29
PANDORA
Two days had passed since we found out that Bram’s father had murdered his mother, and Bram’s pain and initial shock had turned to anger. I felt it thrumming through our bond even as we sat in Practical Applications of Ceremonial Magic, Skel on one side of me, Jenni on the other.
Jenni leaned in, keeping her gaze ahead on Ironwood as he gave his lecture. “Daryl has been worried sick about you, Pandora,” she murmured. “You should’ve seen him this weekend.”
Guilt twisted in my chest as I frowned. “I’ll spend time with him before the next mission. I promise.”
She bumped my shoulder with hers. “I get it, really. You’re needed for this shit. But I miss you and so does your dad. We both worry.”
“I miss you guys, too.”
Jenni grinned and settled back in her seat.
Bram sat beside Skel, his gaze locked ahead as well, but sadness bled through the bond beneath the anger.
I turned to him, leaning over Skel’s lap, bracing myself with his thighs, and I pressed a quick kiss to Bram’s cheek before pulling back and sitting in my seat again.
His eyes widened slightly, a pink flush creeping up his neck.
Skel let out a low chuckle. “Aw, Bram, you’re blushing,” he teased, nudging him with his elbow.
“Shut up,” Bram grumbled under his breath.
Ironwood’s voice cut through our little moment. “Amplifying magical essence is not just about boosting your power blindly; it’s about controlling the level of it.Understanding your magical essence. Mastery of the temporary boost ceremonial magic can provide you.” He paced in front of the class, his eyes scanning over us. “Bram, come up and demonstrate to the class.”
Bram’s anger flared again, but he stood and walked to the front of the class.
“Do you remember how to do this or do you need my help?” Ironwood shot Bram a condescending look.
“I can do it.” Bram rolled his eyes and stepped in front of the floor-length mirror on a stand that was set up in front of the classroom with a small altar next to it.
He grabbed a box of matches and lit the six candles on the altar one by one, mumbling his intent before pressing his fingers together to put out the fire on the match. He set it down and stared into the mirror.
The moment he tapped into his magic, I knew the ritual worked because it was too much.
His control wavered, and his power combusted. All of his chaos manifestations formed, lashed out, uncontrolled and chaotic. Chaos, the other wolves, the snake, and the hawks wreaked havoc.
“Bram, calm your fucking magic!” Ironwood shouted at him, stumbling back like his power shocked him.
I leapt to my feet and rushed toward Bram, around the chaos he summoned, pressing a hand to his chest. “Bram, breathe,” I murmured, sending my support through our bond. “You can control your power.”
“I can.” He nodded, jaw tightening.
Slowly, his manifestations slipped back inside one by one.
“Unacceptable,” Ironwood snapped. “If you cannot control your magic, you are a danger to society. You do not need to amplify your magic if it’s this much of a problem.”
“It’snota problem,” Bram growled out as I laced my fingers in his. “I controlled it just fine once I realized it was out of control.”
“I beg to differ,” Ironwood snorted.
Rage spiked in our bond, and I squeezed his hand as I sent reassurance to him.
“I can go next,” Voidfire interrupted, stepping forward with a smile on her red lips.
For once, she actually broke the tension in a positive way.
