiny hopeful smile I was giving her and reached her hand forward, sending that live wire of energy through me. So magnetic. I would never tire of that.
Pushing down the sigh, I pulled her to her feet, pulled her closer, until she stood inches from me. Her smug grin was gone, she looked up to me, curls falling over her face as she stared. As she waited. It took me a second to realize that neither of us were breathing. I couldn't move, I just stared at her, lost in her eyes as I did the stupidest most cliché thing ever.
I pushed the hair that had fallen over her eyes back. My fingertips grazed her skin, hungry to run over her ear, down her neck, and towards the warmth that was drifting between us. To touch her. Hold her.
"Make it up to me, Rowan," she said, her voice a little more than a gasp, pulling me back to my senses and I dropped my hand.
I needed to pull it together. This was going to be hard enough with the way our magic was trying to lock us together like magnets.
"Come here," I said as loudly as I dared, trying to sound like I was in control of myself, not that it mattered, the second I turned her around in my arms, her back inches from my chest, my hands against her thankfully covered shoulders, I was back to having trouble breathing.
"What are you--"
"You are learning to make things grow, yes?" I interrupted her before I lost my nerve, or control of my magic. The second seemed like the much larger threat.
She only nodded.
"Let me teach you the way my mother taught me. The way my father taught her. None of this staring at seeds stuff. Power. Real power. Is that okay?"
Again, a nod.
"Are you sure? I have never heard you so quiet before." I leaned closer to her, looking around where I had placed her in front of me. God, I was sure the air around us was nothing but electricity.
"Do what you are going to do Princey, before I lose my nerve and throw you across this field just for giving me that wicked eyebrow quirk you think is so damn sexy."
"There you are,” I said with a laugh, moving back behind her, letting my hands run down her arms, my fingers fluttering above her skin until I reached her hands. Stealing my breath, I intertwined my fingers with hers and pulled her closer to me.
She didn’t pull away. Although her heart was a thunderous beat against my chest, her body was calm, her fingers tight around mine. Warmth radiated from her, her magic dancing through me and I leaned over, letting her hair tickle my nose as I whispered in her ear, doing my best to keep my voice regulated and my magic mostly contained.
"Close your eyes, Gemma." I smiled when she shivered at the touch of my breath against her ear. "Focus on the power that's flowing between us. On the way, your magic is moving with mine. On the way, my magic is dancing with yours. Can you feel it?" She was back to nodding. "Perfect. Now follow my magic. Move with me through the dirt, through the soil, into the tree..."
"The tree is dead," she gasped with a bit of hostility, her magic shivering as she tried to move away, I held her hands tighter, wrapping our arms around her, holding her in place against me.
"So is a seed. So is a rock. There is life in everything, Gemma. You need to learn how to tap it, how to bring it back to life. It's there just waiting for it. Can you feel it?" I didn't dare move, I held her, basking in her warmth as I guided her magic to the parts of the tree that were still struggling to live, refusing to give up.
Just like her. Just like me, in so many ways.
"I can."
"Push your magic into those parts, into the life. Prod it to grow, press into the tree, fill it with your power and whisper for it to grow. To heal."
"But I--"
"I'm going to help you, Gemma," I whispered, hol
ding her tighter against me, my thumb running over a bit of exposed tattoo on her wrist. She didn't shy away. She didn't pull back, she just melted into me, her magic traveling right alongside mine.
"Follow my magic. You can expand a slug, I know you can heal a tree."
She chuckled, her face screwing up as she stood with her eyes closed, focusing on the power, mumbling the word 'grow' over and over. Her power was everywhere, mine right alongside hers as they twisted, as they sparked and lit up inside the tree. The tree that was glowing, the bark twisting and breathing as life moved back into it. The trunk pieced itself back together, as bright red leaves burst from its bows once more.
"Look, Gemma," I whispered as the last of the branches snapped back together, as the large red leaves burst into life, the autumn sun catching against the bark and sending the silver into a glistening beauty.
