Blake bit his bottom lip briefly. “They are not different; however, as an Adept, most find that leaning toward one helps them with their chosen path here at Nightfall.”
“But what is the difference? Why would I choose one over the other?” I asked.
“You sound confident you will become an Adept.”
“You forget I’ve been around many of the Adepts. Especially in Raicanya when they help Caelan with training,” I said. “I have a feeling I’ll make it.”
A smirk formed on his face. “Careful, overconfidence could be your downfall.”
I scoffed playfully as I shaded parts of the closed, bulb-like lily in my sketch pad.
“What about seeing Malakai and Skyler together?” I asked, not looking over at him. “It was the last time I saw her.”
“Malakai has always been a licentious fool,” Blake muttered. “But not a murderer.”
“Quite a coincidence, then,” I said. “Whatever it is that he does, it’s like he’s controlling my mind or something.”
Blake’s countenance was like a weight as he cast his gaze on mine.
The words we left unspoken hung heavily between us, making the air harder to breathe. He watched me, his eyes no longer playful. I couldn’t move, and my heart pounded harder and harder. What was this?
A jolt of energy charged through me. His eyes widened. He reached out, his fingertips barely touching my arm. Nerves throughout my body were electrified, and I jumped to my feet, breaking our connection. I moved to leave, but he rose from the bench and grabbed my wrist. I gasped as the rush of energy moved through me again.
“I want you to meet me,” he said, his voice commanding.
His nearness inflamed my entire body, and I couldn’t speak.
“Tomorrow night, East Skybridge,” he said.
When I nodded, he released my wrist, and I backed away.
I was panting, my heart beating painfully as my body pulsated with the intense energy of our exchange. I stared athim, desperately trying to read him, to understand what this was.
This felt different from what Malakai had done in our training session.
Blake had not done this intentionally. It was evident in how he watched me—stoic, observant, with a minute hint of awe in his expression.
My body ached from the surges in energy still zinging in my joints, building tension in my limbs, and seizing my chest as I tried desperately to catch my breath. Blake was not threatening, nor did I feel he was a danger to me in any way, but at that moment, I was terrified.
I was terrified of what was happening to me, terrified that it meant something more than I could handle, and terrified that it occurred in the presence of a near stranger.
But deep down, he didn’t feel like a stranger as he should have. His silver flecked eyes were comforting, like the blanket laid upon you as you drift to sleep; the kind that surrounded you, warding away the chill that keeps you from falling under sleep’s dark wave of dreams.
But I was not drowsy, nor did I want to dream.
Shockwaves of restless energy flooded my spine only abating long after I fled.
Chapter 16
Under the Dome Shaped Glass
ANNA
The East Skybridge was at the top of the highest tower in the main castle. I moved quickly through the empty corridors, hoping to avoid unintended meetings.
As I got closer to the skybridge, my heart beat faster. There was something about Blake—the way he’d barely touched me and made some crazy spell come over me. I wanted it to be him who helped me solve the mystery of what happened that night, because the prospect of seeking answers from Malakai twisted my stomach.
As I climbed the narrow steps of the East Tower, my gait slowed, and my heart raced. My face burned, and I stopped for a moment and closed my eyes.
