by G. Bailey
Foxes. But not any normal kind of fox, these are water foxes. Made of pure silver water, the foxes stretch to nearly the size of a horse. These creatures are so rare, mostly thought to be extinct in the forest, but there are fae who said they still see them.
I can hardly breathe as I run my eyes over the beautiful creature grazing on flowers right in front of us. The creature is alone as far as I can see and its long tail stretches into the sky. Water drops fall like crystals onto the forest ground below it, and the air almost seems damp with thick light magic like I've never seen.
This creature is pure light magic, pure and untouched by the darkness of the forest. And I somewhat envy it.
"I've never seen one, have you?" Luke whispers to me. "I've heard the sound of them recorded in Shadowborn Academy when we studied them, but I never thought they still existed."
"Same. Isn't she beautiful?" I whisper, leaning forward on the log a little more, and it cracks. I fall through the rotted log, slamming onto my chin and hissing in pain.
"Iz!" Luke shouts, reaching for me but some kind of blast pushes him away as I look back at him. Holding my bleeding chin, I sit up and crawl backwards as my eyes widen. The fox slowly walks towards me, its empty eyes looking bright and a little scary.
"Izora, run!" Luke shouts, slamming his hands against the magical barrier that the fox has clearly put up. Strangely, I stay completely still and silent as the fox stops in front of me. I bow my head in respect, remembering that ancient creatures of the forest see this as a mark of respect. My heart beats loudly as the fox leans over me and places his head on top of mine. Warm water falls all over my head and the pain on my chin disappears. I feel better than ever when the fox leans back and I raise my head. I wipe the water from my eyes as the fox bows once and then turns away. Luke is in front of me within seconds as the fox runs into the forest, and as if in a dream, I snap out of it.
"You okay?" Luke asks, cupping my cheeks.
I run my hand under my chin, not feeling the cut that was there before anymore. The fox healed me. "I think so."
I grin up at Luke before kissing him deeply. He groans, wrapping his arms around my waist and picking me up. It doesn't take long for Luke and I to rip all our clothes off before Luke holds me against the tree, sliding inside of me.
The enchanted forest will always be my favourite home.
Chapter 16
Shadowborn Academy stands in the distance, the tips of the castle peeking out over the treetops. How I’ve missed this view. This is the only place I’ve ever felt like I belonged. Unfortunately, even from here I can see that the academy has been severely damaged. Almost an entire section of the roof is missing.
"The academy's been attacked," I say to my guys as I land on the ground beside them. "Part of the roof has been torn off."
The men look between themselves, their expressions hardening.
"Maybe we shouldn't go there," Luke says, breaking the silence. "We don't know what's hidin' beyond the gates."
Scott shakes his head. "This is the only place we can get weapons. Besides, the academy knows who to let within its gates. The roof was probably torn because an enemy was unable to get inside. Even with the roof broken, the academy's magical shields would still prevent enemies from infiltrating."
"So it's safe to go?" I ask, and Scott nods. I open my lips again, but a flash of silver glints in the corner of my eye, and I quickly snap my lips together.
The guys see it, too, and we gather in a circle. I hold my breath and watch as six Light Fae soldiers emerge from the trees, their weapons gleaming in the moonlight. The moment we lock eyes with them, everything happens so quickly. The soldiers charge toward us and the guys stand tall, ready to fight.
"Don't kill any of them," I whisper as a tendril of fear creeps into me. "We need them for questioning."
"Hopefully they'll oblige," Gold says, handing me Ozy and then pushing me behind him. "Considering they're armed and we're not."
One of the soldiers throws down his shield and makes a break for it back the way he came.
"I'll catch him," I say, placing Ozy on the ground.
And then I'm running after the soldier.
Since it's easier to run than fly through the trees, I take off on foot. The soldier doesn't get very far when he trips on a fallen tree and falls onto his front, his sword scattering out of reach. I walk over, but the second I reach his side, he panics and grabs a knife from his boots, then he slits his throat in one swift move.
