Page 3 of Awakened and Betrayed
“Oh no you don’t,” I mutter, as I reach out and grab the rope of magic as it attempts to flash by me. The thought of someone choking my Chosen into submission—which is exactly what is happening to Lachlan and his coven—pisses me the fuck off.
I yank on the cord of magic in an attempt to get a better grip on it and surprisingly the white cord snaps from the elder’s palm. It whips back towards me and then winds itself snake-like up my arm. I stare at it, waiting for the magic to move up to my throat and start choking me too, but it’s still.
I shake my arm around like I’m trying to get somethingickyoff, but the super badass move doesn’t budge the milky coil. I look up to the elder responsible for my new magical cling-on. I’m about to ask him toget it off,but the whiny question sticks in my throat when I take in the look on the elders’ faces.
I see different versions of shock staring back at me from behind the long desk-like table they’re perched behind. Slowly, loaded looks are exchanged, and it becomes clear that some kind of silent conversation is taking place amongst them. The extra paladin who poured into the room at the onset of the shouting match position themselves in front of the elders. Their protective movements making it clear that they now identify me as a threat.
Well, shit.
Snapping himself out of his shocked stupor, the Polynesian-looking elder releases his choke hold on Lachlan and the others. He slowly resumes his seat and clears his throat, his eyes flicking from the stolen magic on my arm to my face.
“Sorry,” I offer sheepishly. “Do you… um… want it back?”
I hope he’s cool with me just keeping it because I’m not sure how the hell to give it back if he answersyes. The weird ass shit that I do is mostly instinctual. It surprises the hell out of me most of the time, and I couldn’t tell you why something works the way that it does. It just does. It’s an in-the-moment-thing. Later, when I try to replicate the things I’ve witnessed my magic do, I can’t.Fickle fucking magic.
Even though I’m just as in the dark about my abilities as everyone else, I feel compelled to offer this armband of magic back to its owner. Maybe it has something to do with the look he keeps giving the magic clinging to my arm, like it’s betrayed him somehow. But before he can respond, the runes on my arm light up and begin to absorb the constricting magical cord.
Well, this is awkward.
In the past, when offensive magic has been thrown my way a shield or two pops up to deal with it, so I’m not quite sure what to think of my rune’s new desire toeatthe magic instead. I try to act super nonchalant and unfazed about whatever the fuck just happened.
The fact that the elders have front-row seats in witnessing some of myunique abilitiesis not ideal. I don’t want to be categorized as more of a threat, and I don’t want them more curious about me than they already are.
Really magic?I scold, and then I give it a little pat. It did keep the guys from getting choked out, so I can’t be too mad.
Elder Balfour breaks the weighted silence and begins to call everyone back to order, chastising Lachlan’s coven and the guys for their unappreciated disruption. A sudden flash of pain keeps me from tracking what he and the other elders are saying. I try to pant through the burning onslaught discreetly, and thankfully it ends after about ten seconds, which is the fastest it’s ever taken for me to get new runes.
Relieved that no one seems to be noticing my sudden pain-induced distraction, I casually look down and find a single new rune on the sides of my hands.Please don’t tell me I’ve somehow unknowingly connected myself to this fucking elder? I silently plead with my magic.
I scan the mystery elder’s hands, but I don’t spot any marks on him. The fact that he didn’t start shouting from a sudden attack of pain supports my hope that the new rune is only for me. The weight of someone’s stare pulls me from my introspection, and I find Elder Cleary watching me shrewdly.
Nothing to see here, I repeatedly chant in my head, before I try to ignore him and check back into what’s going on around me.
“Thank you, Conscript Fierro, for your candor. We will accept your petition for a Bond Claim and review its merits.”
I turn excitedly to Valen, but the look on his face tells me that I’ve missed something. My smile falters, and the use of my name pulls my attention back to the elders.
“Paladin Aylin, your claim on Vinna Aylin is hereby severed. Until this council makes a decision in regards to the Bond Claim submitted by Conscript Fierro on behalf of his coven, a temporary claim will be assigned. Brothers, please speak your recommendations now.”
I wait anxiously for the elders to start discussing what they’re going to do with me, but it doesn’t take long to realize that the conversation is once again taking place in their heads. I shoot a panicked look at Valen as the room fills with a heavy silence. He runs his finger discreetly over the runes behind his ear.
“Don’t worry, Vinna. This will probably only be for a couple of weeks. They don’t take long to decide on Bond Claims. You’ll be back with us soon.”
His words do nothing to lessen the panic rising inside of me. An orange crackle of magic moves over my palms, and I ball my hands into fists to hide it. Two weeks of living with who the fuck knows, and that’s if the elders accept the Bond Claim. They could reject it. Then what the hell am I supposed to do? Before I can mentally shout any of this at Valen, Elder Nypan’s voice slices through the quiet.
“It is agreed; temporary claim will be given to Elder Cleary until a decision is made on the Bond Claim petition.”
“What the fuck?” I exclaim loudly.
My outrage is drowned out by a flurry of activity as the elders hurry from their thrones and quickly rush out through a door behind them.Better run you fucking cowards.As the last elder scrambles out of the room, I turn to go to my Chosen. A large group of strange paladin are surrounding me, blocking my access.What the hell?I spot Ryker between the shoulders of the two paladin directly in front of me, and I see that a separate group of paladin are herding him and the others away.
Panic floods me, and my magic answers its call. Orange, pink, and purple flashes skate over my skin, and I quickly track my options for escape like a cornered dog.
“Stop!” Ryker shouts, but he’s ignored and pushed away. “She’s going to lose it, you moon-cursed assholes, just let me talk to her, and then I’ll leave.”
I reach for the magic in the runes for my short swords. The guy to my left is about my size and looks like the weakest link. I formulate a plan to take him out first.
“Squeaks, stop!”
