LOGINAdrian broke the tense silence in the room. “That aside, I think we should congratulate Zeda.” He sent Zeda a smile, and she knew it was both an attempt to lighten the mood in the room and to appease her anger toward him for his earlier comment about Lucian.“What for?” Ava frowned. She wasn’t the only one in the dark; several others glanced at each other in confusion. Zeda realized that not all of them had seen the video yet, especially since the meeting had been called almost immediately after it was posted.“Zeda controlled four elements in training today,” Adrian revealed, sounding proud.A few of them gasped in shock. “She’s a four-elemental Mage?” Torvin asked, staring at Zeda.“Yeah,” Adrian nodded.“I watched the video. Zeda really pulled off something utterly remarkable,” Kodak added.“Which video?” Vyr frowned.“Check the website. Adrian posted it a few minutes before the meeting,” Kodak replied.Everyone immediately pulled out their phones, including Mr. Percival and Mrs.
“What?”There was a collection of shocked reactions around the table as everyone took in Mr. Percival’s shocking revelation.Zeda’s heart sank as Mr. Percival’s words kept repeating in her mind like a loop. Lucian left the Academy? Why? When?“Did he leave to get groceries that couldn’t be found in the Academy, or did he leave like, he’s not a student anymore?” Torvin asked with a frown on his face as he tried to comprehend what the Director meant.“He left,” Mr. Percival repeated in a firmer voice, the meaning clear.“Oh God,” Zeda gasped, covering her mouth with her hand in shock.“Why did he leave, sir?” Carrie asked. “Did he give any reason?”“Personal reasons,” Mr. Percival said, his voice giving nothing away.“Personal reasons?” Sloan echoed, making it obvious it didn’t make any sense.“Well, isn’t that a bucket of bolts?” Torvin mumbled.“I think it’s a good decision on his part,” Vyr said, glancing at Zeda.Zeda bit her tongue immediately to stop herself from giving him a hars
Adrian drove Zeda to her dorm after freshening up and waited for her to do the same. Zeda figured Carrie had already left for the meeting so she quickly showered and followed Adrian to the Administration Building in his car.When they arrived and got out of the car, a black, tinted, definitely expensive SUV pulled up beside them. Kyle came out and opened the back door, and the triplets, as they were called, stepped out.Zeda’s heart raced at the sight of Vyr, and when their eyes met, she swallowed hard, unsure how to react. She hated to admit it, but she really missed him, no matter how arrogant and cold he was.He looked from her to Adrian and then Adrian’s car in a quick survey, with an unreadable expression on his face, and walked away without a word to them.Draven followed quickly, also ignoring them. Rylan at least acknowledged her with a nod as he walked past her, knowing that Carrie would kill him if he snubbed her best friend.“Rude punks,” Adrian mumbled.Zeda faked a chuckl
Zeda prepared for her training on Thursday scheduled at 11 AM, determined to shake off the gloomy feeling that had held her since her encounter with Lucian on Monday.The way he had kissed her was still fresh on her mind, and she hated herself for it. She hated Lucian more for trying to lure her back in after ruining her heart before, and she hated Sloan most for ruining what she had thought would be a perfect relationship.Lucian hadn’t called her since then, and she kept telling herself she didn’t care. She wouldn’t even answer the phone if he called!She had been too occupied with the thought of Lucian that she couldn’t focus on her training on Tuesday and struggled with her breathing technique.Adrian, out of frustration, had ended the training early, telling her to get herself back together and come back on Thursday ready.Zeda arrived at Adrian’s office in her full training gear and a serious look on her face.“10:57,” Adrian glanced at the wall clock as she walked in. “That’s c
“Lucian…” Zeda moaned as Lucian trailed kisses down her neck, her body quivering with need as his expert hands masterfully skimmed over her body.She urged him toward the bed with her weight, and a low chuckle rumbled in Lucian’s chest as his back hit his bed with Zeda straddling him.Memories of her last time in his bed flooded Zeda’s mind, the image of both of them tangled in the sheets while making love so vivid. It was something she couldn’t forget even if she tried. The way their bodies had fit and moved in rhythm so perfectly, like they were made only for each other, the way their eyes had locked on each other like their souls were intertwined. It hadn’t just been, by far, the best sex of her life; it had been the most special moment as well.Only for her, though.The image of Lucian and Sloan kissing in the balcony of the Unity Atrium slipped into her mind like a poison, bringing back the pain of her heartbreak and hatred for Lucian sevenfold.Zeda’s eyes snapped open immedia
Zeda left Adrian’s office, the image of what happened in Adrian’s training ground playing in her mind like a loop.Adrian had called Mr. Percival with the phone on speaker for her to hear and told him about Zeda’s new power. But instead of being surprised or providing an explanation of why she could wield more than one element, the Director calmly instructed them to intensify the training, focusing on both Fire and Water elements.Adrian ended the call, the look of disappointment on his face mirroring her own. He had ended the training for the day to give them time to think, and instructed her to practice the breathing technique anytime she was free.Zeda sighed as she stood by the road in front of the Mage Kingdom to hail down a cab. She was mentally and physically exhausted, and the thought of having a long hot shower when she got home comforted her.Just then, her phone rang, and she frowned at the unknown number flashing on the screen before answering.“Hello.”“Oh, thank goodnes







