He continued, his finger still tracing the pattern. “So pretty…”
Professor Simon pulled up the next slide, showing the aftermath of a bane attack. A desolate landscape drained of all color and life. “This is why shield formation is so crucial to our survival. No single zodiac, no matter how powerful, can consistently defeat the multiple bane alone. The Assembly has documented this extensively.”
Aiden’s touch disappeared from my shoulder, only to return to my hair, this time gathering it gently in his hand and letting it slide through his fingers. The gesture felt almost reverent.
I turned slightly, catching his eye over my shoulder. “What are you doing?” I mouthed.
He simply smirked again, but didn’t answer. I turned, and the professor gave me another warning look. “For your assignment, I want a three-page analysis of bane weaknesses specific to your designation. Those of you who haven’tencountered them firsthand should rely on the Assembly archives. Due next week.”
As students began gathering their things, I quickly packed my notebook, wanting to escape before Aiden could continue whatever game he was playing.
“Black,” Eris’s voice stopped me as I stood. I turned reluctantly to face both him and Aiden.
“What?” I asked, sighing loudly as I shouldered by book bag.
Both men were still sitting, looking completely relaxed in their chairs. “Eris’s amber eyes brightened with interest as he scanned me head to toe. “Nothing. I just wanted to see those pretty eyes.”
I turned back around with a groan and made my way down the lecture hall stairs, flipping them both off as I went. Their amused chuckles followed me until the door slammed shut.
The morningof our first field training arrived finally, and I was aching for some fucking action already. I crossed the courtyard after waking before dawn, unable to sleep with nervous energy coursing through my veins. Even Noodle had been restless, coiling and uncoiling around my forearm as I dressed.
‘You smell different. Like fear, but not fear.’
“That would be adrenaline mixed with dread,” I’d told him, securing my combat boots. “We’re going into the Abyss today.”
His tongue had flicked rapidly.‘Don’t know Abyss. But don’t like it.’
“You’re not coming, remember?” I’d scratched under his chin. “Too dangerous, even for you.”
Now, as I approached the gathering point by the eastern edge of campus, I could see about twenty shield students already assembled. Instructor Hadley stood at the front, his face stoic as he checked equipment. Beside him was another instructor I didn’t recognize, a woman with braided brown hair and a scar running down one cheek.
Tye spotted me and waved me over. “Morning, sunshine,” he said, looking far too cheerful for 5 a.m. “Ready to face some real-life nightmares?”
“Just another Tuesday, babe,” I reminded him, though my stomach knotted at the thought. “These are supposed to be the ‘mild’ ones.”
Lydia handed me a thermos of coffee. “Here. You look like you need this more than I do.”
I took it gratefully, the warmth seeping into my cold fingers. “Oh, sweet hot bean water, come to mama.”
As I sipped, I scanned the group. Most were advanced students, second and third years who had already established themselves in combat training. And of course, the Nightfall Shield was there, standing slightly apart from the others.
Percy was checking his gear and Aiden stood beside him, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for a fight. Eris was talking quietly with Draco, who—damn it—looked up just as I glanced their way. Our eyes met briefly before I looked away, pretending to be fascinated by my coffee.
Since our night in the observatory three days ago, I’d been avoiding Draco. Not because I hadn’t enjoyed our conversation, butbecauseI had. Too much. Andthatcomplicated things. I didn’t need complicated right now. I didn’t want to like him as much as I did.
“Gather round,” Instructor Hadley shouted. “Today’s exercise is not a drill. The Abyss contains real bane, albeit contained ones. Your objective is simple. Navigate thecavern system, identify bane signatures, and return safely. No engagement unless absolutely necessary.”
The female instructor stepped forward. “I’m Commander Reeves. I oversee bane containment at this facility. Let me be perfectly clear, these creatures may be smaller than what you’d encounter in a true incursion, but they are just as deadly. One mistake, one moment of carelessness, and youwilldie.”
A shiver ran down my spine. Not from fear, exactly, but from memory. I’d seen what bane could do to a human body. How they could drain a soul until nothing remained but an empty husk.
“You will operate in teams of four and five,” Hadley continued. “Each team will take a different entry point and follow a predetermined route through the cavern system.”
They began calling names, grouping students together. I waited, wondering where I’d be placed, hoping it would be with Tye and Lydia.
“Black,” Hadley called, and my head snapped up. “You’ll be with the Nightfall Shield.”
Of fucking course.
