Page 82 of The Fate of Eternity

The plan was going perfectly, I had Vallie right where I wanted her, but everything went to shit. For the most part. My head aches, but as I lie here, with Brody’s arm as my cushion, I feel a sense of relief. They’re gone. Vallie and her fucked up uncle are completely gone, and the remnants of them confirm they sure as hell aren’t coming back.

Killing her felt entirely different from last time. It wasn’t for me this time. Well, maybe slightly, but it was about protecting myself and the kingdom, too.

“What have you done?” The shocked voice comes from Bozzelli, but I don’t lift my head to acknowledge her. Instead, I sigh, closing my eyes as I continue to relax.

“Your niece?”

“She’s safe,” she answers, clearing her throat nervously. I hear two sets of footsteps inch closer toward us, and a moment later, I find Beau peering down at us.

“I think it’s safe to say there won’t be any classes in the morning,” he states, scrubbing at his chin as he assesses the mess, and I hum in agreement.

“That sounds like it might be a good idea,” Brody replies, stroking soft circles on my arm in comfort, like I shouldn’t be the one comforting him since he was almost freaking dead.

“Don’t make me change my mind, Mr. Orenda. There are still members of The Council and foolish leaders of packs out there who are just as eager for your death as these two,” Bozzelli retorts, and I sigh.

“Why are parents just awful?” I ask, mentally excluding my father, of course. But my mother, on the other hand…

“I don’t know, but they’re tomorrow’s problem now,” Cassian states, appearing at Beau’s side as he offers me his hand. I place my palm against his, relishing in the warmth that spreads from him to me as he pulls me to my feet and into his arms.

“Hey, I nearly died, and I’m not ready to share yet,” Brody grumbles, but Cassian only pulls me closer.

“You caused her more stress than necessary. If anything, you should be thankful we’re even letting you be close to her,” Raiden grunts in response, sauntering toward us with a tiredness that I sense deep in my bones too.

“Wow, this pissing contest is great and all, but the rest of us have shit to deal with now,” Beau grumbles, stepping back with a few large strides.

“What shit?” Kryll asks, inching closer as he assesses his brother, who waves him off.

“You should all head back to my house. Flora and Arlo are waiting,” he offers, but Kryll doesn’t let it drop.

“What shit, Beau?”

“That’s Professor Tora to you,” Bozzelli interjects, but Kryll doesn’t even bother to look her way. Instead, he stares his brother down, waiting for a response.

“The media are going to want to know about this, and the kingdom deserves to understand. It’s now my job to paint you in the best light possible.”

40

ADRIANNA

Iwish I could say the morning light flutters through the window, dancing in the air with a summer’s glow as the birds chirp in the distance, waking me from a deep slumber that rests my body from head to toe. I wish I could, but I can’t, because this is not a fairy tale and I didn’t sleep for shit.

Thankfully, the shallow breaths of my Kryptos kept me company as they slept while I tossed and turned relentlessly before I finally gave up.

Looking up at the sky, I try to guess the time by the location of the sun, but my brain is too tired to really care. I slipped out here hours ago, when I finally gave up on sleep, and I can’t deny that Beau has a pretty house. The sun peeks above the tree line as the sound of the gentle stream nearby filters through my ears, a calming burble that tries to help me put things in perspective.

The academy is on the brink of failure and the kingdom is worse off than ever, leaving the ability to sleep far beyond what I can achieve. I can’t stop thinking, I can’t stop my mind from wandering down every possible avenue to bring peace to our people, but every road is blocked.

Despite my inner turmoil, which now seems to be my new state of mind, my magic has different ideas. Not my wolf, and not my new bright light, just my fae magic. Myroyalfae magic.

My bare feet are planted on the ground, my toes curling into the grass as I connect with my earth magic. It rejuvenates me slowly, filling the void my lack of sleep created as the gentle breeze swoops around my body, dancing along my air magic and zapping me back to life.

Despite how head tired I am, my magic is doing what I can’t seem to achieve alone: bringing me back to life.

The fight isn’t over. If anything, it’s barely begun. Taking out Vallie and her uncle was nothing in the grand scheme of things, or so it feels like, so my magic is replenishing me, ready for the uphill battle that’s ahead.

A shiver runs down my spine as my fire magic comes to life, and my eyes pop open. I hadn’t even realized they were closed. Turning my hand so my palm is up, I smile when a flicker of heat dances along my fingertips before settling into a ball in my grasp.

It’s funny how something so small can bring so much focus and strength to a moment. I’m sitting here, working my way along every road to certain death as I try to play out the future, while the embers in my palms remind me that things aren’t always as they seem.

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