Page 23 of Midnight Deception

The atmosphere is tense, and after a few seconds, I finally break the heavy silence that’s settled over us. “What just happened?” I demand, looking between them. Star makes an uneasy noise beside me, sensing the tension and not liking my sudden anxiety. Reaching out, I pet her ears but don’t look away from the two women as I wait for an answer.

Luna finally pulls her glare from Constance and turns her attention to me. She sighs as she takes in my expression and hesitation towards her. “That’s Atlas’s story to tell. If he wants you to know, he will tell you.” Her voice is much softer now, but I can tell she won’t bend on this and will fight to keep her cousin’s privacy in this matter.

I decide to let the subject drop, and she gives me a tiny smile in gratitude and looks back over at Constance, who’s returned to looking at her dried plants.

Clearing her throat, Luna waits for the other witch to lift her head before speaking. “Now that Laelia’s magic is released, can you begin teaching her?”

Seeming to remember why we’re here in the first place, Constance makes a small noise of surprise and grumbles under her breath, shoving the book away from herself. “Yes, we’ll begin now.” Holding out her hand, she looks at me expectantly. “Take my hand.”

Surprised and nervous, I swallow against my suddenly dry throat. While I’m feeling mostly whole now from my bonds having been restored, I’m still left feeling weak and a memory of the pain seems to remain in my limbs. However, this is why I’m here. Placing my hand in hers obediently, I watch as she closes her eyes and cups her other hand over the top with mine cradled within. Instinctively, I close mine too, gasping as I feel her magic reach for me. It’s the strangest feeling, like a trickle of water running along my whole body, taking in every inch until it reaches the place where my power is stored. At first, my magic tries to rebel, to fight off the invasion, the hair on my arms standing on end as static buzzes around us.

“Steady,” she murmurs, her magic soothing compared to the powerful, lightning-like energy zipping through me. As if hearing her, my power settles a little, no longer seeing her as a threat. Either that, or it’s able to sense how much stronger we are than her.

“Can you see it? Your power?”

That question takes me aback. Ever since my birthday, when my werewolf gifts were released, I’ve been able to feel my magic, but I’ve never seen it within me. My brows pull down as I look within myself. “See it? No, but I can feel it…” I trail off as I spot a dot of light. It looks like a twinkling star from this distance, but it slowly gets larger, and I realise it’s a ball of light. No, that’s not right, because it’s not solid. It’s more like a sphere of stars. The light is almost blinding, and the power is heady.

Something shifts in the darkness surrounding me, and I feel that presence within me stirring. Eyes jerking open, I find Constance already looking at me in shock. She felt it too. I shake my head. The movement is so small it would be easy to miss it, but for some reason, I don’t want her to vocalise it or for Luna to know. Not now, at least.

Understanding shines on her face, and she slowly pulls her hands back. She seems a little uneasy, but she hides it as she leans against the table and frowns, looking from my wolf then back at me. “You have a huge amount of untapped power,” she begins. “You must be using a lot to create your wolf, so I’m amazed at what remains.”

With both her and Luna appraising me, it makes me feel uncomfortable. “I do feel different now that it’s been unlocked,” I admit, crossing my arms around my middle and shrugging, as if none of this bothers me. “Stronger than before.”

My efforts to try to hide my discomfort were wasted, as their barely disguised looks of concern only make me feel worse. Well, Luna looks concerned. Madame Constance just frowns, which I’m starting to think is her usual expression. What I do notice about her, though, is her fingers tapping against the table in a nervous movement.Perhaps she always taps her fingers like that, I tell myself, but even my inner voice sounds unsure.

“Yes, we need to teach you to control that, otherwise it could take over.” Her brow wrinkles, the closest thing to actual concern that I’ve seen from her yet. “We don’t want rogue magic floating around, especially given your gift.”

Constance’s straight to the point answer confirms my suspicion. Theyareworried. I’ve had moments where it feels like I could lose control in the past, but that was before the rest of my power was unlocked. That magic has only been released for a matter of minutes, and I can already feel the difference. I’m so much stronger now, I can only imagine the devastation I could cause if I lost control, so their worry makes sense.

