Chapter 42

Aelia

In the dim confines of Heaton's sprawling dormitory, my body moved to the blaring music, unencumbered by the restrictive battle leathers I typically wore. For the first time in forever, I felt free. Dark curtains had been hung across the windows, shielding us from the intrusive light and creating a mysterious, shadowy ambiance. The voluminous skirts of my gilded satin gown drifted on the invisible breeze created by my fluid movements. Rue laughed as I attempted a rather intricate spin on a pair of high heels I'd unearthed from my closet. My entire ensemble for the evening was discovered in the depths of my armoire. I'd had no previous use for the elegant attire, but Rue had insisted today was the day. We were to celebrate our victory after all.

All of Flare Squad was in attendance, including a rather sullen Belmore and Ariadne, along with a mix of other first-years. Belmore had made it clear from the moment I arrived that he had expected me to fail our first trial. Thankfully, I'd proven him wrong. The rest of the team danced around the room, most friendly enough. A blonde standing beside Ariadne glared in my direction. She looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't quite place her. And with the goblet of honeyed wine in my hand and the thrumming beats of the music, I couldn't care less about anyone else.

Symon danced toward us and curled an arm around my shoulders. Another Fae male followed him over. I recognized the blonde from Burn Squad from hours on the training field together, but I couldn't quite conjure his name. He immediately darted between Rue and I and began to dance with my friend.

Sy shot me a conspiratorial wink. "Devin has had his eye on your roommate since the beginning of the term."

"Oh really?"

He nodded. "Along with at least a dozen other males."

I laughed. He was not mistaken there. My roommate attracted the opposite sex like Fae to honeyed wine. I'd spent more than one night alone in our chamber while Rue released some built-up tension with males of other squadrons, as she so colorfully described it.

"How about you, Miss Aelia? Is there anyone here at the Conservatory that sends your gentle heart aflutter?"

Heat swam up my neck, settling across my cheeks. Nestled within the shadowed, dim room, only one male came to mind. The one in which I was trying my damnedest not to think about. "No one yet."

"We will have to change that tonight. Surely, there must be someone you find at least moderately appealing." He waggled his light brows.

"Only you, my friend, but I would never hazard our friendship for one night of reckless abandon."

Symon mimed a stab in the heart and buckled over dramatically. "Oh, you wound me so."

Threading my arms around the back of his neck, I pulled him into the middle of the dancefloor where we found Rue and Devin. We danced and laughed, the hours passing by in a blur.

With my friends still ravaging the dancefloor, I crept away in search of something to slake the dryness in my throat. A table was set up along the back wall, filled with bottles of unfamiliar liquids. There was one I recognized. Reaching for the honeyed wine, I poured another goblet full.

This one would be my last for the evening. I'd slowly built up my tolerance with an occasional sip here and there at dinner over the last several months. Slowly sipping the sweet liqueur, I remembered the vow I made to have fun tonight—within reason, of course. It was the first night in which I didn't have class or private training the following morning since we'd arrived at the Conservatory.

As I caught my breath, a pair of pale blue eyes locked on mine from across the room. The female whispered to Ariadne then her gaze darted from me to Heaton, who stood in a corner opposite me. Oriah! That was her name. She was the girl who'd made a scene in a fit of jealousy at Heaton's last party.

Sy appeared beside me, tearing my thoughts from the envious female. Sweat glistened on his brow as he eyed the gilded goblet. "Take it easy, my little round-eared friend."

"It's only my second glass, and I feel completely fine."

"Good, then come back to the dancefloor!" Stealing my goblet, he placed it back onto the table and dragged me into the crowd.

Heaton had joined the circle of Flare team initiates, and a warm smile parted his lips as he took me in. "You look lovely out of those leathers, Aelia."

"Good one, Heat." Rue released a cackle and her brother's eyes widened as he snapped his jaw closed, crimson coating his clean-shaven cheeks.

"That wasn't what I meant— I'm sorry that came out completely inappropriately."

I waved a dismissive hand and returned the smile. "I understood what you meant. And cheers, it is nice to wear a dress for a change."

He offered his hand when the music morphed from chaotic beats to a slow tune. I placed my palm in his and attempted a curtsy as his head dipped. His warm hand moved to my lower back and pulled me flush against his tall form. Brilliant cobalt eyes lowered to mine. "I'm so proud of how far you've come this year, Aelia. You're truly a spectacle to watch."

A whisper of embarrassment thrummed in my chest. "Thank you." Curses! I snapped my jaw shut before deciding to indulge in the compliment. Heaton deserved it, after all. "You've been an incredible team leader, and I never could have made it this far without your guidance and kind approach. Sometimes I forget you're one of them…"

He chuckled. "I try not to be." The smile on his lips slowly fell away, and he heaved out a sigh. "But Professor Reign is right, I need to be tougher on all of you if you are to succeed. So I'd like to apologize in advance for the weeks to come."

