Unwilling to let his prey get away so easily, Eldan pursued. He leapt into the air and tackled Annalise back into the mortal plane. Right into a parked car. I watched, helpless, as the valravn toppled the vehicle into the fae and launched herself into the air.
And just like that, she was gone. Escaped.
5
Drowning in Pressure
Magic university didn’t mean miraculous, magical healing. Sure, shifters tended to recover quickly, and mages could mend scrapes easily, but major injuries still required time.
And in my case, stitches.
My night in the campus infirmary ended when Sebastian arrived to fetch me for a meeting with the provost. Even knowing I wasn’t in any specific trouble didn’t make walking inside any easier. No one wanted to have to have a meeting with the school’s head administrator, even if she was a nice lady. Besides that, I had a sinking feeling about what we’d all be discussing and I didn’t want Lia to leave.
My suspicions were confirmed when I entered the provost’s office and spotted Lia and Oberon sitting on opposite sides of the room. Eldan stood behind his king and Holly stood beside Lia’s chair. Simon was there too, leaning against the wall.
“Ah, Skylar, dear, please come in and have a seat,” Riordan said, a kind smile on her face. “How are you feeling?”
“I feel fine,” I lied through my teeth. Nausea and I had become close friends, and I’d spent much of the previous night puking up everything in my stomach or dry heaving and wishing I could die, until the nurses fed me a foul little potion that tasted like ass and death.
Now, the queasiness in my gut had no chance of subsiding because all I could do was wait for them to take my best friend away for good.
I settled in the chair on Lia’s other side. Holly’s gaze darted to me, holding long enough that, for once, I didn’t see any fury or disgust, only a fleeting concern before her neutral mask raised again.
Lia reached over and took my hand. Outwardly, it looked like nothing more than a show of support, but she was doing something because I felt a surge of warmth that soothed my churning stomach. I squeezed her fingers in thanks.
“I know you need rest, but considering the circumstances, I wanted you to be included in this meeting, Skylar,” the provost began.
“I know we let Anna—”
“This has nothing to do with the darkling’s escape,” Simon cut in gently. “No one is blaming you for that at all.”
Holly tucked her chin slightly, “They managed to convince me I’m not at fault either. I was one aisle away…”
“Still within limits set by the handbook,” I pointed out quickly. A sentinel didn’t have to be right up her ward’s ass to protect them. We had limits related to danger levels of the environment and the population density.
“Right. And this still happened. I couldn’t even get to her.”
“And that is precisely what brings us here today,” Oberon said, his voice the very epitome of calm despite tension filling the office with concrete consistency. “Regardless of whom protects her in this realm, my Ti—my Liadan is not safe. This creature raised a siege against a mortal business for the sake of abducting her.”
“Not abducting her, Your Majesty. It wanted to devour her heart,” Eldan said quietly. “We cannot forget that.”
“Yes.”
I didn’t need to be an empath to sense Oberon’s pain. He wore his worry and hurt on his face and in the tension of his body.
“Then why are we here today, if not to talk about the valravn?”
“We’re here to discuss Liadan,” Riordan replied to me, “and her continued presence here at the school while we deal with the attack.”
“King Oberon and Lord Eldan believe Liadan is at risk in this realm and should be removed from the campus to the protection of Avalon Palace,” Sebastian said.
“And we agree,” came Simon’s betraying statement. I stared at them.
“None of us want to lose Liadan. She’s been a bright star on this campus and beloved by all, but for her safety, it would be wise for her to return to the fae realm. We can’t guarantee her protection from darklings.”
“That’s not fair to Liadan,” I spoke up.
“Indeed, it is not fair to her,” Eldan agreed. “But her safety must come before any fairness or enjoyment.”
Knowing they were right didn’t change that I wanted Liadan to remain with us on the school grounds. She gave me a small, sad smile.
“I even asked them if it would change matters if I remained on the campus indefinitely until graduation.”
