Page 144 of The Powers of Nyx

“How bad was it?” I asked as Maeve helped me out of the tub. “The magic? How much damage did it do?”

My mate pressed her lips into a firm line as she towelled me off. “It almost destroyed the gymnasium,” she replied, briefly meeting my eye before helping me into a new set of pyjamas. “The building is closed and will remain so for the rest of the semester.”

I shuddered, wrapping my arms around myself. “Was anyone else seriously hurt?”

“No.” Maeve shook her head and cupped my cheeks. “Most of the damage came from the room you were in. Some wereinjured, yes, but no more than normal in the arena. They all survived. You were hurt the most.”

My eyes closed, and I dropped my head to her shoulder. “Thank the Goddess.”

Maeve smoothed a hand over my hair. “The academy and students were told that someone had sabotaged the rooms and made it so any magic performed within the circle would explode. No one knows that you are the Daughter of Nyx.”

It hadn’t been something I was worried about, but our bases were covered. At least I could return to the academy without anyone looking at me differently. But the worry clamping around my lungs didn’t subside. “He knows who I am. He has to.”

“I don’t disagree,” Maeve murmured. “That’s why you need us with you, now more than ever.”

Pulling back, I tried to put on a brave face, but it felt just as fragile as my bonds. “I love you.”

Maeve’s eyes brightened; despite how weak our bond was, I felt the impression of happiness, of love. “I love you, too,a mhuirnín.”

I sucked in a breath and released it slowly as the door to the bathroom opened. My other three mates stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame like kicked puppies—one kind of was, because Elias still refused to shift.

The wolf trotted over, almost too big to be in the bathroom despite how large the space was and nudged his big head into my side. “It would be a whole lot easier if you shifted,” I murmured, kissing the top of his head. “Please.”

The only response I got from that plea was a whine. I released a heavy breath and pulled back. “I miss human man you.”

Another whine. I sighed. “Fine.”

I turned my stare on the other two. The vague impression I got from Adrian was worry. But I didn’t need the bond toconfirm that. Both men looked tired; Adrian more-so because of the drain our bond put on him. But even Rowan had a similar appearance; exhaustion weighed heavily on his shoulders, and his hazel-eyes seemed more distant despite the promise of finally completing our bond soon.

I held out a hand to both of them, and without a word, they stepped into the bathroom. “You two okay?” I asked, leaning into Adrian as he wrapped his arms around me.

“I’m better now that you’re awake,” my prince murmured, resting his chin on the top of my head. “I’ll be better once all of this is over.”

There was no point in responding, because I knew we all felt the same. The desire to finally be done with this False King overwhelmed me.

Adrian pulled away, which gave Rowan a chance to slide in and pull me to his chest. “I’m really fucking glad you’re okay,” he murmured. “That was the scariest moment of my life. Other than when you were kidnapped. That was also pretty bad.”

I snorted, half laughing, half choking from surprise. “You really know how to make a moment special.”

“Like a total asshole,” Adrian said. “But I will say, I completely agree.”

I closed my eyes, wanting to stay in the moment longer, but a throat cleared somewhere behind us. Elias the wolf growled, but as I pulled away from Rowan, it wasn’t a threat standing in the doorway of the bathroom.

It was Hawk and Sable.

I swallowed thickly as I took in the half-Fae male. He’d washed away the remnants of the explosion and wore clean gear. Like the others, exhaustion and stress played across his features and slumped his shoulders. He wasn’t the sure, arrogant male I’d met with that day. Honestly, he seemed like an entirely different person. One that wouldn’t even look at me.

I buried the disappointment quickly and offered Sable a smile. “I suppose you want to chat about…everything.”

The Seer shrugged. “More or less. Thought I’d update you on the happenings of the last few days. Come. I don’t think having these conversations in the bathroom is appropriate.”

Rowan groaned, and when I met his stare with a raised brow, he shook his head. “She always has perfect timing.”

“But she’s right,” Maeve replied. “We’ve been out for days. We have no idea what happened after. It’s best we know what we’re about to get ourselves into now that the False King’s most recent plan failed.”

My stomach dropped, and any response I could muster died on my tongue. Part of me believed Maeve’s statement, and yet, I knew he wasn’t about to give up that easily. He got something out of the attack. I was certain of it, and was sure the Goddess believed the same.

And it had something to do with taking my claim to Her magic.

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