“See, you wild brute, this was easy.”
“Can you sit down and stop making a spectacle for others?” Gabriel asked patiently. He still held a fork and a knife in his hands. Ryder, on the other hand, leaned back languidly on the chair with his hands behind his head.
“Tell me, how does it feel to meet your worst enemies?” the sister asked. “And by the way, my name is Imperia.”
“What kind of question is that?” Gabriel asked.
“A curious-one,” she replied taking a seat next to me. She leaned over and added as if she was explaining something trivial. “Our fathers hate each other to the bone.”
And what’s so exciting about this?
“At least my father had a good reason,” I replied, not being able to contain my rage. The entire island lived in a lie. The war ended barely 16 years ago. What about others who remembered it? Why did they accept Goldfury’s deception? Imperia threw her head back, laughing. Not exactly the reaction I’d expected from her, but I preferred this to a fight.
“She doesn’t know the truth,” Gabriel explained softly. “Drop it, Imperia. Cora will learn at the academy.”
“You poor doll,” Imperia wiped tears off her eyes. “I don’t think you’ll survive this place.”
Give them hell, Cora, my father’s words kept me from falling into the void.
“She’ll be fine,” Ryder said but Rocco only waited to add his two cents.
“No, she won’t. The shifter academy is the testing ground for the shifter elite. She’s no one.”
Imperia snorted, patting my shoulder. I couldn’t decide if she felt pity or simply attempted at humiliating me. This girl was hard to read. When neither Gabriel nor Ryder took a bait, Rocco muttered something about losers, spun around, and strode away.
“He’s seriously in love with you,” Imperia said which earned her a glare from soft-mannered Gabriel. I cannot ignore the truth. Gabriel likes me. He’s handsome and has an amazing athletic body. And I like the scent of wood he carries around. I’d also thought he was arrogant. Fortunately, he was not. I should stick with him ... shouldn’t I? What would father say though? Me running with the sworn enemy? Our families would never accept us. We’d b shunned by both clans. I’d lose my status as an alpha heir... Was Gabriel worth it?
After the encounter with Rocco, the dinner didn’t taste as good anymore although I’ve made a joyous jump with each bite of a thunderbird. Imperia ordered desserts, claiming that she hated meat. A shifter who doesn’t like meat? This was first.
“Did you pick your dress for the Bewitching Ball?” Imperia asked when the empty plates were removed from the table by two male waiters. She poked one of them in the ribs! He grunted and she gave him a wide smile.
“You should not do that,” Gabriel noted. “Father has already warned you about it.”
“Hush.” She waved her nimble, pale hand at him. “So? What you’re going to wear?”
I glanced at the guys, hoping for some help but Ryder pretended to not hear his sister’s question while his eyes were directed at the plains. Gabriel, on the other hand, looked troubled. So, I had to handle it myself.
“I have no idea what the Bewitching Ball is.”
Imperia inhaled, opening her mouth wide and then covering them with a hand. Pure theatrical gesture. Then she looked to Gabriel and Ryder as if looking for help... Don’t bother, I was there.
“Did you hear that?” I almost bought her sweetness. She was good, convincingly good.
“Give her space, Imperia,” Gabriel.
“Oh, I see what you did there.” A huge smile bloomed on Ryder’s face. I didn’t see what Gabriel did there and frankly, I was afraid to ask.
“If this is one of your sex jokes, then give up.” Imperia’s expression changed with startling ease. She looked bored now. “They aren’t funny.”
“I agree,” Gabriel added.
From there Imperia launched into explaining the Bewitching Ball. An after-initiation party which always spread down the town and lasted until the next day. The aim, according to her, was to mate with as many guys as physically possible. I saw no appeal in having sex with the entire town.
“Speaking of mediocre sex jokes ... unless it isn’t?” Ryder asked with a knowing smile. He didn’t know it, nor did I, that he stepped into her trap.
