Page 18 of Fortune Fae Academy
“The next Omega I extracted a Shard from was almost successful, if not for her troublesome mate-circle.” He grinned.“I’ve learned from my mistakes. Third time’s the charm,” he said, no doubt referring to our case now. “Roderik, I suggest you keep him still while I work this spell. If you want another dose of toxin from Axel, that is. I won’t repeat history by underestimating an Omega’s mate-circle.”
The Dust soaking through the Regional Alpha’s lips crinkled when he offered a cruel grin. “What kind of spell? As you well know, Axel is mine to control.” He dug his claws into my flesh, making me growl. “I don’t need a spell to do that.”
Amell’s eyes flashed with the future. “You need me, Roderik. You require subtlety against your brute force. Look into the future yourself if you don’t believe me.”
Roderik did as Amell suggested. His rampage through the Web was messy and broke more delicate timelines due to his sheer weight.
What are these damn fae going to do to the world if they’re allowed to reign?
He grunted after a moment, apparently having found the evidence Amell knew he would find. “Very well. Work your spell, Elder.” He locked his claws in place, making nausea roll through my stomach on a wave of pain. “But know that I’m in charge here.”
Amell nodded, then shoved his lit palm against my chest, sending a thousand needles shredding straight through my soul.
My vision broke with silver, distorting everything around me as the spell solidified.
The air constricted, tightening like a vise. My inner voice desperately tried to fight against the pressure as my ears rang with unnatural silence.
Sweat broke out on my brow and my breath came in short gasps.
Amell placed the tip of his finger below my chin, pushing my face up to look into his Dust-filled gaze. Ice wrapped around me like chains, weighing me down.
“You will not speak of anything you’ve learned here,” Amell said in a low whisper. “If you do, this thread will correct the timeline I’ve set you on. The Shard will be ripped from Gina’s soul and her death will be on your hands.”
The Web trembled at his command as the sharp threads dug into my chest.
That’s not possible… is it?I wondered, but since when had the Elders ever told the rest of the fae the truth about their nature?
The truth about the Web?
The future wasn’t an immovable, intangible thing like they suggested.
It wasn’t locked in stone.
The future could be guided and controlled, if one understood the pattern.
“This is the power of an Elder, Sightless one,” Amell said with a sense of victory as he ground his fingers into my shoulder. Despite the hot blood running down my thigh, it was the Elder’s icy grip that hurt the most.
Still, I found the will to glare at him with hatred and a silent vow to kill him, just like I had killed Murdoch.
Somehow, I’d undo this future he’d bound me to. I’d splinter his soul into pieces and unravel it strand by strand.
He laughed as if he could hear my thoughts. “Very little can challenge me.” He glanced at Roderik. “Killing an Elder comes with consequences. It’s a draining act. The Web does not do well with change, and ending an Elder leaves a gaping wound in the fabric of time that demands a price.”
A swallow worked down my dry throat.
My price had been my Sight.
Had Roderik been subjected to a price, too? Was that why Amell wasn’t afraid of him?
My chest burned with the reminder that even if that was true, I couldn’t share that information with Gina. I couldn’t help her read the patterns and unravel these mysteries.
If I breathed a word of this, she could die.
A hot tear ran down my cheek as Amell finally leaned away. “It is done,” he said.
Roderik took his time withdrawing his claws from my leg.
But I stayed very still long after the two Alphas had walked away, conversing about some plan or another that would leave Gina vulnerable.
