Page 23 of A Sky of Storms
Kayden burst out laughing, and I had to admit, it was pretty freaking hard to contain my chuckle. That poor, sweet, innocent child was going to be picked on all his life. What kind of heartless parents would do that to their son!?
Luna cleared her throat. “Mister Jobs. When faced against someone with nullifying magic, what are your options?”
“Ummm.” Dick looked around nervously, panic setting in as he realised no one would help him.
“Get on your knees and beg for forgiveness,” Kayden shouted. A chorus of laughter from his followers echoed after him.
“I asked what Mister Jobs would do, not you,” Luna said, sighing heavily.
“I’d get on my knees for the right girl,” Kayden replied, ignoring the instructor and looking at me, wiggling his brows. “And I wouldn’t be the one begging.”
My cheeks flushed, though they weren’t the only part of my body that heated. Luna began to give an explanation but my mind was too focused on imagining Kayden’s words to hear a single thing she said. Fuck. I couldn’t let him do this to me.Focus Fallon, for gods’ sake!
“Right. I want you to pair up with someone who has magic in the same vein. Mr Warner, work with Mr Jobs here. Dick needs an experienced hand and I’m sure if you show him your skills, you’ll help him release his magic.” I snorted, and a few other snickers circled the room, but the teacher didn’t appear to notice. “Your power is too dangerous, Ace, and I can’t risk someone getting zapped in the eye.”
Ace scowled, his slate gaze moving to Dick. The kid just about melted from fright as that scary mofo approached him with a dangerous glint in his eye. I sighed, looking around the group for potential opponents. There were only four students in this class from Stormcrest City, and as two of them paired off with each other, my heart sank.
“Looks like you’re stuck with me, little sis,” Victoria sneered as she led us over to an arena with miscellaneous items, presumably to use for telekinesis. “I promise not to go too hard on you.”
I positioned myself opposite her, finding her smiling smugly like she’d already won the match. “That would be a first,” I said with a click of the tongue, shaking my head. “It must be so tiring.”
“What is?”
I smiled sweetly. “Being such a bitch all the time.”
Her eyes simmered with rage, and she swung her hands up, her irises flashing a vibrant copper as she flung two sacks at me, but I was ready. I grinned, cartwheeling as one of the sacks sailed past me and took out a group of students. I jerked my head to send the other one surging back to Victoria. It hit her in the stomach and she went flying, her blond hair streaming out from its ponytail.
“Holy shit,” Kayden boomed from somewhere behind me. I turned to see him take out his cuff and begin recording. “Cat fight between the Auger girls.”
I heard the clamour of students gathering behind me, but I didn’t have time to pay them heed as Victoria picked up a student—a freaking student—and sent them careening into my side. I slammed to the ground with an oomph, thankful for the grass cushioning my fall. I couldn’t say the same for the student though. Oh, shit, it had to be Dick, too. The guy whimpered, clutching his arm to his chest.
“Sorry about that,” I muttered, patting him awkwardly on the back before racing back to my sister.
We stared each other down and she flicked her hair from her face, shooting me daggers with her eyes. “You’re nothing,” she spat. “Just a backup in case anything happens to the real heir of House Jupiter.”
“If you’re so special, Victoria, why would our parents feel the need to have me at all?” I remarked casually. “You’re expendable, just like the rest of us. Replaceable. Ordinary.”
She screeched, and a barrage of sacks, balls, punching bags and other odd assortments came rushing at my face. I ducked and sprinted between them, conjuring my wings to give me a burst of speed, halting at the last second before I could collide with her and instead surging into the sky. She blinked, and I knew I had her.
A torrent of sacks belted her back and she tumbled forwards, crushed beneath their weight. The class laughed, and I couldn’t help the victory grin which pulled my lips. I bet Daddy Dearest would have a few things to say about her failure if he saw the video.
“Well done, Miss Auger,” Luna said, appearing beside me, that awful grin back on her face again. I just about jumped out of my skin. Stunning as she was, she was damn creepy. “You can take five, then I want you to practice keeping five of those items suspended for as long as you can. Sheer strength is one thing, but maintaining focus is another.” She shot a sharp look at the audience, who quickly returned to sparring with their own partners.
I grinned, feeling my chest puff with pride. It felt good to get a win for once. Not to mention being praised for doing something well. I couldn’t remember the last time my parents had ever done that …ifthey’d ever done that. That sudden realisation sent that floating feeling plummeting in my stomach. I glanced at Victoria, who was only now crawling out of the sack pile, shaking off her friends and barking at them to back off.
I took a slow breath as she shot me a death glare. There would be repercussions for what I’d done—for the video that was now pinging on everyone’s cuffs on the Acadameet app. Shit.
Oh well, that was tomorrow’s problem, and right now I was more than content to bask in the sun and watch Kendra take on Kayden and his beefy biceps. My new friend was a little badass, I had a feeling she could handle herself.
My attention drifted to the battles taking place around the meadow, and I couldn’t help but smile as I caught sight of Zane practicing with a group of other Tritosians, his long hair rippling in the breeze and shirt off. His tanned skin glimmered in the sun, and I took a minute to appreciate the vee dipping below his pants. For someone as gorgeous as him, his mellow attitude was refreshing as fuck. I wasn’t sure if pairing Tritosians together made much sense because they were all sitting in a circle as if meditating, appearing completely Zen and at ease as they nulled each other’s powers and just chilled out.
After practising for a while, I jogged towards the shower block, heading towards the entrance of the ladies’ changeroom when I noticed Ace in the distance, stepping out of a side door. He shut it, then tapped the keypad next to it, making it flash red.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me as I stepped towards him.
He looked up, narrowing his gaze at me. “None of your business.”
“Sneaking past locked doors, huh?” My lips curved. “Not suss at all.”
