Zodiac Academy: The Awakening(75)
“Look, all we want is to learn how to control this magic inside us and get our inheritance. That’s it. We grew up with no one and nothing. Before we came here we weren’t even sure if we were going to be able to keep a roof over our heads for the winter! I swear we have zero interest in claiming any throne or taking your places.”
Seth and Caleb exchanged a look but I couldn’t read what they meant by it in their expressions.
“I say we drop her,” Seth said with a shrug of his powerful shoulder which made me lurch beneath him.
My grip on them tightened with panic and my magic swirled like a tempest within me. But if I wanted to attempt to use it, I was going to have to release my grip to free my hands and there was no way in hell I was taking that risk.
Caleb’s lips twitched with amusement and panic engulfed me as I began to wonder if they might truly let me fall. No one had seen them take me down here. They could leave and pretend they’d never seen me, let someone else discover my body dashed to pieces on the rocks below.
But I wasn’t going to let them rule my fate like that. I was born a fighter and if there was even the slightest chance that I could get myself out of this then I was going to do it.
I drew on everything I’d learned about Coercion during my practice sessions with Darcy and Sofia. Sure, I’d only managed to execute a handful of simple commands and I’d never even attempted to batter my way past mental defences as strong as the Heirs were sure to have but it was my only shot. And hopefully they wouldn’t even be expecting me to try. I took my fear and helplessness and coiled it into a desperate little ball which I imbued with my utter need to escape this situation. The words pressed against my throat, brimming with power just aching to be set free as I opened my mouth.
“Pull me up,” I demanded, my tone fierce and imbued with power.
To my complete and utter shock, Caleb and Seth heaved me up over the edge to safety.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins and I scrambled away from them as their faces fell in shock at what I’d just done.
“Shit,” Seth muttered, eyeing me like he didn’t know whether to attack or retreat.
“I told you how strong they were,” Caleb growled, his navy eyes glowing with the new challenge I presented.
“Stay away from me,” I said, my tone dark.
They both hesitated, exchanging a loaded look before Caleb’s mouth hooked up to one side.
“Nice try sweetheart, but you aren’t going to slip past our defences so easily a second time.” He shot towards me before I had the chance to respond and his teeth slid into my neck as he drew me against his body.
I tried to pull my magic to me again so that I could fight him off but as soon as he started feeding, I couldn’t lay claim to it. I was at his mercy once more but at least I’d managed one act of defiance against them.
Seth moved closer and brushed his fingers against my arm for a moment. As soon as his fingers touched my flesh, a deep growl sounded from the back of Caleb’s throat and his grip on me tightened.
My heart leapt and Caleb’s fingers knotted in my hair as his other hand gripped my waist, dragging me against the hard lines of his body. My own hands had made it to his arms, the tight press of his biceps unyielding beneath my fingers. It was almost like we were locked in an embrace, if I could just ignore the teeth which were lodged in my throat. Which I really couldn’t.
“Sorry,” Seth said with a smirk, taking a step back.
Caleb relaxed marginally as he finished feeding on me and finally stepped away.
“Don’t touch my Source while I’m feeding,” Caleb muttered irritably, shooting a dark glance at Seth.
Seth grinned at the challenge in his tone and I felt like a bone being fought over by a pair of dogs. The idea of it made me grit my teeth in anger.
“I’m still here, assholes,” I snapped, though I instantly wondered why I’d thought that drawing their attention back to me was a good idea.
“You know I’m not going to bite her, what’s the big deal?” Seth asked innocently, ignoring me.
Caleb flexed his muscles for a moment and I felt like I was looking at the raw essence of their differences. They may have been bonded like family but rubbing along together despite the differences in their Orders was obviously an issue now and then. I wondered if there was any way that I could use that against them but before I could give it any real consideration, Caleb cracked a smile.
“I just don’t want your paws all over my food while I eat,” he teased, bumping his shoulder against Seth’s in a way that was mostly playful but still knocked him back a step.
“Wanna go finish this lesson with a contest?” Seth asked excitedly, his eyes flashing with a challenge.
“Only if you don’t mind getting your ass whipped,” Caleb countered.
The two of them ran off through the tunnels without even sparing me another glance and I stared after them in surprise as Seth’s howls echoed off of the walls around me.
Somehow I’d managed to escape that interaction fairly unscathed and I could only hope that I could say the same next time.
IT WAS OUR first Friday night at Zodiac and it felt like the entire school had plans. I watched from my floor-length vertical window in Aer Tower as students wound along the paths, laughing and talking as they headed who-knew-where for the evening. Probably somewhere better than here.