Page 16 of Angel Lost (Fates Academy #3)

Chapter Sixteen: Lorelei

The arch of the portal looms ahead, the boys silent at my back. They might not be talking, but they are seeing me off. All of them. The atmosphere is like ice. But they’ve been warned: one peep and they won’t hear from me the whole time I’m there.

I pause in front of the arch, not trusting myself to speak. It’s only a few days. This lump in my throat is ridiculous. The boys are quiet, and we say muted goodbyes.

“I’m proud of you,” Val announces to the world. “You go there and show them what you got. Get yourself ascended and tell the rest of us what we can expect.” She slaps me on the shoulder, narrowing her eyes at the boys. Daring them to voice concerns.

Zephyr stands, blocking the archway, his arms folded inside a ridiculously white hoodie.

“Don’t, Zephyr, please. It’s decided.”

His hand hesitantly skims my arm. “I can’t pull your aether except in an emergency.” He shuffles awkwardly. “You’ll need to avoid suspicion without my help. I-I’m sorry. Please don’t think I don’t want to…” His eyes fix on the ground at our feet.

Idiot boy. That’s what he’s been so worried about? I fling my arms around him, giving a squeeze, then step back quickly before I tear up. “I don’t expect that, Zephyr. It made you so ill.” He flashes me a hesitant smile. “I’ve got the others to help, and it’s not as if I’ll be connected to monitors like in the trials. So as long as I’m careful… ”

Zephyr freezes for the briefest of moments. “Yes, of course. The rest of the guys will be more…useful.”

He gives my arm a pat and steps back. I reach for him, but Kai steers me forward.

“She hates tardiness. Just get there, keep your head down, and don’t do anything stupid.”

I lock eyes with Zephyr and nod before turning and stepping through the arch.

The now familiar lurch tugs at my feet and I swallow hard. I didn’t fall this time. Point to Lorelei.

It’s bright on the other side. Not priest level bright. A warm, friendly, glowing bright. A blue slate path, softly lift by discreet lanterns, leads the way through lush greenery. Tall bamboo, flowering shrubs, and low-lying ferns sway in the breeze.

This doesn’t feel like a campus. I heft my ratty bag higher on my shoulder and crunch slowly down the path until a building comes into view.

It’s a stunning mix of pale limestone and large wooden slats weathered to a soft gray. The wood adds a rustic charm to the modern elegance of the place. Vines and creeping jasmine trail from the roof and eucalyptus scents the air. Water fountains on either side of the entrance cascade into sleek water troughs filled with koi. The place is living, breathing. Beautiful.

I climb the few plain steps to the doorway. Floor-to-ceiling glass panels flank the entrance, offering a glimpse of soft lighting and yet more greenery inside.

This place is like a luxury spa retreat. Not that I’ve been to one. I swallow my nerves. I’m the new girl again, but that’s okay. It’s a year; not even that. And it’s far better than being married off straight away. And after? I push down my anxiety. One day at a time.

Stepping into reception, quiet music blends with a softly cascading water feature in the corner. The room is all sleek lines and modern furniture, gentled by lush greenery .

A receptionist welcomes me, ushering me through to the dean’s office. The dean. Kai’s stepmom. Fidgeting with the knife at my belt, I trail along, allowing myself to be led to meet the woman he hates so much. The receptionist presses her hand to a panel in the wall and steps aside, gesturing me through the opening doorway. Biometric security in a school? Modern as all hell.

Shuffling inside, my eyes are everywhere. It’s nothing like the dean of Fates’ stuffy office—it’s warm, informal. A standing desk sits discreetly in the corner, while a stone bookcase lines the back wall, its brightly colored spines adding life to the space. From behind a cluster of giant lavender plants, a poised woman emerges, tall and graceful, her floaty clothes swaying as she moves. Sun-kissed hair cascades down her back, and a gentle smile softens her features.

“Be welcome,” she says, gesturing to a couple of stone loungers. I perch awkwardly on the nearest one, watching as she presses a button. The wall in front of us concertinas, revealing a view out over a calm lake. She slides onto the lounger beside me, languidly stretching out.

“I am Davina, dean of the Gifted Academy. Please, sit back, relax.”

First names, huh? Tentatively, I relax back on my chair, and heat radiates pleasantly from the stone under me.

“I wanted to welcome you personally,” she says, and I shoot her the side-eye. Is the Angel King keeping special tabs on me?

“I have your schedule. We’ve done our best with the limited time we have.” She clears her throat, annoyance flickering briefly over her features, gone so quickly I’d have missed it if I weren’t studying her carefully. “We’re smaller than Fates. We are therefore much more involved with our students.”

I don’t need people interfering, I just need to know how to control my aether. To ascend.

“We’re about getting close to your inner self, the truest version of you. The way things work here is designed to help with that. Even if our practices seem odd at first, please try to respect the way we do things. It is all for a reason. For example, every morning we rise early for a swim—inside or out—it’s your choice.”

Great, another breakfast boot camp.

“Then, we’ll all gather for breakfast in the hall. Everyone eats together.”

“Just how small is this place?” I blurt.