“And?” My gaze searched the faces of the older faculty members before darting to Oberon’s tense expression.
“Inconceivable,” he said.
“I have to stay,” Lia insisted, her voice firm, almost sharp.
“Lia…” I chewed on my lip, trying to look at the whole picture. “I don’t want you to go either but maybe…maybe it’s safer for you that way.
“No. You don’t understand; things will be worse if I am out of reach. It isn’t a matter of wanting to remain here. I must for the safety of others.”
Sebastian cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
Lia pushed to her feet and regarded all of us with solemn eyes. “It’s a feeling I have. A knowing I feel deep in my heart. Things will be far worse if I retreat to Tir na Nog.”
“I have not had any visions to this effect,” Oberon said.
Lia raised her chin and stared her husband down. “But I have.”
Oberon tipped his head in acknowledgment.
One thing in his favor was that he listened to her. He loved her, and he listened.
“Annalise wants me for reasons we can theorize and guess at, but will never know unless she has another opportunity to obtain my heart. I believe she hopes to consume my power of rebirth.”
“All the more reason to guard you in Tir na Nog, my queen,” Eldan said, the cu sith’s gruff exterior softening. “None of us wish to lose you, but even worse, the thought of an eternal valravn with the power of the fae is reason enough that you must leave this realm.”
“And then what will happen?” she challenged. “How many fae have gone missing?”
Oberon blinked. “We have lost many.”
Not finished, Lia turned to Sebastian and Simon. “How many shifters have been killed? Mages? How many have had their hearts torn from their chests?”
“Many,” they said.
“It will go on. Students will be turned against you. Shifters will be sacrificed to the Hidden Court and fae murdered to sate her need for power. But all she needs is me. She only needs the opportunity to try to acquire my heart. If I leave this realm, we have no idea what she will do or whom she will turn to next. What monstrous acts will she resort to if she’s denied?”
“But if you remain, we know her plan,” I breathed. “Lia, that’s awful. You can’t put yourself in jeopardy—”
“I can,” she cut in. “And I will. Because I am the Queen of Avalon and mother of all fae, and I will not hide while they remain sheep for her to pluck from the field at her leisure. This will be a lasting war against our kind, one which will carry on for years until she accomplishes her aims.”
“And what is that?” Oberon asked.
Lia turned her gaze on him. “You know what she wants.”
“Our realm.”
“No darkling has ever tread in Tir na Nog,” Eldan disagreed. “It’s impossible.”
“She crossed into the Twilight,” I said in a low voice, remembering our battle. “She used magic. Fae magic.”
“The shield,” Eldan said.
My stomach churned. “Yeah. It was like a tainted version of our Prismatic Barrier.”
“Then we can only presume that given time, even without access to Liadan and…” Sebastian swallowed thickly. “Even without consuming Liadan’s heart, if the SBA doesn’t end her soon, she’ll find another way to access your realm.”
“There is a way,” Lia s
aid. “Tell them, Oberon.”
“She would have to kill us both,” the king explained. “But that would be impossible if we are both beyond the barriers.”
“No, it would just be a long, drawn-out assault,” Holly said, finally speaking up. “She has allies everywhere. We still haven’t tracked down Tricia or the Hidden Court in its entirety. It won’t matter if you hide in Tir na Nog. So long as supernaturals exist out here for her to feed on, she’ll continue to hunt and build her strength.”
“Until even our barrier will not be enough,” Lia finished.
Oberon’s proud shoulders drooped. “You are right, and I loathe that you are, my love. If you must stay, I will support you.”
“Eldan must remain with you for your safety,” Lia said. “This does not apply to only me; it is more important than ever that we both remain safe, and whether you are here or there, Eldan shall be at your side.”
Oberon started to protest. I saw it in his face. His mouth opened then shut again, and a few seconds passed before he asked, “And what of you?”
