I stood in the center of the room, trying to keep my breathing even as I practiced the exercises we’d worked on since yesterday.
Lirael stood a few paces away, her smooth aura a calm contrast to the storm that still lived beneath my skin. “Again. Draw the thread, shape it, then release it as a controlled burst.”
I closed my eyes and reached inward. The power that had once fought me like a wild thing now responded more readily. I coaxed a thin ribbon of my aura forward, letting it pool at my fingertips. Instead of the jagged white-blue lightning that used to spit and spark, I deliberately shaped it into a narrow, focused arc of velvet lightning.
I opened my eyes and released it toward the practice ward on the far wall.
The burst struck cleanly, reinforcing the ward with a soft shimmer instead of cracking it. A small spark of pride bloomed in my chest.
“Much better.” Lirael smiled at me. “You’re no longer fighting your power, which allows you to guide it. That’s thedifference between a volatile storm and a weapon you can wield.”
I let out a shaky breath, flexing my fingers. The aura retreated smoothly instead of snapping back like it used to. It felt almost cooperative now.
“Try feeding a small thread while holding the shape,” Lirael instructed. “Don’t pull from the air this time. Tug on the bond you already share with Kastiel. Use the connection like fate intended.”
I hesitated only a moment before reaching for the mate bond. The moment I touched it, I felt Kastiel’s steady presence. His strength and unwavering belief in me flowed my way, erasing any doubt I had over what I was about to do. I drew the lightest thread of energy from that connection and wove it into the lightning still glowing at my fingertips.
The power steadied even further. The lightning flowed like liquid starlight edged with soft electricity.
Lirael’s eyes brightened with approval. “There it is. That’s what I’ve been waiting to see. Your power wants to work with you, Isolde. You just have to let it.”
I couldn’t help the surprised laugh that escaped me. For so long, I had treated my succubus side like something dangerous that had to be locked away. Now, it felt like something I didn’t need to fear.”
Lirael stepped closer, her voice gentle but firm. “You’re making excellent progress. But you’re still holding back. You’re shaping the lightning beautifully, yet you’re afraid to let the storm inside you breathe. Your power will be its strongest when you stop trying to contain it at all and start letting it move through you.”
I swallowed, feeling the familiar flutter of fear in my stomach. Even now, part of me wanted to pull everything back in. “I’m scared that I’ll ensnare someone within The Abyss. Evenwith the additional wards on this room, I’m worried there’s still a chance my allure would be too strong for a male guest to resist.”
“Did nobody tell you?” she gasped, her eyes widening.
I cocked my head to the side, my brows drawing together. “Tell me what?”
“Your succubus powers don’t work like that once you’re mated, since the need to siphon energy from someone should be met by your fated.”
“Oh.” I blinked at her, stunned by this information. “But we haven’t branded each other yet.”
“Your bond was strong enough for your aura to heal him, so your allure should be dampened enough that you’d need to consciously use it in order to manipulate someone.”
I was about to call an end to our training session and go find my mate to share the good news when the door slid open with a soft whisper of magic. Much to my dismay, my father stepped inside.
The atmosphere shifted instantly, growing tense. My father’s eyes swept over the space with his usual reserved, assessing gaze. His posture was straight and formal, as though he were attending a political negotiation rather than watching his daughter train.
Lirael turned toward him, clearly expecting him. “Thalvor. Thank you for coming. I thought it might be useful for you to observe today’s session.”
The lightning at my fingertips flickered uncertainly. We hadn’t really talked after he showed up unexpectedly to back us up with the Council. Now he was here, watching me with an unreadable expression that had always made me feel small.
I could feel the weight of his scrutiny, the centuries of Virelyn expectations pressing down on me. Lirael prompted me to continue with the advanced exercise, and I tried to focus. Sheinstructed me again to sustain a steady lightning shield while feeding a small, controlled thread of energy from the mate bond.
I reached inward, coaxing the power forward, but my concentration wavered when my father’s eyes narrowed slightly. The shield flickered, and the lightning became jagged again, spitting small sparks that threatened to destabilize the entire construct.
I cursed under my breath, frustrated with myself.
Thalvor’s voice cut through the quiet. “You’re gripping too tightly at the edges. Storm blood doesn’t like to be boxed in like that. Let the current flow through the shield rather than forcing it to hold its shape. The power wants to move—give it direction, not a cage.”
I blinked, startled. The advice was delivered in that measured, aristocratic tone he always used, but something underneath it sounded suspiciously like a hint of reluctant pride.
I tried again, following his instructions. Instead of forcing the shield to stay rigid, I let the lightning flow through it like a current. The shield stabilized, and the thread of energy from the bond fed into it without sparking wildly.
Lirael smiled softly. “Good job.”
