by A. J. Macey
“We got word from the Prime Minister,” Gabriel started. “He received Edmund’s encrypted communication and immediately redirected his caravan back to Divus with plans to meet us in the next couple days. We should have a more specific time when he gets closer.”
“Really?” I exclaimed, a wave of excitement flowing through me. “Did he say anything about the council?”
“We left it a bit vague in case it was intercepted,” Josephina continued. “Told him to not confide in anyone other than his closest, most trusted guards because the council and enforcers are not as they seem. We ended the message with a note that we’d be able to explain more when he got back.”
“So,” Lyra took over, looking at us expectantly, “what’s the plan?”
“Before we get into that, I have a question.” I glanced at Edmund. “Xan said the council keeps everything in some form of record, is that true?”
“Yes, anything they do, talk about, or plan, basically everything that happens in that building is kept on paper. Why?”
“Do you know where they’d keep the records for the things they’re currently planning?”
“Each councilman might keep their own records in their rooms. The other option is a consolidation of their records kept in Councilman Altermin’s personal rooms. They’re not the most trusting of men, so they tend to keep evidence of not only what they’re doing, but what the others are as well. I know for a fact, Altermin usually has his eyes and records closely on his fellow councilmen. By far, he’s the most paranoid of them all. I ask again… why?” Edmund murmured, his gaze narrowing.
“Would the Prime Minister believe just our recounts?” As soon as my question was out, a look of understanding washed over his and the others’ expressions.
“He has the power to see major events when he touches someone or an object,” Edmund explained. “All he would have to do is touch one of us, and he’d believe us.”
“But the council would no doubt try to spin that against him and us,” Torryn interjected, looking to me. “That’s why you wanted proof, yes?” Nodding, I shoveled another bite of dinner into my mouth, wanting to enjoy it before it went cold.
Or before the conversation becomes considerably less enjoyable. The councilmen have a special way of ruining a celebratory mood.
“That’s a good point...” Edmund murmured, his lips pursed in thought.
“So, you actually want to break back into the council building?” Caspian’s eyes were wide, a horror-stricken expression blatant on his handsome face. His words were filled with surprise as if he didn’t want to believe that was my plan.
“Not all of us. We can’t break in when the council members and the enforcers are in the building,” I explained, finally going over the rest of the plan now that I knew it could work. “Olive and the others will be able to stream the separate feeds from the other academies to the holo displays in the capital, as well as stream what we’re doing or saying on the vlog. She already confirmed it would work before any of you question that.
“So, we draw the councilmen and enforcers out of the building, and while we distract them, a few of us can break into the building and find the proof we’ll need. The guys and I have already talked about staging a rally in the markets. Because of Yule, there should be a crowd, so it’ll be harder for the council to get to us, and we can also reach a greater number of viewers at the same time. If we can tie the timing with the Prime Minister getting to the capital and give him proof in front of everyone, it will be much more powerful than a hearing behind closed doors. It’ll also be a lot more difficult for the council to just make us ‘disappear.’”
No one spoke for a while, everyone eating and processing what I’d said. I knew it might be a lot for the parents to take in. The guys had known most of what I had in mind, so they already had time to get the basics down. Now, sitting as silently as our parents, I could tell they were trying to think of holes, issues, or potential plan killers as we ate.
“That’s a lot of variables,” Edmund stated softly.
“That’s what he said back at Aether,” I told him with a small grin, hitching a thumb to Xan. The slight pink that spread on Xan’s cheeks was adorable, and I was happy to see him and his father getting along… or at least not wanting to throw things at each other. Baby steps.
“There’s a lot that could go wrong, but hitting them all at once in a big show of force is the best option we have,” Drayce took over. “Aris is right, nothing is likely to change if it’s handled behind closed doors. We’ll still be painted as fugitives in the eyes of Akasha, even if the Prime Minister does issue some kind of statement because none of the witches will have seen exactly what was going on.”
“If we want to change the way our world works, we need to go big or go home,” Caspian tacked on to the end of Drayce’s comment.
