Of course, of all the days I choose to restart the Academy, it just so happens to be the day we start down in the Fire Protector’s cave system. That means no safety net in Teddy.
I purse my lips, frustrated as I dare to glance at the man in question. I’m still mad at him for all the asshole things he did in the medical center, like holding me in my sleep as if he were my blanket of safety and kissing me as if I weren’t mad at him, or letting me kiss him as if it was one of the most natural things to do.
Sighing, I clench my hands at my sides. “I’ll be fine.”
Teddy runs his hand down my spine, pressing his lips to my temple. I lean into the touch, forgetting myself, but before I can shove him away, he saunters off.
Another presence appears beside me, but I don't turn to look this time as I make my way down toward the Fire Protector’s cave.
Thankfully, he doesn't try to speak to me, but unfortunately, that means I'm subjected to the students’ whispers around me.
“I heard she forgot everything and slept for days,”a girl whispers to her friends as they peer over their shoulders at me.
I keep my eyes locked ahead, as if I can't hear them, all while a part of my soul shatters inside me.
My mother’s words taunt me, berating me for giving anyone a reason to speak negatively about me, but before I’m dragged into the past, the random girl’s friend whispers back.
“I heard she died naked.”
My hands clench at my sides.
“I heard it was her father,”a guy adds, rocking up beside them with a snicker on his lips.
Defeat taunts me, and my head dips, my chin an inch from my chest as I try to steady my breathing.
“How do they know all of that?” I mumble to myself, emotions warring throughout my entire body.
“I don't know,” Archer grunts, and I startle, my gaze automatically shifting to my right, where he walks in sync with me, as if leading me to my impending doom. His eyes are narrowed, and his jaw is tight as his lips curl up in a snarl. “But when I find out, I'm going to strangle them to death.”
I balk at him. “Why is it always violence when it comes to you guys?”
He licks his bottom lip as he shrugs. “Only when it comes to you,” he admits, stealing my breath in a way that shouldn't be possible as I come to a stop outside of the cave.
The rest of the students move around me, heading inside as Archer gives me a pointed look.
“Ready, Angel? he asks, and I sigh.
My veins thrum with the anger that still lingers at his presence. Instead of answering, I tilt my face to the sky again, embracing the sun on my face once more. A shadow swoops over me, and a moment later, Alaric flies overhead, disappearing into the distance.
I shiver, unsure whether I appreciate his presence or not.
The dragons, yes, his rider, maybe.
Returning my attention to the ass beside me, I grumble. “I hate that you're the Fire Protector of the group.”
“Are you trying to hurt my feelings?” he muses, making my eyes widen a fraction.
“That would require you to have some,” I snap, not waiting around for him as I take off, joining everybody else heading toward the cave.
I'm desperate to glance over my shoulder and see the state of his face, eager to see whether or not I got a reaction, but I force myself to proceed, although I can still feel his presence.
Reaching the entrance, I relish the sense of heat waiting ahead.
It’s intoxicating, stronger than ever, and I can’t decide if that has something to do with my heightened abilities, but it encourages me inside without a second’s hesitation.
Greeted by the familiar sight of molten rock, thickened, dormant lava, and an intense heat, I smile. Without breaking a sweat under the shift in temperature, I wordlessly praise myself for being blessed with fire magic. I owe thanks to The Fates, I think. Or did it pass down from one of my parents?
Regardless, I won’t be thanking the latter.
