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“Training. We’re focusing on Leila’s strength and magic. Leila insists you’re a good friend, so I can offer the same to you if you wish.” He leans back on the heel of his boots, clearly still unsure whether he actually wants to extend the invite or not, but I’m still caught up on the reasoning.
“Why?”
He purses his lips, glancing at Leila again for a second before settling back on me. “Because it’s easier than attempting to console my daughter if something happens to you.”
I gulp. Wow. That’s a bit fucking deep. It reminds me of the comment I got from Brax before the Gauntlet. I glance over my shoulder to find my gargoyle hovering by his table with Eldon, Creed, and Zane close by. They’re clearly as intrigued as I am, but they’re keeping their distance… for now.
Turning back to Fitch, I can’t help but wonder why he’s suddenly offering. My gut clenches and fear kicks in. Does he know about my magic? Is that why he’s asking? Fuck. If I took him up on his offer, he would know what I could do then.
Instinctively, I step back. Plastering a polite smile on my face, I hike my backpack on my shoulder.
“Thank you for the offer, Professor Fitch, but she already accepted mine,” Eldon interjects, declining for me as I still scramble to piece together the words. He drapes his arm over my shoulder, pulling me into his side as he winks at Fitch.
Fitch’s gaze narrows, but Eldon is already spinning us around and heading for the door without a backward glance. I happily follow his lead, needing the space. Today has been a whirlwind and it’s not even close to being over yet.
Maybe I should have stayed in bed with the shadows. At least I was too paralyzed to stress about everything around me.
“Are you okay?” Eldon asks, his lips brushing over the shell of my ear, and I nod.
“Thank you,” I breathe, making him grin as he presses a kiss to my forehead.
“Anytime, Little Bird.”
ELEVEN
CREED
Green.
Orange.
Red.
Black.
Green.
Orange.
Red.
Black.
We’re all dealing with the aftermath of the destruction that unfolded at the Shadowmoor outpost. My coping mechanism, apparently, is to be haunted by those damn colors that play on repeat whether my eyes are open or shut.
Green faceless men flash in my mind, flickers of orange embers, which drastically deepen into crimson red as the blade pierces through Brax’s skin before everything turns to black with Ari’s chaotic arrival.
Black also represents the darkness I was consumed with when I tried to enter their minds. For the first time ever, there was nothing there for me to play with, to bend to my will. The powers I had been in complete awe of since the moment I got them were rendered useless.
Now, as the rest of the house sleeps, I repeat the same thoughts as I stare up at the ceiling. It’s almost laughable that the guy with the ability to twist someone else’s mind can’t control the thoughts that consume his own. Tilting my head to glance at the time, I sigh when I notice it’s a little after four in the morning.
It was the same last night and the night before that, but for the first time, I feel antsy. Lying here isn’t helping. If anything, it’s making matters worse because I now associate getting into bed with staring at the ceiling instead of falling asleep.
Swiping my hair back off my face, I get up, lethargically dragging my feet as I creep out of my room. My gaze instinctively drifts to Raven’s room, but I don’t want to disturb her with my troubles when I know she’s dealing with her own. I want her to be able to rely on me rather than me be a burden.
I turn my attention to the floor-to-ceiling windows that line the back of the house and spot the silhouette of someone sitting outside on the grass. There’s not a single light on, only the shimmer from the moon alerting me to them.
One step in their direction and I instantly catch a glimpse of the familiar pink hair I’m obsessed with.