“I don’t like this, but I don’t really have any other ideas,” Tor murmured, his words slightly muffled as he rubbed his face.
“Who would be sneaking in?” Gabriel asked. “I’m assuming you six would need to be the ones confronting the council since you’ve become the face of this rebellion.”
“Edmund, too,” I added. “He’s the one the Prime Minister will be expecting to talk to.”
“So, that leaves us three,” Lyra concluded with a nod. “We can totally get into the council building and get evidence on those batty bastards. Right?” Her question was directed to her husband and Josephina, both nodding enthusiastically.
“So... we’re really doing this?” I blurted out, realizing we were only a few days from a complete revolution in Akasha.
“Yeah, Muse, we’re doing this,” Xan reassured.
“I’ll update Olive on the plan with an encrypted message,” Gabriel stated, getting up quickly. “Kye, want to come help?”
“I’d love to.” Kye practically jumped out of his seat in excitement, the move making me smile.
“Now what?” Caspian asked as they left.
Laughing as giddy enthusiasm filled me, I answered his question.
“Now? We take tonight to celebrate. We’ve definitely earned it.”
December 7th
Saturday Early Evening
Aris
My face ached from smiling too much, but the celebration was well worth it. Having a chance to spend time with Xan’s and Kye’s parents was nice. Knowing the Prime Minister was coming back had taken all the pressure away, even if only for a night. Edmund was in good spirits, and after our talk, it no longer felt forced or fake. I’d more than proven myself, and in a mixed-up way, I felt like our tentative peace held more weight than the average friendship.
Needing a drink, I walked over to the counter and grabbed a bottle of spiced apple cider, and snagged a handful of Lyra’s homemade Hex Mix, which she’d made pink just for me.
“There you are,” Drayce said, walking up and leaning on a broomstick.
“Were you cleaning?” I asked, confused, but from the smirk on his face, I was likely way off base.
“No, Angel. I promised to teach you how to fly, didn’t I?” he challenged, holding out his hand. My face split into a wide smile as I did a happy dance. Despite being excited, my heart pounded in my chest at the prospect of being in the air, even though I knew Drayce would keep me safe. With a smile, I set down my drink and put my hand in his, letting him lead me outside. Thankfully, we had the cover of darkness, so we wouldn’t have to worry about being seen.
“Is it silly that I’m nervous?” I asked as the warm night air hit me. I already missed Aether, but I didn’t miss the cold winters. As he led me through the barren grounds, I realized I’d never loved this territory as I did now. Growing up, I was either told to stay out of sight or simply left alone altogether. Those weekends where my family was busy or away were honestly some of my favorite... two full days without ridicule or being made to feel like I didn’t matter. The guys were right; it was a miracle I’d ended up as happy as I was.
“You still with me, Ang
el?” Drayce asked softly, running a finger lightly between my scrunched eyebrows. Clearly, I was thinking about this too hard.
“Just thinking about my family. It’s ironic that I feel this territory is homier with you all here than I did with my own blood relatives.”
“Were you even allowed out of the house or school to enjoy Ignis?” he asked, shaking his head.
“Not really,” I said, shrugging. “I was the daughter who shouldn’t be seen or heard when important people were around. You know... I probably would have met Xan sooner if they hadn’t hidden me away. Edmund seemed to respect my father, so they likely had gatherings together.”
“Well, it wouldn’t have been the right time. The goddess knows what she’s doing,” he said, hugging me close before stopping. We’d made it to the back of the building, the darkness and silence of the Volcanic Forest, making it creepy.
“So, how does this work?” I asked quickly, now more ready than ever to get off of the ground. He chuckled indulgently, putting the end of the broom between his legs and leaving room for me at the front.
“Get on. It’s spelled to fly, and I won’t let you fall off. If you do, just use air to keep yourself safe.” Nodding, I followed his instructions, and the broom came to life the moment I was settled. He scooted forward once I was in place. “Get ready.”
