He took my hand and squeezed it, Asher did the same with my other hand, and then they both released me, stepping back to stand as support just behind me. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and reached for the hot swirl in my center.I can do this.I’d created this mess; now I needed to clean it up.
I didn’t know the words to bring the water to me, but I knew the most important part was intention, and lately I’d been able to make a lot of magic happen without any use of the fey language. Hence the damn ocean in the sky acting as a shield.
It was easy to find the body of water outside; my senses and energy were acutely tuned to it. I felt like I could find it anywhere.Come to me.My energy swirled hot, blazing through my body.
“Fuck,” Jesse said a moment later. I opened my eyes just in time to see a giant wave heading for us. The fey started screaming and running on the beach, but we were far too close to get away before being hit.
“Looks like you’re gonna get me wet after all,” I said to Asher, right before the wall of water hit us.
Only it didn’t. Asher stepped forward, his power almost knocking me down as he weaved a shield around us, using the water itself to form a barrier to deflect the wave. Blue crashed all around us, and I honestly thought it was maybe the coolest thing I’d seen in a while.
Less than a minute later, the ocean was back to being mostly calm, with just a few lapping waves on the shoreline.
“Well … that was unexpected.” I laughed and shook my head.
The dolphins distracted me when they suddenly made a lot of noise a few hundred yards offshore. “Are they okay?” I whispered, moving toward them. Asher stopped me just before I headed into the water.
“They’re fine,” he said. “They’re adjusting.”
I crossed my fingers, hiding my hand in the folds of my skirt.Please let that be all. Please don’t let me fuck up this amazing ocean world with this new ecosystem I added.
I’d never forgive myself.
10
After my water magic escapades, I had just enough time to grab a sandwich—which thankfully was one of the fastest items to order—and then I was running to my next class: Advanced Attack and Defense. Luckily, the huge room we’d held the assembly in was close by, and I joined the back of the group of students trailing in. I’d never been in this room when it had been cleared of all the chairs, and I was surprised by how massive it was.
Everyone was moving toward the middle of the large space, where a structure had been set up. A quick calculation told me there were about fifty students in the class, and Simon wasn’t one of them. Not at all surprising, since he’d definitely never shown any interest in advanced fighting. Damon was there though, and he nodded in greeting. I waved before turning my attention back to the middle of the room.
“Who do you think the teachers will be this year?” a girl beside me asked.
I shrugged. “I have no idea. Who was it last year?”
Because of the short burgundy curls bouncing across her shoulders, her shrug was more impressive than mine. As I gave her more of my attention, I noticed her unusual looks. Unusual but very cool. Her skin was a shade between Ilia’s and Larissa’s, and her eyes were the brightest, clearest green I’d ever seen. Teaming both with those burgundy curls that flew uncontrollably around her face, she was definitely striking. “They change the teachers a lot in this class,” she said. “Last year it was Stew, but he’s gone back to teaching in his hometown. So it’ll be someone new.”
Hopefully the new teacher would be as good as Striker. He really brought out the best in his students and didn’t focus too much on the violence, despite his background as a warrior.
“I’m Amanda,” she said, thrusting a hand at me. “Magic user and fey mixed race.”
“Cool,” I said, meaning it. I shook her hand quickly. “You’ve got the most gorgeous features. I love your hair and eyes.”
She chuckled before releasing me. “Yeah, my mam is Irish and redheaded. She’s the fey. Dad is a warrior, and he’s crazy scary, but he loves my mother so much that he gives me faith that maybe one day I’ll find a man worth my time.”
“Don’t settle for anything less,” I said, thinking of Asher. The class started to quiet then and I guessed the teachers had arrived. I lowered my voice. “I’m Maddi, by the way.”
Amanda chuckled. “Girl, everyone knows who you are. You’re one of the Atlantean-six.”
My heart skipped a beat when I realized they’d changed the number for me. I’d never felt so included in my life. Linking her arm through mine, Amanda pulled me closer to whatever the platform in the middle was. I could see ropes around it and a light blue mat on the floor. It almost looked like a boxing ring, but much larger, and in the shape of an oval.
“Quiet,” a female voice hollered, and I strained my neck to try and see her. There was a bit of a scuffle, and then suddenly she was up on that stage staring out across the room.
“Quiet the fuck down,” she shouted again and I snorted, because the teachers usually weren’t so blunt. It worked though, or maybe it was the gigantic dude who moved to stand behind her. He towered over the chick … and the rest of us.
“Holy hot levels of hell,” Amanda whispered, her eyes locked on the dark-haired god. “Is he Atlantean too, because they make you guys extra fine.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “He’s not Atlantean, but he would definitely fit right in with the five.”
His energy was different to the Atlanteans’, but there was still something extra powerful andotherabout him. I wondered what he was.