"Stop!" I cry out, but it's too late; blood spurts from his neck in a violent torrent.
The soldier lets out a guttural choking sound before he falls limp on the ground. I grab my hair and pull in frustration. Damn it! I wasn't going to kill him; I just wanted to ask him questions about Eva, and then I was going to let him go. "Dammit!"
I stare down at his dead body, angry that he killed himself because he was afraid of me. Is this what following Eva looks like? Fear and death? My stomach heaves as I turn on my heel and head back to my guys. The other soldiers have been gathered into a line on their knees, their hands clasped behind their heads.
“They say they’ve come from the academy,” Scott growls, a dark shadow flickering over his features.
Axel nudges a soldier with the tip of his steel-capped boot. “Tell her what you saw!”
The soldiers are silent until Axel pushes his boot against the soldier’s groin, and the fae cries out.
“A Titan… attacked the academy… We were ordered to clean up the mess and keep the students inside. They’re still… there… Argh!”
Axel yanks his foot back and looks at me. “What should we do with them? Give them a taste of their own medicine?”
“No!” The word escapes me before I fully register it. “We will not be like Eva.” I walk in front of the soldiers and cross my arms to hide my shaking, and I lift my chin high. "I am Princess Izora, the rightful Queen of Helios. You have chosen the wrong princess to follow; a princess who has been poisoned and wishes to deceive you."
The soldiers exchange a worried glance as I pace in front of them.
"You stand for light, but the fae you have chosen wants to turn that light into darkness," I resume calmly. "Not even the Dark Fae Queen is on Eva's side anymore. She is all but a lost cause, blinded by her greed, and her only desire is to cover the Forest in shadows at the hands of the Titans. If you're a true soldier, you'll know that without the light, there cannot be shadows. The Forest needs both of them to survive. But Eva wants to destroy that balance, which in turn will destroy you and all those you care about."
"We know," a soldier hisses. "It is why we have deserted the Light One and kept the students safe from her."
The soldier on his left snarls. "She is not worthy to be called the Light One anymore."
My pulse spikes upon hearing their desertion. Already Eva is losing those who swore fealty to her, and I couldn't be happier. "Then stand with me," I say. "Stand and together we can restore peace and balance to the Forest. I need your help. Will you fight with me?"
For a moment, I almost think the soldiers are about to say no. But then the first speaker nods and the others follow suit. A smile slides over my lips.
Eva, you better watch out... I'm taking your army, and I’m coming for you next.
Chapter 17
Returning to Shadowborn Academy doesn't feel like I've come home. It feels more like I've walked into a prison camp. Students stare at me with their empty, gaunt expressions as I follow Ozy into the Great Hall. The leader of the soldiers, Kyro, said that after the Titan tore the roof off and started to attack the students, the soldiers switched sides to protect my fellow shadowborns. The new headmistress sacrificed herself to make sure Corvina and the others survived the attack. I don't know who this Ivywood woman was, but I will never forget her sacrifice.
An eerie chill sweeps over me as I stop beside my guys and look around the hall. Makeshift beds litter the floor, and the students who sit at them are so miserable that I
can't bring myself to meet their gaze. I should've been here to help them. Yes, they had Corvina, but I should've... I should've...
"Why are you crying?" Axel slides an arm around my waist and pulls me into him, his musky scent wrapping around my senses.
"I just can't believe what's happened to my school," I whisper, my lip trembling. "This place was my home."
Scott glances at me, his thick eyebrows drawing together. The pain reflects in his eyes, too. This was his home as much as it was mine. He stuffs his hands into his pockets and walks over to the students gathered around one of the tables.
"Well, here's how I see it, cutie," Axel says, tilting my chin so that I look up at him; I just manage to hold back my tears. "Once this is all over, we get to build a new home. Together. The five of us. Hell, the six of us if you want that Ozy thing."
"Of course I want Ozy with us!" I giggle, glancing at the Shade; who's more than happy to have so much attention from the other students. "I couldn't imagine the six of us not being together now."
