AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“One for me, and one for Burton,” Brax states, and my chest clenches.
“What does it mean?” I breathe, but the look he gives me makes it clear he doesn’t have the answer to that. Not yet, at least.
“I’ve got some people coming up fast. They might not catch us before the siren, which is due to go off at any moment, butwe need to be prepared to fight,” Creed announces, his voice somehow staying low yet traveling around the space clearly.
Springing into action, I quickly use my magic to dress, exponentially reducing the time of the mundane task. I resecure my hair in a ponytail and head toward where the others are gathered near the entrance of the cave.
A few beats pass before I hear footsteps among the trees, the snapping of twigs underfoot as murmured voices grow louder. My hands flex at my sides and I channel all of my energy into watching for any tendrils of magic drifting in the air.
I’m usually an act now and worry about the consequences later kind of girl, but my magic isn’t outwardly aggressive until someone comes at me with their magic for me to turn on them, so I’ve got to bide my time.
“They had to have gone this way. I’m certain of it.” Sebastian. I would know his voice anywhere. It’s like a fork being dragged along porcelain, a groan from the pits of Hell and the sound of someone obnoxiously chewing with their mouth wide open all at once.
“I don’t know if I’ve already mentioned it or not, but your brother is a cunt,” Eldon grunts from beside me, the flame in his hand lowering to nothing more than an ember.
I fake gasp, placing my hand on my chest. “Sebastian? Never. He’s the brother of my dreams.”
“You mean nightmares,” he quickly retorts with a grin, and that one little jolt of happiness from him eases the growing tension in my chest.
“He wishes.” I wink at him playfully at the same time a siren blasts in the distance, signifying the end of the lesson.
“Do you want me to hold out or drop the magic now?” Zane asks, coming to stand on my other side.
“Drop it,” Brax states. “We’re not hiding from them. We’re just playing along with their little game.”
I can’t explain why, but his words fill me with a boost of confidence, swirling more adrenaline through me as I roll my shoulders back. It’s clear the moment Zane drops the magic because his arms are around me a moment later, draping me in his scent and peppering kisses at my neck.
“I said we weren’t hiding, I didn’t say we could relax,” Brax grunts, whacking Zane in the arm, but he only chuckles in response.
“Let’s get out of here,” Creed murmurs, a tiredness flickering in his eyes as he nods for us to follow after him.
I slip out from between Zane and Eldon, rushing to keep up with him, but I skid to a stop when Sebastian appears through the trees with Erikel and two of his men.
Fuck.
He brought out the big guns. Why would Erikel waste his time being here?
His dark gaze falls on me instantly, the scar down his face crinkling as he smiles. “Come, you have work to do,” he rasps, beckoning me forward with the tip of his finger.
“No.” I widen my stance, solidifying my connection to the ground beneath me, like that will make a difference. If he wanted to lift me off my feet right now, I’m quite sure he could.
“It wasn’t a question.”
“I don’t care what it was. I’m not going to clean up the bloodbath your men created.”
At the mention of his men, the two that were present earlier when the class was announced step forward. They don’t make it two steps before they drop to the floor, hands clutching their heads as they writhe in pain.
My eyes widen in surprise and I quickly assume it’s Creed when I see the flicker of magical wisps coming from his direction, but I don’t want to turn and draw attention to him.
“Nice work, Mr. Wylder. Why don’t you take a shot at mine too,” Erikel goads, smirking at Creed. Following his line of sight, I watch as Creed’s magic redirects to Erikel himself, but before it can touch his target, the magic morphs in the air, and it’s Creed on his knees in pain. His scream burns my soul, his cry forever fueling the darkness inside of me as I rush to his side. “I’ve trained much longer than you, Mr. Wylder. I recommend you work on blocking your own mind as well as strengthening your gift.”
Sebastian chuckles at Erikel’s statement and I turn to glare at both of them as Creed’s cries soften but don’t stop altogether.
I glance over my shoulder at Brax, Eldon, and Zane, the anger clear on their faces, and I know it’s my fault they’re dealing with all of this. I also know this isn’t going to stop until I fall into line, just as he wants.
My nostrils flare as I take a step toward the enemy, my body hating every moment of giving in to this man. But maybe I have to see things differently. Maybe I need to be closer; maybe I need to bend to his will so I can take down his defenses and bleed him dry.
I don’t fucking know.
