Worse than the physical wreck of her body was the ache she harbored deep within her soul. She could still feel Alex’s hand in the hollow of her back, pulling her into him. His fingers tangled in her hair and the taste of him on her lips.
And yet – Jamie.
Her jilted, unbalanced world seemed to level back into place as her eyes rested on Jamie. He was solid, real and tangible and everything she remembered. It would be so easy to forget the Between and everything that had happened in it. So easy to pretend none of it happened, to slide back into her old life with Jamie by her side.
The door opened behind her, and she whipped around, feeling the Tigers come to life underneath the bandage tied around her wrist. She closed her eyes and forced them back into stillness.
How had her life come to this?
She was holding a million secrets within her, and tattooed Tigers that came to life at will were simply the beginning.
A thin, tall man walked into the room and she was struck by the dangerous stillness about him. She instantly realized that this wasn’t a man to be taken lightly. There was a strange magnetism to him, and she recognized him as someone that was used to having his orders carried out without question.
He watched her silently, his dark eyes unfathomable and predatory.
She forced a smile onto her face, slipping into the role she’d practiced so many times with Alex.
“Hello?” She said, adding the slightest quiver to her voice. She had to give the performance of her life.
He didn’t reply and suddenly she felt tentacles probing at her mind.
She froze.
Instantly, the memory of the Ancient’s horrific red eyes washed over her. She recognized this penetrating search for her fears and memories.
But surely it shouldn’t be happening here? The Veil was still intact. There shouldn’t be any Revenants here in the world.
Her world tilted out of focus again and she bit back a scream of pain. She focused on breathing, slow and steady, building her focus. She could almost hear Alex’s voice in her head, his voice calm and steady, telling her not to be afraid, to build her defenses, to trust her instincts.
You could reach for the stars if only you embrace and accept it.
She pushed away her panic and following his instructions, she constructed massive, concrete walls around her mind, protecting herself from the attempted intrusion.
The delicate testing of her defenses continued, pressing against her, probing for any weakness. But she was stronger than the man might have expected and she gave nothing away, managing to maintain a slightly questioning smile on her face as he watched her.
A minute, then two passed. They continued to watch each other carefully, like two opponents covertly sizing each other up. Eventually, she felt him withdraw from her mind, defeated for now. His expression didn’t change.
“Miss Warden.” He said, his voice silky smooth, sending chills spider crawling up her back. “I am the Elemental High Master. I wanted to be the first to welcome you to the Elemental College. I’m so very glad you made your way back to us.”
“The Elemental High Master?” She replied innocently.
This was the Elemental High Master?
Her eyes swept briefly to his signet ring and took in the rubies that surrounded it. If he was to be believed, then an Inferno somehow held the most powerful of positions within the Council. An Inferno and perhaps a Revenant.
Her heart pounded, she wasn’t prepared for this.
A million questions flooded through her mind and she shoved them aside. There would be time enough later to ponder them – right now she needed all her wits about her to face this slithering snake of a man.
“Of course.” He continued with an artificial smile. “Mr. Thiessen warned us that you didn’t know anything of the Gifted. I’m sure he will explain it all to you. I simply wanted to be the first to see you and extend my official welcome.”
She gave him a quizzical look. “Thank you.”
His piercing gaze settled on her again and he searched her face, still looking for something.
“I want to be clear Miss Warden.” He said softly, his voice gentle and unhurried, but an undercurrent of danger crawled over her skin, a perception of a warning not vocalized. “I want you to feel welcome here, but I’m not someone from whom it is advisable to hide secrets. In the end, I will find what I want. It’s a lesson I suggest you learn sooner rather than later.”
Allyra forced a smile onto her face even as her stomach twisted and knotted, nausea flooding though her as the scar in her side throbbed.
“You don’t know me yet, but once you do, you’ll find that I’m rather good at learning lessons.” She replied steadily. “Thank you for your advice, but I want to be clear too – I have no secrets to hide.”
He returned her smile, slow and feral, like a hyena watching the life drain out of its prey. “I look forward to watching just how quickly you learn Miss Warden.”
He gave her a final nod, and then turned and walked back out the door.
She let out a slow breath, and swayed under the abrupt release of tension, stumbling to the wall to steady herself. Energy drained from her body and without Alex’s steady presence, Allyra wasn’t sure she was up to this.
She stiffened again as the door reopened, then relaxed as Jamie walked through. Without thinking, she closed the distance between them in three quick steps and fell into his arms.
Alex, Mandla, the Revenants and the Between seemed to fade away, like a poorly remembered dream.
This was real.
This was her life.
Jamie was speaking, apologizing and explaining. She heard him mention the Trials and the Gifted but in truth, she barely heard any of it, clinging to him like a lifeline in
