All Chapters of Welcome to Aetherborn: Crushes, Curses & Creatures: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The silence that followed was unbearable. Then, without another word, Damien’s body unraveled into fire and shadow, wings unfurling wide as his dragon form surged forth. The earth trembled beneath him, the air filling with a low, primal hum. Kade gave her a small nod. “Come on. We’re taking you back.” Before Sera could protest, his hand was already guiding her toward the great beast’s scaled back. She hesitated at the sight of the glistening black wings, her stomach twisting with equal parts awe and terror. Never in her life had she ridden anything that could fly let alone a dragon. She climbed up, awkward and trembling, clutching at nothing as the leathery expanse of Damien’s wings rippled in the wind. The ground fell away before she could even steady herself. Her breath caught, heart pounding in her throat. A hand slid around her waist, firm but steady. Kade, pulling her closer. “Relax,” he murmured near her ear, his voice a grounding tether. “I won’t let you fall.” The wo

Alaric stepped closer, silent, until his shadow fell over her. Sera stiffened, unsure of what he would do. Then, without a word, his lips pulled back and his fangs slid down, gleaming. Before she could react, he bit into his own wrist. She gasped, but he caught her injured hand in his cool grasp and pressed the bleeding cut to her skin. A faint glow sparked where his blood touched, and within seconds the raw scrape sealed itself as though it had never existed. Smooth, perfect. Her eyes widened. “What…?” Alaric’s gaze locked on hers, unreadable. “Consider that proof. You don’t have to fight this alone.” He released her hand. “You’ll stay here for a while. After dinner, we return to the academy. From then on, we’ll help train you properly. You’ll learn control. Once you do, Aetherborn won’t feel like a prison, it will feel like a place where you belong.” For the briefest moment, his voice softened, carrying weight behind it. Then he turned sharply, walking toward the door. “Rest

For a moment, Seraphine felt it. A flicker, like a candle flame sparking in the dark. But before she could reach for it, it sputtered out, leaving only emptiness. “The First Spark,” the professor intoned, “is the breath before the flame. Today, you will call it. Do not expect control. Do not expect mastery. Expect only a response.” He raised his hand, and a line of glowing runes shimmered across the board. “Close your eyes. Listen inward. Breathe until you hear what is already waiting.” All around the classroom, students obeyed. The air filled with shallow breaths, shifting robes, and the faint hum of magic beginning to stir. Sera tried too. She shut her eyes, pressed her palms flat against the desk, and searched for the warmth she had felt before only for a heartbeat earlier. A student near the front gasped. Blue light unfurled from his fingertips, trembling but steady. Across the room, another girl laughed nervously as sparks jumped from her palm. Maren leaned back with a

The mop felt heavier than it should have as Seraphine dragged it across the dirt floor of the training ground. The bristles scraped uselessly against rocks and dry earth, leaving behind nothing but streaks of mud. She scowled. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered, shoving at a stubborn patch of dust that refused to budge. “Who even mops outside?” From the sidelines, Lucien lounged against a tree, arms folded, a grin plastered across his face. “You missed a spot.” Her teeth clenched. She turned the mop with unnecessary force, smacking it against the ground with a loud thwack. The bucket tipped slightly, sloshing water onto her shoes. “Ugh!” she groaned. “Good,” Lucien said smoothly. “That’s the frustration we need. Keep going.” Kade’s jaw tightened as he stepped forward. “You’re enjoying this too much.” “Of course I am,” Lucien replied. “Training doesn’t have to be boring.” Damien chuckled under his breath, clearly entertained, though his eyes remained sharp, watchful. Alaric, h

The rainbow veil shimmered stubbornly against Seraphine’s hand, refusing to part. Her throat felt dry as she pulled it back. Behind her, whispers were rising, soft at first, then sharper, curious, judgmental. “Why isn’t it glowing?” “Is she even supposed to be here?” “If she hasn’t registered, why is she in uniforms?” Her stomach twisted. The last thing she needed was more attention. She let her hand drop to her side and stepped back quickly, avoiding every pair of eyes burning into her. Maren’s brows knit in concern, but it was Elira who broke the silence, her tone half-annoyed, half-exasperated. “Girl don’t tell me you haven’t met the Student Register Overseer yet.” Sera blinked, still tense. “The what?” “The Overseer,” Elira repeated, lowering her voice like it should have been obvious. “She’s the one who makes it official. Every student has to register with her before Aetherborn recognizes you as one of its own. Without that, the wards won’t open for you. How did your room