"That sounds ominous."

"Hopefully, it won't be. Darkthorn has done wonders working with you."

"Umhmm." I dropped my gaze to the smattering of skin revealed beneath his dress shirt and the Light Fae mark engraved on his flesh. My fingers instinctively flew to my mark and its strange appearance. "I'd really prefer not to talk about the professor this evening, or really anything having to do with the academy to be quite honest."

"Fine by me." His smile widened, and I leaned my head on his broad shoulder as we swayed to the music.

When the song ended, Heaton's hand remained locked around mine. "Shall we have a break for a drink?"

I nodded. I was completely parched after all the singing and dancing. Heaton escorted me to the table where I'd left my goblet. After topping off my glass, he poured himself a generous swig of laegar.

"So the laegar doesn't affect you?" I asked as he took a big gulp of the potent draught, and I followed his lead.

"Not after three and a half years at the Conservatory." He smirked. "Sometimes it's the only thing that will get you through the night." The mirth vanished as quickly as it had come, replaced by a well of darkness.

"Is it that bad?" And I thought the first year would be the worst. I swallowed down another sip of the wine and the sweet taste lingered on my tongue. For some reason, it seemed even more saccharine than I remembered.

"The first year at the Conservatory, when the lives of your teammates are taken, you lose strangers. In the following years, you lose friends. It becomes difficult to bear the pain, so it's simpler to close off your emotions to all of it. But without the highs and lows, are you truly living?"

There was something about the anguish in his expression that compelled my feet forward. Before I could think better of it, my lips brushed his. It was only meant to be a comforting kiss, a token of my understanding of his pain, but the moment I pulled away, I regretted it. Because the fire in his eyes spoke of a desire I'd refused to accept.

"Heaton, I?—"

Before I could get another word out, his mouth captured mine, his tongue parting my lips. The haze of the wine blurred my thoughts and slowed my reactions. It wasn't until his hand cradled my nape that I snapped out of the wine-fueled fog and pulled free of his hold.

"Heaton, I'm sorry, but I can't…"

The deep blue of his luminous orbs dimmed and disappointment darkened his features.

"I'm sorry, I just don't think it's a good idea. You are my team leader, and my best friend's brother."

He ran his hand over his mouth, as if wiping away the kiss, and cleared his throat. "You are right. I apologize. I shouldn't have done that."

I threw my thumb over my shoulder in the direction of the door as my head began to spin. "I'm going to go…"

I thanked all the gods that he didn't offer to escort me this time. And still, a tiny, stupid part of me was disappointed. Did he not care enough to ensure I got back to my room safely because I rejected his advances, or did he merely trust in my own capabilities now?

I stepped out into the hall, dismissing the ridiculous thoughts, and my head began to spin faster. What in all the realms? Reaching for the alabaster walls, I leaned against the cool stone as I staggered forward.

"There she is," a female voice hissed.

I spun around and regretted it instantly as the hall turned topsy-turvy. I keeled over, my knees hitting the marble floor with a crash. Blinking quickly to focus my hazy vision, two females stalked toward me.

Oriah and Ariadne.

"What did you do to me?" I snarled, my head spinning so fast I could barely see straight.

Oriah loomed closer, a sinister smile stretched across her flustered face. "Just a little misthorn root. The Shadow Fae blossom will have you vomiting for days. Long enough for you to reconsider this flirtation with my Heaton."

"I don't want Heaton," I slurred.

"That's not how it appeared when you kissed him."

Oh, stars, why did I ever do that?

"I'm not interested in him like that, I swear." I attempted to stand, but the hallway spun on its axis, and I remained on all fours.

"Good," she barked before twirling around with Ariadne and marching back to the party.

There was no way I'd make it back to my dorm in this condition. "Please, can you get someone to help me?" My hand shot out, and a burst of white light exploded from my palm.

Oriah and Ariadne gasped as the bolt zipped over their heads. With my vision swimming, I wasn't entirely sure I could trust what I saw.

"The Kin has mastered photokinesis?" Oriah squealed.

"Not possible." Ariadne eyed me warily as I stared at my palms as if they belonged to a stranger. "How did you learn to do that?"

I hadn't… Not really. But I would certainly not admit that to these two.

"You know nothing about me, Ariadne. Maybe if you weren't so terrible to me all the time, I'd share some of my secrets."

The Light Fae scoffed. "Good luck with those secrets and finding the way back to your dormitory." She laced her arm through her friend's and disappeared down the hallway. I considered throwing another burst of rais, but with my vision so obscured, I didn't want to risk severely hurting one of them.

Muttering a string of curses, I flopped down on my behind and leaned against the wall. Closing my eyes, I attempted to clear my vision, but it was no use. I'd have to crawl back to my dormitory.