Page 29 of Unshaken

“The Soul Tether can be equated to the mate bond, soul bond, or fated mate phenomenon experienced by other Supernatural species. The Soul Tether being the rarest of them all.” I pause as a voice reads from a book in a whisper to themselves. Not wanting to frighten whoever is reading from the exact books I need I silence my steps with a sound tapering spell. With the spell in place, I make my way towards the voice.

“Soul Tethers, like all the other bonds, are instantaneous when the Witch or Warlock first encounter their Tether. The pull between the two parties can be akin to magnets, causing the pair or pairs to seek each other. The need will only grow stronger until the Tether is solidified.” I stop with my back against the row, listening intently to the whispered words, and these words don’t fill me with confidence.

“The stronger the Witch or Warlock is, the more Tethers he or she may acquire. The Tether’s magic is meant to boost and focus the magic of the Witch or Warlock they have been bound to. In turn, their magic also receives the same boost in power. If the Tethers are strong magically, then the one they are bound to could harness an immeasurable amount of power. The same will apply to the Tethers. The arrangement is a cyclical and continual give and take between all bonded parties. That is why a bond like this is rare. Coveted even. A myth to some. Of course, there is no way to foretell who will be connected to the Witch or Warlock in question, this is the great unknown to those of us who study the subject of bonds. It is truly down to fate. Soul Tethers will vary in gender, no matter sexual orientation. The Tether will make the parties crave each other. The need and desire of their Witch or Warlock to complete the Tethering ritual will become overwhelming. The branding and the sexual exchange will bond the pair or pairs together forever. From my studies, the relationship between the Tether’s don’t always remain sexual. In fact, the relationship between Tethered mates can change into a relationship of companionship. But this too is rare.” Is this shit for real? I don’t believe in fate. There is no rhyme or reason behind this at all. Although, the power boost would be nice. Whoever is reading blows out a breath, as if relieved. I need see who it is.

“Rejection. Rejection,” I hear a soft feminine voice say as they blow out a breath of frustration as the sound of a book closes and another one opening has me moving closer. My curiosity is piqued, why would they be looking for a way to reject the Tether? Unless . . . I reach the last row before the study area and I peek around the corner, sucking in a sharp breath as I recognize the white hair spilling over the book she’s reading from.What’s her name again?I wonder to myself. I stay out of sight so she doesn’t notice me.

“To reject your Tether has the same effect as all the bonds. The Tether is left bereft, unable to form any lasting sexual relationships, pining, or in some circumstances, craving the Witch or Warlock they are supposed to be Tethered to. According to a study of a couple who rejected their Tethers, the breaking of this particular bond can drive the Tether to madness, instead of love and an everlasting Tethering, they became obsessed. See page 876 on death.” I listen to her frantically flipping the pages until she continues.

“The only way to free yourself of the pain of rejection is through death. This will cause the Witch or Warlock’s soul to fracture and is almost unheard of amongst the cases I have studied. The only way to break the Tether is also through death. The same consequences apply. Both of these options cause insurmountable pain for both parties and should not be taken lightly. Soul Tethering is a spiritual and magical bond, I wouldn’t recommend killing oneself over it.” I hear the book close, and I make my move. There is nothing I can do. I’m trapped. Unless . . .

Removing the silencing spell, I make My presence know. “Well, it looks like you and I are screwed. More you than me,” I say as I appear from the side of the row I was hiding behind and reveal myself. The only way through this with some semblance of normality is to kill the source.

It’s my life or hers.

Nineteen

MICAH

It’s Friday afternoon, the sun is shining down on my skin in a wash of warmth that has me sighing in relief. It is the last class of the day, Magical Combat, A.K.A. Dueling. We are all standing in the Pavilion. It’s not quite a stadium, more of a small gladiator arena. There are seats for viewing, but I found out this week that there aren’t any sports played at HellNight Academy. Oh no, it is used for this class and the nightly fight club where students fight each other for power and magical gains. There is no win or lose. Duelers fight to the death. The official rules of HellNight.

