Caught In A Condition

My fingers slip from the top of the gate.

And before I know it - my body drops hard, slamming into the ground with a force that rattles through my bones. Pain shoots up my leg and into my spine, knocking the breath clean out of my lungs. I can’t scream or I will call attention.

I barely have time to gasp before I feel him approaching, his presence carrying heavy malice with him. I panic. “Oh, no…” I mutter.

I lift my head, dread already tightening around my throat, and my eyes meet his. This is the perfect timing for him to kill me like he’s promised.

Liam.

The storm weaver stands a few feet away, half-shadowed by the dim light spilling from the academy walls. His white hair catches the faint glow, making him look almost unreal… almost inhuman. But it’s his eyes that freeze me completely—those dark, onyx eyes, void of warmth.

He found me. I thought no one was near.

“Perfect timing,” he says like a predator who can’t wait to hunt his prey.

My survival instincts snap back violently.

I push through the pain, forcing myself upright, and bolt.

I don’t think, I just run. If I can make it back inside, I can deny it. I can say I wasn’t the one he saw. Only if I get the chance.

But I don’t even make it past three steps.

An invisible force slams into my back, knocking me forward. I hit the ground harder this time, my palms scraping against the rough surface as a strangled cry escapes me.

Before I can recover, that same force wraps around my body and drags me.

I grit my teeth, refusing to scream as my body is pulled across the ground like I weigh nothing, dirt and gravel biting into my skin through the thin fabric of my dress. Even though no one is pulling me. He’s using sorcery on me again.

The force only stops when I’m right in front of him.

Liam looks down at me with a calm that terrifies me more than rage ever could.

He starts to reach for me. “There you are, little fire.” Fire? What does he mean?

But I react on instinct, not dwelling on his sickening choice of words. My leg swings out sharply, connecting with his leg.

He shifts just enough to avoid the full impact, stepping back as his gaze flickers with slight surprise.

“I guess I underestimated you,” he murmurs, but I don’t let that distract me.

I scramble to my feet and try to run again, adrenaline overriding the pain, but this time, he’s faster.

His hand clamps around my wrist firmly. Panic surges through me, blinding any rational thought I have left.

“Leave me alone!” I veer my head and slam my forehead into his face. So hard that headache threatens to take me off my feet.

He jerks back with a low sound, his grip loosening just enough for me to twist and sink my teeth into his wrist. The metallic taste of blood floods my mouth and he groans.

For a second, I think I’ve gained the upper hand, but his other hand fists into my hair almost immediately and pull my head backward. I groan with pain. “Stop, please stop.”

Then suddenly, like a bad dream, my arms freeze mid-motion. My legs lock beneath me. My entire body goes rigid, as though I’ve been turned into stone.

Terror crashes into me, suffocating me and making breathing difficult. I can’t move. “What… what are you doing to me?” I choke out, my voice trembling.

He calmly wipes the blood from his wrist, studying me like I’m something mildly interesting.

“You’re such a brat,” he insults, almost lazily as he cracks his neck to the side and I hear bones shifting. “For that alone, I should leave you here motionless. Let’s see what happens— whether the fear of anticipating being caught kills you before they eventually do.”

My stomach drops. My panic worsens.

“Please,” I blurt out, my voice breaking despite my effort to stay composed. “Please, don’t—don’t do this. I’ll… I’ll do anything you want. Just… don’t tell anyone you saw me.” I still can’t move my body.

His gaze goes colder and he steps closer, his presence swallowing mine.

“How dare you tell me what to do when you know I want to kill you?”

My breath stutters.

“I—I’m begging you,” I force out, my chest tightening painfully. “I will do anything you want. I swear it.” I’m not thinking straight right now. I just want to survive.

He lets out a low, mocking laugh that sends a chill straight down my spine.

“You think you’re in a position to negotiate?” he asks, tilting his head and eyeing me like a joke. “You’re useless to me.”

I really don’t care about the hateful words. I just want to be back in that room. It’s better than being here- exposed like this. And worse, he has me stuck on one spot with his damning magic.

He steps back.

“This is better than killing you,” he says. “Leaving you here to be caught.”

Then he turns and starts walking away.

My heart almost stopped working.

“No…wait!” Thanks to the party music, I can’t be heard from the inside. But it’s just a matter of time before I’m caught if I remain like this. “Please! I swear, I’ll do whatever you want! I’m sorry…about my mother killing your sister…I’m…”

He stops. Then slowly, he turns. The air around us shifts. “Don’t you ever talk about my sister,” his tone is lethal and I don’t miss the slight hint of pain he buries underneath. “I get to do that.” He adds.

The force holding me vanishes instantly.

I collapse to the ground with a painful thud, gasping as control floods back into my limbs.

For a second, I can’t move.

Then survival kicks in again.

I push myself up, ignoring the ache screaming through my body.

“I’m sorry,” I say quickly, breathlessly. “I didn’t mean to…just… Please don’t tell anyone you saw me trying to leave.” My body feels raw. Everywhere hurts.

A slow smirk curves his lips as if an idea just came up in his mind.

“As much as killing you right now would be fun…” he says, his voice almost thoughtful, “what would be more fun… is making the daughter of Cassini Wales my doormat.” What?

My pulse spikes.

Relief mixes dangerously with dread. Atleast he’s agreeing to conditions.

“As long as you don’t tell on me,” I say carefully, “I’m good.”

His jaw ticks, like something in my tone irritates him.

Then he steps closer again, his height and presence swallowing the space between us.

“You’ll do whatever I want,” he says, his voice dropping into finality. “Whenever I ask.” He adds.

A chill runs down my spine.

“Be specific,” I push, not trusting his intentions.

His eyes darken. “You don’t get a say. You said you will do whatever I want.”

My throat dries. I actually did.

“…Okay,” I whisper.

“Follow me,” he says, not wasting a second more as he starts moving without turning to look at me. “Unless you want to be caught.”

I swallow.

I fall into step behind him, matching his long strides as best as I can.

The closer we get to the party hall, the louder the music and voices become, spilling into the corridor in waves.

Then I stop abruptly.

“My… my hair,” I say, running shaky fingers through the tangled strands. “And these bruises—if anyone sees me like this—”

His gaze drags over me slowly, assessing my features.

“You’ll be fine,” he says simply. “Move.”

My brows furrow. “What if…”

But I don’t get to complete my question- because noises are coming from the inside and they are very loud.

“…Can you hear that?” I ask Liam, hoping he wouldn’t get angry for questioning him again.

It turns out he’s already listening, his long nose flaring sensitively.

Then he moves and pushes through the doors without waiting for me.

I follow immediately and freeze when I see what’s happening inside.

The music is gone and the crowd has parted.

At the center, a boy who I believe is a student- is on his knees, his face bloodied, barely recognizable.

And standing over him…is Xaden.

His hand is wrapped around the boy’s throat tightly, lifting him slightly off the ground, his expression carved from pure, unfiltered fury.

“Tell them,” Xaden says, his voice low but carrying through the entire hall, “Tell them all what I caught you doing… before I rip your throat out of your body.”

Whatever might have happened, seeing Xaden like this, terrifies the hell out of me.