Skel let out a relieved breath.
The agents hesitated before snapping back into formation, as if shaking off the full display of Skel’s magic.
“I was worried that I would lose control,” Skel admitted as he turned to face me, his hands trembling. The green of his eyes was darker, the usual vibrancy dulled by his fear.
I squeezed Reed’s arm as a thank you for him being there while I puked and moved forward to wrap my arms around Skel, pulling him close. “You didn’t,” I whispered against his shoulder. “You were in complete control.”
His muscles remained tense beneath my touch, but after a moment, he let out another slow breath. “I was.”
“You did great, Skel,” Hunter whispered. “Excellent control.”
He swallowed hard, his head turning to the lifeless bodies of the cultists sprawled across the sand. A faint tremor ran through him. “It wasn’t even my full power. That was…maybea quarter of it.”
I pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. His pupils were still dilated. “I trust you, Skel. You need to trust yourself.”
“Pandora healed your soul,” Bram murmured the reminder. “You can’t lose control the way you used to.”
“Exactly.” Dex clapped a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Plus, that was fucking awesome, honestly. You stopped that before it got a lot worse. Saved us a fight.”
Jesper exhaled heavily, rubbing his forehead. His usual composed demeanor had been rattled by my mate, though he quickly masked it. “True. I guess we weren’t really needed here, huh?”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Hunter’s eyes scanned the ritual site. “What’s left to do?”
Jesper’s gaze flicked to the altar. The dark stone was slick with blood, and the carved symbols pulsed weakly with the remnants of magic. He strode forward without hesitation. “We have to destroy the altar.” He raised his taloned fist—and brought it down with force.
The impact rang out like a crack of thunder.
The altar splintered, deep fractures racing through the stone before it crumbled, collapsing into itself. It was reduced to nothing more than rubble.
“We’ll leave the cultist’s bodies for the cult to find.” Jesper dusted off his hands. “Sabine wants you to stop by HQ to talk to her.”
Hunter’s brow furrowed. “Who needs to be in attendance?”
“You six and myself. My team can be dismissed now.” Jesper turned to the agents, who dipped their heads in a respectful bow before turning to depart.
April, however, lingered, pouting her lips out. “Can’t I come?”
Jesper sighed, his patience visibly thinning. “I suppose it would be a learning experience, since I’m your mentor at the moment.” He took an extra step away from her.
“Dex?” Hunter raised his brow at him with the silent question of taking us to the Supernatural Council’s headquarters.
Dex smirked. “My pleasure.” With a flick of his wrist, his shadows surged, curling around us.
The last thing I saw before we vanished was the crumbled altar, the bloodstained sand, and the bodies left behind.
We were plunged into darkness before being deposited into the bright office belonging to Sabine Bloodwyne at the Supernatural Council’s headquarters.
The moment we appeared, the sharp sounds of an argument filled the air.
“I don’t see why I can’t take the entrance exams, at least!” The voice was firm, laced with frustration, and it belonged to a woman with her arms crossed in a defiant stance.
She looked like a smaller, more vibrant version of Sabine herself. She was honestly stunning.
Her golden eyes gleamed with fierce determination, and her vibrant green hair cascaded in waves down to the middle of her back, its deep forest roots fading into neon at the tips. The contrast made her look almost ethereal. The scent of midnight orchid clung to her like an aura. Her soul was unlike any I had ever sensed. Not dark, not tainted, but different.
Sabine exhaled heavily, rubbing her temples as if this conversation had happened more than once. “Rune, sweetheart…” Her voice carried the weight of exasperated patience. “Your dad does not want you to be a supernatural agent, and Apex Elite Academy is a one-way ticket to that life.”
Rune huffed, shifting her weight to one side, cocking her hip. “Well, Pops says it’s fine. Even Tobias is in the academy. He’s only eleven months older than me. I need you to outvote Dad for me.Please!”