It wasn't just the tree. Everything around us was glistening, as though the air itself had caught fire.
"It's beautiful." she gasped, her hands tightening against mine, as she pulled herself into me. As she leaned her head back.
"It is." I knew I wasn't talking about the tree.
I think she knew too.
"Rowan?" She asked, her voice a gasp against my neck. "I lied." I tensed when she hesitated, my brain running through every single terrible possibility. "That eyebrow quirk is damn sexy. You're damn sexy."
I couldn't help it. I couldn't stop myself. I leaned down to her, brushing my lips against her cheek as for the first time I kissed a girl that I wanted to kiss. As I felt the heat of her blush under my lips, as my magic went crazy.
I barely contained it, I barely held it at bay under my father’s binds.
That was until she turned her head, until she pressed her lips against mine.
Until she kissed me.
And all those powerful binds were turned to ribbons.
37
Sia
The smell reminded me of the Gauntlet, of the slimy filth that dripped from the walls. The way the train station before the tasks stunk, clogged with Drains and worse.
It was the same smell of liquid rot and death, the fecal drifts even more assaulting. It had grown worse with every step we had taken to this place, the air glistening with it as we walked from the field the car had dropped us off in and toward the gaping hole in the earth and the dilapidated wasteland. Tile was everywhere, smoke-stained walls and gaping holes making it clear that the space had been used for target practice lately. You could barely make out that tile mosaic on the wall, the words 'MidCity' the only thing that remained.
"This place is filled with magic," Talon whispered, spreading his hand forward as his own heavy power joined the dripping magic that clung to the walls, invisible lines of his ability stretching everywhere.
"Well, we know we were right. The guy has an army waiting for us," I whispered, carefully stepping around a puddle of who knew what. I had specifically worn a pair of one-month-old sneakers I had been planning to throw out, but I wasn't quite ready to fill the soles with rot quite yet.
"Don't be cocky, darling," Talon warned, dropping his hand and leading us toward a crumpled slab of metal in the corner. The doorway led to halls and stairs, and eventually other caves. Each step taking us further into a disaster zone, the walls growing more pockmarked and burned.
Actually, more so. Now that I was looking, the explosion wounds in the main hall had been more strategic, made to look as though they had been attacked, as though this place wasn’t safe. But these, these were everywhere. As though someone couldn't control their magic, as though it was exploding out of them. Just like Gemma at the Gauntlet.
I shuddered and pushed myself forward. I knew what I was walking into. I wasn't unarmed anymore. I wouldn't let the rats get away with that twice.
"How many Vilỳ does this guy have exactly?" I mused, no longer watching for puddles, but for giant craters that would swallow me whole.
"All it takes is one. There is no limit to their poison. Or their bite." Talon had lifted himself up, his magic shimmering around him as air carried him toward yet another door, this one marked with a bright red X. He didn't even offer to help, or to help save my shoes from the muck. I would have to remind him exactly what I was supposed to be to him. Lost puppy wasn't it.
"My grandfather, may he rest in peace, used to collect the poison and inject himself with it. He forced my Uncle Ryland to receive a bite as well, all in hopes of strengthening their power."
I hopped over a smaller pothole and froze, "Wasn't Prince Ryland born with magic?"
Talon turned to me slowly, his face already spread into a wide grin.
"He was. He was bitten to make him stronger." Desire was clear in his eyes, that hunger I had seen the other day suddenly making sense. Power. He wanted it as badly as I did. Fecking hell, even without our magic connecting I think I would have fallen for this one. Tasha was right, I should have chosen this sex-god from the beginning.
I would have thrown myself into his arms, but he was already moving away, hand out as his magic stretched to see who was behind the door.
"So, if an Eternal can be bitten to strengthen their magic, does that mean that anyone can do the same?" I asked, leaping over the last of the holes to join him. This time he reached for me. "Even a Chosen?"
"Are you saying you want more power, darling?" His voice was low as he grabbed me, pulling me against him with such force that I lost my breath.
