Page 16 of Faeheart (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #2)

“Let me guess,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “They want their disappointing son to come home immediately and stop embarrassing the family name?”

Councilor Vael’s expression remained neutral. “Perhaps you should listen to the message before making assumptions.”

Wild activated the sphere with a pulse of his magic, and suddenly the room filled with the ethereal voices of his parents. Even through the magical recording, their fae nature was unmistakable, their words carrying harmonics that made the air itself seem to shimmer.

“Wilderain,” his mother’s voice began, formal and distant, “we have received word of recent events at your academy. While we cannot condone your... associations... we understand that circumstances have placed you in grave danger.”

His father’s voice joined in, equally cold. “The Purity Front’s reach extends even into the Seelie Court. There are those among our own people who support their cause, who believe that separation is preferable to the chaos of integration.”

I felt Wild’s shock ripple through our connection. He’d known his parents disapproved of his choices, but he hadn’t realized the depth of political division within the fae realm itself.

“However,” his mother continued, “you are still our son, and we will not see you murdered by fanatics. We have spoken with the Elder Council and given our blessing for you to access the sanctuary. Use this time wisely, Wilderain. Learn to control the power you’ve awakened, and perhaps.

.. perhaps some good can come from this unfortunate situation. ”

The message ended abruptly, leaving an uncomfortable silence in its wake. Wild crushed the now-empty sphere in his fist, magical crystal dust trickling between his fingers.

“Well,” he said with forced lightness, “that was about as warm and fuzzy as I expected.”

But through our bond, I could feel the complex mix of emotions churning beneath his flippant exterior. Relief that his parents weren’t completely cutting him off, hurt at their continued disapproval, and a deep, aching loneliness that he’d been carrying for years.

Without thinking, I reached out and took his hand, squeezing gently. He looked up at me in surprise, but didn’t pull away.

“So,” Caden said quietly, breaking the tension, “it sounds like we don’t really have a choice. If even the fae realm isn’t safe...”

Atlas moved to sit beside him on the bed, pulling Caden against his side. “I could come with you,” he offered desperately. “My pack bonds might help stabilize your connection, and?—”

“No,” Dean Thornfield interrupted firmly. “The sanctuary can only be accessed by those who are part of the triune bond. Mr. Faolan, as much as we appreciate your dedication to Mr. Cromwell, you would not be permitted to leave the academy grounds.”

“Atlas is part of the bond,” Caden said as he stepped in front of Atlas, facing Dean Thornfield head on.

The Dean shook his head. “I’m sorry?”

Caden glanced at the councilors for a moment before taking a deep breath. “Atlas is my mate. We have already formed the bond.”

“We assumed that,” the Dean replied. “But that doesn’t mean?—”

“And I’ve made him my familiar.”

The whole room went silent.

“His magic is part of me, so when the bond extended to Wild and Elias?—”

“Mr. Faolan’s did as well…” Professor Blackwood finished, a look of shock and surprise filling her features. “By the gods… a… a tetrad.”

“A what?” I asked, feeling the color drain from my face.

Professor Blackwood moved quickly to a nearby chair, practically collapsing into it. “A tetrad. It’s... it’s almost mythological. A four-way magical binding.”

Wild whistled low. “That’s why Atlas felt our connection that night. Why he got... affected when we did.”

“And why I could sense when Wild was in danger,” Atlas added, his golden eyes wide with realization. “I thought it was just because of Caden, but I felt it directly.”

Dean Thornfield looked like he might faint. “This changes everything. The texts about triunes are rare enough, but tetrads? There might be nothing in the existing magical literature.”

“There is,” Councilor Vael said quietly, her calculating eyes now fixed on Atlas with newfound interest. “Not in the public archives, but in the sealed section of the Elder Council’s library. Accounts of bonds between four magical beings, each representing a fundamental element of magic.”

“Structure, chaos, growth, and...” Councilor Ashwick paused, studying Atlas intently.

“Protection,” I finished, the word rising from somewhere deep inside me. “That’s what Atlas represents in the bond.”

Wild nodded slowly, his fingers still entwined with mine. “It makes sense. When we were attacked, I felt something from Atlas, even though we weren’t physically connected. Like a shield around all of us.”

“This complicates matters,” Dean Thornfield muttered, pacing the small room.

“On the contrary,” Councilor Vael said, a hint of excitement creeping into her voice. “It strengthens our position considerably. A tetrad bond, if fully realized, would be exponentially more powerful than a triune.”

Wild’s grip on my hand tightened. “So Atlas gets to come with us to this magical hideaway?”

“He must,” Professor Blackwood said firmly. “Separating any part of a forming tetrad could be catastrophic for all involved.”

Relief flooded through our connection, not just from Caden but from Atlas as well. I realized with a start that I could feel him now, his steady, protective presence like a warm weight at the edge of my consciousness. How had I not noticed before?

“So, what now?” I asked, trying to regain some sense of control over the situation. “When do we leave?”

“Tonight,” Dean Thornfield said grimly. “The Purity Front’s attacks are escalating. We can’t risk waiting.”

“Tonight?” Wild’s panic surged again. “Just like that? We don’t even get to say goodbye to anyone?”

“There’s no time,” Councilor Ashwick insisted. “Our intelligence suggests they may already be planning their next target. Widdershins could be next.”

“Pack your bags, boys,” Councilor Vael said. “We leave within the hour.”