Page 58 of Validus Vale Academy 1
Ah-ha.
That freaks them both out.
The atmosphere in the room shifts, the air thickening with tension. I directed my question to Drakeward, but now I glance at Wilson. She’s biting her lip, her silver eyes darting nervously towards the powerful witch beside her. Drakeward’s bored demeanor has shifted, replaced by a hostile defensiveness.
I decide to go with the easiest nut to crack first. “Wilson?” I ask, my voice gentle but firm. “Care to enlighten me?”
She just stares, like a rabbit caught in a snare. It’s almost as though she’s trying to speak, but can’t.
But can’t.
I sense an Elite command. Hmm, I could undo it myself, but I don’t want to show Drakeward the extent of my powers. The fact that my magic is so advanced is only known by two people. And one of those is dead, the other is missing.
I’ll keep my secret hidden for a while yet.
“Let her speak, Drakeward,” I say. “It’s obvious you are compelling her.” The Elite gives me a look that would destroy a lesser man. Too bad for him, that’s not me. “Tick, tock, Mr. Drakeward.”
Suddenly, he’s standing, pushing his chair back. “I’ve had enough of this bullshit.”
“You’ve had enough when I say you’ve had enough,” I bellow back. The little prick doesn’t intimidate me one iota.
“Drop the subject of Wes and Donovan Hart,” Drakeward commands back at me.
Excellent, now I have a last name. For a moment, it’s so very tempting to let him know that his fancy-ass Elite commands do jack-shit to me. But that’s just my ego talking, and such a weak response never leads me.
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Drakeward,” I say in a neutral voice. “That will be all.”
The little bastard gives me a smug look and leaves, slamming the door behind him. Now it’s just me and the little AUA in the office. I turn to Theo Wilson, an internal battle raging within me. My rational mind screams caution, demanding I keep my true power hidden, but a deeper, undeniable imperative seizes control.
Wilson’s eyes grow wide as saucers as I let my power free.
“You are released from Cosmo Drakeward’s commands.”
26
My skin prickles like a million ants dancing under my skin.
What is happening? Did Professor Feniks just release me from Cosmo’s control?
There’s only one way to know. “D-d-d...” Shit, only a croak leaves my mouth. It didn’t work.
Professor Feniks’ gaze burns into me, his face, all craggy planes and smouldering eyes. “Impossible,” he mutters. “There’s no way…unless.” His expression, already severe, darkens further.“He wouldn’t have...” A dangerous glint flashes in his eyes. Unlike when other alphahole men push me around, with Professor Feniks, I feel safe. So it’s with a large amount of relief, I pull my shirt collar to one side and lift my hair.
He steps around the desk, coming into my space, then runs a finger over my throat. The touch sends sparks through my body.
“Fuckingrunkata,” he hisses, the foreign word making me shiver as his hand tightens imperceptibly on my throat for a second. “Thatpirullinenasshole bound you.”
How? “The mark’s invisible, how did you know it’s there?” I ask, looking up at him. This close, I’m surrounded by his scent: a blend of musk, pine needles, and tobacco that has my shoulders relaxing. Our eyes meet, and I notice his irises—not just a deepdark brown, but flecked with tiny sparkles of gold—are entirely focused on me.
For a fleeting, unguarded moment, I glimpse the raw power of Feniks’s thoughts. They shout into my mind, unfiltered.
—If…kill…hävittää!—
If only I knew Kormovian. “I wish I could talk to you, professor.”
Running a hand through his hair, Professor Feniks sits back and looks at me. His eyes hold both anger and a surprising tenderness. “It’s OK, Wilson. You can’t help being controlled.”
The pain of being so helpless wells up in my chest, making me raise my hand and press it to my heart.