“Why is it right when you took five dolls to your bedroom and bragged the next day how they weren’t enough for your dick?”
A quip died on Ryder’s lips. He maintained a smiling expression but it was obvious to a naked eye, how strained it was. Imperia won the battle and now her attention turned to Gabriel.
“My sex life is no one’s business,” he told her. “So, if you hope to unearth anything compromising—”
“I would be disappointed?” she interrupted him. “And bored?”
To Gabriel’s credit, he didn’t let himself talk into her trap and the topic died out of itself. I inquired about this bewitching ball because partying sounded cool.
“Everyone who attends gets an enchant.” A mischievous smile flashed on her face. “Very special enchant.”
Gabriel rose to his feet and extended his hand toward me.
“What’s so special about this enchant?” I asked as I accepted his hand.
“Among a few things, it hides your identity.”
Chapter 14
Gabriel insisted on escorting me to the flat. Ryder was out of the picture, Imperia’s words had put him in a bad mood. She seemed such a sweet and devious person at the same time. Unlike Rocco, who was an ass. I knew she’d joked about him loving me but what would I do if that was the truth? The fire that sparked between me and Gabriel was slowly gaining momentum. A part of me feared that other brothers might stop it. They were as handsome as Gabriel and near them, my heart beat fasters and my shifter’s instinct went haywire. Nothing of this sort had happened back in Alaska. None of my clan shifters had induced such an effect on me.
Refreshingly cold air buffeted against my face, pulling with it grim thoughts. The plains beyond the walls had to be quite windy. Run? My wolf asked and I almost agreed. A strong urge took a hold of me, then Gabriel’s arm appeared around my shoulders and all thoughts fled. My mind completely blanked. It was so much different from the moment when I’d grabbed Rocco’s arm in the car. This here felt intimate. Maybe most shifters didn’t care about sharing those moments with strangers. I did mind. My body was my own and it’d belong only to my mate, and only when he appeared and accepted me.
I shivered but didn’t pull his arm away. A little intimacy wouldn’t hurt, right? I snuggled just a tad, into his muscular side and inhaled his intoxicating scent. Beneath the strong cedar and pine was him. From this close, he couldn’t hide from my nose. He smelled of righteousness and fairness but there were other levels deeper down and those I couldn’t decipher. He wasn’t the first complex personality I’ve met, but most of them showed their colors quite quickly. Gabriel seemed to possess one dimension to his character and so far he hasn’t deviated except for a few unusual expressions. What are you like? Really? Without masks and such.
The stroll ended sooner than I expected ... or wished. After all the sidelong glances we’d received, I was surprised that Gabriel didn’t drop his arm until we stopped by the door of my flat.
“Thank you,” I whispered not knowing what I thanked him for. The number of good things he’s done piled up rapidly.
“Don’t mention it, Cora.”
An electric current shot through my spine when he said my name. On the tip of my tongue was a plead to him to say it again or a hundred times more.
“You’re a gem. Do you know?” I told him.
He gently shook his head.
“There is truth to Imperia’s words though. Our fathers—our clans—hate each other. We...” The outer side of his fingers softly stroked my cheek. The spot burned with fever ... I almost wished he did it forever or to make other parts of my body burn. But I couldn’t find the strength to voice these des
ires.
“I came here hating you,” I replied. “And look at me now.”
“I know.” He leaned toward me and my lips parted a little. But his kiss has never materialized. He sniffed my neck instead. Holly fuck. Moon help me! When a male shifter sniffed a neck of a female shifter in this fashion, it was the first step in the mating process. I stood paralyzed not knowing what to do.
Gabriel’s smile was delicate and short-lived.
“I won’t be able to meet you tomorrow. State duties. Your things are inside. See you on the initiation day.”
He turned to go. I found no strength to stop him. The initiation day was still a few days away. All this time I was going to be alone.
“Shit,” I hissed, remembering that I hadn’t bought the candles. It made Gabriel stop and frown. I quickly added. “It’s nothing. Just forgot about candles.”
