I nodded. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to shift into whatever I chose as I’d done in my past lives. It would be cool, though. “I haven’t tried any other forms yet, but I think we are getting close to actual flight lessons, instead of just gliding down from high places. Is your form a hawk? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
She chuckled. “It’s a Gyrfalcon.”
“It’s beautiful!”
I couldn’t believe the surprise that flitted across her face at the compliment, the faint blush that painted her cheeks.
Barrett’s arms came around her waist, pulling her against him. “Careful, spitfire. She doesn’t take compliments well.”
She bit her lip, elbowing him in the gut, and he grunted a laugh.
“There’s one other thing I wanted to talk to you about before we continue,” Barrett said, the humor leaving him. He released Thalia and stepped to her side as he lowered his gaze on me, and the concern that lit his steel eyes left me uneasy. “Damien told me about how you used it.”
It? My brows furrowed. What was he talking about?
“This particular technique is typically used as a last resort, when there are no other options or chance of escape, when a Stoicheion concentrates the flames to a dangerous level in their body before releasing it.”
I knew what he spoke of, remembered the feel of the heat under my skin as the fire flooding the metal shop entered my body. I’d absorbed every bit of the flame and poured it into Marcus. I remembered the horror in Damien’s voice as he called to me from where he’d been trapped.
“Damien was right to be scared for you when you used it,” Barrett continued, and the unwavering sternness in his voice left me even more anxious.
“Why?”
“You somehow diverted that power into someone else, concentrating the flames into your target, but it’s not typically how that ability is used. Usually it is explosive, like a bomb going off, destroying everything in its path.”
My heart dipped, a sinking feeling settling into my stomach.
“You must avoid using it again. Promise me you won’t, Cas.” His blond brows knitted together, the concern in his voice growing deeper. “Because the person who usestelos pyraiis typically destroyed by the flame as well.”
34
CASSIE
Telos pyrai.
Barrett had explained it meant flame’s end.
God, had I nearly killed myself that night? Was it only because of Eris I’d survived? Questions swirled in my mind as Damien and I walked through the sparring yard at the Outpost an hour later, the lesson with Barrett done for the day. There hadn’t been as much training needed as I thought there’d be. The flames had answered my call with ease, but I’d suspected they might after what Eris had told me. We were to begin combat training using the Stoicheion magic on Tuesday with Vincent, to see if I could wield water Stoicheion as well.
While I’d always been able to use every type of magic the houses of power possessed, each of my past lives had excelled in a specific magic above the rest. Lucia had been talented at bending the mind using Nous. Elena had been an avid shifter, which made sense as she was Zephyr’s sister, and he’s a Thiríon. Moira... What had she said about Moira? What did Moira specialize in?
My mind always grew hazy when I thought of her, and it still concerned me that I couldn’t tap into any of her memories, that none had resurfaced. The only images I’d seen were through Damien’s memories.
I did remember one thing, though. Eris had told me my talents, for whatever reason, lay in the flame. I’d felt it when I’d tapped into the ability in the metal shop—it came so easily. Still, I didn’t know how much of my control over the flames had been due to Eris’ influence.
“Are you her reincarnation?”
I stiffened, halting at the little voice, full of such adoration, a tiny hand taking hold of mine.
Damien came to a stop a few steps ahead of me. “Cas?”
His words didn’t register as I turned my gaze to find a little girl at my side. She was so young, not more than six years old. Her wavy black hair was pulled back into pigtails, her pale eyes beaming up at me, her smile wide and infectious. I blinked down at her, my heart fluttering, warmth seeping into my skin where she held onto me. She reminded me of myself at that age, her little round cheeks, tiny button nose...
“Aurelia!”
I lifted my gaze to find a woman hurrying over to us. She pulled the girl back, kneeling beside her. “I’m so sorry, Your Majesties. She doesn’t understand she’s being rude in asking.”
I smiled. “Oh, please, no. Don’t apologize. It’s ok.”