"I've always wanted more power. Why do you think I was willing to settle for your pathetic," I kissed him, "weak," another kiss, "and dare I say significantly less attractive brother?"
Talon laughed, his lips smashing into mine with a moan. His hands fanned against my back as he kissed me, as his tongue gently parted my lips and tasted me. He pulled away far too soon.
"Wait until I bond you to me, darling," he crooned, his breath hot against my lips as he snuck another kiss. "You'll have more power than you can handle."
I was already begging for that, pressed myself against the other power that was between us, but right then, the door with the red 'X' opened and Talon nearly dropped me to the ground, stepping toward the hulking man that stepped out with fire in his eyes. Little golden flames peered out at us like burning fires in the middle of his blackened skin, the unphased smile a nefarious cut of lightning amidst the flames.
"Talon Krul." The man spoke with more familiarity than I expected. I looked to Talon, but even if he recognized or knew the man, he showed no sign of it.
"You must be Adrian," he said, the guy laughed with a booming sound that rattled my bones.
"I had hoped I would see one of you soon, which one shall I kill first?" Adrian's smile spread, his hand lifted as the same drippy illegal magic I had seen on Gemma on that first day sparked to life. Whether I wanted to or not, I stepped back, bringing my magic right to the surface.
"Well, if we had our way, you would kill Gemma first, followed directly with the King and Queen," I said, letting my own magic flare like we were caught in some measure of strength. Neither guy laughed. Talon smiled with that smug crooked grin of his as Adrian stared, the last of his magic falling to the ground as he stared at me. I didn’t even blink, you didn’t blink when you wished to control feral dogs after all. This guy was as good as that.
"We would like to work with you in this task," Talon cut in, pulling Adrian's focus. "And pay you handsomely when you return with my parent's heads on a plate."
With that, we both turned to Talon, to his wide grin and eyes that were dancing in a fire that I don’t think I had ever seen before. It was a beautiful thing, seeing so much power pump through him. So much joy.
He had spoken of me being Queen before, of being his queen, of being Queen of everything. I didn’t think he had meant that.
The idea of it made me smile, his hungry light reflecting through me. He wrapped an arm around me, both of us facing the dark-skinned Drain who smiled with a grin that was like a lamp in the dark.
Greed,
hunger, power.
They bathed the air and Adrian stepped back, holding the door open for us.
“Sounds like you and I have plenty to talk about, why don't you come in?"
38
Rowan
"I blew up a bathroom once," Angie said with a giant grin on her face as she placed one of the playing cards on the table. The green six smothering the blue card and making Greer screw up his face. The guy had been losing since Angie had roped us all in to playing this game this afternoon.
I'm actually surprised it took so long to bring it out. It was her favorite game. She hadn't brought it out until after lunch on our last day. I guessed it made sense, she had spent most of the rest of the time dragging Gemma, Greer, and Eddy around the massive system of caves in what could be easily interpreted as a grand tour of your enemies lair. But Gemma didn't seem to care anymore.
Every minute was spent comparing her home to ours, all of us declared moles thanks to our underground habitats and tendencies. Angela found it far more entertaining than anyone else did.
But, to be completely fair, I wasn't fully paying attention.
I had been watching Gemma.
I hadn't been able to see her alone since that kiss. Since that moment when our magic truly connected for the first time. I had been the one to be kissed, but I didn't mind it. Because it didn't matter who had kissed who, just that I had gotten to kiss her, to hold her, to run my hands over her skin. The literal girl of my dreams.
That kiss had turned into a bit of what my parents called a 'make-out session; with both of us laying in the grass and kissing and holding. It took everything to keep my magic from exploding. Feeling her magic mingle with mine had been like some kind of balm to the powerful Drak in my blood. Her power calmed mine enough that I could control it. In the end, she laid in my arms as we watched the sunset, as the air began to chill. I kept us warm with my magic as we laid together, fingers dancing, hearts beating...
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