“Candles?”
“To read books on evenings.”
Seeing his puzzled face was funny but also discerning. What was so shocking about reading that it evoked such a reaction?
“We don’t use candles here. We use electricity or magic lamps. The latter is expensive and so these flats have only electricity.”
Now, it was my turn to look confused. I knew the mortal world used electricity widely. Our clan was cut off from both societies though and we were forced to buy candles from peddlers. They’d once or twice mentioned magical lamps but had warned us that such items were not permitted outside of Shifter Island.
“When you enter the house, search ... let me show you.”
He returned to my side and waited for me to open the door. I pressed the magical key and the lock clicked. As we walked inside, I noticed the bags with the clothes and shoes and started wondering how had they managed to get them in. Gabriel pressed his hand against something on the wall and the light exploded in the room. I blinked, shocked. It was so bright. Unbelievable.
“Every room has it.”
I thanked him and he was gone without another word. His scent lingered around though. I sat down on the chair, wondering what to do next. I had things to unpack. Food to buy and prepare. A book to read. But mostly, I wished to re-live this day.
Chapter 15
Gabriel was true to his words. He didn’t appear the next day. Neither did Ryder. I should’ve tidied everything up but couldn’t get myself to do that. Because I didn’t live on the island, everything had a price. For now, Gabriel did cover all the costs but it didn’t ease my worries. It meant I was dependant on him. He seemed an amazing man, but there was more to him than he’d shown, and I hated not knowing it. Cora, you need a job. Something to make you independent.
At least, the food was cheap and I could order it to be delivered! Unfortunately, the menu was nothing like the restaurant Gabriel had taken me to. No thunderbird for me.
By the evening of the day, I had most of the things sorted. I lay in the bed and tortured myself with thoughts about the Goldfury guys. What they were doing? And with who... Then the book caught my attention and I decided to give it a try for once.
The Song of Midnight
By
Eterna Eristo
Eterna Eristo? I’ve never heard of this person. I couldn’t even tell if it was a woman or a man. I flipped the first page.
Welcome my beloved shifter.
It matters not what wish brought you to this manuscript. All that important is, what are you going to do with this arcane knowledge. Over the past centuries, shifters have risen to prominence through various means. Some of them noble like honor and kinship, and others deceitful and malevolent, proliferated by betrayal and senseless killing. Are you surprised? I wasn’t sure yet. Murdering other shifters in the name of honor is as evil as murdering in any other name. So, please, I beg you, use this knowledge in a rightful way.
Eterna Eristo, First of the Night, Tenth Alpha of Diremoon Clan
My hands dropped the book and I jumped off the bed. What the hell was this? Eterna Eristo from Diremoon Clan? My clan was Diremoon before it was named Moonless. I had an ancestor who had written a book about shifter magic? Why hasn’t father spoken about it? Maybe he doesn’t know. Bullshit. My clan had lived here before they were exiled. And what in the moon’s name were these titles? First of the Night? Tenth Alpha? Did she mean she was tenth since the inception of our clan? It would make this book ... how old was my clan? I realized I didn’t know the history of my clan beyond basics—we were exiled from Shifters Island after the Goldfury clan had betrayed us in the war. I wondered about her surname too. But it could be a relic of the past.
I eventually returned to the book, propelled by curiosity.
Chapter 1: Inherited Moon
Before I allow myself to sink my teeth into technicalities of shifter magic. I must add a few words about the shiny object in the sky. It is believed that our magic comes solely from the moon. It is a lie, which I hope to uncover. Eventually. My fellow shifter-researchers agree with me that our magic inhibits characteristics of a spectrum. It led me to two discoveries. First, the moon is not the ultimate source of our power. There is something that stands even higher in the hierarchy. Second, there is a lower source as well. I am convinced, it is the lower source that originated our magic.
