Zephyr's idea of training involved standing on the roof of the Academy's highest tower during an actual thunderstorm.
"This is insane," I shouted over the wind, clutching the stone railing as rain lashed around us.
"This is perfect," Zephyr corrected, spreading his arms wide as lightning forked overhead. "Storm magic isn't about control, Luna. It's about harmony."
"Harmony with what? The forces trying to kill us?"
He laughed, wild and free, and for a moment he looked like some ancient god of thunder. "Exactly."
Before I could protest, he grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the railing. Lightning crashed down around us, but instead of burning, it felt like coming alive.
"Feel it," he called out as wind whipped his dark hair around his face. "Don't fight it. Dance with it."
Something inside me responded to his words, to the storm, to him. Power rose in my chest, different from what I'd felt with Asher or Magnus. This was wild and free and utterly exhilarating.
Lightning struck again, and this time I reached for it.
The bolt split in midair, arcing around us instead of through us, and I laughed with the pure joy of it. Rain turned to mist where it touched my skin, and the wind lifted my hair like I was flying.
"Yes," Zephyr breathed, his eyes bright with electricity and something deeper. "That's it exactly."
He stepped closer, and suddenly we were dancing—really dancing—in the middle of the storm. His hands were warm and sure as he spun me around, lightning providing our music and wind our dance floor.
"How is this possible?" I asked as he pulled me against him.
"Spirit magic," he said, his mouth close to my ear. "It amplifies everything. Every emotion, every connection, every…"
He trailed off, his arms tightening around me.
"Every what?"
"Every desire," he finished roughly.
The air between us crackled with more than just electricity. When he looked at me, I saw the storm reflected in his gray eyes, wild and barely contained.
"Zephyr," I whispered.
He leaned down, and I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead he pressed his forehead to mine.
"You're going to be the death of me," he said softly. "All of us."
"Why?"
"Because we're all falling for you, Luna. And that's never happened before. Not like this."
Before I could process that confession, a new voice cut through the storm.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"
We spun to see Kai emerging onto the roof, shadows writhing around him in agitation. Behind him came Asher, golden light cutting through the rain.
"Training," Zephyr said defensively.
"Training?" Kai gestured at the lightning still dancing around us. "You call nearly getting her struck by lightning training?"
"She was perfectly safe—"
"She was standing on a roof in a thunderstorm!"
"Guys," I tried to interrupt, but they weren't listening.
"At least I'm not trying to seduce her during lessons," Zephyr shot back.
Asher stepped forward, his usual calm facade cracking. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh please," Kai snorted. "Like your little meditation session this morning was purely educational."
"And what about your 'welcoming committee' act last night?" Asher retorted.
"ENOUGH!"
My voice rang out with power that made all three of them freeze. Lightning forked overhead in response to my emotions, and I realized I was glowing with soft, silver light.
"I don't know what's happening to me," I said, power making my voice resonate strangely. "I don't understand these bonds or this prophecy or why you all seem to think I'm going to destroy everything I touch. But I do know that fighting each other isn't going to help anything."
The guys exchanged glances, looking properly chastened.
"She's right," Magnus said quietly, and I turned to see him standing in the stairwell doorway. Ice crystals clung to his hair and shoulders. "We're acting like juveniles fighting over a toy."
"I'm not a toy," I said sharply.
"No," he agreed, his ice-blue eyes serious. "You're much more dangerous than that."
The way he said it wasn't an insult. It was acknowledgment, respect, maybe even admiration.
"The bonds are affecting all of us," Asher said slowly. "Making us more… possessive."
"Possessive?" I raised an eyebrow.
Kai had the grace to look embarrassed. "It's a side effect of mentor bonds. They're designed to create loyalty and protection instincts."
"But with four bonds and spirit magic involved," Zephyr added, "everything is amplified."
I looked around at all of them—these powerful, dangerous, beautiful men who were apparently magically compelled to protect me—and felt a strange mix of gratitude and terror.
"So what happens now?" I asked.
"Now," Magnus said, "we figure out how to work together. Because like it or not, we're all connected now."
Thunder rolled overhead as if agreeing with him.
"Together it is," I said, and tried not to think about how complicated my life had just become.