Her gaze darted to me, briefly, a mere flicker I could have missed if I had blinked. “Holly and whatever Simon and Sebastian arrange for me must be enough for now.”
“Then we need to keep you on campus,” Simon said. “At least until we get a better handle on what’s happening out there.”
“I will agree to that,” Lia said. “My charge doesn’t need me this year. If there is any nudging to be done, I’m certain Pilar can handle it, since our charges’ destinies are entwined.”
With the situation defused, I finally relaxed in my seat.
Lia wouldn’t be leaving me. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted her to stay until that was assured.
“Now then,” Riordan said, shuffling papers on her desk. “Since this will no longer be a farewell meeting, I suggest a discussion of the security protocols to be put in place to guarantee Liadan’s safety.”
I jumped from my seat like it was a frying pan. “I’ll see myself out then.”
“I’d like for you to stay,” Oberon said.
“As would I,” Lia added.
“Um…” Everyone looked at me expectantly. “But Holly is Lia’s sentinel.”
“And she will require additional guardianship if she is to remain. Liadan trusts you, as do I,” Oberon said. “I would feel better if she had you at her side as well.”
“I must agree,” Riordan said. “You’ve always been a rare case, Skylar. You should have had a ward this year like any other sentinel student. You and Holly will now share this responsibility.”
No one had asked my permission or blessing and the underlying tone of authority in Riordan’s voice made it apparent that my participation was mandatory.
Bearing that in mind, I returned to my seat and acquiesced to their demand. I might have even been able to relax if not for one simple thing. When I turned my gaze toward Holly to seek her approval, her blue eyes were already upon me and narrowed in hate.
* * *
Countless books on seemingly endless rows of shelves made up the campus library. In truth, we had an impressive collection, one I learned last year was the result of some super complex magic.
It turned out our school and the one in Shangri-La shared a library through some advanced spells that mirrored the books to multiple places. I didn’t understand the complexities, but I didn’t need to. It was damned cool, and I appreciated that.
I also appreciated that the library was huge, making it easy to get lost within the stacks and shelves, which was exactly what I needed after everything that had happened.
Only two days had passed since the meeting in Riordan’s office, but Oberon’s words in Tir na Nog wouldn’t leave my mind. More and more, I’d started to feel like my life wasn’t really my own. Worse, I didn’t think I could live up to everyone’s expectations. As much as I loved Lia, I’d proven I couldn’t protect her.
“Ah, there you are Miss Corazzi.”
Oh no.
Almost two years had passed since my last private lesson with Professor Tristal, the hardest and most vexing fae authority on the campus. She’d taken me under her wing during the fall semester of my sophomore year and taught me the basics of combative magic until Dain arrived from Tir na Nog to teach in her stead and guide me in the specialized glamours Tristal didn’t know.
I’d always appreciated her lessons, but a hot lance of shame burned through me when I reflected on how little I’d shown that.
I turned, pasting a smile on my face that I didn’t feel. “Looking for me, Professor?”
“I was. I heard about what happened and I thought you might want to talk.” She extended a cup toward me, and one sniff told me it was my favorite latte from the campus coffee shop.
“I’m not sure there’s much to talk about, but thanks.”
“Why don’t you try? Tell me why you’re hiding here instead of with your friends.”
“Because I can’t face them,” I blurted, then wondered if she’d laced my drink with something. But no, all I tasted was creamy pumpkin spice deliciousness. If that made me a basic bitch, so be it.
“And why can you not face your friends? You’ve done nothing wrong.”
Having to repeat the same thing over and over again sucked. I opted for silence instead and bitterly sipped the probably-not-laced coffee. I wished it was.
It didn’t matter. Tristal carried on anyway. “I visited Gabriel, and he appears to be quite concerned, but he certainly isn’t taking his failure as an excuse to avoid all responsibilities and the people who care about him. Was he not the first one downed by the valravn?”
“I didn’t ask for a psych eval,” I mumbled. “I’m allowed to have a bad day every now and again.”
