“You’ve been doing all you can,” I insisted. “I have to act now or it’ll be too late.”
Peter frowned. “I don’t like the sound of this, princess.”
I straightened. “If there’s one thing you must’ve learned about me by now, it’s that I am not a princess. Far from it, in fact.”
A sly grin emerged. “But you are a royal pain in the ass.”
There was no time to succumb to his charms. I brandished my wand and ran straight down the middle of the bridge, shooting spells as I went. Thankfully, no one joined me. I worried that one of my friends would try to help at the last second, but they did as requested. It was crucial that I made it to the middle of the bridge on my own.
Fire streaked from my hand and attacked the giant on the left while my wand shot arrows at the giant on my right.
“Finally, I have your undivided attention,” I called.
Water washed over the bridge, dousing some of the fire below. I held back my fire power, not wanting to waste it. I had to conserve my energy in case I needed it against Naira. In case I failed.
Great Goddess of the Moon—what was I thinking? I was Dani Degraff.
I never failed.
“Hit me with your best shot!” I yelled, and rushed straight down the middle of the bridge between the giants. They released their tridents at the same time in an effort to stab me with their pronged weapons. I summoned my magic, using a booster spell that my grandmother had taught me. It was one that gave me preternatural speed. I didn’t have many occasions to use it because it was a fast-acting, limited time only spell. I’d used it once during a sprint in primary school against a boy who’d made fun of me for having an addict for a grandmother. We hadn’t been allowed to use magic in the foot race, so I’d cheated. I hadn’t cared about anything except putting that wizard in his place. I’d shown him who was best and I’d liked the feeling. That night, though, I’d confessed in tears at the supper table. The winner’s high had worn off and I’d felt nothing except guilt. My parents had decided that I shouldn’t report myself to the school administrators because it would only further damage our reputation. A lesson had been learned that day, however. I never cheated again.
I whooshed past the two giants at the critical moment when they threw their tridents. I felt the wind at my back as the weapons sailed across the bridge behind me. I turned around in time to see the prongs pierce the opposite giant’s chest. The giants clutched at the weapons lodged in their chests. The one on the right managed to pull his out, but it was too late. The damage was done. Blood spurted from the gaping wound and he died before he hit the ground. I watched in anticipation to make sure the same happened to his friend.
The second giant staggered and frantically tried to pull the trident free of his chest. It was not to be. He was dead before he fell over the side of the bridge and sank into the arms of mother earth.
“Dani!” Bryn called, racing across the bridge to catch up with me. “How did you do that?”
“The old witch prophesied that no gods or mortals could kill them,” I said, “but she didn’t say they couldn’t kill each other.” I shrugged. “When it comes to prophesies, there’s always a catch.”
Peter was at my side before I drew my next breath. “You’re really something, you know that?” The look of awe on his face was priceless.
“I’m going to be really dead if we don’t stop Naira,” I said. “We need to hurry!”
The others caught up to us, along with Mia and Cerys who’d been keeping the exit free of obstacles.
“The return journey is clear,” Mia said.
“Wands at the ready,” I said. “Those of us who have them, anyway.” I held a finger up. “No crude jokes, Peter. This isn’t the time.”
He grinned. “There’s always time for crude jokes. Otherwise, what’s the point of saving the world?”
Three giants appeared at the end of the bridge, blocking our way to Naira.
“Any takers?” Gray asked. “Bryn? I wouldn’t want to intrude if you had your heart set on him.”
She smiled. “I’m partial to the one on the left. I’m a sucker for a unibrow.”
Gray touched his own forehead. “Now you tell me.”
The pair of them raced forward and attacked. Bryn formed a water spiral around them as a protective measure. It was as though they were running through a tunnel made of rushing water.
“Man, that’s cool,” Peter breathed. “Can you do anything like that?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Watch me.” I sprinted along the bridge, creating a ring of fire around me. Flames sparked beneath my feet with every step. I was like a human torch.
