Page 75 of Fallen Heirs

“What?” Xavier demanded. He looked to me. “Alena, you don’t have to do this.”

“Yeah,” Talon piped in. “This whole thing with your special ability is a major overreaction.”

“It’s not,” I said. “It’s warranted.”

I caught Saryan’s eye and he nodded, looking both surprised and relieved by my stance, that we were seeing eye to eye on this.

“Look,” Xavier said, coming back to the bed as I was pushing out of it slowly but surely. “This is clearly an attempt by Constantine to sideline you. All of this is playing right into his hands.”

“Then we make sure it doesn’t pan out the way he intends,” I said.

“How so?” Orpheus asked, intrigue shining forth.

I looked out at Saryan. “I’ll stay here under one condition. That you train me on how to properly use this ability, that we explore the limits and potential of it fully.”

“You don’t need to stay here for that,” Orpheus told me. “Ican train you. I know I refused before, but that was because I didn’t want this exposure to come to pass. That’s obviously moot now.”

“Son, you’re needed elsewhere,” Saryan told him, a knowing look passing between them.

“Elsewhere?” Xavier said. “Where exactly is that? My dad said you weren’t actually here when the attack at Electi Academy went down. That you weren’t even trackable. So where the hell were you? What’s going on? What are you keeping from us?”

“You’re coming at him way too hot,” Talon told Xavier. “Coming from me, that says a lot.”

“Too hot after what’s just happened? I think not. It’s just the right amount of heat.”

Orpheus and Saryan exchanged one of their cryptic, indecipherable looks again.

Before I could ask what it meant, or we could focus on what Xavier was pushing, Saryan told me, “I accept your terms. I will train you.”

“You see that my ability is a major leg up against Constantine?”

“Of course. So long as it can be controlled. Or it could prove a significant detriment. Your celestial magic is also a significant asset, but going up against the likes of Constantine requires there to be contingencies. Not to mention, we now know he’s found a way to infuse others with his dark magic. At present, we have no idea just how many magic-wielders he’s infected.”

“It could be an entire army.”

“Precisely. In that case, the most optimal strategy would be to use your ability to extinguish their magic en masse. It’s more efficient than using your celestial magic, given that it’s not as strong as your mother’s and there are limits to it because of your human side. You use too much at once and it will cause you damage.”

I frowned at him. “You know a lot about my power.”

“I know a great deal about all potential threats to my kingdom.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “So let us conductthis training and ensure you move from a threat to an ally and an asset, yes?”

“Agreed. But I need you to remove this magical vacuum.”

“It’s a precautionary measure.”

“One that’s no longer necessary now that Alena has freely agreed to remain hereandalso asked for your help,” Orpheus pointed out.

“It’s weakening me,” I told Saryan, as I walked across the room to my men far too unsteadily. “I can’t recoup the blood and magic you took from me while this vacuum is in effect and to endure this upcoming training, I need to be in optimal condition.”

Saryan looked at each of us in turn as he considered what I was asking.

“You all drive a hard bargain. Fine. I’ll remove the vacuum, but you won’t be permitted to leave the Dark Fae Realm nor even the palace, something I will ensure will prove impossible.”

“Sounds fair,” I said.

“Compromising, Father. More than once too. I’m stunned.”

“These are special circumstances.”

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