13. WEN

The word “Null” lights a fuse through the Committee and their fallen guardians. Their pent-up silence explodes in a cacophony of agitation and aggression.

As their order starts to disintegrate, I turn frantic eyes toward Godric. I find nothing to read in his grimness.

One thing keeps me rooted to my spot. His order not to do anything no matter what, and to let him handle it.

Every time I disregarded his directions, or acted on instinct, I dug us both into deeper shit. I have to trust his lack of reaction is part of his plan to pass this test with the least damages possible. I have to trust him.

I do trust him.

But it’s so hard to stick to my resolve with the threat radiating from such a power collective. Even worse, I can suddenly see the Life Essence enveloping each. The moment I do, the void inside me rumbles like an existence-spanning stomach, urging me to go on a rampage. I can see myself yanking it all out of them, and tossing it into its endless maw.

Struggling against the crazy compulsion has me shaking and sweating. Even when the cold burn the Amulet caused me is spreading its frost through me, body and being.

Just as I think they will attack me and tear me limb from limb, Astaroth turns to them. A shockwave of something dark and horrifying blasts from him, stopping them in their tracks.

When he speaks, his voice does that weird surround effect, as if coming from everywhere, including from inside me.

This time, its composed tones are dipped in lethal command. “The Committee’s role in the Amulet Ceremony is one of witnessing and validation. You will resume your observation in utter reverence, or you will face severe disciplinary action.”

Before my stunned eyes, those entities who once razed the world, fidget back to their places like sulking children. None even risks looking directly at Astaroth.

He exchanges another loaded look with Godric as he turns back to face me.

Godric nods. “It explains what she did.”

So he’s agreeing with Astaroth’s assessment? Because this is what I am? Or is this one of the diagnoses he hoped for? Something bad, but still better than the truth?

Not that he knows my truth yet. He only has “theories.” Ones that keep getting worse.

“What’s a Null?” I hear myself asking, voice trembling, both playing along and dying to know.

Astaroth takes a step back, as if he’d rather not stand too close to me. “A Null is an entity that can siphon any other being’s powers. It’s clearly what you did to that fallen. You also drained the Amulet of the power it siphoned from your Unitas.”

“The Amulet does that?” I exclaim.

“Indeed.” Astaroth nods, onyx eyes contemplative, and something else. Worried? Wary? “That is how it analyzes the cadets’ Graces during their Activation in the Trials, and determines the level of their potential. After the Ceremony, the Amulets are archived, containing samples of the cadets’ Essence, Energy and Graces, for future identification and investigation, among other uses. Think of them as supernatural fingerprints, dental records and bloodwork.”

So those damned things take parts of us without our knowledge. And the fucking Academy keeps them to use however they please.

That’s another thing they failed to mention when they shoved the Amulets on us before the Trials, then hung them around our necks afterwards.

Seems their rules for consent are flexible after all.

Astaroth gestures at the blackened Amulet in his hand. “But since your Unitas exhibited unheard of power levels, your Amulet must have absorbed more than any has before. Yet, you drained it all.”

That was what I felt? I absorbed my Unitas’s EEGs? Yeah, I can’t keep thinking of them as Essence, Energy and Graces.

But what would that mean? And why don’t I feel any of it anymore?

Astaroth’s eyes glaze, as if he too, is looking deep inside me, searching for answers.

He gives a barely perceptible headshake as something like dismay flits over his sculpted features. “But you also drained the Amulet’s own Celestial magic—to the point that you destroyed it. No Angel Amulet has ever been destroyed, not since they were forged eons ago. It was believed none could be.”

“Has anyone actually tried?” I croak a whisper, hoping he’d say it has always been just a belief.

This time, his gaze becomes distant, his voice lowering to an almost inaudible murmur, as if he’s talking to himself. “Some of the most powerful beings in Heaven and Hell.”

I gulp. That’s just dandy. And getting dandier by the second.

But if that’s the case, how did that thing inside me destroy this Amulet?

Heh. Like that’s even a question. It swallowed a black hole. An ancient trinket wouldn’t have even registered as a snack.

“We haven’t seen a Null in millennia.” Astaroth focuses back on me, voice rising again. “And for it to be a human is unprecedented. The archangels must have sensed this anomaly within you, and that’s why they entrusted Godric with your training. But I’m afraid you can no longer train with him.”

That declaration falls on me like an ax to the chest, cleaving it and my heart in two—and spilling out a corrosive, explosive rejection.

