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“I just can’t change the millennia of distrust I have against … some of them. I’m trying Liv, I really am. It will just take time.” He scrubs a hand over his face, his shoulders slumping momentarily, making me think he’s just some sort of illusion of the structure as well. There’s no doubt in my mind that the guys are watching from one of the back windows, just as I know he would never let any of them see an ounce of weakness.
“We need to talk about the trial tomorrow,” he explains, standing, and going through straightening his jacket once more. His moment of letting his shields waver is over for now. As he usually does when he needs to work off the nervous tension radiating from him, he paces back and forth.
“I’ve tried looking into the council’s plans, but I haven’t been able to find anything. I know they’re up to something, I’m just not sure what exactly.”
My chest tightens at his words, having had the same thoughts just moments before.
“What can we do?”
“We just need to be prepared for every outcome. They may very well try to interfere in your matches, making them more difficult.” He huffs out a frustrated sigh, clenching his fists at his side as he continues his pacing.
“You really think so? Sure, I may be a god, but I’ll be up against students with years of experience. After training with Maximus nonstop for the past month, I feel confident, but I’m sure my skills won’t outweigh theirs enough to warrant any extra difficulty.
“I believe in you Olivia, never question that.” He stops in his tracks, his gaze focusing on me at his words. I can see the honesty in his face, and my chest swells with pride at his compliment.
“I have no doubt in my mind that in a fair fight, you would win hands down, but I know Helene is up to something. Her thirst for power is too great to allow her to let this opportunity pass.”
“How do we prepare?” I ask, standing from my seat to face him fully, needing to be on equal footing for this conversation.
“You need to use your powers, Olivia. If anything goes wrong, if you lose for any reason, I know they won’t afford you any leniency. You’ll need to dissipate, I’ll lower the wards for you and you alone. You go find Nelle, I’ve left a bag with her, just in case. It has everything you’ll need, and I’ll find you soon after—”
I open my mouth to cut him off, my brows knitting together, but he continues.
“And, I’ll bring your mates,” he finishes, giving me a pointed look. My shoulders relax a fraction at that, needing him to understand. I won’t hurt them like I did before.
“I can’t just run.” I shake my head, not wanting that to be my only option, not wanting to use my power, especially with Nelle.
“That might be your only choice, Olivia. Promise me you’ll do as I say.” The pained expression on his face takes the breath from my lungs. My father is rarely open and vulnerable with his feelings, so to see them written so clearly across his face comes as a shock.
I nod my head in acceptance, agreeing to his terms, and his shoulders instantly slump with relief.
“We need to tell the others, though,” I warn, and he pauses for a moment before finally nodding begrudgingly.
“Now, the next item of business. You may need to use your power during your matches.” He claps his hands, causing me to jump at the abrupt sound before taking in his words.
“No.” I shake my head vehemently, taking a step back from him.
“Olivia, it may be the only way,” he chides, stepping closer to me. “I can teach you how to use the power of strength, just in case the council gives any of your opponents an unfair advantage.”
“I don’t want to use my powers against anyone. I don’t want to take the chance of hurting someone else. Especially not unsuspecting students, innocent bystanders in the council’s game.” I force the words out reluctantly, not wanting to admit the words aloud. Fearing I may seem weak in my father’s eyes. I know that I’ll need to use my powers to pass the second and third trials, but this is different, I’ll be facing innocent students in this first trial, and I won’t let myself slip up.
He tilts his head, cocking a brow in question, and I launch into the story, filling him in on every detail of the Ascension ceremony.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you, to teach you. I never meant for any of this to happen.” He sighs and his chest deflates. “Your powers are not a bad thing. They’re part of you.Yourpowers especially, can manifest in many different ways. It’s how you use them that makes the difference,” he assures me, clasping my shoulder in a comforting gesture.
“From what it sounds like, you needed to use your powers. It just goes to show the strength you have that you were able to call forth a powerful gift like fire.”
I let his reassuring words wrap around me like a soothing balm. Easing my fear a fraction. Reminding myself that I needed to use my powers to get us out of there unscathed and keep my friends—and the rest of the students—safe from Titus and his army of seemingly never-ending shadow demons.
The tension leaves my body, and my mouth opens to agree to at least learn how to use the power—that is, until my mind snags on one detail from that day. Reliving the memories causes the niggling question to linger in my thoughts.
“Why did Titus want to take me?” I ask cautiously. The words pouring from my lips before I can even register speaking them aloud. I blink in surprise, still unsure I even want to know the answer. They say ignorance is bliss and all that shit, right?
He blanches at my question, and his Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he swallows thickly. His eyes dart around the gazebo, seemingly forgetting about his enchantment. I see the moment his brain remembers, and his shoulders lose a bit of their nervous tension.
“I can’t answer that, Olivia, not yet at least. Knowing that answer would put you in danger, and that’s not something I’ll allow,” he declares with a note of finality. I quirk an eyebrow in question, eyeing him expectantly. Unsure when he thought taking that tone with me would make me back down.
He scrubs a hand over his face and lets loose a weary sigh, then steps forward, his finger clasping my biceps, drawing my full attention to him. A cool sweat coats his palms, and I almost jerk in surprise, not expecting the amount of distress this conversation is bringing him.