This place is fucked up, point blank. My combat uniform sticks to my skin as my chest heaves from the drills Professor Maverick has been running for us. With a slam of his silver Anchor key into the ground of the Pavilion floor, Professor Maverick transforms the field around us. Fire pits, water trenches with electrical force fields, wind traps, and platforms that shoot out wooden spikes.

Today, we have to face various obstacle courses while we fight our way out of them with both our magical powers and physical prowess. I have no problem with the latter, but I’m not fast enough with casting my magic, and it is going haywire throughout the course, but I am determined to master it. Let’s just say more than half of the class has been sent to the hospital wing for multiple injuries, and I am lucky to make it through unscathed. I have even managed to cause a few of those incidents myself. I know I will only get better if I practice, so I make a note to self to get my two beautiful twin soldiers to spar with me. There is no point of having all of this power if I can’t wield it. My magic feels wilder, more turbulent when I call it forth, and I have a feeling that it has everything to do with my Tethers and completing the bond between us.

Despite my rocky start, I manage to make it through this week without any more drama. My Ritualist Practice class had been cancelled all week due to Professor Bodin’s absence for some reason or another, so I took the opportunity to explore the Academy grounds. I felt better after I familiarized myself with my surroundings. Of course, Ty and Trys decided that they would be my personal tour guides so I didn’t miss anything, even the occasional detour for a double make out session. I wasn’t complaining, but like Rook warned, the desire between us has skyrocketed, it takes all the strength I have not to complete the Tether between us. A woman has needs; pleasuring myself at night to the screams and carnage outside does not help my libido at all. I am a raging ball of need ready to explode. So far, I am sustaining, but my will is fraying like a snag in my tights. The more need pulls at me, the more cracks form in my resolve. I don’t know how long I am going to keep the twins back. They are just as desperate as I am.

“Remember to take the class seriously. Some of you, like Ms. Monroe here turning up late thinking your name will get you sway in my class. Well, let me tell you, it won’t. I am here to train you, to prepare you for any eventuality. You never know when the person next to you will challenge you in the night arena. Your name won’t mean shit when you are fighting for your life and your magic status in the fire pit.” Professor Maverick is a Wolf Shifter, he has to be about seven foot tall, with muscles on top of muscles. His long blond hair is tied in a top knot and his tight shorts leave nothing to the imagination. I keep my eyes trained on his face as he speaks directly to Sasha. She is standing there with a look of embarrassment and her bottom lip poked out for sympathy, as her little support group stands behind her stroking her inflated ego.Does she sweat at all? And why the hell can’t she find clothes that fit?I wonder to myself as I try to hold back my laughter, but my mouth betrays me.

The entire group turns to face me. “You think that’s funny, bitch?” Sasha asks, and I can’t help it. I laugh again. I mean, she looks like a clown, the makeup, the over exaggerated push up bra, all she is missing is a bright red nose and floppy red shoes.

“Sasha, my sincere apologies, I would never laugh at you,” I say with so much sugar in my voice that the sarcasm flies over her head. This is what Rodyn rejected me for? “I realize that you can’t help yourself, bless your heart.” I smile. I handled that well. What I wanted to do was goad her into attacking me so I could knock her flat on her ass. But I chose the high road. See, I am merciful.

“You think I don’t see what you're doing here? Thinking you can lay claim to Ty and Trys. They don’t belong to you, and neither does my Rodykins!” she yells, causing her dumb squad to yell as well, shaking their fists at me. OK, so maybe she’s not as stupid as I think. I don’t want her Rodykins, it’s more the other way around, I can feel his eyes on me all the time.

From what I managed to read in the books Ty, Trys and I found in the special access section of the library, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. Esme, either. I haven’t bumped into her physically, but I have sensed her around, watching.