My magic flowed from me without effort. Unlike Bryn’s raw power, however, my magic was controlled. I knew exactly how much impact I’d have when I used a spell.
I was so focused on defeating my giant that I barely noticed when Peter began fighting by my side. “Took you long enough,” I said.
“What? I had to dispatch a pair of nasty lava trolls,” he said. “They’d apparently been biding their time under the bridge.”
“Are Cerys and Mia okay?” I asked.
Peter offered a sheepish grin. “Maybe I was too hasty when I said I dispatched a pair of trolls.”
I invoked a spell that made the giant dizzy. It was such a simple spell, used on many a teacher in primary school. A giant took a bit more effort, but the result was worth it. The giant swayed and fell to the ground.
A lightning bolt hit the ground beside me and I felt the shock of electricity in the air.
“Spell’s bells,” Mia said behind me.
“Looks like someone dipped into the Zeus elixir,” Peter mumbled.
“The sun has set on your civilization,” Naira said, striding forward. She waltzed between her fallen comrades like they were nothing more than boulders. “Bow before me and I will spare your pathetic lives.”
“Someone’s cocky,” Peter said. “I guess the elixir went down smoothly.”
Naira peered at him. “You are nothing more than an insignificant ant.”
“Sometimes,” Peter said casually. “But sometimes I’m capable of more.” He pulled a small item from behind his ear.
“What are you doing?” I asked. Now was not the time for a toothpick. Then I remembered the night at Oasis. “Oh, your staff again?”
Peter gave me a solemn look. “Whatever happens next, I’m still me, okay? Promise me you’ll understand that.”
I blinked. What was he talking about?
He said a few words that I didn’t comprehend and I watched as the toothpick stretched and grew into a wooden staff.
“Yes, you are capable of a magician’s tricks,” Naira said. “If you were useful like Fraser, I might be tempted to spare you, but I can see that’s not the case.”
“So, is that staff a druid thing?” I asked. We’d been so preoccupied since Oasis that we’d never discussed it afterward.
He pressed his lips together. “It’s not a druid thing.” He marched forward, looking like no more than a dwarf in Naira’s long shadow.
“Come no closer, you insignificant fool,” Naira boomed. “Let us end this so we can move on to more worthy foe.”
“I’m afraid you won’t be moving anywhere,” Peter said. Sadness permeated his statement. He extended his staff until it reached Naira’s chest.
She squinted for a better view of it. “What insanity is this? I don’t even need a god elixir to defeat you.”
He touched the point of his staff where her heart was likely to beat. “In my father’s name, I claim you,” he said.
In his father’s name? What did that mean?
Naira opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out. Not even a final breath. Her empty husk simply disintegrated and her remaining pieces scattered in the wind.
I stared at the scene in disbelief. “What just happened?”
Peter stumbled forward, nearly toppling over. He used the staff to keep himself flat on his feet
. “I figured there’d be some kind of energy drain. Good thing I can heal myself, right?”
Gray clapped Peter on the shoulder. “Nice work, druid. Didn’t know you had a little death in you.”
Peter retracted his staff until it was back to the size of a toothpick. Then he tucked it behind his ear where it had been hidden. He pressed his hand against his chest, still trying to recover.
I continued to process what had just happened. “Death is my constant companion,” I said quietly. “Mira didn’t mean Bryn.” I paused. “She meant you.”
Peter met my gaze. “I can explain.”
“Can you?” I asked. “I’d love to hear it.” I didn’t know why I felt angry—we’d just defeated the giants. Stopped the rebellion. Instead of elation, however, I felt sick.
“My father was a Death Bringer,” Peter said.
“But you’re a druid,” I sputtered.
“A hybrid, remember? I’m a druid on my mother’s side,” Peter explained. “My father’s name was Javar. He and my mother…They didn’t stay together. Ultimately, they were too different. When he finally took his place in the underworld, I inherited his staff.” He tapped his ear where’d placed the toothpick. “I use it sparingly.” He paused and stared at the place where Naira had collapsed. “And by sparingly, I mean this was the first time.”
