Page 47

That was made heavier by the fact that her Celestial coercion had been used to force Caius to attack in the first place.

Something I would absolutely get to the bottom of.

As if I’d trust in Cassius to accomplish that.

Despite Nyx witnessing what he had in regard to Cassius healing Velra, we didn’t know his true motives. It might not have been a selfless, caring act. There could have been more to it, more driving it, perhaps even an overarching strategy that we weren’t privy to.

And, as for the suggestion that Cassius wasn’t the threat that the Rift Mark had warned of, that had to be proven, not just settled upon as actual fact through mere speculation.

The four of us now sat in the classroom for War Strategy and Supernatural Diplomacy , a subject taught by a Dark Fae, Professor Thalric Voss.

He was a former member of the Dark Fae War Counsel who’d since defected due to disagreements with more aggressive policies that the realm had been intent on implementing, policies that served to cause friction between the Dark Fae Realm and the Guardian Movement.

One such policy was the Dark Fae King refusing to outlaw dangerous magic that threatened to violate free will in their own people so that they’d fall in line.

Worse than coercion, the dark magic in question could actually rewrite somebody’s personality.

Something like that had existed beforehand to a deeper and more fucked-up degree and it had almost been used on Lucian Black before Gabriel Morgan had destroyed it.

But the Dark Fae ruler had then taken the essence of that to create something similar.

There were rumors that the Guardian Movement had developed an antidote should that magic ever leave the Dark Fae Realm and impact supernatural beings on this plane.

But still, the fact that it existed at all was beyond troublesome.

Something that Voss had recognized to a significant degree.

“That was insanely awesome,” Nyx exclaimed, as he got distracted with setting up his tablet by looking all around the classroom as students filtered in, eyes all over him and Ari.

We were sitting in the back row, the way Ari and Nyx preferred it.

I was all for sitting front and center, but it made them uncomfortable, so we went with this instead.

I was on one end by the wall with Ariana beside me.

Nyx was next to her on her other side, while V sat beside him, his big body essentially forming a barrier to deter anyone from deigning to sit too close or engage with us.

That had been necessary in the past with the animosity that students had shown toward both Nyx and Ariana.

But now things were changing.

I caught sight of violet-tinged silver hair sweeping on by, just as a commanding, yet smooth voice rang out, “Take your seats, younglings.”

I looked to see Professor Thalric Voss basically gliding down the aisle toward the front of the classroom, his brown robes with gold embroidery sweeping behind his willowy form.

Willowy, yes, but he possessed a great deal of potent power.

“Refrain from making a spectacle of Mr. Laryn and Miss Martel. They are not animals in a zoo. Please show some decorum and decency. Allow them to focus on class, just like you will ensure you do also.” He gestured at the door. “Or you can do me the favor of leaving my class immediately.”

Ari hunkered down in her seat and I clasped her hand, stroking her fingers to comfort her.

Nyx’s eyes sparkled, a wide grin spreading over his face.

“I like him,” V said, eyeing me.

“Of course you do. He’s blunt and a force to be reckoned with. Right up your alley.”

He grinned at my words. “Too true.”

Voss’ words worked impressively, and then everyone took their seats and focused on him, stares no longer coming our way, their attention now only on him.

Nicely done, Professor.

“You see that?” he spoke, as he settled in front of the magical projection screen at the forefront of the classroom. “Reaching an understanding and diffusing an uncomfortable situation without the use of force? Keep that in mind for this class.”

His eyes cut across the room then, taking in everyone’s differing reactions, some in awe of what he’d subtly done—in somewhat of a calculating way which most definitely spoke to me—some taking in the heaviness of his words, and others thinking it was bullshit.

Of course, the latter included the row at the front consisting of Kelsana and her clique of two more Dark Fae girls and two vampires.

The withdrawn sorcerer, Rennick, who was barely competent at the best of times with his spellcasting, and resorted to aggression as a means of overcompensation, was right beside Kelsana as he played with her vibrant-green hair, while she fingered his curly rainbow mane at the same time.

They’d clearly become a thing recently. With her arrogance and his aggression, that didn’t bode well.

