Of Storms and Triumphs (Thunderbird Academy Book 3)

by Valia Lind

  Of Storms and Triumphs

  Thunderbird Academy #3

  Valia Lind

  Contents

  Of Storms and Triumphs

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Maddie’s List of Old Slang Words/Phrases

  Note from the Author

  Next in the world of witches and shifters!

  Want more from the Hawthorne Witches?

  About the Author

  Also by Valia Lind

  Copyright © 2020 by Valia Lind

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover by Anika at Ravenborn Covers

  Of Storms and Triumphs

  Thunderbird Academy - Book Three

  Valia Lind

  Without love, our earth is a tomb.

  Robert Browning

  1

  The cold snakes under my clothes digging into my skin like little worms digging into the ground, chilling me to the bone. I have no idea how long I've been huddled under this tree, or if it's day or night. There is no light in this part of the forest.

  I know my friends are going to be angry I left. But they have to be alive first. When the Ancients began rising from their slumber, our world had gone into careful chaos. We were still living, we were still going to school and running our businesses. But then they started sending their minions our way, and even though we were trying to find a way to coexist with this war, we're still losing.

  Rubbing my hands over my upper arms I wonder if the noises I'm hearing are actually all around me, or if they're part of my sleep deprived imagination. It feels like there's someone out there, right beyond my line of vision, waiting for me to finally fall asleep. Being here, alone with my thoughts, I can't help but think of all the ways this is my fault.

  Thunderbird Academy is my home away from home. I thought I was doing what's right. I thought I could protect my friends from the darkness. So I wrote a spell, using the oldest magic of story spell casting and instead of sending the monsters away, I brought the whole school to Faery. For just a moment, I thought Faery would be okay, that we would be safe here. But the Ancients are the first of the magical creatures who've walked the earth and they have walked in Faery too.

  Now, the danger is here and that's exactly how I've ended up in the middle of the dark forest, slowly dying from the excruciating cold.

  "No," I say out loud, breaking the shadows with my word, "I will not die here. I will not give into this self-pity. I am stronger than this. I am."

  Speaking helps break some of the tension, but not much. I have to keep going. There's a reason I'm here and I can't really rest until I reach my goal.

  The Oracle has been visiting me in my dreams. I promised her a spell in exchange for freeing my friends and now it's time I pay up. She has guided me across the same river we've met at and into the forest on the other side. I have to be getting close to the mountain now. But with no light to guide me, it's been difficult telling the days apart.

  Slowly, I get to my feet. That's enough rest for now. I close my eyes briefly, reaching for my magic. There is a stream deep underground that leads from the river to the base of the mountain. I've been using it as a guiding string toward my destination.

  When I start walking again, my body feels stiff. I'm almost out of my granola, and even that hasn't been sustaining me well. I'm exhausted for more than one reason.

  Sadness can take a lot out of a person.

  I shake my head, refusing to allow myself go down that road. If I start thinking about it, I won't stop. I'll curl up in a ball right here on the ground and cry until I can't feel anything anymore. It'll be easier if I couldn't feel.

  My magic flairs up, buzzing over my skin, as I walk slowly, with my hand outstretched in front of me, one step at a time. The trees are a little farther apart here, but the grass and bushes are taller. And they spring up on me unawares, since I can't see past about a foot in front of me. And even that is in outlines.

  After I've taken a few steps, I realize the noise I thought I was imagining is real. There's something stalking me.

  I try to remain calm, as I scan the area, very discreetly. My father would be proud of the survivor I've become. I've picked up a few skills he hasn't gotten around to teaching me yet. My heart thumps in awareness. I'm so worried about him, I can hardly breathe. But I have to focus on one thing at a time. After I save my friends, I'll find a way to get my father out of the winter court.

  The noise comes again, and I realize it's a slight scratching on the bark. Whatever is out there, it's climbing the trees to keep pace with me. I wish I could use the illumination spell and create an orb, but light in this dark place would just make me a target. Or a bigger target than I already am. But that's when it dawns on me. I can use that to my advantage.

  The creature keeps moving closer and closer as I walk, as if it's getting ready to pounce. I'm afraid to be the first to make the move, but I need to know what I'm up against. The next time I stop to rest, whatever is out there will be on me and I will have no way to protect myself. When I think I've finally reached a good place, a small clearing where I can stand up a little surer, I reach for my magic once more. This time, instead of looking for the stream, I look for the light.

  "Light the way, please," I barely whisper, keeping my movements small.