Well, I guess it’s time for me to piss on what’s mine, so all these heifers know what’s up. “One: take up your issues with RODYKINS, with him. Your insecurity in your relationship doesn’t concern me in the least,” I say without a care in the world. I shrug. “It has nothing to do with me, you can keep him,” I continue, even though this stupid ache in my chest flares to life at the mere mention of me denying my Tether. “Two: these two—” I point to Trys, who’s standing behind me, and to Ty, who’s standing behind Professor Maverick, who is watching this exchange with interest but letting it play out. “—are mine. I don’t need to argue or fight about it, do I, gentleman?” I smirk. I can be just as petty, and I don’t care anymore. She’s done nothing but talk trash about me all week after what happened on my first day here. One incident and she thinks she is going to ride on the coat tails of my misery until she finds something else she can rant and rave about. This playground bullying mentality most of the students have going for them is exhausting.

“What?! I’m a Monroe! How dare you talk to me like that!” Sasha sneers and attempts to cross over to me, and I’m wishing on the stars in the sky that she tries it. Please give me a reason. “Ty, Trys, she's bewitched you, coerced you. I know you’re a powerful Demon spawn! Release them this instant!” she shouts at me, and I promise her makeup is slipping off her face. So, she can sweat after all. Not going to lie, the Demon spawn stung a bit, especially since my parents have yet to return my calls. Marcus either. Fuck.

Trys starts clapping behind me, and the air in the Pavilion begins to change, and I realize that it’s coming from him. In this past week, I’ve learned that Trys can be unpredictable, with a very short fuse. He goes from smiling and joking to an uncontrollable blood lusting beast, but I have managed to pull him back every time. It’s been a lesson of patience and understanding on my part because I don’t know where it all stems from. Well, I can guess. Headmistress Larrieux has done a number on her children. Professor Maverick steps forward, ready to intervene. From the look in his eyes, he is expecting all hell to break loose at any moment.

“She’s our Soul Tether, and you will not disrespect her with the foul shit that’s spewing from your lips. I will rip your tongue—”

I reach behind me and grab his hand, intertwining our fingers, hoping that my touch alone with calm him, and cringing at what he just revealed to the entire class, including our professor. Everyone around us goes quiet for a second, letting what Trys said soak in before the whispers pick up again. I wanted to keep our connection under wraps, but I’m expecting this bit of juicy gossip to spread like wildfire with Sasha Monroe feeding the flames. He just gave Sasha more to add to her arsenal against me.

“OK, before this gets out of hand, class dismissed. Miss Monroe, you got beef with Miss Jones, you know what to do. If not, keep your shit to yourself.” He wolf whistles, and we all disburse.

I can hear Sasha's friends consoling her, but I don’t care to look behind me. I know this bomb drop is going to bite me on the ass, I need to be ready for when it happens.

“I’m sorry, sunshine. If it weren’t for her betrothal to Rodyn and my mother outright forbidding it, I would kill her. Cut out her tongue and feed the rest of her to my souls,” Trys says happily as we make our way to the changing room, like talking about death and how you want to kill someone is normal for a Friday afternoon.

“Oh, don’t worry, Trys. I have a feeling in my gut that her life belongs to me. She’s not going to stop. Especially when she falls prey to Rodyn’s waning affections,” I reply. Another side effect of him openly rejecting me apparently. Not going to lie, that one made me whoop secretly in excitement. How can you hate someone you barely know? At the moment, Rodyn is number one on my list.

“You know I’ll be rooting for you, kitten. I bet you look delicious wearing someone else’s blood.” Ty comes up behind me, slapping my ass as his dark words sink into my skin, sending a blazing heat of desire through me as I mentally picture myself bathing in blood.Yikes, OK, Micah, reign that shit in.I snap out of that thought, wondering why the hell that turned me on, when my chest begins to ache suddenly. A sharp pain that takes my breath away. I stop and look around, wondering if what I feel means one of my other Tethers is in distress, but when the pain doesn’t return after a minute, I ignore it and continue walking.

“Are you OK, Micah?” Ty and Trys ask at the same time with concern in their eyes. My eyes keep wandering, searching for either Rodyn or Esme, but neither one of them are out here.

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