Page 104 of Eternal Light

Triumph Over Hardship (Nix)

“It’s down here.” Grayson pats Nix’s hand where it’s currently looped through his arm. His palm is hot, almost as if he’s already letting his fire Affinity slip free. Pulling them to a sudden stop for the second time in the middle of the long hallway, he murmurs, “I’m nervous as fuck right now.”

Ah. Grayson is rarely nervous about anything—whether that’s from a well-earned confidence in his ability to conquer whatever life throws at him in his career, his relationships, or learning to work that stripper pole.

Gideon had told him last fall that enigmas were inordinately gifted.

Nix hadn’t disagreed, because he couldn’t have three in his heart and his bed without knowing that, but he had thought it was something more than innate talent.

The enigmas in Nix’s life also work hard.

They strive to overcome their challenges and never look past an opportunity to be—do—better at whatever life throws at them. Even Rowan, who still has emotional and physical growing pains, gives life everything he has—more than sometimes.

Rowan, being Rowan-wolf, is a case in point.

So it is rare to see Grayson hesitate—especially for the second time since they arrived for their scheduled appointment with his magic instructors.

They’d meandered through The Guild’s gardens on their way; it was quiet without all the students, who were still home for their winter break. Though there had been teachers flitting in and out of doors and across the great expanses of lawn.

Most teachers used their winter break hours for research, to hone their skills, and develop their Talents.

Magic meant a life of learning, Grayson had said when Nix had wondered why they weren’t using their time off from students to relax on well-earned vacations.

After watching a small woman in yellow rubber boots lead a tiny flock of ducklings down to a small pond while speaking with the ferret wrapped around her neck, Grayson had led them to the grand front doors, where Nix had the pleasure of meeting the mysterious Elysia Noctis, guardian of the foyer and seer of souls.

(That’s what Nix called her in his mind, and no, he hadn’t said so out loud.)

She’d welcomed them like old friends, staring for a long time at both Rowan-wolf and then at Nix.

He had felt her kind eyes on them long after they’d ascended the magnificent staircase, where, once they were out of sight, Grayson stopped so he could pull Nix to him and press his nose into his hair, snorting great lungfuls of Nix’s vanilla-baby-bread scent.

After a few long moments, he’d crouched to rub Rowan’s fur with both hands while staring, unspeaking into Rowan’s eyes. It had only been the sloppy lick to Grayson’s face that had the anxious enigma on his feet, looping his arm through Nix’s with a huff and no further explanation.

They’d made the trek down the hall, past closed doors—some with plaques that read teachers’ names likeKamala Leone, Transformation and Transfiguration, andAvril Seumuldul, Earth Affinity Associate.

At the far end, there were double doors partially open, where Nix could hear laughter and the indistinct sound of voices.

It’s how they had ended up here, stopped for the second time, Grayson’s hand hot on top of his.

“I don’t want to fuck this up.”

“It’ll be good, Gray. They’re here to help you, and you don’t need to put any extra pressure on yourself.”

“Yeah, but there is pressure, isn’t there? This whole Withers thing means I have to bring my A-game or it’ll go for shit.”

Shit,meaning someone could die for real.

Rowan-wolf growls, baring his super-long, extra-scary Were fangs, as if to sayyou aren’t fighting this guy alone.

“Ro is right. You aren’t going in alone.”

Jamie, Rowan, and Finn are going to be there.

Whereverthereis.

Hopefully, Withers will be taken by surprise enough that they can contain him and turn him over to the Wardens.

The only reason they weren’t calling them in immediately had everything to do with their plans for Carnell.