Diana hums in the back of her throat. “Between ten and twenty students per year, and of course because we’re so small we have an accelerated three-year program. So, we’re around fifty students for meals. It is expected we eat together. It creates community spirit.” She pauses. “I see your look, Aether Lorelei. You have plenty of chances to have time alone, if you choose. After breakfast is our yoga session. We find it sets us up nicely for the day, then everyone is on their way to classes. We’ve fitted you in as best we can.”

“Uh, thanks?”

Davina ignores my sarcasm. “It will help that classes are small, and we’ve added individual tutoring in places to catch you up.”

She passes me a schedule. “It would be easier if you’d come here full-time…”

I realize she’s expecting me to respond. I should have guessed she’d try to strong-arm me. “Not happening. My allegiance, my Aeternum, my friends are all there.”

Davina places her hands palms together in her lap. “Well, you’re an adult, nearly ascended. I’m sure you’re more than capable of making your own choices.”

I stare out over the lake for a long beat. So much of this is not what I expected. Not at all.

“Thanks, Dean Grigori.”

She lets out a low chuckle. “One thing. Here we don’t use surnames. You will be known only as Aether Lorelei—one of our little quirks. I am simply Dean Davina or Davina, if the notion takes you. ”

I garble some kind of response. It’s clearly far from sensible given the amused look on the dean’s face.

“You are surprised by my informality,” she says. A statement, not a question. “You know my stepson, I believe.”

I stiffen on the lounger.

“I’m quite sure he hasn’t given you a good impression of me. He is a rather angry young man.”

I bristle. “He holds it together fine.”

Davina’s fingers flutter to a simple chain around her neck. “That is good to hear. Still, I’m not his favorite person. All I ask is that you judge me on my own merit, and this school by inference. Kai and I…Well, it’s complicated with stepchildren, isn’t it? He was always very angry that I was replacing his mother. Of course, I wasn’t, but he was a stubborn little boy, even at four. I couldn’t persuade him otherwise.”

I shrug, fidgeting with the schedule.

Davina’s voice drops. “And after he nearly killed his brother…well…”

My timetable floats to the floor. “What?”

“He didn’t tell you? I’m so sorry, that should come from him, when he’s ready.” She pauses and I raise an eyebrow. “He really did benefit from having me as his stepmom. The king as your uncle? If you’re going to escape jail, I suppose those are the best connections to have.” She tuts. “Not that he was ever grateful. Such an angry boy.”

“What happened?” I grit out.

“Boys will be boys.” Davina offers me a sad smile. “You know siblings. Well…maybe you don’t.”

I scowl at the dig.

“Kids fight, and fae are especially vicious. To be fair, angels are not much different. We encourage children to best each other. A little competition is healthy, especially between twins. How else do you decide on the heir? So really, I have myself to blame.” She sighs, raising her big eyes to me. “Kai always took it too far. His brother was a much more affable child. Liked to let Kai win, I think. But when Kai lost his temper with his little sister, his brother stepped in and wouldn’t back down. He was protecting his sister, after all. But Kai wouldn’t, perhaps couldn’t stop. He…I’m sure he regrets it. I hope he regrets it.”

I swallow hard, horrified and intrigued all at once. “Did his twin die?”

Davina pushes herself up off the hot stone with a weary sigh. “No, but he’s a vegetable. Locked in that brain of his. Anyway, enough of my family drama, Aether Lorelei. I just want you to make your own judgments and not listen to what Kai has to say. Trust your instincts, not his.”

My head spins. Is she telling the truth? Did Kai do that? I manage a small nod.

She smiles wanly before walking to her computer. “I’m sure you’ll do well here. You’ve got a lot of talent. I was reading the reports from your professors.” She taps the screen. “Professors Maggo and Hannya both seem enamored with you.”

I stutter my surprise, scrambling up from the lounger. Hannya is a hard taskmaster. Always.

“Such a shame your aether tutor was Lady Tenebrae.”

“She really helped me, actually.”

The dean raises an eyebrow. “Child, you have not touched even half your potential. I have the reports from my brother right here. Your aether trial was…interesting.”

Panic floods my body. My palms sweat, and my skin prickles. She knows. The Angel King is just toying with me.

“You have talent, but Tenebrae taught you nothing. Some of your results from the trial were so weak the machines struggled to classify you as second aether. Tenebrae never came here, never learned what we teach. She barely knew how to see ley lines, never mind manipulate them! Such a waste of aether.”

Taking a small step back, I grip my schedule so tightly it creases. She doesn’t know. The Angel King didn’t work it out. I’m safe. For now .

“Sorry. I’m a little passionate about it. Tell me, am I wrong? Did you learn that?”

“Er, no. I didn’t really do ley work.”

Davina hums. “Lady Tenebrae took it personally that my brother had no interest in barren women. Blamed the world and ran off to lick her wounds, too proud to ever come back to the fold. She would have been a poor tutor. Not to worry, we’ll remedy that here. By all accounts you’re a quick study. I’m sure you’ll catch on.”

I pull my shoulders back. She’s right. I am a quick study. Maybe the reason I don’t excel with my aether isn’t me, my failure. Maybe I wasn’t being taught the right stuff.

“It’ll do you good to have some support,” she says.

“I have my allegiance,” I mutter.

“I didn’t mean to discount them. But you’ll have adult support here. I get the feeling perhaps you haven’t had too many adults in your life rooting for you. You’re made for great things, Aether Lorelei. Here we’ll support you to achieve them.”