“Ever?” I asked.
He faced me. “Ever.”
I backed away slowly. “You can kill living creatures with the touch of your staff? You’ve had that power all this time?”
He forced a grin. “I guess now’s not the time for staff jokes, huh?”
I shook my head, too angry to smile. “You lied to me.”
“Not exactly,” he said. “It’s not a part of myself I reveal to anyone, including myself. Fraser knows. He helped me a lot when I was younger. He wanted me to accept that part of myself.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “But I never have.”
“A Death Bringer,” I said, gaping at him. Charming, sexy Peter held the power of life and death in a staff he kept hidden as a toothpick.
“I know it’s a pretty big secret,” Peter said, “and I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” I spat. “Secrets don’t get any bigger than that, Peter. I believed we were…I thought….” It didn’t matter anymore. He clearly hadn’t trusted me and now—now, I would never trust him.
“Princess,” he said, and took a step closer.
“Don’t call me that.” I heard the venom in my voice, but I didn’t regret it. I turned and fled the bridge, brushing past my friends. We’d won the battle, but right now I felt as far from victory as anyone could get.
Chapter Nineteen
Hazel bustled into the chancellor’s office and set a tray of treats on the table beside me. “A well-deserved taste of Hazel’s homemade fizzlewick tarts.”
“Wow, we should save the world more often,” Bryn said, reaching for a tart.
Chancellor Tilkin gave a nod of approval. “Miss Degraff and her friends have proven themselves quite resourceful. The AMF will be fortunate to have you someday. And we are fortunate to have you now.” Her eyebrows knitted together. “Though I would be remiss if I failed to chastise you for taking such a dangerous mission upon yourselves. The Board of Regents has already expressed its displeasure.”
Bryn snorted. “The Board of Regents thinks Lake Mercer is too wet.”
“I’m so sorry, Chancellor,” I said. “If you want to blame anyone, blame me. I was the one committed to helping Peter.”
“To be fair,” Mia added, “we did pass along information to the proper authorities, but they weren’t willing to move fast enough to immobilize the threat.”
Chancellor Tilkin pressed her lips together, a subtle acknowledgement. “Still, we cannot have members of the academy putting themselves at risk. You’re still learning.”
“You were very brave,” Hazel interjected. “We’re lucky to have folks such as yourselves looking after us.” She patted me on the head. “You make the Spellslingers family proud.”
My spirits lifted. All I ever wanted was to make my family proud. “Thank you,” I said. “It means more than you know.”
“And what of your friend, Mr. Zilla?” the chancellor asked. “From what I understand, he played a major role in thwarting this rebellion.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I hadn’t spoken to Peter since our return from Hellside Canyon. Bryn had gently reminded me of the reasons she’d kept her own very important secret and that Peter probably had important reasons of his own. Mia and Cerys were equally encouraging. But the fact that he’d managed to hurt me meant that my feelings for him had become a weakness. They left me vulnerable. I didn’t like it.
“Peter was incredibly courageous,” Bryn piped up. “I don’t know that we could’ve won without him.”
“Professor Fraser says he has a positive history with the young druid,” the chancellor said. “He seems quite grateful for Peter’s involvement in his rescue.” She inclined her head toward me. “And to you as well, of course.”
“I’m glad he’s recovered,” I said.
“It sounds as though Mr. Zilla had a hand in that as well,” the chancellor said.
“A literal hand,” Hazel interrupted. “We could use more healers in this world. Too much destruction these days, that’s what I say.”
“Thank you, Hazel,” Chancellor Tilkin said with a patient smile. “If we need anything else…”
“Oh, I get the hint,” Hazel grumbled. She gathered up the empty glasses and left the room.
Chancellor Tilkin waited until the door clicked closed to continue. “Is it true about his abilities? Warden Armitage could hardly contain his excitement. He’d like to recruit Mr. Zilla for the AMF.”
