Page 26 of Unbroken

I stand there in shock as the others all look around us, horrified by the destruction. The night the Light Guardians broke down the magical wards, there was fire and chaos everywhere. Once Michael thought Marcus and I had indeed killed each other, he called all the Light Guardians back. Unfortunately, the damage to the Academy grounds and the buildings was already done.

Ty and Trys both lead the way, touching trees as they pass. Ty in particular loved these woods. This is their home, like literally, considering Headmistress Larrieux hid them away from Lucifer here. I want to fix it for them. I want to bring it all back. How? I don’t know but I will find a way.

We spent a month in the Underworld after Ty, Trys, and Rodyn walked out on Lucifer. Bishop sent us packing a week later, stating it would only be a matter of time until Lucifer refused to take no for an answer and tried to come for them from another twisted angle. Well, screw that. I know coming above ground is a risk. I think I know my enemy well enough now to know that Michael will be keeping his eyes and ears open if I resurface. I am not afraid, and I vow he won’t set foot on these grounds again. I was never allowed to visit Caelum Academy for fear I would be found out. Ha! Well, this time, I’m inviting myself and I am going to blow those doors wide open.

Not that my fa— I pause in my own thoughts. I almost called him father. Have I gotten there yet? I guess, subconsciously, I have.

My thoughts turn to Bishop, our last conversation makes my throat tighten. I can still feel his arms wrapped around me even now. I lost my dad and gained another. The hole in my heart is still there, but Bishop has found a place beside it, and damn, it feels good. The past few weeks in the Underworld have been a trial of ups and downs but I’ve had an opportunity to get to know my biological father, and I hope that when this is all over maybe there can be more.

“When you are ready, I will come. You will not go into battle without me,” Bishop says, his embrace comforting, giving me the strength I need to see this through. I look up at him and see his sadness. I think if he could keep me here, he would, but the sorrow on his face is not for me. I know his thoughts have turned to her. Regardless of where life led her, Bishop held my mother in his heart, and dare I say, that love made him better.

“Whatever it takes, your mission is to get to her. I know she’s still alive. He wouldn’t kill her, not yet. Time moves faster down here, so it hasn’t been that many days since the battle, right?” I ask and he nods in confirmation. “Then that is your mission. When I sever Michael’s connection to the Light Guardians, that will be your opening.” I smile. “He will be too pissed at me to look your way. He will be gunning for me.”

Bishop frowns, not liking the sound of what I just said but we both know that in the end this is my fight. “When this is over, you and I are going to have a good talk about self-preservation,” he says, giving me a wicked smile, then he clutches me harder to his chest. He lays his chin on the top of my head and rocks me slowly. “You brought light into my life once more, daughter. I am forever changed.” Yep, total wobbly lip moment as I hold back my tears.

“You getting soft on me, Chaos Demon?” I lean back and smirk. I’ll do anything to fight the potential downpour from my eyes right now, so sass it is. Of course his eyes blaze white hot for a flicker of a moment and his lips turn down in a menacing snarl.

“Hell no.”

“Micah!” Esme gasps my name and I open my eyes as the memory fades.

“Mi, don’t move,” Marcus says, and I’m instantly on high alert, but I do what he says.

“I had an inkling that you could do this, but I wasn’t sure until now.” Lyrik places his hands on my shoulders, and I lean back to look up at him, clueless as to what they are all so stunned about.

“What’s—"

“Micah, look down,” Rodyn says from somewhere behind me. His tone both urgent and excited. I’m barely aware of my fingers and toes tingling as I slowly look down at the ground, a huge circle of green grass is growing from underneath my feet, spreading wider throughout the woods. Ty and Trys’s whoops and shouts can be heard in the distance, the sound of their feet crunching against gravel as they rush back towards us has me snapping my head back up to see their big, bright smiles.

“You’re doing this, sunshine. How is this possible? Wait, forget I asked a dumb question. You are truly the light, bringer of life and goodness. You saved my tree!” He kisses my cheek and takes off running down the path.

“Kitten, I’m going to reward you so hard later.” Ty plants a quick kiss on my lips, my cheeks flush at the prospect of Ty’s reward as he takes off after Trys, like two crazy puppies bounding through the trees.

“It’s your Earth Elemental magic on steroids,” Esme says as Sam shifts, tearing through his clothes. His massive brown Wolf takes off running through the reviving woods. The fog begins to lift, the clouds part as the first rays of sunshine peek down through the slowly unfurling green leaves on the trees.

Sam’s Wolf howls long and low, after a minute only one Wolf answers. Any of his pack members who survived were sent home.

This, what I’ve just done, is a start in the hope the Academy will resume.

“Well, that was Professor Maverick. I better make myself known. I am sure he and a few other staff are watching this with awe and have a hell of a lot of questions.” Lyrik leans into me, making sure he doesn’t break my connection to the ground and kisses my temple.

“You’ve done so much in such a short period of time. You are truly remarkable, meus amor, and I am honored to have you by my side.” He sighs. “I’d better go find Professor Star. We need to get these wards back up. Marcus, let’s get you settled in. You’re one of us now.” He begins to walk away but Marcus stands beside Esme unsure.

“Who knows what’s going on at Caelum Academy? It feels like it was all a ruse for Michael’s continued war. What will happen to all the students? Me?” He looks so lost, and if I wasn’t channeling power into the ground I would wrap my Panda in a bear hug.

“Well, I know of an Academy that’s going to need a fresh set of students. The Council will have to convene, and a decision will be made, I’m sure. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, you need a place to stay, and the Quads were untouched by the fires and magical blasts,” Lyrik says as his lips find mine once more. Damn it, these men and their kisses, how’s a woman to focus? Lyrik gestures for Marcus to follow and he gives my shoulder a squeeze before he joins Lyrik down the path.

“How Micah? What were you thinking moments ago to make your magic respond this way?” Rook asks as he leans down and brushes his hand over a newly formed white lily.

“I was thinking I wanted to fix it. I wanted to bring it all back. I gave my thoughts intention, and my power did the rest,” I say in astonishment. I’ve been practicing this on a smaller scale for days now in the Underworld. This is a lot of work for my intent, yet I feel I can do more. Even now, my magic flows freely, my limbs are loose at my sides as I freely give to the Earth all around me.

“If you can do this, I don’t see why you can’t use your Angel Fire the same way.” Esme turns to me, and I get a good look at her as she gazes at me in wonder. “You can break the connection,” she says in excitement, but the dark circles under her red tinged eyes won’t allow me to celebrate along with her.

I tilt my head, studying her further. “Esme, are you okay? You look exhausted.” I turn my attention internally to our bond and lock eyes with her once more. “I feel it too.” I raise my eyebrow in question.

“I’m fine. I really am. In fact, I better go find Sam. Coming back here is hard on him.” She hesitates for a second, her mouth parting as if she wants to say more. Just let me in, tell me what’s wrong.Instead, she moves past me and I watch her walk away. I know something is wrong and I hope she will open up about it before whatever it is gets worse.

I sigh as birds begin to sing suddenly, like they’d been holding back their song due to the misery of their once beautiful sanctuary. HellNight Academy has seen nothing but death for years, these grounds are soaked in blood. I can only hope that the blood of the students, faculty, and Light Guardians who fell here were the last ever sacrifices.

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