  The orb forms quickly and as soon as it's between my hands I throw it up in the air. It flies up, illuminating the immediate area. It takes a second for my eyes to adjust and when I do I see them. The trolls. Up in the trees. Now completely fascinated by the orb hanging over my head. But then, it's as if this was their cue. Their little heads turn towards me as one, and they attack.

  The scream that pierces the dark sends shivers up my spine. It's hard keeping the orb overhead as I bring up my other arm, readying with battle magic, but I've been practicing. One of the trolls hits my magic, and goes flying in the opposite direction. Another jumps, landing in front of me and I pull on my magic, pushing him back. Before I can do anything else the third troll drops down, landing on my back. I scream, falling to my knees from the impact and my concentration breaks. The troll scratches at my back and neck, pulling on my hair, and yanking the backpack off as I try to get him off me. But he won't budge.

  My mind goes over my options as I keep twisting but I can't see the others anymore. I stumble over something on the ground and realize that this place could be useful. With one arm, I reach out, trying to find a tree. The moment my hand connects, I st
ep up to it and swing my body with full force in the direction. There's a thud and a scream as the troll slams into the wood and flies off my back. Quickly I reach for my orb, lighting it again, searching for my backpack.

  I find it a few feet away, snatch it up and start running. I have no choice but to move fast now. Keeping the orb lit, I search for the stream below the ground and when I find it, I run faster. The screeching is right at my back but I don't turn.

  My body screams at me to slow down, to take a breather, but I can't. If I die in this forest my friends are doomed. If I die here, Aiden will never come out of his coma.

  When I think I can run no longer, the forest opens up in front of me. I can hear the rush of water without my magic, and I blink a few times to orient my eyes to my surroundings.

  The clearing in front of me is small, but it's right at the base of the mountain. I twist, to glance back into the forest, but the trolls don't follow. They stay in the shadows, watching me with those beady eyes of theirs.

  I'm on my knees before I know it, breathing heavily. Shedding my backpack, I try to keep my head from spinning, but everything seems too much. If something attacked me right now, I don't think I'll be able to withstand it.

  "You are a strong one, little witch."

  The voice comes from my left and I glance up to find the Oracle walking towards me slowly. She moves with such grace, it seems as if she's floating. She's just as beautiful as I remember, her short hair blowing in the wind she carries with her. This time her dress is maroon, and way more revealing, with slits and cutouts all over her body.

  "Why put me through that?" I grunt, slowly getting to my feet. Everything the fae do have a purpose. There has to be one here.

  "You are unlearned and undisciplined. The forest teaches many things."

  The fae are also freaking riddle masters and I have never been so irritated by words as I've been since coming to Faery. Dad and I love words. We love collecting old phrases that no one uses and reviving them. But these, these fae are masters at word play and masters at not answering direction questions....well, directly.

  "Great. Did it teach me how to outrun trolls who want to eat my face? Because that's all I got out of that lesson."

  "Are you sure about that?"

  "I don't understand."

  "Of course not, little witch. You have much to learn."

  I grunt again, this time even more feral like. Ever since I've came to Faery, everyone keeps mentioning how unlearned I am. Especially the Oracle. It's not that I already don't feel useless with half the things going on. I don't need the extra reminder.

  "You don't like that."

  "Of course not," I snap, pushing the hair out of my face. The last six months have taught me to be a little more bold as well, and at least for that, I am thankful. "What's the game you're playing? The dreams, and now the forest. What do you want from me?"

  The Oracle doesn't reply right away, watching me carefully. I'm not sure what she's deciding about me, but I honestly can't see any of this ending well for me. I shouldn't have come. Even though I had no other choice, I still shouldn't have.

  "Come with me, little witch. There's much to be discussed."

  She turns then, walking back toward the mountain, leaving me no choice but to follow. I grab my backpack from where I discarded it and throw one last look at the forest. The trolls are still there. If I actually survive whatever the Oracle has for me, I'm really not looking forward going back into that forest.

  I just hope my friends are still hanging on. And my dad. Too many people are tied to my decision making at the moment. What I wouldn't give to be able to talk to my sisters right now. I need their comfort almost as much as I need their wisdom.

  The Oracle steps in front of a rock wall, and I glance around to see if there's an entrance somewhere. The mountain's base is much larger than I thought, and it spreads out across the plains, as far as my eye can see. We would have to climb to get anywhere, but when I look over at the Oracle, she waves a hand and the rock in front of us ripples. Without hesitation, she gives me a quick smile and steps right into the rock wall. Rolling my eyes at her tendency to show off, I follow.

