17. Chapter Seventeen

CHAOS

The classroom setting isn't working well. I've never been a fan of these rigid constructs, anyway. Magic is meant to be felt, not discussed in hypotheticals behind cold, stone walls. I can see the others are struggling, too, their minds too wild and free to be caged by these archaic methods.

"Chaos," Rose purrs, her voice silky and coaxing, drawing me from my thoughts. The way she articulates my name, dripping with seductive intent, suggests she's gearing up to ask for something daring. She might think she's being cunning, luring me into agreement with her sultry tones. Little does she know, I'm already poised to grant her every wish.

Anything at all.

But if she thinks she needs to use that sweet bedroom voice? I'll let her keep thinking it.

"Soul bond," I muse, turning to meet her big blue eyes.

"Think we could move this lesson outside?" Rose suggests, her fingers lightly dancing on the top of my hand. She looks to the others. "All in favor?"

A grin splays on my lips. She thinks she's got me wrapped around her finger, but that's because she does.

The response is both immediate and unanimous, everyone's hands shooting up into the air. Even Theo, generally more reserved and academic in nature, agrees. We've been at this for weeks, and they're ready for practical application.

As a unit, the group moves, abandoning the oppressive classroom to enjoy the fresh air and open sky. Other students mill about, passing between their summer classes and the library, casting curious glances our way. We garner attention, that much is certain; a mismatched collection of fae and one newly made, all led by Rose and her many mates. The whispers are as loud as shouts in the silence that follows our procession. With a snap of my fingers, I redirect their attention elsewhere, a small illusion reminding them of their own business.

The rest of campus still think I'm the dean.

As we relocate to the lush green field nearby, Rose's smile widens. She leans against a nearby tree, eyeing the emerald blanket beneath our feet. Her fingers trail aimlessly over the rough bark of the tree, leaving a faint trail of shimmering blue where she touches. It's midday, and even without the cover of the moon to amp up her magic, she's growing in power.

"When do we get our wings?" Mekhi reclines in the tall grass, chewing on a blade of it between his teeth.

This field is all whispgrass. Judging by the amusement on Theo's face, he knows exactly what it does. It has a honey-like taste, but also affects the senses, enhancing everything from sight to touch. Most fae are cautioned against ingesting it, but in this case, Mekhi grew up on Earth as a witch. I imagine that Rose doesn't know, either.

They don't know that it tends to … heighten certain desires. But it doesn't kick in until many hours later. Probably when he's sleeping.

Deakan and Jax, lounging on either side of Mekhi, exchange a glance before grinning in unison. "Don't tell him," Deakan whispers, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Tell who what?" Mekhi plucks another blade and puts it between his tongue and cheek.

Rose, not in on the joke, glances between each of us with suspicion.

"Nothing," Jax quickly answers, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he sprawls out lazily. His fingers toy with a blade of whispgrass before he tucks it behind his ear and smirks at Mekhi.

"Wondering when you'll get your wings, are you?" I muse. "Soon. I think we need to switch things up. Start doing more practical applications. Anyone fancy a trip? Say … in two weeks?"

"A trip?" Rose perks up at this.

"Yes, a trip," I reply, "To the Aether Plains. We will need to familiarize ourselves with the essence of godhood. It's not something you can grasp in a classroom or a field of whispgrass."

A murmur of excitement ripples through the group, even though we all know this is not a simple joyride. The Aether Plains are dangerous and have volatile energies that even the most powerful fae struggle against.

"Doesn't it take days to get there? You can't sift in and out." Kieran, who'd been sitting at the base of the tree next to Rose, sits up.

Theo grins. "No, but you can fly." I can already see his mind turning. He knows exactly where I'm going with this.

"And the journey itself will serve as a lesson," I add, looking at each of them in turn. "On endurance, resilience, teamwork, and above all, faith in your own strength. You will not merely be traveling to the Aether Plains; you will be surviving it." A prelude to ascension.

Deakan grins wolfishly, his lion fae nature sparking in his eyes as he rubs his hands together in anticipation.

Jax scowls at me. I'll need to sort him out before he ruins things for the rest of the group. His dragon fae rarely stirs, but when it does, it becomes a beast hard to manage. He's more than capable of putting out our fledgling fire. "Jax, problem?" I ask, keeping my voice casual, non-confrontational.

He crosses his arms over his chest, a defensive posture. "Only two of us have wings."

I grin at him.

