21. Zaiah

21

ZAIAH

I felt it seconds before I pulled away from Adelaide. I sensed the danger. It was like a shift in the air, a disturbance in the magical fabric of MistHallow. I reacted purely on instinct, throwing out my hand to catch the creature mid-flight.

The Strix struggles against my magick as Adelaide lets out a scream of panic. Its razor-sharp talons are slashing uselessly in the air. Its shriek pierces the night, and I know we don't have much time before more arrive.

Without hesitation, I wrap an arm around Adelaide's waist, ignoring her startled gasp. "Hold on tight," I mutter, and in a blink, we're no longer in the courtyard but in my bedroom.

I release Adelaide and move swiftly to the windows, shutting them and drawing the heavy curtains. The room plunges into semi-darkness, lit only by the soft glow of enchanted orbs floating near the ceiling.

"Zaiah, what the fuck—" Adelaide starts, her voice shaky.

"Shh," I interrupt, holding up a hand. I close my eyes, focusing my energy. In a low voice, I mutter a call that echoes through the magical frequencies of MistHallow.

"Zephyr, Corvus, Ignatius. Come."

Moments later, when I open my eyes, the air shimmers and Zephyr swirls into the room with Corvus in his tight grip. Ignatius blooms into the room in a flaming tower that dies down to reveal his concerned face. Their expressions shift from confusion to alertness as they take in the scene.

"Strix," I say by way of explanation. "At least one, more on the way."

Corvus's eyes narrow. "Strix? Here? How is that possible?"

"What's a Strix?" Adelaide asks, her voice small and frightened.

I turn to her, taking in her pale face and trembling hands. The book she was carrying is still clutched to her as if it will save her. "It's a supernatural assassin," I explain gently. "And it seems someone has sent them to... well, to put it bluntly, take you out."

Adelaide's eyes widen in shock. "Me? Why not you?"

"I don't have that many enemies."

"Neither do I," she hisses.

"That you know of. You are new to this world, Little Dollie," Corvus murmurs.

"So who…" She trails off, looking even more scared.

"That's the question of the hour, isn't it?" Zephyr says, his dark energy crackling around him. "The Strix aren't deployed by just anyone. Someone high up."

"What?" Adelaide shakes her head, looking lost. "I don't understand. I don't know anyone who'd want me dead. I've only just arrived here!"

I watch as Corvus moves towards her, his movements slow and non-threatening. He brushes the back of his hand over her cheek. "Hey, it's okay," he says softly. "We're not going to let anything happen to you."

In an instant, I'm next to him, smacking his hand away. "Don't touch her," I snarl.

Corvus's eyes flash red briefly, but he calms instantly and steps back.

Adelaide takes a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she looks up at him.

A pang of jealousy shoots through me, surprising in its intensity. Our kiss is still fresh on my lips, our bond now stronger than ever, even if she doesn't know what it is yet.

But seeing her respond to Corvus stirs something primal and possessive within me.

I push the feeling aside, focusing on the matter at hand. "We need to figure out who sent the Strix and why," I say, my voice perhaps a bit sharper than necessary.

Ignatius, who's been unusually quiet, speaks up. "More importantly, we need to keep Adelaide safe until we can sort this out."

A heavy thump against the window makes Adelaide jump, a small cry escaping her lips. Another thump follows, then another. The Strix are trying to break in.

I cross over to the windows and open the curtains a fraction. The Strix are plastered up against the window, sensing their target's presence in here. They are in a hold for now, but that won't last.

I move instinctively, placing myself between Adelaide and the window. "We need to get her back to her tower," I say. "It's protected."

Adelaide, still standing close to Corvus, shakes her head. "But Corvus could get in," she says. "How is that safe?"

Corvus grins, a wicked glint in his eye. "It's not protected from me, Dollie," he says.

Zephyr steps forward, his expression more curious than anything else. "We'll all go," he says. "To make sure Adelaide is safe."

I nod, even though part of me wants to protest. The bond I share with Adelaide - the one I've been subtly strengthening since she arrived - pulses with a need to protect her. But I know that right now, her safety is more important than my desires.

"But if it's protected, how will we get in?" she asks, her voice trembling.

"I can create pocket dimensions. It will allow us into the room but then you have to be the one to draw us in."

"What? I can't do that!" she says, her pitch going up several notches.

"You can and you will," I say to her. "It is the only way to get you back to your room without going through them." I wave my hand at the window.

"Fuck," she mutters. "Fuck!"

I place a hand lightly on Adelaide's shoulder. The contact sends a jolt through me, and I see her eyes widen in response. There's no doubt now - she feels the bond too.

With a thought, I transport us all to Adelaide's tower room into a small other world within this world.

"What now?" Adelaide asks, looking around at us all crowded into the pocket dimension.

"Step out," I murmur.

She hesitantly takes a step, and the bubble breaks.

"Now," I say, meeting her gaze, "we figure out who wants you dead and why. We keep you safe until we do."

As I say the words, I make a silent vow. Whoever is behind this, whatever their reasons, they won't succeed. I'll protect Adelaide with everything I have - not just because of the bond, not just because of the kiss, but because I know now that the force that was pulling me towards her wasn't a mere whim or a curious needling. The bond I created between us is real and it's growing every second I'm in her presence as a result.

Zephyr stops pacing as the Strix, clearly visible outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of Adelaide's tower room, circle like vultures. "It doesn't make sense," he says. "Adelaide's only just arrived at MistHallow. Who could she possibly have angered enough to warrant an assassination attempt?"

"Who have you spoken to since you arrived here?" Corvus asks.

"You guys, Blackthorn and some girl named Lyra. Oh, and Blue Water lady at the front desk. Orby!"

"Huh?" I mutter as I turn to look where she has hurried over to. The magickal orb is buzzing about, vibrating intently as she goes to it.

"Where were you earlier?" she asks.

The thing doesn't answer. It can't. It's sentient up to a point, from what I can gather. It understands but can't respond with words. It bounces around the room with such vigour that we all take cover, except Ignatius, who is a bit slow today. The orb careens towards his head and bounces off it, making him groan as we chuckle at his predicament.

"Oww," he grunts. "You little shit."

"Orby, calm down!" Adelaide crosses over to it and snatches it out of the air. It practically drags her over to the window and shakes in her hand. "I know," she murmurs, soothingly patting it. I marvel at how she is scared out of her wits, but is still taking the time to calm the pet orb, which has gone slightly nuts.

"Adelaide," Corvus mutters.

She turns to look at him and shakes her head slightly.

He knows something they aren't sharing.

"Whatever it is, we need to know. Those creatures are bad news, babes. You need to come clean."

"I can't. Professor Blackthorn said it has to remain a secret," she murmurs and flings the heavy book she has been clutching this entire time on the bed.

It catches Zephyr's eyes immediately, and he smirks. "Learning about me, Little Dollie?"

"Stop calling me that," she hisses, "and yes. You are bad news. I want to know what I'm up against, and something tells me I'd rather take my chances out there with them." She flings her hand out to indicate the Strix.

Zephyr's smile widens. It's slow and sinister, and I sigh. This just went from a bad situation to much, much worse.