"Exactly. So don't mourn what you've lost or what used to be. Just be happy because it happened, and know that it'll happen again, just differently."
"Since when the fuck did you get so philosophical?" Gold laughs, punching Axel playfully on the shoulder. "Have you been swallowing some of Scott’s fancy books, eh?"
Axel narrows his eyes mirthfully. "Watch it, mate, or you'll be swallowing my fist in a minute."
He lets me go to play-fight with Gold. I smile and watch them, my mind no longer focused on the present but on our future... together.
“I’m going to catch up with my friends,” Willow says, giving me a weak smile.
“Of course. And Willow… promise me that you’ll stay here? We’ll be leaving soon and I really need you to stay here with the others.”
Her features harden. “I can fight, Izora.”
“I know you can, but…” I trail off, casting a glance at the other students. “They need someone they know and trust right now, and as much as your Head Girl bullshit used to drive me nuts, you’re the perfect girl for the job, Willow. You can give them the hope they need.”
She hesitates, worrying her lower lip. “If anything happens to you—”
“I’ll be fine,” I assure her, nodding to my guys. “Do you really think
The door to the hall opens, and Scott slides through them. I search for the others. Luke is busy sifting through the weapons that have been stacked in the corner. Willow is laughing with some of her friends. Axel and Gold are fighting and joking with each other. Looks like everything's under control here, so I follow Scott on instinct. And even when I don't see him in the hallway, I know where he's gone.
His classroom.
I know the way like the back of my hand. Gods, I used to sit in his class nearly every day and fantasize about him. Who would've thought that silly little crush would result in us actually being together?
I try not to focus on how empty the academy is, how... desolate, as I make my way to his classroom. The lower half of the castle is like a ghost town. There's no more beauty to be found in the shadows, no magical creatures sleeping in the gigantic flowers or on top of the huge, glowing mushrooms. It's just completely desolate and abandoned down here.
Even the mirrors and windows have all been smashed. Well, almost all of them. A single mirror, carved into the trunk of a tree in the courtyard, remains intact. And the closer I get to it, I realise why.
It's Kaelah.
I rush over to the mirror and peer into the glass. Kaelah smiles back at me, her reflection so clear that I could reach out and touch her. My mind races with all the questions I need to ask her.
"Kaelah, I can't believe it's you. I have so many questions!"
Her smile fades like snow melting beneath the sun. "I do not have long. I am using the last of my magic to send you this." She reaches out, and her hand projects from the glass. Slowly she uncurls her fingers to reveal a small scroll. "Here is the spell you must say when all of my lovers are gathered together. You must be exactly in the middle of them. Say this spell and the keys will open the portal."
I take the scroll and read the spell. It's more like a poem than anything.
"Thank you. Kaelah, I know where the last key is. I---"
Her smile returns fleetingly, but then the mirror goes black and I can no longer see her. I press my palm to the glass and close my eyes. I wish I had longer. There's so much I wanted to tell her.
Tucking the scroll into my pocket beside the petals, I pull my hand back and head toward Scott's classroom. The door is slightly ajar when I arrive, and slivers of light pool through the hinges. I gently push the door open wider and step into the room. The chairs and desks have all been moved to one side of the room, but Scott's desk remains at the front. He's standing beside it, his back bent and his hands splayed on the wooden surface.
I don't even say anything when I step over the threshold. I simply walk up to him, slide underneath his arms, and hug him. He pauses for a moment, then he tucks my head under his chin and embraces me.
"I failed them," he whispers, his voice breaking. "I was so focused on freeing my brother that I forgot about my students. Benjamin. Oliver. Yanya. So many wonderfully talented pupils... gone."
I tighten my arms around him. "We're going to get through this."
He kisses me on the head, and something wet splashes my hair. "I love you, Miss Dawn."
I grin into his chest, my heart skipping a beat. "And I love you, too, Professor Mune."
"Hate to intrude, but I figured you'd wanna see this," Axel says.