My attention was drawn to the magical panel behind Professor Voss as he activated it with a glowing fingertip. The room responded, dimming slightly, just as the words, Power in Diplomacy were magically scrawled across the screen.

“Yes, there is power in diplomacy, younglings. Aggressive action does not automatically equate to might and supremacy. In fact, in the complicated times we live in, it can very quickly lead to ruin.”

He paused for a beat—for effect, no doubt.

“Without control and restraint, power becomes provocation. And provocation leads to bloodshed. Employing a diplomatic approach serves to prevent war, to prevent unnecessary casualties, and to preserve the sanctity of our choices, freedoms, and daily lives we are fortunate enough to be able to live while we are in a time of peace. You see, a great deal is at stake, and that is why learning the art of diplomacy, the complications of treading such a path, is absolutely vital.”

I watched as he activated a battlefield simulation on the panel.

Two factions were depicted as being at odds.

He went with the classic werewolves versus vampires ancient ingrained grudge. It wasn’t prominent these days, although there were those who still held those old beliefs.

“The class will be split into teams to negotiate with the simulation, magically inputting actions and strategic moves to impact the outcome,” Professor Voss informed us.

Great. Group work. Not my favorite thing by a long shot.

Well, actually, that wasn’t completely true now, was it?

I did function well from a team standpoint when it came to our foursome.

“War ends lives. Diplomacy preserves legacies,” I heard him say, as the class divided itself into teams, and I was aware of Ari ushering the four of us together.

Voss’ last sentence played on my mind, taking my attention as the bustle of the class faded around me. If only that rang true with our situation.

Diplomacy in the situation the four of us found ourselves in couldn’t exist on its own, not with such extreme power players involved.

It required something else entirely.

Leverage.

That was where the control would lie.

That was where the power would be drawn from.

And I’d find a way to obtain said leverage.

To protect us all.

I was vaguely aware of Nyx going on about some new desserts that the Cafeteria had just started serving that were going to be rolled out today, as the four of us made our way there for lunch before our next classes.

We were taking a roundabout route away from the bustling hallways to avoid more stares and attention drawn to us through Nyx and Ari.

Our boots crunched on the dirt path leading from the outer edge of the quad, alongside the forest and toward the far end of the building to the rear entrance of the Cafeteria.

I mean, we could have just teleported but Ari had wanted the chance to peer inside first to ensure it wasn’t that busy.

I stroked her hair as we walked along, providing her with a little soothing, while my mind was going a million miles a minute trying to figure out the leverage angle, as well as a whole lot of other major issues that were bearing down on us.

After our next class, another one we shared, Arcane Symbology with Professor Nera Vaelthorne, a highly knowledgeable Light Fae who was several centuries old, I could finally head to my lab to get down to work.

Just as we passed by a side door to our left that led out from the staircase that went up to the dorms, someone strode on out.

A particular someone who had all of us stopping in our tracks.

A low rumble came from Vorzyr.

Nyx stilled.

And Ari slipped from me, and stepped forward all too easily, making a grunt escape me.

Because she was moving toward him.

Fucking Cassius.

He zeroed in on her instantly, standing there with all his muscle and might, even without his armor or his wings in sight. Just wearing a pair of black tailored pants and a white linen shirt, he still somehow cut an almighty figure.

“What are you doing here?” Ari asked as she stopped just a couple of feet in front of him.

He was holding some papers in his hands and he held them up for her to see.

“Obtaining your class schedule. Dean Valorian Drake was rather accommodating and modest. It’s especially refreshing for his species.

Sorcerers are known for their arrogance more often than not.

” His gaze flicked to me and I saw the expectation there in his eyes for his heavy-handed comment to land.

I didn’t allow it.

But his stance had given me an opening.

As had his unceremonious presence right here in front of us.

Ari’s question drew his attention away from me and right back to her. “Why do you need my schedule?”

“So we can work around it to conduct your training in a way that isn’t too disruptive to your normal, comforting routine.”

“Oh… well, good. Thank you.”

He had the gall to smile at her. “Of course. I told you I wish for you to be comfortable.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Tomorrow morning at dawn we will begin.”

“Where should I meet you?”