In the wild expanse of the Aether Plains, danger is as common as the grass underfoot, and the nights are fraught with bloodvines, shadow wraiths, and will-o'-the-wisps. My plan, while laced with risk, needs a strategic layer to ensure Rose's focus remains on the mate she's with each night, without the constant worry for the safety of the others.

"Here's the challenge," I begin, capturing the group's full attention as we circle around the map of the Aether Plains I've charmed into the grass. "Each night, one of you gets to spend the night with Rose in the cabin, while the others will activate the barrier. This will give Rose the opportunity to have one-on-one time with everyone, while the mates have time to bond, too."

I point to several spots on the map marked with runes. "These cabins are protected by ancient fae magic, but that magic needs to be activated nightly by the guardians on duty. The mate inside with Rose is exempt for the night, giving them uninterrupted time to deepen their bond."

"The guardians will rotate," I continue, "ensuring everyone has equal chances. While one of us enjoys the solitude with Rose, the others will be responsible for maintaining a magical barrier around the cabin. This barrier will not only protect them from the dangers lurking in the plains but also strengthen their mastery over elemental and defensive magic."

Jax, his earlier reluctance fading into a more calculated gaze, nods slowly. "It's a real test of our abilities then."

"Exactly," I affirm, pleased with his understanding. "It's about more than endurance; it's about reliance and trust. If you're inside, you trust your mate's mates to keep the dangers at bay. If you're outside, you're the bastion against the night."

Rose looks between us, her initial hesitation melting. "I love it. It means every night, regardless of where I am, I know you're all working together. It's comforting. But what am I to do? I can't just sit back and relax."

I shake my head, pausing to gather the right words, aware of the gravity they carry. So much could go wrong. Each of them could die. Bonds could be severed. But the one thing we can count on is getting it done in time—twenty-four hours might not seem like a lot of time, but it is when you take the summer to prepare. "Yours is the hardest task of all. You're the heart of us, and while the rest of us bend our powers to protect and provide, you must do the most challenging work: bond with us. Each of us. Deeply, meaningfully. Because it'll take everything from you to ascend. And if one of your bonds to us is weak? It will be severed during ascension."

Panicked shouts erupt from everyone.

"And there's no getting it back."

"So even if we all survive it, I could still lose any one of you?!" Tears spring to Rose's eyes, threatening to spill. "It's not worth it." She shakes her head, hysteria building in her voice. "I can't … I can't risk losing any of you."

The urgency in Rose's voice stabs at my heart, her tears an echo of the fears I know all too well. Without hesitation, I stretch out my hand, a subtle twist of my fingers weaving a stillness through the field. Time bends at my command, and the others freeze mid-gesture, mid-breath, their concerns suspended in the air like particles of dust.

All but my soul bond and me.

I cross the space between us in a heartbeat, pulling Rose into my arms. Campus is silent, a quiet tableau except for us, the only sounds our breathing and the soft rustle of fabric as I draw her closer.

"Rose," I whisper, my words low and earnest against her ear. "I know the weight of what I'm asking. It's immense, and it scares me too. But I wouldn't have proposed this path if I didn't believe in us, in you. Each of us chose this, knowing the stakes. Because to ascend with you, to be bound by something so profound—we all believe it's worth the risk."

Her body trembles against mine, the sobs she'd been holding back now breaking free. I hold her tighter, a promise in the circle of my arms. "You won't lose us, Rose. I swear on everything I am, we'll get through this together. Every step, every challenge. Because what we're building here isn't just about power or immortality. It's about forging unbreakable bonds."

Slowly, I pull back to look into her eyes, ensuring she sees the truth of my words reflected in mine. "Let me show you how strong our bonds can be," I say softly. "Trust me, trust us, to be as committed to you as you are to us."

With a gentle finger, I wipe away the tears that stain her cheeks, each one a witness to her love and fear. Then, carefully, I release the threads of time, allowing the frozen moment to thaw, the background noise returning, the academy coming back to life around us.

Everyone resumes motion, unaware of the pause, their expressions still caught in a mix of concern and confusion. But Rose, steadied by our moment in the eye of her storm, nods slowly, her bravery and mettle hardening once more.

"We'll do it together," she says, her voice stronger now, infused with the courage I've come to adore. "No one gets left behind."

I smile, the pride in her rallying spirit warming me more than any show of power could. "Exactly," I reaffirm, my gaze sweeping over the group, ready to face whatever comes our way, together.

Deakan grins, clapping his hands together with enthusiasm. "Sounds like a plan. Dangerous, sure, but since when has that stopped us? And we're rock-solid," he gestures to Rose and back to himself, "nothing is going to break what we have. Nothing."