  When I step through the wall I expect to end up in a cave of sorts. What I find is a great room, with large windows and huge bookcases. There's a love seat and a full couch, along with tables and chairs. It looks like an elaborate study, and there are flowers on every surface. I glance to my right and find a doorway, and a hall opening up beyond it.

  "You didn't actually think I lived in a cave, did you?" The Oracle laughs, the sound melodic to my ears. Of course that's what I thought. It's what I've been told. But once again, it's ridiculous of me to trust anything the fae say or do. It's time I try and take this situation into my own hands.

  "Why am I here?"

  I seem to repeatedly ask her the why questions, but I need something to go off of. I'm not naive enough to think she's not playing some kind of a game.

  "Because, I may be of some help."

  That makes me pause, my heart thudding loudly in my ears.

  "What does that mean?"

  Reaching into a pocket in the folds of her dress, she takes out a small glass bottle, the liquid inside sparkling in the midday light coming through the large window.

  "This will heal one individual from this illness. But only one."

  "What?"

  "It is your choice to make, little witch."

  "I don't understand." My mind is spinning with possibilities. We've been searching for an answer to this sickness for days, and here she stands, holding the answer. "If you can help, why won't you?"

  "It is not my job to take care of the Spring Court. Or to save humans from their demise. That would be a full time job."

  "But it's not just humans in trouble. Every magical being at my school...and fae, they're all sick."

  "They are of no concern to me."

  I can't wrap my mind around this, can't understand why she would keep this magical elixir to herself. The fae are cunning, of that there is no doubt. But how would she have this knowledge? And why only share a bit of it and with me? This brings up way too many questions.

  "Time is ticking, as you humans like to say. Your shifter doesn't have much time."

  My head snap up at her words, my heart dropping. No, she can't know that. There's no way. The last update Liam gave me was that he was stable, just like the rest of my friends. But then again, why would she say it if it wasn't true? Fae can't lie.

  "But if I save him, what about the rest of my friends?"

  "That's a puzzle for you to solve, little witch."

  I can tell she's already done with me. She places the bottle on the table between us, before walking slowly away, as if she's giving me privacy to decide what to do. I have no choice but to pick up the bottle, the glass cool under my fingertips. The liquid swishes back and forth, mesmerizing me with its glitter-filled movements.

  "Why are you doing this? Did you bring me all this way for this?" I raise the bottle in her direction, but it's like she can no longer be bothered by my presence. She reclines on the sofa, her gorgeous dress spread out around her.

  "Why do I do anything these days?" she muses, "For entertainment, of course."

  Her answer doesn't surprise me, just that she even bothered to say anything. The fae, precisely this fae, is in it for herself.

  "But also," she continues, sitting up just slightly, so she can lean on her knees. That piercing gaze roots me to the spot as I wait for her to say whatever she's going to. "You are such a curious creature, Madison Hawthorne. I want to know what you are made of."

  "So it was a test?"

  "Life is a test, darling. The sooner you learn that, the better off you'll be."

  She sounds like one of my sisters, and the pang of sadness is sharp and instant. She stands then, not giving me a chance to reply.

  "It is up to you to decide what to do with what you have been given. I'll be calling on you again when I'm ready."

>   "Wait, I have more questions!" I exclaim, even though I know how dangerous they can be. But she's not listening. She waves her arm and then her other comes up, sending a wave of magic at me. I stumble under the weight and then I'm falling. I think I'm going to land on the table, but then I'm on the floor and a portal opening closes above my head.

  "Maddie!"

  I twist to the left to find myself in Aiden's room, with Liam standing up, staring at me as if he's just seen a ghost.

  "Hey. I thought I'd drop in," I reply, before plopping down more fully. Today has been exhausting.

  2

  Exhaustion is heavy on my bones, and I give myself just a moment of reprieve. Then, I get up without looking around me and hurry to the door.

  "Maddie, wait!" Liam's voice follows me as I stumble into the hallway. He's two steps behind me and then he's blocking my path.

  "What?"

  "You haven't seen him in days."

  I close my eyes briefly, trying to keep the panic and anguish at bay. Being strong is a funny thing. Sometimes you forget how to be anything else and you push people away. But I can't do that with Liam. I have to give him at least some of the truth.

  "I can't, Liam."

  Moving around him, I try to flee, but he's not done.

  "Why can't you?" His voice is low and gentle and it breaks me.

  "Because if I see him, any of them, it will shatter me. And I can't help them if I'm in pieces!"