Page 13 of Black Onyx
“Impressive,” Mayhem says, once the class is over and earns a scowl from Storm.
“Lunch!” Loki exclaims excitedly, running past me and into the locker room. He trips over fuck knows what, and I react instinctively.
I throw my hands out, forgetting that most people need to use words to control their magic. It's too late now. I stop him millimetres from falling on the edge of his sword, using air to stand him upright again and floating his sword back into his hand.
“Didn’t anyone teach you not to run with swords?” I chastise.
“How did you do that?” Storm asks, for once no sneer on his face.
I shrug, not willing to answer and push past them into the locker room, quickly putting away my sword.
“We’ll order food up to the room. I’ve got to get my books for magical battle theory.” Loki says, “You’re with me, Farren.”
“Sounds good,” I reply.
My magic’s beginning to stir, which I’m hoping means that the potion is nearly out of my system, and I should start healing soon.
“What do you fancy?” Reaper asks me when we get to the room.
I have a mild panic.
“Erm, just get me whatever you’re having?” I ask, and he smiles softly.
I try not to notice how his smile lights up his eyes. I get up to distract myself and make my way to the kitchen to grab a coffee. Storm steps up next to me to make his own cup, and I see something move out of the corner of my eye. I turn to get a better look and notice shadows curling their way through his fingers.
No fucking way! Storms got shadow manipulation. That’s as rare as rocking horse shit. No one known has had that gift for fucking centuries, and his is bloody strong.
He grumbles under his breath as his magic signature increases in the air around us, gaining the guys' attention. The black inky shadows he controls reach for me, and he tries to pull them back, but they don’t seem to let him.
“Storm,” Rival says carefully, a warning in his tone.
Ignoring the vicious scowl on his face and the warning in Rival’s voice, I can’t help but be enthralled as the shadows curl around my fingers, weaving in and out. If I didn’t know better, I’d say they were playing? I bring my hand closer to my face, completely missing everyone’s reactions around me. As soon as it's close enough, the shadows gently nuzzle my cheek, and I smile.
"Hey, that tickles," I smile fondly, and the shadows do it again, and I just can’t help the following words that come out of my mouth, “You know you’re kind of cute."
The portion of shadows that are reaching for me from him breaks completely from Storm and forms itself into the form of a massive smoky edge dog with glowing amber eyes and deadly claws and teeth that could break you in one bite. He comes forward, wagging his tail and nuzzles his massive head under my palm.
"So, fucking cute."
"What the fuck is happening? Did you do that?" Mayhem asks.
"Fuck no! You know the shadows, they've got a mind of their fucking own. They've decided they like her, obviously." Storm says through a clenched jaw, clearly not pleased by the development.
I tilt my head to the side, making it evident that I’m studying him. He sighs heavily, his ice cold stare intact until he raises a single eyebrow at me.
"What?" He growls impatiently.
"Just trying to figure out what would get the biggest reaction out of you and finally crack that emotionless mask you hide behind," I say bluntly as I study his features.
“Farren,” Rival warns me this time, and I smirk, ignoring him.
"So far, I have two options, the first being to punch you in that sinful mouth of yours. The second is to kiss you fucking stupid." I shrug and suppress a chuckle as heat flares in his eyes briefly before he snuffs it back out. "Ah, now isn’t that interesting?"
He sneers at me and forcibly calls his shadows back to him. They reluctantly go, and I’m a bit sad they’ve left if I’m honest. He stomps into his room.
“Foods here!” Loki calls out into the silence as someone knocks on the door.
Poca growls deeply next to me, and I tense, all signs of the previous light-heartedness disappearing in an instant.
