Page 54 of Above (Darkness Reigns #1)

Nova

“Today I went into the pawn shop. I was scared the owner would tell the officials about what I had stolen, but he didn’t. Instead, he smiled and gave me twice as much coin as I thought he would. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt like I could trust someone other than Celeste and our parents.”

“ W elcome to the silver phase,” Captain Zade said. We all stood at attention, each of us ready to move on from the previous day of slaughtering everyone we loved in illusions. “This will be your most difficult challenge yet.”

How it could get worse, I didn’t know.

“Over the course of the next four weeks, your training class will be in charge of conquering planet nine-three-four.” A collective gasp swept through the courtyard, none of us prepared for her to say that.

Well, none of us but the cores. My head swung toward Talon, but he wasn’t looking at me.

His face remained blank, staring forward at his mother.

It was the first time in nearly twenty-four hours that he wasn’t solely focused on me.

After he had been forced to kill me in his illusion, he had been determined to dote on me.

I had cum three times before he did last night, and after he had bathed me, slowly massaging my body and even humming until I fell asleep.

While I had told him it was all unnecessary, he seemed incapable of stopping.

Until now, that was.

“You will spend more time with your division than you have previously. This mission will take focus, strength, will, and—most of all—perfection.”

“More than that,” began General Altair. Was he always around for so much of Elite Academy? Or was he simply keeping an eye on his son? “You will need to prepare to accept the weight of sacrificing a world to the stars. This won’t be easy, but hesitation is not acceptable.”

“Mistakes,” Captain Zade added, her arms crossed as she eyed me, “will not be tolerated.”

“Get a new joke,” I mumbled, nearly silent. But Talon heard me, and I saw the twitch of his lips as he attempted to fight off the smile, his eyes darting my way. Oh now he was looking at me.

“We will begin today by splitting off into your companies within your divisions. You are to immediately report to the classroom where you have been doing your weekly studies.” With that, Captain Zade disappeared, General Altair offering his son a glare and nod before following suit.

“What a treat this month will be,” Talon groaned, pivoting my way.

Before I could ask about his knowledge of the silver phase, he bent low and wrapped his arms around my waist, picking me up.

Our foreheads were pressed together, the moment soft and sweet and wholly uncomfortable.

Trainees were staring. The cores were staring. Fucking Altair was staring.

Just as I suspected, the five of them began walking toward us. “Talon, if you don’t put me down then your friends are going to lose it.”

“They aren’t my friends,” he hummed, rubbing our noses together and then kissing me. I pulled away, my cheeks heating and my stomach twisting. They all probably suspected, but stars, did he have to make it so obvious? I didn’t need to be a bigger target.

If that was even possible.

“If you don’t get off of him you stupid, fucking whore, I swear I’ll kill you!” shouted Otarn, her hands shaped like claws as she reached for me. Talon spun us just in time, lightly setting me on the ground before tugging me behind him.

“Priya, I meant what I said,” he growled. What had he said? My insatiable curiosity got the best of me, and I found myself peeking around Talon to look at the cores.

“Well, maybe you should rethink your position. Father is furious. If you don’t stop fooling around with that thing , then he’ll cut off your head long before you can take ours.

” That was Zade. She was taller than me, her frame bulkier and her face impossibly symmetrical.

She was stunning and terrifying, but at that moment, I saw she was also very scared.

“Talon, maybe she’s right,” I spoke, trying to tug on his arm so he’d face me. But he only stood taller, staring down at his sister like she had a disease.

“You refuse to understand and I can’t make you, but Nova is mine. The stars see her for what she truly is, as do I. So either get to know her and change your ways, or I’ll gladly slaughter all five of you.”

“How romantic. If you need a dagger so you can go carve your initials in a tree, let me know,” Altair drawled, his thumb spinning the snake ring he had repurchased. “And while you’re at it, maybe you can give your little pup a wash, I smell something foul.”

“Don’t you ever compare her to a dog again!” Talon roared, pointing at Altair.

Altair grinned, a feral look darkening his eyes. “I wasn’t talking about her.”

“Okay, break it up,” Elders said, stepping between Talon and Altair. His hands flattened on either man’s chest, his dark gaze flitting between the two of them. “This is ridiculous. We grew up together. We’re all best friends. Whatever this thing is between you two, fix it. Now.”

