My words land like a physical blow, Eth’tak’s eyes wide and jaw slack in his face as he stares at me. I turn on my heel before he can respond, practically sprinting from the sparring room and leaving him standing dumbstruck behind me.
Angry tears prick my eyes as I fly down the halls for the second time today, my chest heaving with furious breaths. Maybe I was stupid to think that Tolmond or Eth’tak truly cared about me, but at least I can talk about my emotions!
I burst out of a pair of doors and into the gardens behind the tower, gulping down fresh air. I’m sick of this godsforsaken place, sick of the demons who can’t seem to muster up enough empathy to even have a real conversation, sick and tired of being treated like I should be grateful for any scrap of affection.
If they don’t care about me, then fine- I’ll leave.
I don’t give myself time to back out of my decision. The power that’s been building under my skin sharpens to prickling points in my palms as I screw my eyes shut, bursting from my skin as I step out of the gardens and into thick shadows.
The world screams past me in a thick, dark mist, shapes and sounds and shadowy colors all blurring together as I move through them. Everything comes to a screeching halt as I step out of the shadow, bright light blinding me as my mind reels and my stomach lurches from the sudden change in motion.
I raise a hand to shield my eyes against the light, blinking rapidly to help my eyes adjust. My stomach drops as everything comes into focus.
I had intended to go back to Camp Life, and fully expected to see the squat cabins and rolling fields of my childhood home. Instead, I’m in the middle of the ocean, standing aboard an unfamiliar ship while the deafening sounds of waves against the hull drown out my ability to think.
A crimson sail snaps in the wind above me, shouting voices echoing around the deck. I whirl toward the various voices, hoping to speak to whoever is aboard and get my bearings. I nearly topple to the floor when I see the source of all the bellowing.
Three massive, fur-covered figures are racing toward me, curved horns protruding from their heads. My blood turns cold, my throat restricting around my scream as their faces come into even sharper view. The snouts twitch above their mirrored snarls, dull teeth on full display in their humanoid, fur-lined faces.
I’d heard whispers of the minotaur in Camp Life, but never thought I’d be so unlucky as to see not one, but three of them up-close.
I thrust my hands in front of me, sending a wave of raw magic toward the minotaur in an attempt to keep them from reaching me. Memories of the rumors whispered around the fires surface as the wave of magic bounces off of their skin like a spray of water, not slowing them in the slightest.
Minotaurs are immune to magic.
I’m completely helpless.
The scream that’s been building in my throat finally breaks loose, and I release another blast of magic, shadows rippling around me as I try to step through realms again, content to be absolutely anywhere but here.
A powerful set of hands wraps around my arm and the nape of my neck before I can leap into the beckoning darkness, however, and I’m dragged away from the only window to my escape.
24
Eth’tak
The water scalds my wings and back as I scrub at my skin, taking off layers of flesh as I try to rid myself of the events of the day. I groan aloud as Piper’s tear-streaked, furious face flashes through my mind again, pressing my head against the cold tile as Ulsrath’s name echoes over the image.
I’d have half a mind to skin that demon alive if he didn’t seem to be the only one doing anything right.
A knock at the bathing room door shatters the incessant stream of images flowing through my mind, and for a second my heart swells, the image of Piper standing on the other side of the door filling me with hope.
“Yes?” I call, stepping out of the falling water and wrapping a towel loosely around my waist. Before an answer comes, I throw open the door, already moving to take her into my arms when I realize the figure in the doorway isn’t Piper.
“I’m busy,” I snarl at the quivering zonak in Piper’s place, not bothering to hide my murderous temperament as I turn to slam the door in his face.
“M-my apologies,” the zonak stutters out before the door shuts, “But Lord Tolmond has summoned you to his office.”
“Then tell him I’m indisposed,” I growl, whirling on the zonak. I’m not in the mood to share space with my friend, not when everything between Piper and I is falling apart while their relationship is blossoming.
When Piper cornered me in the sparring room, I hadn’t known what to say, hadn’t wanted to get in between her relationship with Tolmond. I have no desire to lord my actions over either of them, and don’t want to act the martyr for paving the way for them both to be happy, but I’m not in any place to be around the happy couple, either.
I’d only ruin everyone’s mood, and I doubt Piper wants to be around me right now, either.
“I’m sorry, sir,” the zonak says at the ground. “But Lord Tolmond’s request is urgent. I’m to escort you to him immediately.”
“I don’t need a godsdamned escort. Tell Tolmond I’ll be there in a moment,” I snap before closing the door in the zonak’s face. I stifle the urge to break something as I pull on my clothes, not bothering to dry myself completely.
No doubt Tolmond is summoning me to berate me for making Piper cry. I’d do the same thing if I were in his position, but I’m really not in the mood to be the bad guy. I love both of them, and if I need to be the villain in their happy love story, so be it, but I’m still feeling too raw to play the part.