Scott cranes his neck and I peer around him, smiling when I see Axel standing in the doorway with his hands behind his back. Slowly, he pulls out a bow and arrow, and he flashes me the widest smile I've ever seen him give. I'm so amazed and thankful for the gift that I'm stunned into silence, so Axel continues talking.
"The others are waiting for us in the training room." He looks at Scott, his eyebrow lifting. "Luke found you a sword. Think you can wield it?"
Scott's expression lightens, almost like the sun breaking up a bunch of storm clouds.
"Let's go have some fun," he says, winking at me.
Fun is definitely what we need right now because tomorrow, we're setting off to find the last key, and then it's war.
Chapter 18
Staring down at the cold water of the rippling river, I take a deep breath. My hand flitters to the sword strapped to my hip, hidden under my thick dark green cloak. A sword isn't going to defend us long if we get caught by any of the guards in Vasili. Half the city has been destroyed, but the places near the castle in the centre have not, and will not be touched because Eva would have wanted them safe. I know it.
Why rule if you have no people left to bow to you?
"Can you feel something changing in the forest?" Axel asks me, softly placing his hand on my back, knowing how nervous I must be. Gold looks up, his hands sunk into the river as he maps out our journey through the water, a rare gift for dragons. His gold eyes flash in the moonlight, deep magic blasting off him in waves and making us feel uncomfortable from the pressure of being near the power.
Clearing my throat, I look away to the water. "Yes. The forest knows a battle is coming as much as the people of the forest fear it."
"It is time," Gold states, standing up and holding a hand out for me. "We will arrive in a small stream by a safe house. We will head inside of the house straight away."
I nod, trusting Gold. Whoever is in this safe house, he trusts them completely or we wouldn't be heading right for them. We have to find the key, and that means we need to be in the city and find a way to sneak around it.
"If anything goes wrong, find a way back into the water and meet at the academy," I tell them all, making sure to meet Axel's, Luke's and Scott's eyes.
"Deal," Axel says before running and diving into the water. I take Gold's hand and he pulls me into the deep water, both of us sinking under instantly. The water glows
, coming to life almost instantly even as I keep my eyes closed, feeling Gold holding me to him. Seconds drift into a minute and I finally open my eyes. Above me is a man leaning over the water, looking down and it takes me a second to realize it's Axel.
Gold pulls me up with him and we break out of the river, gasping for air as I cough out some water. Axel helps me climb the bank and I suck in deep breaths of the bittersweet air of the city of Vasili. Sweat mixed with a tang that reminds me of blood.
I shiver, and not from the cold sweeping into me from my soaking wet clothes.
Scott breaks out of the water next, followed by Luke. The dark streets are empty, eerily silent and full of small houses that cramp the edge of the riverline.
Gold doesn't wait, grabbing my hand and rushing us to a small wooden door of a white bricked house in front of us. He bangs the wood twice and I look around us as the guys keep an eye out. I don't sense anyone near, but who knows what is going on in the city now. The door swings open and a stunning Light Fae in a small nightgown stares at us, her eyes flickering between me and Gold.
"We need a safe haven," Gold tells her. She nods, stepping back immediately and we all rush inside the small cottage living room. Two sofas take up most of the space around a lit fireplace and a small cat sits on a cushion in front of the fire.
"You are someone they want," the woman tells me, crossing her arms. "And Gold, when do they never want you?"
He grins at her and a burning jealously flickers inside my chest, even when I am thankful for her help. "Everyone, this is one of the many spies for the Dragons. Nikaia was my nanny, of sorts. I owe her."
"I was lucky to be gifted by bringing you up. Now tell me everything as I make us drinks," she demands, placing her tiny hands on her hips. "And do use magic to dry yourselves. You all look cold."
I chuckle as I do as I'm told, and use my magic to dry off Axel and Luke while I'm at it. My dragon is already dry, and he starts explaining our long, long story as we sit on the couch. We each have at least two empty cups in front of us by the time Gold is finished.