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I wondered how long I could keep this up. Long enough for him to pass out? Maybe he deserved a dose of his own medicine. To know what it was like to be completely helpless while someone else enjoyed watching his downfall.
Speaking of downfalls…he hit his knees and grasped at his neck. Like that would do any good.
His hands clawed at the ground, and I thought he might’ve accepted defeat. Any moment now, he’d probably black out. I didn’t even worry about the consequences of my actions. It would be worth it to see him defeated for once. Maybe he’d stop tormenting me if he saw me as a threat.
And then the ground shook beneath my feet. It was a subtle tremor at first, so light I almost thought I’d imagined it. But I hadn’t. The rattling grew in intensity, and then the ground burst as an explosion of rock and dust sent me flying across the training pit.
I landed on my back for what felt like the hundredth time, losing control of my magic in the process. It slipped from my fingertips, disappearing in an instant. I grappled for control, but it was out of reach.
The ground rumbled again, and I rolled to my side. Just as I tried to lift myself, something like a wave rippled through the dirt, knocking me off balance again. I was airborne for a moment before slamming back and landing on my hip. That was going to bruise.
I looked toward Ladon, where he’d been on his knees, but now he was standing…and approaching me with a devilish glare. I struggled to get to my feet, but every time, another tremor sent me falling. I crawled on my hands and knees, attempting to put some space between us, but he overcame the distance with ease.
Ladon grabbed me by the shoulders and flipped me so I faced the sky once more. This time the shadow of his face blocked the sunny skies and boy, did he look pissed.
I tried to push up using my hips, but he sat…he fucking sat on my stomach and I couldn’t do anything to remove the weight of him. I went to throw a punch, but he’d trained all his life for this. I was no match for him and he easily blocked it, grabbing both of my wrists and pinning them to my sides. I squirmed, but it was no use.
I huffed, blowing the loose hair from my face.
“That is cheating, princess.”
His chest hadn’t been heaving before, but it was now. Though I didn’t think it was from exertion. I was pretty certain it was from pure rage. His hands seared my skin as I tried to wriggle my wrists free. He only tightened his grip.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I snapped.
Ladon smiled, and it was a wickedness I’d never seen before. It radiated from him, dripping all over me. I writhed again, just wanting to escape his hold.
“You shouldn’t play games that you’re incapable of winning.”
“If you would just teach me something, I wouldn’t have to resort to using magic. What does it matter anyway? We all have natural-born gifts. Why shouldn’t I use mine like you used yours?”
I felt a sinking sensation, realizing with horror that the hard ground around us had turned to mud. It slowly swallowed my lower half. My shoulders had already sunk an inch. I peered at him with terror-filled eyes.
He smirked. I swore to the gods I’d erase that smirk if it was the last thing I did.
“Why don’t you try that gift of yours now?” he sniped.
It felt like a trick. Should I actually summon the wind, or would he berate me if I did? I was still at his mercy and didn’t like the thought of testing him as my shoulders sunk further into the mud. I could feel it on my neck now. How much longer until it reached my mouth, my nostrils, and my eyes?
“Go on,” he said with a snarl.
I concentrated on my fingertips, but the familiar tingle didn’t come. I must’ve been too distracted. I closed my eyes and pictured it—the sky, the air as if it were a living thing. Dirt swirling as it had before while I’d attacked Ladon. The flags around the training field standing straight as the wind kept them afloat. I pictured all these things, but I felt…nothing.
I opened my eyes to find Ladon looking ridiculously pleased with himself. “What’s wrong, princess?”
“You…what did you do?” I sputtered, hating the apprehension in my voice.
His eyes flickered to where his fingers wrapped around my wrists, half covered in mud. I don’t know how I missed it before. Where our skin collided, there was a faint warm glow of light. Hardly noticeable until it had been pointed out to me.
“You can siphon?” My voice was little more than a whisper. Like the question was a secret that should be kept between us.
Something sparkled in those silver-blue eyes and I knew I’d guessed correctly. “How?”
Siphons weren’t supposed to exist. I remembered from the books I’d studied growing up. Centuries ago, there’d been hundreds, maybe even thousands of them. They had the ability to temporarily drain another of their magic. It wasn’t stealing per se; more like drawing one’s power to fuel their own. But laws had been enacted to detain or even sentence them to death, since most people didn’t want other mages stealing their magic, even if it was temporary.
Today, no such laws existed because they weren’t needed. Siphons were extinct…or so I’d thought.
Ladon sneered at me while I processed this information. At last, he released his hold on me, nearly crushing my ribcage as he stood from my body. Gentleness was not his strong suit.