A humph of agreement came from Otarn, who crossed her arms and nodded her head. The whole thing felt childish, somehow. We were meant to be getting to our companies, not arguing over who knew what. I was here to become an elite for stars sake.

So I walked away. Behind me, I heard a shout to wait, but I was tired of being their toy they tossed around. At that point, I was ready for them to either kill me or move on.

“Wait up!” Dofrel shouted again, his heavy footsteps pounding against the ground as he jogged to catch up to me.

“Go away, Dofrel. I’ve had enough purist garbage for the day.” Waving a hand, I quickened my gait.

Dofrel caught up to me easily, his head leaning down. “You know, if you grew up like we did, you’d understand.”

“Oh yes, so sorry for not taking into account how you were raised when you all belittle and insult me. Maybe the next time one of you tries to cut my throat or throw me out a window, I’ll stop fighting back and say, think of the childhood trauma, Nova. ”

“That’s all I ask,” he said, throwing his hands up.

“A reasonable request,” I retorted, my eyes remaining forward. After mere seconds of peace, Dofrel spoke again.

“Curls, I have to know, what in the fuck is between your legs that has everyone so obsessed with you?”

“A cunt. Same as you.” At my remark, he burst into laughter, bending forward and almost losing his balance. I swung open the main doors to the schoolhouse, wishing he’d faceplant.

“Mind if I throw my hat in the ring? You’ve officially turned me on.”

“Didn’t you hear?” I asked, speeding up as we walked down the long, pale hall toward the stairs. “Mistakes aren’t allowed this month. Probably best to stick your cock somewhere else.”

“I thought I had a cunt.” Dofrel rushed forward, tugging open the door and motioning for me to enter first.

“You are a cunt, there’s a difference.”

“Seems someone is feeling especially vulgar today. Extra talkative too.”

“It’s the rush of a new phase,” I muttered as I gripped the railing. “Really gets me going.”

“I can get you going too, if you’d like.”

“Sure, and I’m going to rule the universe someday.

” We made it to the fourth floor, both of us reaching for the alchemy door at the same time.

Sighing, I rotated, letting my back touch the wood.

“What’s your goal, Dofrel? For a group of people who are supposed to hate me, you all sure do spend a lot of time thinking about me. ”

“Hate, love, who’s to tell the difference?” A smirk lifted the right half of his tawny face, crinkling the corner of one of his sky blue eyes.

“Me.”

“You know, the Dofrels are one of the lowest of the twenty core families,” he murmured, rubbing the toe of his black boot against a smudge on the white tile floor.

“We are nothing special in comparison to the Altairs and the Zades. Even the Otarns and the Elders are more important than us in the grand scheme.”

He wasn’t wrong. There was a sort of hierarchy within the cores.

I didn’t know much about it, but the thought reminded me of a book I had stolen from a certain Altair heir, and I knew that tonight I would spend time learning more about it instead of working on my crystal.

The curiosity wouldn’t let me do anything else.

“What’s your point?”

“My point is that I have a lesser legacy to uphold. My parents didn’t give me the attention that Az and Talon got.

In fact, I’m pretty sure they forgot I existed for a few years.

So I don’t necessarily believe in all of the bullshit, because I wasn’t taught it the same way. Just like I told you a month ago.”

“Sure you don’t.”

“I’m serious. I don’t think you’re some mistake.

I think the stars care too little for the past or future to even make mistakes.

They’re just doing whatever they can to entertain themselves in the present.

All they want is a good show. It’s us who want the consistency.

The purity. The power. Controlling who gets magic gives us all of those things.

And I see the merit in doing it. But I don’t think it makes you less.

In fact, I’m pretty sure you’re the smartest person in most of the rooms you enter. ”

I grabbed the door handle, ready to escape if needed. “So you’re telling me that none of you actually believe in the whole make Dajahim pure again agenda?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. Priya and Dove definitely believe in it. They see things in much the same way as our parents do. Quinn too. Az…well, he believes in it probably more than any of us.”

“Figured,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

“Your precious Talon does too.” Dofrel was uncharacteristically defensive. His hands balled into fists. His jaw set.

“No he doesn’t. He sees me as equal. As worthy.”