Chaos erupted around me as Trey lunged for him, his knife whizzing mere inches from my face. Panic strayed at the edges of my mind as it fought against the bile rising in my throat. I needed to focus. Everything Raena and Pollis had taught me swirled around in my head, but part of me was so distracted. Where was Elanora. As Trey lunged again, magic pooled in my hands and I forced it from my body, striking him in the chest. It knocked him back, sending him sprawling, as he rolled and then ended up back on his feet. It was almost enviable how he managed to do that. A feral glint now lit his eyes as he stared me down, his teeth bared. “This is for my brother, you bitch!” He hurled the knife at me, which I managed to dodge, but only just. A sharp screech of pain met my ears, but it didn’t seem to register in my already filled mind. All I could manage to think, was that it wasn’t possible for him to miss me. Regardless, a broad smile lifted his lip

Blake stormed into my room without so much as a knock or a hello. I let my fury emanate to him, but he simply raised an eyebrow, daring me to say anything.Just by the way he moved, I could tell he was agitated. He looked like he wanted to set fire to something. The flames in his eyes raged and swirled, one definite way of knowing his emotions.Elanora lifted her head, watching Blake, her eyes wide with fear. I touched my hand to her back, soothing her and she folded herself into me, pressing her face to my stomach.“Blake,” I said with a nod, allowing sarcasm to flood my tone. “How nice of you to knock.”He stopped mid step to look at us, Elanora’s face now hidden among the folds of my dress.  He gave me an odd look, his mouth twisting with an emotion that was gone before I could recognise it.“Sorry,” he mumbled, looking at his feet awkwardly. This threw me. Blake was never awkward. “I just hav

“Why didn’t anyone tell me all the council members were Magicians?” I managed to bite out, trying to control my rapid breathing. “And lift the damn void!”Alastair appraised me for a moment, completely ignoring my question. I wondered if he was taking in the crazy look I in my eyes and debating whether it was safe for me to have access to my magic again.I honestly didn’t care what he thought right now as I stared him down, almost daring him to challenge me.His eyes twinkled as he pulled on his own magic, and the pressure of the void eased off my shoulders.My mind quickened, allowing me to push my magic out into Raena once more, seeking her injuries. They healed before my eyes. I had never actually looked when I had healed anyone. It was strange watching the bruises fade to green, then yellow and then disappear and see the cuts magically seal up, all scars gone.My teeth snapped together, the pain excruciating

The next day, I woke with a pounding headache and my insides like jelly as they swirled around.I could barely think straight. Whatever the hell was happening between Alastair, Blake and I, the energy required to sort through that mess was certainly not within my reach.Most of it was so unexpected that a huge part of me was left paralysed. Could I trust either of them, or anyone for that matter, with my heart again after what Deakin had done?Would I even be able to physical with someone without completely breaking down?When Alastair ran his hands down my body, it sure felt like I could, but afterwards, my skin almost felt like I needed a shower to scrub away the horrible feeling left behind.Just the memory of their lips on mine had my face burning, the emotions rolling through my stomach.Eating breakfast was extremely difficult. Something I hardly ever went without, as my stomach was too busy swirling around and making me feel unwell.

I glared at Enda, allowing my fury to pulsate in the room. Many of the Council members were sitting right back in their seats, their eyes wide with worry. There were only four people that would meet my gaze – Enda, Blake, Alana and Alastair. It was the first time I had been in the same space with Blake and Alastair together since the incident between them, and the tension was palpable. “When were you going to tell me about the scouts?” I tried to keep my voice calm and level, trying to control the anger that was swirling around in my chest, but it tinged my words, giving them a sharp edge. A flourish of emotions fluttered across my skin, too many for my magic to determine. The Council remained silent. I glared at Alana, who lowered her eyes, her shame shocking me. I had come to her literally only a few hours ago, and she hadn’t bothered to mention it. Being treated with kid gloves was getting old now. As I scanned the members