That was all the warning I got before the broom lifted into the air. Drayce must have used his air affinity to keep us stable because I never felt like I was going to fall. Instead, my focus was on the sights around us. The lights from the council city of Ignis and the smaller towns in between twinkled below, looking like fireflies. The farther he took me, the cooler it got, but with the excitement of flying and his arms around me, I wasn’t cold.
“This is so cool!” I squealed, the wind whipping through my hair as he picked up speed. He kept his focus on flying, but the happy laughter behind me told me he was enjoying this as much as I was. Suddenly, a ring of blue arcane fire caught my eye. “What’s that?”
“Oh, I don’t know, why don’t we go find out?” Drayce answered in completely fake nonchalance. Subtle. When we got closer, I could see the fires were actually in metal braziers, and the spot was the top of one of the turrets. A thick blanket was laid out, along with a picnic basket. I was still full from all the snacks at the celebration, but if he had chocolate hidden in there, I was so down.
“This is so sweet,” I said as he hovered just above the ground. I climbed off and waited for him to do the same, setting the broom aside.
“Well, I thought we could use some time alone,” Drayce said, giving me a soft smile. “It’s been a while.”
“It really has. I’m sor—” Before I could finish, he held a finger to my lips.
“Nope. No apologizing. I’ve loved every minute I’ve had with you, and our lives haven’t exactly been smooth sailing lately. There’s nothing to apologize for. I don’t feel neglected, I just thought this would be nice.”
“This is nice, but I’m not very hungry,” I teased, lifting my shirt and letting it fall to the ground. His smile went from soft to sultry in a matter of seconds. Stalking forward, he wrapped his arms around my waist. Pulling me in, his lips met mine, the kiss controlled, not as heated as I expected. He kept his pace steady as he tasted me, his mouth moving from my lips to my jaw, kissing down to the swell of my breasts. I gasped, arching into his mouth as his other hand moved to push my pants and underwear down. The cool night air made me shiver, but I was too preoccupied to care.
“I’m glad I have a chance to worship you alone, Angel. It means I can take my time,” Drayce whispered, his voice husky, and the gravel alone had my pussy aching with need. It seemed my quiet and laid-back boyfriend was dominant during sex, even when it was just us, and his tone told me I wouldn’t be in control.
He moved lower, leaving open-mouthed kisses down my torso, and moved between my legs. Instead of giving my pussy the attention it wanted, he continued down my inner thigh, lifting my leg and kissing all the way down to my ankle before finally grinning up at me. He knew how crazy he was making me and loving every moment of it.
His tongue darted out, wetting his lips before he licked his way slowly up my leg. The heated trail cooled in the night air, making goosebumps erupt across my skin. My breath caught as he slowly trailed over my pussy, teasing with light flicks of his tongue and grazing his teeth. Each small sensation built my desire, coiling in my belly, and leaving me shaking. Desire leaked down my thighs as he hooked my legs over his shoulder.
The pressure only built more when he thrust his tongue inside my core, fucking me quickly before pulling out and swirling it ever so slowly over my clit. The alternating sensations had me so tightly wound, I thought I would explode if he continued much longer. Just when I thought I couldn’t handle anymore, he thrust two fingers inside me while sucking my clit, sending me crashing into an orgasm without warning. I screamed out his name, my voice disappearing in the night breeze as it swirled around us, the scent of embers and Ignis flowers mixing together in the whirlwind we’d created. My body came down from its high much slower than it had climbed. The wind died down, leaving my curls spread haphazardly on the blanket around me.
As my brain finally turned back on after my intense release, his words came back to me. He said we didn’t get alone time often, and I knew in the coming days, it would only get worse. I wanted to enjoy myself as much as he just had, so he was about to have a little competition. When I looked at him, he had shucked his clothes, leaving him bare and ready for me. Taking him by surprise, I sat up and crawled over him, forcing him back on the blanket. He chuckled darkly but made no move to take back control... yet.
