Page 38 of Midnight Deception

Everyone is watching, and I’m probably ruining the reputation I’d been attempting to build, but I don’t give a flying fuck what they think, not when Nicolai is involved. The queen made a fatal error in bringing him into this.

“Let me go,” I order, my voice almost distorted by the growl in my chest. Star is standing over me in an effort to protect me, but there are so many witches here she doesn’t know who’s the biggest threat, snarling and snapping at her jaw at anyone who comes too close.

“I need you to calm down, Laelia, and then I’ll release you.” Atlas sounds calm, and his request is simple enough, but seeing Nicolai has triggered something in me. I let him down before, and I won’t let that happen again. Thrashing against the ice on my legs, I scratch and tear at it, my nails chipping as I attempt to break through it.

Atlas steps forward, his face twisted, and I see his anger at the situation. “Stop, you’re going to hurt yourself.”

Ignoring him, I keep trying to get free of the ice, but I’m not getting anywhere with it. The atmosphere of the room is shifting, and tension rises as people speak in low mutters about the feral half-blood. My rational mind tells me no one is going to attack me unless the queen orders it, but I’m not rational right now. Feeling my panic, anger, and desperation, the presence in me rises, and I allow it to take over me.

She pulls all my power and moves my hands together, a ball of brilliant starlight forming between them, aiming to blast the ice away from my legs. Deep in my mind, I acknowledge that this is probably a terrible idea and there’s a good chance others will get hurt in this process. That would usually horrify me, but the presence just purrs at the thought, fully believing that they deserve to be punished for daring to touch what’s ours.

“Laelia, stop.” Kano’s voice sounds to my left, and when I look over, he flinches, seeing the full depths of my power in my eyes. I keep my magic locked up tightly when I’m in control. I’m not in control right now, and I’m sure he and some of the other strong witches can sense it.

“You have to knock her out,” the queen demands. Turning in the direction of her voice, I see her slowly walking towards me, staring down with glee in her eyes as she takes in the ball of power in my hands. That changes when I snarl at her, and her upper lip curls in disgust.

Atlas is already shaking his head. “She’ll never forgive me.”

The queen turns on him so quickly I might have missed it if it wasn’t for the sound of the slap reverberating through the room. “She’s about to bring this hall down around us. This is a direct order from your queen,” she hisses, her face furious and body quaking with rage.

She touched my mate. Not only did she touch him, but shehurthim. My eyes narrow, and the presence and I are in full agreement—she needs to die. Directing my body, the force within me starts guiding my hands in rhythmic movements, chanting something quietly under my breath and focusing directly on the queen.

Atlas must recognise my intention, because he curses, raises his hand, and points it at me. “I’m sorry,” he whispers before flicking his wrist.

A brief flash of pain strikes me in the head, and then I slump to the ground as darkness surrounds me. However, the last thing I see before I fall unconscious is the look of fear on the queen’s face.

* * *

“She’s waking up.”

The voice brings me closer to consciousness, something in my chest warming and whisperingminewith each beat of my heart. My whole body aches, something that seems to be a regular occurrence, but my mind is fuzzy. Something inside me is telling me I need to get up, that something happened, but my memories slip away from me every time I try to grasp at them. The throbbing in my head and the side of my face probably aren’t helping with that.

Extending my senses, I try to work out my surroundings before opening my eyes. I’m pretty sure I’m lying in my bed at Haven, recognising the feel of it, which gives me a good indication of who’s surrounding me. There are three heartbeats in addition to my own, and as their scents make their way to me, I can see their faces in my mind, but their names are slow to come back.

“Laelia, can you hear us?” another familiar male voice asks.Kano, my mind supplies, finally beginning to catch up. “You’re safe,” he continues, “and so is your friend.”

As soon as he says those words, the memories slam into me like a physical blow. My eyes fly open, and I sit upright in a flurry of movement, my friend’s name on my lips. I desperately look around the room as if I’ll find Nicolai hiding in the corner, but of course, he’s not there. My breathing becomes fast and shallow, my body feeling flushed as my emotions overwhelm me. I need to get up, I need to find him and get him as far away from the queen as possible.

Throwing back the covers, I swing my legs over the side of the bed. Atlas and Kano both step towards me with outstretched hands, and it’s a good thing they do because I stumble as soon as I put weight on my legs. My vision is spinning, and I feel dizzy. I fall back onto the bed ungraciously. It’s only in that moment that I realise I’m no longer wearing my dress, my hair has been loosened, my diadem removed, and I’m dressed in soft pyjamas. I’m really hoping it was Luna who undressed me while I was unconscious. I don’t even want to think about Kano being the one to do it.

“Laelia,” Atlas chides through clenched teeth, clearly holding back on whatever he wants to say.

I don’t give him a chance to finish his admonishment though, needing answers. “Where is he? Is he okay?”

If I can’t go to him physically, then I need to know he’s safe until I’m strong enough to get to him. My question isn’t aimed at anyone in particular, and I look between the three of them desperately.

Kano sighs, rubbing a hand through his hair, his lavender eyes meeting mine. “The queen has him locked in a suite for his own safety. I witnessed it myself. He’s safe there.”

Why doesn’t this reassure me? Possibly because I now know the full extent of what the queen will do to bring me to heel. Kano seems to think that Nicolai is safe though, at least for now. Do I trust him to tell me the truth on this? Yes, which means I have to suck it up and at least accept that for tonight. There’s nothing I can do to help him.

The fight drains out of me, leaving me with a bone-deep weariness that has my entire body aching. I brace my hands on my knees, dropping my head. “Why is he even here?” It’s a rhetorical question. I already know why he’s here and who’s behind it, but Atlas snorts and replies anyway.

“She’s teaching you a lesson,” he retorts with a sneer that I’m not sure is aimed at me or the queen. “You took one of her witches, so she’s taking someone from you too.” He gestures as he speaks, showing his agitation. He’s talking about himself. He’s the witch I took from the queen. Is that why he seems so angry, because I’vetakenhim, or is there another reason?

He’s not done though. He walks right up to me, lowering his head until we’re face to face. “You heard her. She wants you to work harder, and your friend is the insurance policy. If you don’t, then Nicolai will suffer.”

My chest feels tight, and my magic wobbles within me, threatening to break through the rudimental barriers I’ve placed around it. Pair that with the dark presence in me wanting to be freed and Star demanding to be released from where she’s returned to me, I’m unstable.

“Atlas,” Luna snaps in disbelief, “can’t you see what your words are doing to Laelia?”

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