There’s still a lot I don’t know though, like why is everyone so hyped about my gift? I know it’s rare, but why is it coveted so much? What are they not telling me? I’m going to find out sooner or later, and why does that thought fill me with dread?

* * *

The rest of my lesson with Madame Constance was both exciting and frustrating. It seems that learning control isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Calling the magic to me ishard. Accessing it isn’t a problem, but I try to pull a tiny amount to me and all of it rushes to be used. It’s frustrating as I struggle to complete even the simplest of tasks. I’m assured that this is normal, and she tells me that she’ll be testing me over the coming days to see where my talents lie. We already know about my star magic, but I’ve been told there are many other talents I could be in possession of.

She asked me to think back to all the times that I’ve used magic in the past other than calling Star to me, and to try to recreate that. The issue is, every instance I can think of has either been accidental because my life or that of someone I love was in danger, or the presence inside me has taken over. Of course, I can’t tell them the latter without revealing that part of myself.

“You’re using your magic instinctively in dangerous situations, so your body knows what to do,” Luna councils me as we walk to my next lesson. “You just need to teach your mind to connect to it. You’ll get there, don’t fret about it.”

I appreciate her trying to make me feel better, and she’s right, I have been using that power, plus controlling Star, so I know I’m capable of doing it. However, I feel like I have a ticking clock above my head, a constant reminder that I don’t have the time to mess around. There’s a whole mess waiting for me back home, plus my mates and friends who were left behind, and here I am, in luxury and learning magic. It feels surreal.

Luna seems to sense my heavy mood, and we walk the rest of the way in silence. When we reach the training hall, she gives me a little wave and a wink, wishes me luck, and strides down the corridor without another word.

As I stare up at the magic doors, nausea rises as the shield around the room rolls over me. I don’t know why I have such a strong reaction to it, but if I stand around here any longer, I’m going to vomit all over the floor. Taking a deep breath and making sure Star is still at my side, I rest my hand on the back of her head for support as we move towards the doors. They swing open before I can even raise my hand to knock.

Master Dune is waiting for me in the middle of the room, barefoot and expectant, however, as soon as he sees Star, his eyes widen. “Goddess above,” he whispers, his gaze running over every inch of my wolf. Kneeling on the padded mats, he glances at me for permission. Having seen Constance act similarly, I can guess what he wants and I nod, gesturing for Star to greet him.

Holding out his hand, Dune runs an eye over her body, letting her sniff him before rubbing behind her ears. I can see him appraising her, assessing how she could be used defensively or in a fight, but there’s also awe there that I don’t think he feels often.

“How you’ve done this…” He never takes his eyes off Star, running his hand along the length of her back, shaking his head in disbelief. Star’s tongue lolls out of her mouth as she pants, not at all bothered by the witch before her. Dune’s gaze drops to her feet and how the mats are compressing beneath her, proving she’s not just an apparition, but a physical being.

“She’s incorporeal, I can see through her, her body is not whole.” Dune lets out a bewildered laugh and shakes his head. “Yet I can feel her just like I would any other creature.”

He seems… excited by the prospect, and I don’t know how to react or what to say in response. Star is one of the most important things to me in the world. She’s literally part of me, and I know how special she is. However, the reactions of the witches here still take me by surprise. There’s no horror like there was when the werewolves saw her, instead the witches seem mesmerised by her.

“Your mother’s gift was extraordinary, but this is a miracle,” he continues, watching as Star moves around him, sniffing his clothes and the mats with all the mannerisms of a real wolf. “Magic cannot create life, yet somehow, you’ve managed it.”

“I guess I’m blessed by the goddess.” I chuckle uncomfortably, not knowing how to answer him. I meant it as a jokey comment and a way to get him off my back, but his eyes lock on mine, something shifting across his face that looks like he’s just realised something. “Yes. You really are.”

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