—Alexia—
The training room smelled of old magic and ozone. The same space where I had shattered, where fire had poured from my palms and chaos had roared in my veins, burning until I was nothing but ash and fear. Today, it felt different.
Shade circled me like a hawk, robes whispering across stone, eyes sharp and unblinking. Finn leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, eyes steady on me, the bond humming warm under my skin, a silent promise that I wasn't alone.
"Again," Shade commanded.
I closed my eyes, drawing in a slow breath, feeling Finn's warmth anchoring me as the chaos within me stirred.
"Control, Alexia," Shade's voice cut through the quiet. "Power without control is nothing but destruction."
The chaos rose, hungry and restless, but I didn't push it away this time. I breathed into it. A small flame flickered to life above my palm, dancing and shifting, heat curling around my wrist without burning. I opened my eyes, focusing, and the flame stretched, weaving into a small bird with fluttering wings. Finn's quiet exhale and the bond's approving pulse steadied me.
Shade's lips twitched. "Better. Again."
Hours passed—flames, shields, pulling chaos without letting it consume me. Sweat dripped down my spine, arms trembling from holding the magic steady. At one point, Finn stepped forward, placing a hand on my back, his warmth sinking into my spine.
"You're overthinking," he murmured, breath brushing my ear. "It's yours now."
The flame split into spinning rings before dissolving into sparks. A small smile tugged at my lips. Shade's gaze sharpened, but there was approval there.
"Your bond has strengthened your control," she observed.
She stepped forward, shadows pooling in her palm, forming a dagger of darkness.
"Block it."
I barely had time to think. The blade hissed through the air, chaos roared in my veins, and my hands flew up, summoning a shield of shimmering gold and violet. The dagger dissolved against it, leaving only a hiss in the air. I staggered, but the shield held before dissolving into nothing.
Shade studied me, then gave a single, sharp nod. "That will do for today."
Relief washed over me, exhaustion sinking into my bones. Finn was there instantly, arms steadying me, the bond pulsing with quiet pride.
"You did it," he murmured.
A tired, shaky smile. "We did it."
Shade paused at the doorway, glancing back. "Your power is not your enemy, Alexia. Learn to wield it, and nothing in this world will break you."
Then she was gone, leaving behind the hum of fading magic and Finn's steady warmth.
By the time I made it to my room, my legs felt like lead, my arms trembling from hours of flame and shields, chaos humming beneath my skin like static. But I had done it. I hadn't lost control.
Finn stayed close, hand on my lower back, his warmth keeping the chaos at bay, the bond pulsing steady. At my door, I leaned back against it, letting out a breath.
"You did well," Finn said softly.
"I almost set the ceiling on fire," I muttered.
He smiled, warm and crooked. "But you controlled it."
The door flung open. Kaia's head popped out, toothbrush sticking out of her mouth.
"Is the fire princess alive, or do we need to call the magical morgue?"
I rolled my eyes, pushing past her into the room.
Kaia spat out her toothbrush, eyebrows wiggling. "How was magical boot camp with scary headmistress? Did you vaporize her?"
"Not yet," I said, dropping onto the bed. Zeus immediately jumped up, curling against my hip.
A knock. Kaia groaned. "If that's Asher, tell him he owes me five bucks."
Jasper and Soren entered, carrying a tray of sandwiches and water bottles.
"Post-training recovery," Jasper announced, dropping onto the floor without waiting.
Soren closed the door quietly. "Shade told us to ensure you eat."
I blinked, taking in the food, the quiet care beneath Jasper's smirk and Soren's calm gaze.
"Are you guys taking care of me?" A disbelieving laugh bubbled up.
Kaia snorted, plopping beside me. "Let them. You nearly melted your face off."
Finn set the tray down, handing me a water before sitting beside me, our knees touching, the bond pulsing warm and steady. I sipped, letting the quiet wrap around me.
Jasper flipped his coin. "Gotta say, Lex, I'm impressed. Thought Shade would have you crying before lunch."
"She almost did," I admitted.
Kaia nudged me, grinning. "But you didn't. That's what matters."
Soren set a sandwich in front of me. "You need your strength."
I took a bite, warm bread and cheese grounding me, letting exhaustion settle without fear. Zeus snored, sprawled across my lap, his paws twitching as if chasing something in a dream.
Finn's hand found mine. "You're getting stronger."
I met his gaze, warmth lifting the exhaustion. "Yeah," I whispered. "I am."
Kaia groaned, flopping back on the bed. "Ugh, you two are so disgustingly sweet."
"Shut up, Kaia," I muttered, smiling.
Jasper snickered, tossing a wrapper at her. "Leave them. It's cute."
"It's nauseating."
"It's good," Soren said softly.
For a while, we just existed—Kaia, Finn, Jasper, Soren, Zeus, and me—wrapped in quiet safety, the air humming with the knowledge that I wasn't alone. I had survived another day. I was stronger than yesterday. Tomorrow, I would be stronger still.
Later that night
The night air thrummed with restless energy. I couldn't sleep. Zeus paced at the foot of my bed, claws tapping, ears flicking toward the window where the vines rustled like whispered warnings. His fur bristled along his spine, head tilting toward the courtyard as if hearing something I couldn't.
"You feel it too, huh?" I whispered, swinging my legs off the bed.
Zeus chuffed, tail low, eyes sharp.
I pulled on my boots, stepping into the corridor. Moonlight painted silver across the floor, leading me toward the courtyard like a promise I couldn't ignore. Zeus followed, tense, hackles raised, his eyes glowing faintly under the moonlight.
Outside, Whisperwind was alive. Vines shivered along the walls, leaves fluttering without a breeze. The air smelled of rain that hadn't fallen, the stars pulsing in the dark sky. Zeus's growl rumbled low, vibrating against my leg, his eyes locked on the wards shimmering faintly like a curtain of mist.
"It's okay," I whispered, though I wasn't sure I believed it.
I reached out, magic sparking under my fingertips. Then the shadows shifted. A man stepped through the wards as if they weren't there, the mist parting around him. His presence hit me like a wave, pressing against every instinct to run, but something in his eyes—hazel, like mine—held me frozen.
"Hello, Alexia," he said, voice deep, threaded with something ancient.
Zeus snarled, pressing closer, fur bristling, tail stiff, eyes locked on the man.
"Easy, pup," the man murmured. "I'm not here to hurt her."
"Who are you?" My voice was steady, but inside, everything screamed.
His smile didn't reach his eyes. "You know who I am."
And I did. Gideon Marek. My father.
"Stay away from me," I hissed, power crackling at my fingertips, vines along the walls reaching toward him like they sensed him.
Gideon's eyes glinted with something like pride. "You're stronger than I expected. Good."
"I said, stay away!" The vines lunged, wrapping around his legs, but he moved like smoke, shadows swallowing him and spitting him closer.
"The world is changing, Alexia. You will have to choose where you stand." His gaze flicked to Zeus, who bared his teeth, then back to me. "But when you truly want to know who you are—you'll find me."
"I don't want to know you!" Lightning sparked from my palms, vines exploding outward, the earth cracking beneath us. But he was already gone, the shadows closing, leaving only the echo of his laughter.
Zeus whimpered, pressing against me, and I sank to the ground, fingers tangling in his fur, trying to catch my breath.
"I'm not like him," I whispered, to the night, the vines, to myself.
But the power pulsing in my veins felt like thunder, and deep down, I wasn't sure if it was a promise—or a lie.