Emory leaned closer, her nose practically touching the pages when she reached the part that introduced Adair’s family. The Strattons had been her parents’ best friends and advisors, it was said, and they had always thought the Academy was too soft. That the students should be taught how to use brute force and grow their abilities instead of learning how to control them.
It was only a paragraph describing the Fall of the Academy, and all that was said at the end was, “It is unknown why the Strattons’ son unleashed his ability for destruction and sadly killing The Faes to usurp the throne. It is rumored the Strattons also perished.”
Emory leaned back, exhaling hard. Blinking heavily, she wondered how long she had been there. Her eyes stung, and her lower back cramped. She turned to look at the door and yelled, falling out of her chair when she saw Memphis’s silhouette leaning against the open door.
“By flame and fire, Emory! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Groaning, she stood. “You could have knocked.”
He stepped closer, eyes lighting up. “I was wondering when you would notice I was there, but you seemed rather engrossed.”
Her mind was still digesting all the information she had took in. She eyed the Commander warily. “Where’s Wyatt?”
“He got held up with Jaxson, so I came by to tear you away. You should get some rest.”
Not arguing, she made her way to the door and into the hallway.
Memphis whispered to her back, “It suits you, the necklace.”
She turned to look at him with raised eyebrows. She was exhausted, sore, and above all else too tired to think about the rugged man in front of her with his mind games. “Goodnight, Memphis.”
She turned her back, and he gently grabbed her hand, his thumb slowly tracing circles on the inside of her palm. Her heart stuttered as he lowered his full lips to the top of her hand, not breaking his gaze. The kiss was feather light.
Straightening, he stepped toward her, slowly. “Em,” he whispered, voice dripping with honey.
A coolness settled in her stomach, and she cleared her throat. “Where is Nyx tonight, Memphis?”
Stopping, he smirked and winked at her icy expression. “Sleep well.” With that, he was gone, disappearing down the hallway and leaving Emory more confused and frustrated than before.
Stalking, she slammed the library door behind her, which was all too satisfying. She made her way back to her room, not able to shake how much she liked Memphis’s lips on her skin and how much she wanted to find her Commander again.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Nyx
The taste of blood coursed through her mouth. Nyx cracked, her emotions fueling her when she ducked as Brokk’s fist swung to meet her face once more.
“You’re going to have to do better than that!” she said breathlessly, knowing he was on a short fuse. She wanted him to give her his all.
Spitting blood out, Brokk lunged at her relentlessly. Her body responded: duck, uppercut, duck, right hook... There was a satisfying thud when she met her target. Brokk grunted, responding in kind to their savage dance. Minutes, hours passed; sweat poured off their bodies, both trying to find some sort of calm.
Finally, she yielded as Brokk stopped to catch his breath.
It was hours after their day had concluded, but they both needed a distraction. Brokk had finished his turn in the ring, and she had dragged him here. Their training arena was small but efficient located adjacent to the dining hall. Worn dummies with Adair’s sigil blazed on their chests littered the room, and Nyx leaned lightly against one, her heart pounding.
She traced the line of her jaw with her finger, feeling the skin had spilt.
“Have some pent-up frustrations there, Brokk?”
His golden eyes narrowed. He stalked toward her, rolling his shoulders at the same time. “Don’t be coy, Nyx. Both of us know the answer to that.”
That she did. The thought of Emory left a sour taste in her mouth. Their savior.
She scuffed the floor with her boot and, moving centrally, began to stretch. Brokk followed suit. Nyx pulled her purple hair back with a worn band and concentrated on her breath. If Memphis had given her a proper chance, maybe the entire fate of their group wouldn’t lie with a girl who had experienced nothing. They spent years scouting, planning, and gathering information, and even then, they had just found out Adair’s location. Memphis held them back for safety. They were skilled, but Adair was always better.
“We will figure this out. I know you think she can’t do this, but she will. She is a part of this as much as you and I are. It’s not her fault we kept our secret from everyone. Give her a chance to prove herself, Nyx. Put your feelings aside about Memphis for the time being. He cares about you.”
She glared at him, wanting to laugh.
He cares about you.
What should have been a comforting gesture made her insides clench. Being a telekinetic was frustrating around Memphis as he always put up a wall. And she wasn’t about to forget what she heard in that one moment there was no wall. Her anger washed over her in waves and crashed down hard.
She snapped, “He cares about me? You are as blind as the rest of them if you think that’s the truth. I have seen into his soul, Brokk, and let me correct you; he only cares about himself.” She scoffed. “Also, your best friend has been in love with her
