“What the fuck was that?” Thane murmurs.
“Let’s fucking find out,” Killian mutters before downing his drink again and making to follow them through the crowd. He’s mobbed, however, when they realize an Heir walks amongst them. With one glance at Roth, I slip away with Killian’s distraction and duck into an empty side hall, wielding the light around me and disappearing without a trace. As soon as I find an exit door, I strip out of my clothes and let my demonfinallyrise.
The first few shifts were excruciating. It used to bring me to my knees when my bones thickened, my muscles and sinew and skin stretched beyond limit to reveal the rough hide beneath. The stabbing ache of black horns growing out of my skull, the ripping and mending of flesh and bone as my wings burst from my back. It was agony.
Now, it’s freedom. A weight lifted off my chest when my wings flare outward, twitching with every small change in the air. Soundlessly, I bundle my clothes and launch into the air like a bullet. At this altitude, all of my problems fall away, left behind like dust in the wind.
It’s the closest to Heaven I’ll ever get.
I scan the campus grounds below, gliding down to the largest spire on the roof of the Great Hall to watch them. Nyx is close to Ramsey—too close, because he’s clearly losing it. Surprise surprise. Killian’s leaning against the wall watching with unabashed anticipation.
Their voices are carried away by the wind, but he’s doing what he’s always done. It’s just a personality flaw at this point. He stalks toward them until he’s face to face with Nyx, which pisses off the dragon even more and makes his owndemon threaten to rise. A deep warble comes from Ramsey’s chest when Nyx turns and frowns. But it’s too late. His transition is inevitable. When he falls to his knees, Killian wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her with him as the dragon becomes someone—something—unrecognizable. The magnitude of power that rolls off of him is suffocating, even from up here.
With immense difficulty that I have no choice but to admire, he stands mid-shift. His night-black wings spread wide, and it only takes one powerful downstroke for him to take flight. Hot ozone burns my throat as the wake turbulence from his departure trails behind him, but the sound of Nyx smacking Killian draws my attention back to them once more. He frowns, crossing his arms as she goes off on him. Her chest is heaving when she finally stops, and Killian responds softly. From the corner of my eye, Tori slowly makes her way across the patio and peers around the corner. A moment later, Nyx follows her back inside.
Silently, I rise from my perch and glide down to meet Killian, landing in a crouch on the balustrade behind him.
He sighs. “Just fucking say it already,”
“That was stupid,” I mutter, still invisible.
“Yeah, yeah.” He waves me off, turning to lean against the cold marble.
“Why’d you piss him off?”
“He didn’t eat her.”
I scoff. “You’re upset hedidn’teat her?”
“If he didn’t eat her, that means he likes her.”
“So?”
“If he likes her, then he’ll get in my way.”
“Of what, her pussy?” I sneer, but he stills, eyes flooding with black.
“You saying you don’t want a taste, too? Don’t even try, you fuckin’ liar.”
I shake my head, not that he can see me. “She’s dangerous, man.”
“I’mdangerous.She’sa little hissy kitten.”
“Who has turned you down every time. Let her go, man.”
His menacing chuckle deepens as his demon’s voice bleeds through. “But I do so love the chase.”
“You going back in?”
He closes his eyes and tips his head back. “No rest for the wicked.” When his eyes open again they’re back to normal, shining with menace and mirth. “Happy hunting.” He salutes with a smirk before leaving back to the party.
Fucker. Sometimes I hate how well we know each other.
I wait until he’s out of sight before launching into the air once more towards the Foundation Stone. At nearly 150 feet tall, the shining black obelisk reflects the scattered light at its base as students and faculty alike swarm the square like ants. From the pyramidion, no one notices the wavering of light and shadow as I land, and I recognize the High Priestess, Esmé and the oldest Hektreia sister standing next to her on the elevated base of the statue as she finishes her speech.
“…the bonfire of Samhain is thus a benediction passed down from generation to generation, and its echoes reach beyond the Veil, calling forth those dark, unseen truths of our universe. I enjoin you all to take heed of the transformative power of Scorpio: the power of surrendering all that you are, to become all that you were meant to be.” Unease drips down my spine, and not for the first time do I wonder how powerful her divine magic really is. With the conclusion of her invocation, the eldest Hektreia lights the bonfire and returns to her sisters.
There she is.