Wanting to tease him, I settled on his hips, his cock nestled against my ass as I leaned down, crushing my lips to his, nipping and teasing. I was over the sweet. We could take our time and fuck each other thoroughly. I wiggled against him, kissing and teasingly biting my way down his jaw. He let out a shuddering breath as I sucked the sensitive skin of his neck into my mouth, marking him. I grinned at my handiwork, loving that anyone who saw it would know he was a taken man. His answering smile was half-lidded, full of heat and promise. Before he could take control again, I lifted myself up and sank down on his leaking cock. The slight stretching burn eased as I rocked over him, keeping my movements slow as my body adjusted to his girth. The sight of him under me, biting his lip, and letting out a low growl made me feel sexy and powerful.
His hands roved over my body as if he was memorizing every inch—likely, he was. We were living off stolen moments, and this was ours. Done with waiting, I rocked my hips faster, bracing my hands on his chest as I lifted up and sank down on him, chasing the pleasure coiling in me. I was already sensitive from my last release, but my body craved so much more of him.
“You feel so good.” I whimpered, his hands teasing my nipples to add that extra sensation as his mossy eyes locked on the sight of me fucking him.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Angel,” he husked, hands clamping on my hips to still me. “But it’s my turn.” He lifted me off him as if I weighed nothing, got off the ground, and took my hand, pulling me up and over to the balcony ledge, raised just past my navel. I was confused what he was doing until he moved behind me and gently bent me over the balcony. The stone was smooth and cool below me, but I was so turned on, I wouldn’t have given a damn if it wasn’t.
His finger trailed lightly over the pink angel wings on my back, and I could practically hear the smirk in his voice.
“I picked the perfect nickname for you, didn’t I, Angel?” I nodded and wiggled against him, wanting him to continue, but he seemed intent to take his time. “This is a nice sight,” he said, leaning over me and kissing his way down my spine before nipping my ass cheek. I yelped and laughed, but he didn’t let me move away, guiding my legs apart before lining up and thrusting in. There were no more pretenses or games as he slammed into me, holding me steady, so I didn’t scrape across the stone. The orgasm building h
ad me riding the edge of my control, my whimpers and pleading going unnoticed until he decided it was time.
“Please,” I begged, my legs shaking and body overly sensitive. He chuckled and snaked his hand around me, teasing my clit.
“Come for me, Angel,” he ordered, his voice deep and rough as he fucked me relentlessly. That was all it took for me to let go, pleasure coursing through me as I came undone. He didn’t stop, continuing to tease me through the orgasm, crashing me into another until I was practically boneless underneath him. As my body shook with aftershocks, he moved his grip to my hips, thrusting with even more purpose. He came moments later, his movements jerky before he filled me with his release, his body gently resting on me as he caught his breath. There was something about the sight of Ignis laid out underneath us that only made the moment even more powerful.
“I love you,” I whispered. He smiled against my skin, placing a soft kiss on my spine before moving away and bringing me with him. We laid on the blanket as our bodies calmed, content to enjoy the night sky and our little oasis.
“I love you, too.” Drayce grinned and leaned away, grabbing the picnic basket. We didn’t talk for a long while, choosing to enjoy each other’s company and the sweet deliciousness he had packed in the basket—pastries, savory snacks, and desserts, all the things I loved.
“Thanks for all this. It was perfect.”
“Anything for you, Angel,” he laughed, cleaning up our picnic and pulling on his clothes. I did the same and waited by the broomstick, excitement bubbling up again at the prospect of flying. As soon as we were in the air, I was transfixed all over again. The smells of Ignis, a mix of fire and crisp, warm air whirled around me as we moved through the ashen trees. Drayce dove, lifting at the last second, so our toes skimmed the lake, water splashing around us as my laughter filled the air.
We flew for what felt like hours, but we could only go so far before it would put us at risk of being caught. Flying was so peaceful, the gentle sway of the broom and the breeze started to lull me to sleep. Drayce must have noticed, his arms tightening around me as he led us back to the museum. Yelling reached my ears before anything else, and suddenly, I was wide awake. Loud crashes and a billow of smoke came from the windows, and Drayce sped the broom down in front of the museum, giving us quick access inside.