“Fair enough.”
She said nothing further, simply took a seat across from me and pulled a book from the nearest shelf. So I tried to do the same, but it gnawed at me. Reverse psychology was a bitch.
“They want me to become Lia’s Morrigan,” I said without prompting.
“That’s quite an honor.”
“But it isn’t what I want.”
“Have you taken a moment to reflect on the topic, to understand why you do not want it?” Tristal asked, her voice surprisingly gentle. She bit the tip off one of the cake pops in the colorful bouquet of desserts she had for herself, and for once, didn’t stare down the bridge of her nose at me.
“No… I…I don’t need to reflect on it. I don’t want to live in Tir na Nog, and I don’t want to be trapped there. Gabriel’s family is here. My family is here. I’ve trained all this time to become a sentinel so I can make a difference in the human world, not to trail beside Lia like a guard dog.”
“Eldan would take offense to that.” There was no judgment in her voice. “He enjoys his work, as does Dain. And I am certain neither feels trapped.”
“But they’re both full fae. Tir na Nog is their home.”
“True, but there’s more at the core of what bothers you.”
“I feel like I have no control of my life anymore. Everyone expects me to follow this prophecy, to do what it says. That’s not how I want to live my life.” I sighed again and enjoyed another scrumptious sip while considering my thoughts. “Besides, I’m pretty sure they have the wrong girl anyway.”
“I can’t speak for you or see what’s in your heart, Miss Corazzi. Only you can delve into your own insecurities to understand why this troubles you. The other two may be born of Tir na Nog, but they are frequently here to resolve matters for their king. I see them often on these grounds, tutoring you and also handling their own matters.”
Their own matters? I cocked a brow, wondering what she meant. Sensing my interest, Tristal gave a rare smile. “What you see on the surface is a mere fraction of what occurs in the life of other individuals passing through this campus. The same is often true of prophecies. They tell us the potential outcome, but not the paths taken to achieve it, or the results that come once the event is over.�
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“But what about my dreams? Maybe it’s selfish of me, but I’ve fought hard to get into the sentinel program. That’s the future I want. The future Gabe and I have planned together.”
Tristal dipped her chin, her expression thoughtful. “Have you discussed this with him?”
“A little…”
“Prophecy doesn’t have to be a shackle, and duty doesn’t define who you are. You can still follow your own dreams and live a happy life.”
“Maybe. It’s just… Look how badly I failed Lia. The valravn came close to killing all of us. Not exactly the makings of a good Morrigan.”
“Tell me, Skylar, is your self-doubt and disparagement the makings of a good sentinel?” Tristal set her cold, bony fingers on my shoulder, and I noticed for the first time that some of the scarring reached beyond her sleeve cuff and spread to the back of her hand. “Whether you were her Morrigan or a sentinel, a creature such as the one who attacked your group would be your responsibility to destroy.”
I scowled down at my coffee and bit my tongue. Sure, I had a year left, but Gabe was a full sentinel and even he had been bested by the valravn. Then again…
“Even sentinels go out in numbers against stronger foes. I know it’s a lame excuse, but it’s true. We weren’t prepared.”
“A wise observation. But that’s how life is sometimes, Skylar. Ask Sebast—Sentinel Kane how often he and Sentinel Bostwick have stumbled into ambushes while off duty, without their gear.”
“Oh,” I said like a child, feeling stupider by the second.
“Real life does not always grant one the time to prepare. Life is everchanging and fluctuating, and so are the Destiny Lines. Few things in this world are static, and even prophecies have been changed.” She tilted her head, appearing particularly catlike in that moment. “Gabriel and the others are not beating themselves up over this. Please be kinder to yourself. Preparation is a fraction of the effort to become a sentinel, and it takes more than four years to make a Morrigan; the role also requires potential and heart. You have plenty of both.”
The Puppet Master: The Paranormal University Files: Skylar, Year 4 Page 6
