Never come back.
Magicless.
Fuckingmagicless.
My eyes squeeze tight as I try to block Sebastian out.
‘Look at me!’ he demands, tugging on my chin.
‘Stop it,’ I breathe, trying to sort through the assault of thoughts in my head. Lukas would never say that to me. He was the type of brother to stay up late and talk to me when I was struggling. He would walk methrough trying to find my magic inside of me, even if it took all night and was fruitless.
He’d never tell me to leave.
Never.
He wouldn’t abandon me, and I won’t abandon him. It’s Sebastian who doesn’t want me here. It’shimwho wants me to leave.Himwho wouldn’t let me train. It was Sebastian who stood in the middle of a ceremony and questioned my right to be here. I see his plan for what it is, a mindfuck. One where he thinks he can convince me to walk out of here, using my brother against me.
I feel something inside of me break, like a glass bottle being thrown against a wall and shattering into a million shards. My eyes snap open and my gaze collides with his.
‘Can you even say his name or are you too ashamed of yourself?’
‘What?’ He releases my chin.
‘Hisname, Sebastian. Why won’t you say it?’
A cold expression settles over his eyes. ‘What does it matter if I speak his name? He’s dead.’
My resolve breaks.
I lunge at him with nails, fists and knees. I kick and scratch. I punch and throw myself at him, shoving him backward with all my might but he deflects, dodges and bats my hands away as if they’re pesky bugs in the air. Not once fighting back, as if I’m not worthy of the effort.
‘How could you?’ I scream in frustration. My hands shove at his chest. ‘He was your friend!’
You weremyfriend.
I’m no match for him. He’s faster and well trained. But I don’t let up. He might have circled me like prey, but if he thinks I’m the type to just roll over and show him my soft underbelly, he’s dead wrong.
‘You’re pathetic,’ I growl.
‘The only pathetic thing here is you attempting to hit me. It’s like watching a toddler. I almost feel bad for you.’ The humour lacing his tone only infuriates me more.
‘Shut up!’ I shout and my fist goes flying.
Thwack.
Sebastian’s head snaps to the side. It’s enough of a shock to him that he pauses momentarily, as if he’s surprised that I landed a hit. One of his hands rises to touch the high point of his cheekbone.
I’ve never struck anyone before, except for my brother when training in the backyard. I freeze as clarity settles over me and my own shock sinks in.
‘Well, that was highly entertaining,’ an unfamiliar voice echoes over the wind. It startles the both of us.
Our bodies spring away from each other as if we’ve been caught doing something we shouldn’t. The open space between us reveals a tall blond man with a light dusting of stubble along his jawline. His downturned brown eyes dart between Sebastian and myself, curiosity dancing in them.
I frown. He looks too old to be a student, at least in his mid-thirties. When he stops between us and I get a closer look at him, I’m positive he’s too old to attend the academy.
‘Professor Nicks.’ Sebastian nods in greeting.
Professor?I try to recall if I read a Professor Nicks anywhere on my class schedule, but I can’t remember a single thing right now. My body is too busy shaking with adrenaline from striking Sebastian and trying to assess what level of danger I’m in.
