I could create tiny portals, but honestly, the furthest I’d ever been able to travel was thirty feet. Still, in close combat it was impressive.
For a heartbeat, Percy stared at me with naked shock in his eyes. Then his lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile.
“But can you control it?”
I stepped back, letting my weapon dissolve into particles of light. “Better than you think,” I replied, offering my hand.
He took it after a moment’s hesitation, allowing me to help him up. The contact sent a strange current through my arm, and from his slight frown, I knew he’d felt it too.
Hadley stepped forward. “That concludes today’s demonstration,” he announced to the crowd.
The students erupted into excited chatter as they began to file out. I caught snippets of conversation—“Did you see that?” “The way she just disappeared!” “Maybe she really is...”
I turned to face the Nightfall Shield, all four of them standing together now.
“Satisfied?” I asked, crossing my arms.
“For now,” Percy replied. “But combat skills aren’t everything.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why do you insist on being assholes? Did I do something to personally step on your toes or something?”
Percy scowled. “It’s our right to vet anyone the Assembly pushes onto us.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Aiden crossed his arms, with a slight smirk. “The director informed us of the Assembly’s wish for you to become our axis. They want us to choose you because you’re powerful, and the weapon we would become would be invaluable against the bane.”
“The Assembly has no control over which shield I choose to bond with, if any. I’m not even sure Iwantto become an axis.”
They all scoffed at that, and Draco said, “Of course you do. You have too much power to be contained in one body forever. A shield would balance it out and protect you from yourself.”
Tye and Lydia approached from the sidelines, Tye’s face split in a wide grin.
“That,” he declared loudly, “was absolutely badass. You should’ve seen everyone’s faces when you did that portal thing.”
Lydia elbowed him, but she was smiling too. “What my subtle brother means is that you did well.”
“Thanks,” I said, suddenly aware of how exhausted I was. My muscles ached, and my magic reserves felt dangerously depleted.
Percy’s eyes flickered to Tye, then back to me. “Your boyfriend seems easily impressed.”
I snorted, unable to help myself. “Hey, Tye, did you know we were dating?”
Tye threw an arm around my shoulder and winked. “Am I a good lay?”
“You know all the sweet spots, baby.”
Lydia groaned. “Okay that visual is going to make me gag for nights to come.”
“If we’re done,” Aiden cut in, his eyes cold, “we have training to get back to.”
“Don’t let us keep you,” I replied sweetly. “I’m sure you have important shield business to attend to. Glaring at freshmen, intimidating the cafeteria staff, practicing your resting bitch faces in the mirror.”
Eris’s lips twitched, and for a moment I thought he might actually smile, but Percy’s sharp glance shut that down immediately.
“We’ll see you around, Black,” Percy said.
As they turned to leave, I called after them, “Jealousy isn’t very sexy!”
