Page 53

Headmistress pulled a small knife from her side and sliced it down her palm. Within seconds, blood pooled in her hand and dropped to the floor.

“Magic lives within us all.” She lifted her other hand, palm down, and raised it. The blood droplets on the floor rose into the air. “Within the confines of The Golden City, you will wield magic to protect yourself and others when necessary.”

She lowered her hand. The blood fell.

“Magic always, however, comes with a price. Each one of us has a certain limitation, a certain stopping point at which our blood magic source will stop giving to us.”

“How do we refuel it?” Espek asked, pursing his lips in thought.

“Time,” Headmistress responded. “Or, if you aren’t lucky enough to have time on your hands, the bond.”

“What if you bond with someone who is weaker than you with their magic?” he pushed.

“You will only have access to whatever your partner has left when you bond. Therefore, the decision on who to bond with is an important one. Choose poorly, and it could be your life on the line. Now, everyone, stand up. I’m going to teach you all how to call upon your blood magic.”

Great.

I stood in my seat next to Lanson. Wolf had thankfully chosen a seat near the far side of the study chamber, which left me room to breathe.

After our encounter in the woods last night, I found myself thinking about him nonstop.

But with Lanson talking to me and bumping my shoulder with his from time to time, I could at least pretend I was focused.

I pulled Venom from my thigh, watching as every other student with a weapon did the same. Some people, like Ashlani, didn’t have a weapon of their own, so they were forced to share.

But nobody else was touching Venom.

“As you probably know by now, the very walls of this castle are blessed with the archangels’ magic. Once your blood hits the ground with a clear mind and set intentions, you’ll begin to feel the pull.”

Ryder cut his hand first, followed by the fae around him.

I watched as Voiler did the same, followed by Ashlani and Lanson.

I placed Venom’s blade on my skin.

And I cut.

Clear mind and set intentions.

It sounded easy, but my mind was absolute chaos, and my intentions were anything but set.

“Different bloodlines will feel different pulls to magic. This will differ greatly from natural magic, so prepare yourselves.”

I tensed immediately. After barely summoning natural magic, my hopes were low, but my guard was up.

I fought the urge to turn to Wolf.

“Relax,” Lanson whispered beside me. “You’ll do great.”

Blood pooled in his own hand, ready to fall.

Ready to test.

I flipped my palm, letting the droplets hit the stone, magic-infused ground of the castle.

My eyes squeezed shut in anticipation as I waited for it—whatever it was. A rush of power? Some magical light? Anything.

But nothing came.