I clenched my fist, ready to punch the guy. Though I have never studied self-defense, I was not about to let this man's kiss serve as an introduction. Unfortunately, for him, his wish will not come true.His breath warmed the tip of my ear. He had his back to the wall behind me like that.He bowed low. Nearer. I almost looked at his face without knuckles in the grip.The house was bathed in light from our bodies. Oh, I was so relieved.The energy was warm, and I could feel it moving toward my hand. Until recently, I doubted that my body could effectively react to threats and keep me safe. My system can heal any wound quickly, but that's all I know.Both of my hands were glowing brightly. Perhaps the other boys saw him, and he stopped coming close to kissing me.He turned his back on me and looked elsewhere. His frustration caused his jaw to stiffen. The disappointment on his face vanished instantly when he saw the flashlights I was holding."Well, that's promising." He was looking at
"I decline the invitation." Sitting across from The Drift at the table that doubled as an extension of Isabel's office as student council regent, I made my statement. My anxious chest. Once again, I was put in the path of this fearsome group.Mira smiled sarcastically, sitting between Chase and Fabian. She raised an eyebrow and said, "You know, if this is about the last time, I understand. But no one ever rejects The Drift.""I just did."Isabel smirked, trying to suppress the laughter in her chest. My response to Mira seemed to satisfy her.Leaning against the wall, Glor Fina was surprisingly reticent. That's how she usually stayed calm under pressure. It seemed as though the conclusion of this discussion was of little importance to her."Stella, this is to your advantage. Becoming our apprentice would help you reach your potential." Fabian insisted. His burning blue eyes never left mine.Chase now joined Fabian in exchanging looks with the other person. After glancing at us, I notic
Three deadlocks, a seer, and a weaver. We just became a squad. Even with Isabel, I was at a loss where to begin looking into Sandro's disappearance. Yes, she's sharing her side of the tale, but what about the other perspectives?I was aware that Mira had good reason to dislike her; after all, she claimed to have seen Isabel and Sandro in the hours before Sandro vanished. I did not believe what anyone said. A definitive account of the truth had not yet been uncovered; after all, it didn't matter who told the tale.Now, where do we even begin?"I know how we start working on the Sandro Aragon case!" One morning, while doing nothing, Myra was turning over the soil in the cabbage bed. After completing our school maintenance and upkeep tasks, we decided to lend a hand in the garden.Even though it was still dark outside, the woman was bursting with life force. Her attention was fixed on the tasks at hand in the garden, and she worked tirelessly. I might have thought she was a fae if she we
It was a weekend. It had been a family day. Avi and I would enjoy our time with our parents, and I would keep my excitement under control.Our father had already been knocking at the caretaker’s room of the 5th crucible. I could always count on Dad to be punctual. He had a knack for never being late. He would arrive at the terminal ten to five minutes early, at six o'clock, when he said he would.A flower shop by the name of Esahc was our last stop before returning home. Avi and I were planning a flower delivery for mom. She had a soft spot for peonies.I was in the process of picking out a bouquet of fresh flowers for mom as Avi perused the selection of gift wrap. He was in the automobile, keeping a watchful eye. Instead of the habit of interfering in Avi’s unusual routines without good reason, he let us do our shopping.As I paid for my five peony stems, I was greeted by a familiar face across the flower stand. While on the phone, he held a large bunch of yellow and white tulips."I
The roses that were on the dresser a week ago were still there. When I reexamined my appearance in the full-length mirror, I realized something was off. Why they don't wilt is a mystery to me. It could be possible that Isabel's magic was what kept them going strong and healthy.For some reason, I found myself curious as to their intended purpose.My focus went back to my reflection once more. Having everything so neatly arranged was something I got used to. The heavy jacket and mud-slick boots that matched my animal-skin helmet had become my standard attire throughout my time in Samaria.I grew up on a farm.My appearance had changed.I had my hair in a bun and wore an old dress with a headband. A few curls on one side of my face completed my appearance.I looked at myself in the mirror and started blinking rapidly. She styled my hair and applied some mascara, making me appear nothing like the Samarian girl my classmates had taunted for her large eyes, wavy hair, and fragile build. I
Two equally gorgeous demigods were in front of me. One with blue eyes and the other almost golden. Both pairs of eyes were staring, waiting for me to choose one hand.My heart was screaming.Fabian managed to maintain his smile while still looking directly at her. His charming grin made him look absolutely irresistible.Chase looked disapprovingly at me and arched an eyebrow in response. He was most attractive when he wore an expression suggesting he was bearing the world's burden. I had no idea what was going through his head or why he was suddenly standing in front of me with a dance invitation in his hand. I wish I knew what was going through his mind at this very moment.Myra and the other deadlocks maintained their seats during the discussion. Right away, Isabel rose, and it appeared as though she had suddenly had the idea for the plan, which was to force Chase to dance with me to steal the key from his belt.The quest was comparable to searching for a needle in a sea of water."
Morning had arrived. Like a flash, the academy's opening party was over. The tension between us and Chase was so high that I didn't even have fun. Avi, who returned to the venue after we plotted our adventure in the forest, was the only person I knew who really made the most of the evening.Come to think of it, she was only a twelve-year-old kid! But I decided to drop it. My younger sister was the most knowledgeable person in the room. Her craft was weaving. She had a chance to avert calamity trouble they could even happen.Always.How to begin this day eluded me. It looked like today wouldn't be a nice one, so prepare for the worst. What I did last night was like to playing Russian roulette with my life. When Chase Roan Santi suggested the possibility of rebelling against The Drift, he was dead serious. I was about to have a nightmare remembering Mira Zina Zenovia's angry face.In any case, I had to press on. If it came down to it, I'd throw caution to t
The bottom of the hill was now in sight. The strain on my muscles is so intense that it feels like fire in my heels. Fabian wouldn't stop making jokes about me. He laughed when he saw my eyebrows raise in response to his sly hissing.Fabian was a welcome change of pace. The light was included with it. Whenever we spoke, I would open up to him about anything. I had the impression that I had known him for a very long time and that I could put my faith in him.We walked confidently to where Sir Fernando would be holding hisdeadlockstraining. Suddenly, Chase's scowling face appeared a few meters before me.Why is he even in this building? It was very early morning.He looked at me for only a split second. At that moment, I felt my heart momentarily cease beating. His rough yet flawless face was stunning. My adoration of his good looks overshadowed his stern expression; he wore a denim jacket over a white undershirt with torn trou