Page 42 of Unshaken

“Well, you have had one hell of a first week, haven’t you,” he asks as he slowly approaches me with hands raised, like I was a wounded animal ready to attack. Maybe I am wounded, it certainly feels like it on so many levels.

I look down, unable to hold it together any longer. The tears fall, and I curse myself for being weak.Woman the hell up, Micah!I shout at myself. Even as I shout it, I can’t. I have nothing else. I need answers. I need things to slow down for a second so that I can catch my breath.

Strong arms envelop me, holding me tight. The scent of fresh crisp air after it rains, and cedar invades my senses with a hint of chocolate mixed in there. I take a deep breath and he chuckles, the vibrations making me sigh as I begin to relax. I shouldn’t be so relaxed. Oh goodness, can Ty and Trys feel what’s happening?

“Nothing ever worth fighting for is easy, Micah Jones. I want you to remember that for the days ahead,” Professor Bodin whispers into my hair. “I didn’t see this coming when I dropped off your admissions box. But I can tell you that there are a lot of people who don’t want you here or are afraid of you and the power you possess.” I let his words sink in and pull back to look up at him. “That was my main concern when you arrived, now it becomes a hell of a lot more personal.”

“You were the man whistling down the street and one of the voices I heard in the room with all the council members?” I ask. I remember how he defended me when he didn’t even know me.

“If I knew then that you were meant to be mine,” he replies, offering me a soft smile. “Had I known.” He sighs. “No point dwelling on what ifs. How about you go get that air you so desperately need.” He releases me, and I want to run back into his arm and stay there. I am so screwed.

“Thank you, Professor.” I smile, attempting to pull myself together before I leave.

“Lyrik, Micah. Call me, Lyrik.” He smiles. “I will find you later. I heard you have a duel tonight.” He tsks and shakes his head. “You're really a magnet for trouble, and I am taken by surprise with you.” He laughs again.

I can feel his eyes on me as I walk away. I can’t say I don’t like it. But what the hell am I going to do with yet another person bound to me?

Twenty-Six

MICAH

The sun will be setting soon, and I have officially run out of time. Tonight, I have to duel Sasha, whether I want to or not. The entire day went from good to bad, escalating beyond my control so fast that I think I may have whiplash from the impact of it all . . .

I walk to the pavilion alone. I had spent the afternoon by myself hiding away in my house. I was grateful for my new door and furniture and to whoever made it happen so fast. I’d tried to call my mother and father again, but for the thousandth time I got nothing but their voicemail. I’d made an attempt to call Marcus but hung up before long. They are all I have, and as I sat there, I’d let the sting of their rejection inside of me fester; I let my rage fuel me. I might not have wanted to kill Sasha, but this place gives you no choice. The Academy grounds are like a ghost town this time of day; everyone rushing to do their last-minute things before the countdown begins on their tablets.

I’m not sure what to expect when I get to the pavilion, maybe an empty stadium with a few professors to witness the duel. As I approach the entrance it is quiet but there must have been a silencing spell cast on the place. I feel a barrier as I walk through it and pause looking around at the stands full of students who dare defy the night to be here.

“Holy. Shit,” I say out loud.

“Rook, I know I’ve been avoiding you, and I’m sorry,”I say to my Anchor key. I don’t know why I feel the need to say it, but I do, as Professor Maverick beckons me to the center of the ring.

“Micah, it’s me who should apologize. I—”Rook says to me, and a feeling of dread washes over me as I feel his connection is cut.

“What are you not telling me, Rook?”I ask futilely.

“Rook!”I shout his name in my head, but my key is cold against my skin. Lifeless. Did he leave me? Why would he leave me? He was supposed to advise me. In hindsight I should have done more to connect with him, to learn more about my key. I failed to learn anything about him, so caught up in my research about Soul Tethers. I sigh and push it all to the back of my mind, I need to focus.“Never underestimate the situation you’re walking into,” my father’s words come to me unsolicited. A wave of sadness hits me hard just thinking about him. I grit my teeth in frustration.Focus, Micah. No emotions.

“The rules are simple, Miss Jones. This is a magical and physical fight. Don’t leave the fire pit, the duel is over when one of you can’t fight any more,” he explains. “Any questions?”

“Does this mean I don’t have to kill her?” I ask, and he looks at me in surprise. I guess that’s not what he is usually asked.

“Miss Jones, your moral compass won’t save you here. It’s noble of you, and it tells me a lot about you as a person. Heed my advice. Protect yourself, fight for you. She won’t hold back, and neither should you. No, technically she doesn’t have to die.” He leans in looking me straight in my eyes and continues, “Ask yourself this, do you think she would spare you?” He pats my shoulder and walks away as Sasha arrives on the opposite side of the circle.

The crowd goes wild for her. Of course, they do. I look up in the stands and find Ty, Trys and Rodyn sitting together. Trys waves and stands to show off his “Micah is law” t-shirt, and I can’t help the snort of laughter as he does a little dance in the stands.

“YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE!!” he yells, and I can feel myself blush. This man is nuts, and I fall a little deeper for him every day.

Suddenly the crowd goes quiet. The night is cooler with the exiting sun, and I stand in silence, centering myself. I let Professor Maverick’s words sink it. It’s me or her, and I’m definitely walking out of here tonight.

10

The crowd has become the herald of the night. I grab my knives, limbering up my fingers by spinning them in my hands, before I slip them back into my hostlers.

9

I doubt Sasha is going to come at me physically. I wouldn’t peg her as a fighter. Maybe, a scratcher.

8

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