18. ~Alena~

18

~Alena~

Comfort had enveloped me as my men had fawned over me, kissing and hugging me tight to them on the bed for several minutes straight, none of us wanting to let go or pull away for the longest time.

When we finally actually had, Talon and Xavier had taken to studying the space intently, while Orpheus paced up and down, clearly trying to contain his agitation that I’d cut our conversation off prematurely.

It was because I’d needed them all here for this.

For what I needed to do.

Something that would be the best thing for everyone involved.

Not what I wanted, but what was necessary.

“This place is the shit,” Talon exclaimed, over by the entertainment unit, his hands over everything.

Biting sarcasm dripped from Xavier as he said, “Not bad for being held—”

A clear of a throat from Orpheus had him pulling up short.

“It’s okay,” I assured them. “I don’t need you to walk on eggshells around me. We’re past those times now.”

“We know, beautiful, but this is a lot,” Xavier said. “Especially after what you’ve been through.”

“I hear you, but I’m done letting that define me.” I shifted my weight in the bed, wincing as that lightheaded feeling I’d had since I’d woken up still plagued me. “I thought the way to do that was by putting Constantine down. But now I see there’s more than one way, and that’s what needs to be done now.”

“And what might that be?” Saryan spoke, suddenly entering the space.

“It looks like it’s going to involve her staying here. By choice,” Orpheus muttered, clearly not happy about it.

“What?” Xavier demanded. He looked to me. “Alena, you don’t have to do this.”

“Yeah,” Talon piped in. “This whole thing with your special ability is a major overreaction.”

“It’s not,” I said. “It’s warranted.”

I caught Saryan’s eye and he nodded, looking both surprised and relieved by my stance, that we were seeing eye to eye on this.

“Look,” Xavier said, coming back to the bed as I was pushing out of it slowly but surely. “This is clearly an attempt by Constantine to sideline you. All of this is playing right into his hands.”

“Then we make sure it doesn’t pan out the way he intends,” I said.

“How so?” Orpheus asked, intrigue shining forth.

I looked out at Saryan. “I’ll stay here under one condition. That you train me on how to properly use this ability, that we explore the limits and potential of it fully.”

“You don’t need to stay here for that,” Orpheus told me. “ I can train you. I know I refused before, but that was because I didn’t want this exposure to come to pass. That’s obviously moot now.”

“Son, you’re needed elsewhere,” Saryan told him, a knowing look passing between them.

“Elsewhere?” Xavier said. “Where exactly is that? My dad said you weren’t actually here when the attack at Electi Academy went down. That you weren’t even trackable. So where the hell were you? What’s going on? What are you keeping from us?”

“You’re coming at him way too hot,” Talon told Xavier. “Coming from me, that says a lot.”

“Too hot after what’s just happened? I think not. It’s just the right amount of heat.”

Orpheus and Saryan exchanged one of their cryptic, indecipherable looks again.

Before I could ask what it meant, or we could focus on what Xavier was pushing, Saryan told me, “I accept your terms. I will train you.”

“You see that my ability is a major leg up against Constantine?”

“Of course. So long as it can be controlled. Or it could prove a significant detriment. Your celestial magic is also a significant asset, but going up against the likes of Constantine requires there to be contingencies. Not to mention, we now know he’s found a way to infuse others with his dark magic. At present, we have no idea just how many magic-wielders he’s infected.”

“It could be an entire army.”

“Precisely. In that case, the most optimal strategy would be to use your ability to extinguish their magic en masse. It’s more efficient than using your celestial magic, given that it’s not as strong as your mother’s and there are limits to it because of your human side. You use too much at once and it will cause you damage.”

I frowned at him. “You know a lot about my power.”

“I know a great deal about all potential threats to my kingdom.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “So let us conduct this training and ensure you move from a threat to an ally and an asset, yes?”

“Agreed. But I need you to remove this magical vacuum.”

“It’s a precautionary measure.”

“One that’s no longer necessary now that Alena has freely agreed to remain here and also asked for your help,” Orpheus pointed out.

“It’s weakening me,” I told Saryan, as I walked across the room to my men far too unsteadily. “I can’t recoup the blood and magic you took from me while this vacuum is in effect and to endure this upcoming training, I need to be in optimal condition.”

Saryan looked at each of us in turn as he considered what I was asking.

“You all drive a hard bargain. Fine. I’ll remove the vacuum, but you won’t be permitted to leave the Dark Fae Realm nor even the palace, something I will ensure will prove impossible.”

“Sounds fair,” I said.

“Compromising, Father. More than once too. I’m stunned.”

“These are special circumstances.”

“They certainly are.” He smiled at his dad. “Thank you.”

“Of course.”

“We’ll stay with you,” Xavier said.

“That won’t be permitted,” Saryan told him.

“Why the hell not?”

“Alena will need absolute focus to train with me. The three of you will clearly impact that focus. You also won’t approve of my methods.”

“He’s a harsh trainer,” Orpheus interjected.

“That’s not making me feel any better about leaving her here,” Xavier said.

“Me neither,” Talon spoke, stepping to me and wrapping his arm around me protectively.

I smiled out at the two of them. “It’s nothing I can’t handle, sweet things.”

Orpheus was looking back at me with a whole lot of pride shining in his eyes. He knew I could do this and he also recognized how far I’d come since we’d first met.

I knew the other two did too, but they were letting their worry and love for me cloud that currently. It was understandable considering only hours ago they’d witnessed me being brutally attacked at the Academy.

Saryan looked out at Orpheus. “Work on the other front, son.” He gestured at Xavier and Talon. “The time has come for you to reveal your project to them. Now you have overcome your reservations.”

“So you were shaken after everything that’s happened?” Xavier asked Orpheus.

He shoved a hand through his hair. “Yes.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” Talon asked, walking to him and stroking his arm in comfort.

“It wouldn’t have served a purpose.”

“More like you couldn’t admit what you would’ve believed was weakness,” Xavier said.

“No,” I interjected firmly, drawing attention from them all. “He knew we needed him. He was holding everything together, holding us together.”

“Suffering for us,” Talon said, pulling Orpheus to him and wrapping his arms around him.

“Sounds like my son,” Saryan commented.

I saw Xavier soften as the true reality of it settled over him.

“I know you’re trying to protect us all and there’s precedence for your accusations, but things are different now, he’s different. And we really need to pull together on all things now,” I told Xavier. Then I looked out at the three of them. “That includes being okay with me staying here and training with Saryan.”

Xavier blew out a breath. “You’re right, beautiful.” He went to Orpheus. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not needed, but thank you,” he said, pulling from Talon and slap-shaking with Xavier.

“So, what’s this project you’ve been working on?” Xavier asked without any edge this time.

Orpheus smiled. “Something that will alter the entire makeup of the supernatural world.”

Xavier’s eyes widened. “That’s a bold claim.”

Orpheus smirked. “Well, that’s me. Always with a healthy amount of hubris.” He told Xavier and Talon. “Let Alena do what she needs and I’ll show you everything.”

“I’ll remove the vacuum and allow you time to say your goodbyes,” Saryan said.

My gut twisted at his words.

While I knew it needed to be done, that things had to be this way right now, it didn’t take away the pain of the coming separation. Especially when it had been bad enough that we’d been without Orpheus lately.

I took comfort in the fact that it was just temporary and also that what we were doing here would finally end this war, take out Constantine, and give us our lives back.