Two Months Later
Phoenix comes home just as I’m closing my textbook out of frustration. I said I have a degree in sports medicine, yet I’m supposed to be researching magic-related sciences. How the fuck are they related? I’ve found absolutely nothing relevant to what I know in this thing since I’ve gotten it!
Ellery gave me this textbook from hell (haha) to follow through with an overly convoluted plot to get me a job as a royal physician. If I can learn the magical side of science, which just sounds ridiculous, and also remember everything I learned when getting my degree, then I can pass some tests, be officially recognized, and attract attention. Frankly, it would be a lot easier to just break in, and a lot more likely to succeed. But hey, my opinion doesn’t mean shit, now does it?
I flop down on the table, pressing my forehead against the cool surface to ease my throbbing head. I hear the chair next to my scrape as it’s pulled away from the table, and I know that Phoenix has just sat down next to me.
“How are you holding up?” he asks patiently.
“Terribly. That damn test is in a month and there is no way I’m going to be able to pass it at this rate. I hate this fucking plan.”
“Yeah, I’ve got the picture,” he chuckles as I curse his optimism under my breath.
He and Derek got the better end of the stick by far. They go out to work everyday while I contend with a three-inch thick book crammed with text. I’d much rather join them, but I have to put at least some effort into this plan.
“Come on, you should take a break.” Phoenix pulls me up from my seat at the table, and we go sit outside at what I’ve started to consider ‘our spot’ while he tells me about his day.
I try to pay attention, but I’m exhausted and his voice sounds so soothing. He gives a soft laugh while telling me a funny story about his coworker, but I honestly haven’t been paying anywhere near enough attention to repeat it. Just as I’m about to fall asleep he calls out to me apprehensively.
“Alex?”
“Mmmm?”
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
I straighten up immediately, suddenly feeling far more alert. That tone of voice doesn’t precede good news.
“What is it?” I ask.
“You know when I said the previous king and his son were thought to be locked up somewhere? Somewhere we couldn’t find?”
“Yes…”
I’m not going to like this. I just know it.
“Well we found them. One of them, I mean. Lucifer VI.”
“And what about that makes you so nervous?” I ask.
He glances away, taking a moment before he speaks again.
“We’re going to break him out. Derek and I have been assigned to the team going in, but you’re labeled as a noncombatant.”
I was right. I’m hating this already.
“You can’t come with us,” he finishes.
Yeah, I’m really pissed now. My boyfriend is putting his life in danger and I’m just supposed back and wait? To hide where it’s safe while he’s getting hurt? How could he ever think I would be okay with that? He wouldn’t. He knows me. Which just means that this wasn’t his decision. I may still be in training, but he knows better than anyone that I don’t need to be babied. But all of this still leaves one big question.
“When are you leaving?”
He cringes, as if he was hoping I wouldn’t ask.
“Tomorrow.”
…what the fuck? Tomorrow? TOMORROW!?!?!?
“And why am I just hearing about this now?” I ground out through my tightly clenched teeth.
“This plan was rushed, so any mention of it was kept quiet from those not personally involved with the mission. That way it prevents the wrong person from hearing.”
The wrong person, huh? Well I’ve been the wrong person for a lot of things. I’ll be the first to admit that. But hearing about someone I care about going into a potentially dangerous situation isn’t one of them. It doesn’t matter if our deaths aren’t quite so permanent. He’ll be there, Derek will be there, but I’ll have to sit at home waiting to hear about their safety. Alone.
I stand up and start pacing. Phoenix quickly says, “Alex, it wasn’t my idea-”
“I know.”
It’s Ellery’s. The bastard. Derek’s been here for the same amount of time as me, and he’s the more trustworthy one? The stronger one? Fuck that. I will be informed of things like this in the future. I’m not going to sit on the sidelines. I will become strong enough to do anything. And I won’t bow to anyone.
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