Bryn blew a raspberry. “Dream on, Armitage. That’ll never happen.”
“Peter isn’t much of a joiner,” I said. “He’s more of the lone wolf variety.”
“He’s not an assassin either,” Mia said. “I’d be worried about someone with his power falling into the wrong hands.”
Chancellor Tilkin regarded Mia with surprise. “And you think the AMF—the very agency you’re training to work for—would be considered the wrong hands?”
Mia’s cheeks flamed. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that he holds power over life and death. It would be too tempting to send in Peter when you wanted to vanquish an enemy.”
“Arguably, we all have that power,” I said. “I can use my fire magic to burn someone to death. Bryn can drown them.” I looked at Mia. “You can draw the air out of their lungs and Cerys can open a crack in the earth and suffocate them.”
Bryn gaped at me. “Man, I would hate to live in your head.”
“We all have a responsibility to use our powers wisely,” Cerys said. “Peter has kept his hidden for how long? All because he didn’t want to carry the weight of it. He knows what a burden it is.”
“I agree,” the chancellor said. “In my view, Mr. Zilla has acted responsibly. I’ve explained as much to the Board of Regents.”
Alarms sounded in my head. “They know about Peter’s power?”
“Yes, Warden Armitage gave a full report of the mission to the board,” the chancellor said. “I thought you knew.”
I sank against my chair. “I didn’t.” Now I was worried about Peter. What if they decided he was too big of a threat? The board constantly concerned themselves with Bryn and her Shadow Sorcerer history. What if they tried to make life difficult for Peter, all because he came to our aid?
“The Board of Regents has no authority over Mr. Zilla,” the chancellor said, seeming to read my mind. Or my very tense body language. “He is on their radar, nothing more.”
“But if Warden Armitage gave a report to the board, then surely he gave one to the AMF as well,” I said.
“Gray was there,” Bryn said softly. “He’d speak up for Peter.”
“It sounds like Armitage spoke highly of Peter,” Cerys said. “I think the issu
e is that he spoke of him at all. I get the sense from Dani that Peter was hoping to keep his true identity under wraps.”
“Yes,” I said, nodding. “Peter wouldn’t like to be on anyone’s radar.” Especially because he was a smuggler. How would he make his living now if he had eyes on him? He’d said himself that his run-ins with agents had made his life more difficult. What would happen now that they knew what he was truly capable of?
“I understand that you feel a sense of responsibility to protect Mr. Zilla,” the chancellor said, “but he is a grown man who made the choice to reveal his true self.”
“Like I did on the bridge in New Hope,” Bryn said. “I used my magic, even though I’d tried so hard to stay hidden in the human world. I think we can all agree there were consequences to my decision.”
“Yes, but they were positive consequences for you,” I countered. “Chancellor Tilkin found you and brought you here. Peter’s situation is different.” I wasn’t sure why I was making such an effort to defend someone who’d lied to me. Someone who had kissed me and fought alongside me. I’d trusted him, but he hadn’t trusted me—not enough to reveal his secret.
“Peter has managed to lurk in the shadows all this time,” Mia said. “Try not to worry, Dani. He’s a clever druid and he’s clearly developed a lot of useful skills over the years.”
“My only request would be that he rethinks his chosen profession,” the chancellor said. “We cannot turn a blind eye to a known criminal if he’s seen skulking around academy grounds.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that, Chancellor Tilkin,” I said. “I don’t think you’ll find him here. We didn’t exactly end on good terms.”
“I see.” The chancellor swept a loose tendril away from her unblemished face. “The academy thanks you for your service. As a reward for a job well done, the four of you are permitted to visit the academy spa for the treatments of your choice.”
My friends and I exchanged excited glances. The academy spa was generally reserved for fourth years and members of staff.
“Even a massage?” I asked. The fairy massages at the academy were legendary. I’d never so much as peeked inside the spa as it was invitation only.
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