“This time, it will be different,” I assert. “This time, we are going to be the ones in control.”
Ocean clears her throat. “My magic may not be strong enough to withstand him,” she murmurs, and I nod.
“I know, which is why we have another step to take before I go.”
“You're really doing this?” Thorne clarifies, and I nod again, my head bobbing repeatedly when I can’t find the use of my tongue.
“And I can't stop you?” Elodie adds. The fear inher tone makes my stomach clench, but I stand by it.
“No matter how hard you try. I owe you this, Elodie. My sacrifice is yours, but it won't come to that, because we're going to be one step ahead.”
“How?” Rion asks, and I stand tall.
“The Veilstone.”
Everyone stills, their eyes widening in disbelief, and once again, it's Ocean who breaks the ice.
“Isn't that a mind-controlling device?”
“Yes,” I answer.
“I’m struggling to see your vision here,” Rion grunts, and I clear my throat, my eyes latching onto Elodie’s as I speak the truth.
“He won't be able to control me if you already are.”
5
ELODIE
“This is insane,” I whisper, adrenaline pounding through my veins as we hurry through the Academy building’s halls. I can barely see where we're going; only the moon casting through the windows lights our way.
It somehow adds to the excitement that I can’t seem to shutter.
No one else is here, that we know of at least, and I feel like myself again; a survivor, toeing the laws of the world, bending them to my will to make it out alive.
I once hated it.
Now, I think I might love it.
“Please, you love the thrill of it,” Kael retorts, and although I pout at him, I can't deny the truth.
This entire thing is wild. I’m enthralled, obsessed, and living for the way my heart thumps erratically in my chest.
I don't know what to think about why I'm not more adamant about stopping him. But deep down, I'm pretty sure it's because if this were the other way around, if our roles were reversed, I would be doing the exact same thing.
That doesn't stop the worry from burning through me, tangling with the adrenaline, but I try to tamp it down. It’s futile, but I focus on putting a mental pin in it, with the promise of returning to it soon enough.
My world will eventually come crumbling down; there’s no reason why I can’t prop it up with a little false hope for a while longer.
Drenched in blissful ignorance, my fingers curl around his biceps as I pin myself to his side, slithering through the academy like we’re on a top-secret stealth mission. Surrounded by the others, I feel even more alive. Thorne leads the way, while Rion and Ocean remain a step behind, each of us moving in sync until we turn the final corner, spying Professor Grimm's lecture hall on the left.
Coming to a halt, the five of us take a moment to glance at each other.
Everything changes from this moment forward. We either find the artifact and set Kael’s plan into motion, or we wind up getting caught, shattering any chance of progress along with it.
My ability to just let my emotions run numb is faltering, and all I can do is absorb them.
I hate it.
