Page 121 of The Powers of Nyx

Vanya, however, seemed to enjoy the idea more. “He protected you specifically during the fight with Lain. If it were anyone else, he would have walked away, Ivy. But not you. And he’s been caught staring at you more than once.”

My stomach twisted, but it was too much to consider. “I need to get some books for our paper,” I said, rising quickly from my chair. “I’ll be back.”

Vanya called out to me, but I rushed out of the study room and into the library. Everything was quiet, the air still. My heart pounded, but I moved through the stacks easily. If there was one thing I could do successfully, it was learning the layout of a library. The rows of shelves were organised by species, with an entire section just for the Daughters and Queens of Nyx.

I made my way there without running into another soul. The section dedicated to my predecessors sat apart from the rest of the library. The shelves here were grand, the space ornate, and there were displays of relics each Queen had passed on to the academy or had used in some battle or war.

An ornamental dagger from Queen Daphne sat on display, and beside it, a set of swords from Queen Aura. Another Queen hadleft behind a crown made of obsidian that was carved by one of her mates.

I trailed my fingers over the glass cases, shivering from the magic they radiated. Layers upon layers of enchantments and charms protected the relics.But I also felt more. A sense of familiarity at each one.

Would I ever have something like this to give to the academy? I pursed my lips and stepped away from the cases. Maybe it was a little too much to think about that now, especially when I hadn’t even started my rule yet.

Someone grunted behind me, and I spun, taking in the figure with wide eyes. Tall, imposing, and lean, he towered over me, with his silver-white hair long enough to be considered shaggy. Piercing violet eyes found mine, and his lips twisted into a sneer.

Orion Black was even more beautiful up close. Terrifying even. His magic was unlike anything else at the academy. It rippled across my skin, lifting the hairs on my arms, but my own didn’t react. It remained dormant in my chest.

If he were Ry, it would rise, wouldn’t it? Awaken and beg to reclaim our lost mate?

My throat tightened as his eyes darkened. “Something wrong, witch?”

I exhaled. It was now or never. I steeled myself as the question fell from my lips. “Why did you slaughter the mages?”

Orion raised his brows. “What makes you think I did that?”

“You did, didn’t you?” I asked, trying to hold back what I really wanted to know.Are you my mate?I wanted to ask him, but I bit my tongue.“The rumour is you did it. But I don’t understand why.”

The male cocked his head, and those hauntingly familiar eyes roamed my body before meeting my stare once more. “You think it had something to do with you?”

I barely held back the shiver that ran down my spine at the vitriol in his tone. Shaking my head, I crossed my arms. “Maybe it did. Maybe it didn’t. I just wanted to know if you had a hand in their deaths.”

Orion’s hands flexed at his side, and it was the first time I noticed the gloves. Hadn’t Vanya mentioned something about him hating being touched?

He caught my stare, and his hands turned to fists. “You played with fire, witch. Only it appears you weren’t the one to get burned. I don’t know—nor do I care—about Lain and his friends. And I do not care about whatever conflict they had withyou.”

The question of whether he might be Ry died in my mouth. Instead, I bowed my head. “Thanks for answering my question,” I replied, throat thick. “I’m sorry I ever suspected you of anything.”

His lips tightened into a firm line, but he didn’t move, and those dark eyes remained trained on me. Obviously, that was my cue to leave.

So, I bowed my head and went to the shelves on Queen Daphne, grabbed the book I’d been there for, and left the stacks without another word. But the weight of his stare followed me, heavy and intense, and it didn’t disappear until I turned down another row of shelves.

I stopped in the shifter section and sucked in a breath. My heart raced, but my magic still slept, unbothered by him entirely. It hadn’t considered him a threat or a mate.

So, he’s nothing to me?A lump formed in my throat, from frustration and anger. I hadn’t believed him at all. But why lie? Why not lay claim to their deaths?

I scrubbed a trembling hand over my face.I have my answer, I thought, dropping my hand. That had to be enough. I couldn’t look to him as a possibility anymore. If Ry was here, then he was still hiding.

I returned to the study room once again, I dropped the book onto the table and sighed. “Orion isn’t mystery mate.”

Vanya glanced up from her textbook, her brows furrowed. “How can you be so sure?”

“I’m not,” I replied, swallowing hard as I sat. “But if he were, I would know for certain. It’s not him.”

And I couldn’t tell if I was disappointed, or glad to finally have some sort of answer. Though I knew it should have been the latter, I couldn’t help but feel the former heavy in my chest.

It simply meant I was no closer to finding my mate.

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