I consumed the words and with each page, a silent scream rose inside me. The book was so wrong on many levels. We were creatures blessed by the moon. That was why our clan became weaker. The mortal world’s moon was not invisible to us. Why was this man thinking this book could teach me anything?
I was a whirlwind of emotions when I finished the first chapter. She basically called us thieves who claimed the power of the moon through the song. The Song of Midnight. The song that belonged to a now-extinct race. She couldn’t even tell who they were! Enraged, I turned the page. I wished to see the technicalities of the magic she presented.
Chapter 2: Words to Follow
Although a new branch of magic gains momentum—an effect of mating with non-shifters—spells have several drawbacks the shifter clans do not dare to speak of. Spells are commands. Whereas our shifter magic is based on a relationship. We give something of ourselves each time we use magic. It is dangerous, of course, as it creates the ferals who lose their mental integrity and becomes creatures of pure instincts.
Woah. So, this was how shifters became ferals? They used too much of that other, non-spell, magic. It was interesting but it didn’t teach me anything I needed.
This happens when a shifter forgets the balance and boundaries of its own mind. You should always respect your limits. Abuse them and you will pay. Now, time for practice.
Clear your mind, Completely!
Welcome your wolf but do not let it dominate the space.
Follow it. See what it does and where it goes.
Find the words it gives to things.
Feel the words. DO NOT USE THE WORDS! Yet.
I stared at the instruction then spent hours on the first step. I couldn’t clear my mind. No matter how hard I tried, the freaking Goldfury brothers strode into my mental space and refused to leave. My wolf wished only to run, to be free. I grew exhausted and frustrated. It was the first exercise in the beginner book and I’ve already failed! I hated magic. It’d been the same with spells when father had tried to teach me. Spells were elusive like eels. To use a spell, a shifter not only had to know it but hold its projection in mind. Creating a projection of a spell was a pain in the ass. Keeping it there was nearly impossible for me. Father had explained that this was normal. Not all shifters were good with spells and not all shifters were good with shifting. It was rare for a shifter to be good or bad at both. Then I remembered what the book said about the origin of the shifter-wizards. Shifters mated with non-shifters. It was hard to believe, either non-shifters would have to live here on the island or shifters lived in the mortal world.
I gave up on the exercise an hour later. No progress. And the book warned me to not skip it. The second I dropped on the bed I fell asleep.
*
<
br /> A cold dripping sound awoke me. The air was chill and wet. I opened my eyes but the world around me was pure darkness. And ... and everything else was wrong. I wasn’t in my bed or the flat. The surface beneath my feet was hard and rough like a rock.
“Halo?”
HALO.
Halo.
Halo.
Halo.
Only echoes answered. With rising panic, my wolf came to the surface as well. She’d take control the second a threat appeared. I sniffed the air to better gauge the room. It smelled like a cave, wet with sparse vegetation. How did I get here? Was this alpha king’s doing? If so, I was ... fucked. I sniffed the air and found no traces of anyone else. Shifters had magical ways of hiding their scents. Skyflower. But my instincts told me, no one had been here for a long time. So how the hell I got here?
Then something sparked ten or maybe a hundred feet in front of me. A blue flame came to life and with it, softly gleaming walls and ceiling acquired vague shapes. It was indeed a cave. I gasped at the sheer magnitude of this place. It was massive. The flame flickered happily. I approached it with gooseflesh spreading all over my body. I had no other choice. Ten feet from it, I stopped and got a better look. Everything was wrong with the way it moved. The fire didn’t possess such harmony. More. There was a pattern in the way it danced.
“Are you alive?”
It winked out of existence.
Blackness attacked from all sides, my wolf tried to seize control...
I woke up wet and panting as if I’d run for a thousand miles. I was in my bed, although the bedding and my body were all drenched. The vivid memory of the dream made me shiver.
Run?
Yes. Just promise me to behave.
Promise.
*
Bewitched: A Paranormal Academy Romance Page 8