Only Godric’s gag order holds it back. The few questions I asked of Astaroth were one thing. This is another. This falls under digging us an even deeper hole.

So instead of shouting at Asatroth, “Not in your bloody Hell and their fucking Heaven!” all I can do is look at Godric, trying to transmit my plea.

Don’t let them take me away from you.

My legs almost buckle beneath me when he doesn’t meet my gaze.

No, no. No. He can’t let them do that. He can’t let me go.

He said that he’d never let me go. That the buck stopped with him where I’m concerned. That he’s the only one who can forge me and plumb my depths.

And I know it, in the very recesses of my being. It has to be him. It can’t be anyone else.

I don’t want anyone else. Ever.

Before I throw caution to the wind and scream at him, at all of them, that I’m not letting them pass me around like a piece of molding clay, that I won’t let him get rid of me, Godric takes a single step forward.

A. Single. Step.

The ground shakes.

His wings start bleeding sooty flames, and their runes start smoldering like lava as they rise above him ominously.

When the Hall finally stops vibrating, his voice sets it buzzing again, low and lethal. “My claim to Cadet White is untouchable and nonnegotiable.”

It’s only because my legs are barely holding me up that I don’t hurtle to him, jump him, and inundate him in kisses and relief.

Astaroth gives him a brief sideways glance, before resuming his focus on me. “We also can’t let you pick any classes and assignments, like we often do with other cadets. Ultimate care and consideration must be exercised while devising the curriculum to best control and utilize your powers.”

Godric takes another step. This time the whole world tilts. “In fact, I will now intensify our regimen. You can do what you like with her remaining time—if any remains.”

“This will be for the Grace Development Congress to decide,” Astaroth says, pointedly avoiding eye contact with Godric.

“No, it won’t be,” Godric counters calmly as he closes the distance between them. I bet any lesser being would have fallen to their knees at his approach. “Inform them this is a fait accomplit. They’re free to debate her education and training all they like. I have the final say.”

Astaroth’s eyes flit around for a second, like someone who knows he’s being monitored. Then he raises his chin at Godric in challenge. “May I remind you you cannot make instructional decisions since you’re not a Congress member?”

Godric returns his condescension ten-fold. “May I remind you I do exactly as I please, and I outrank you all as Praetor? You can take your concerns about my absolute power in her case to the archangels. Now, dismiss her, and her Unitas.”

As if he’s been waiting to do just that, Astaroth turns to the Committee. “You have witnessed this sacred rite, and have observed its findings. As it has been professed, let it be recognized.”

The twelve other Committee members intone in unison, “Duly noted and acknowledged.”

As I itch to say something stupid, like how ridiculous and culty they all sound, Astaroth encompasses me and the others in a sweeping glance. “Your Amulet Ceremony has been concluded. The sacred responsibility of unlocking your full potential now lies with the Grace Development Congress. As it has been professed, let it be recognized.”

Only Aela responds, with such solemn enthusiasm—before she realizes she spoke alone, and swings an impaling glance at the rest of us.

As soon as we echo her, Astaroth raises his left, ringed hand. “You’re dismissed.”

Godric stalks off the stage immediately. I bolt in his wake, and the others rush after us, semi-dragging Jinny between them.

Lorcan joins Godric at the front of our procession, and we retrace our steps out of the Assembly Hall among the hate-filled glares of the fallen.

Once we’re outside Raziel Complex, Lorcan looks sideways at Godric. “That’s her big secret? A Null is certainly a major deal, but I somehow thought?—”

“Shut up, Lorcan.” Godric looks over his shoulder at me. “Go with your Unitas now. Meet me at the usual place when you’re done with your classes.”

“Classes?” My knees tremble at the idea. “At least tell me we will eat first.”

Suddenly he stops, making me rear-end him. As the others do the same to me, he turns and lowers his lips to my ear, his warm breath caressing its shell.

As the images of climbing that motherlode of temptation fills my mind, he whispers, “Eat anything I haven’t approved, and you’ll have extra kale in each meal for a month.”

I stare at him, and my mouth falls open.

That’swhat he has to say to me after this momentous fiasco? After I ate a black hole, a fallen’s Life Essence, my Unitas’s EEGs, and an Angel Amulet’s Celestial magic?

He’s threatening me with fucking kale?

Before I can scoff that he’d never find out, that I’ve been giving his “Keep Wen on the Straight and Narrow Menu” spies the slip, he straightens and jerks his head at Lorcan.

In a blink, they’re both in the air. In another, they’re out of sight.