by Jaymin Eve
The leather guy turned his masked eyes in Asher’s direction, a sneer pulling his full lips. “Ah, Asher, son of Cornipicus.” He then turned to me, and then back to Asher. “Two royals in the same location…”
Asher made a low pissed-off sound as power started to rise from his hands, his eyes locked with deadly intensity on the leather dude. The Arterian, as Asher had called him, leaned his head back and let out a high-pitched whistle. The sound started small but echoed louder and louder until the ground we were standing on rumbled.
It must have been some sort of distraction technique, because the Arterian disappeared in the middle of the magical shakedown. Asher jerked his head to Axl, and I was snatched up into the brainy wizard’s arms. Before I could blink, we were at the black car and I was gently placed inside.
“Wait here,” Axl said softly, his eyes silvery in the low, cloudy light. “The car is magically enhanced to withstand an attack, so you’re safe inside.”
I reached out and grabbed his arm, relieved that there was no explosion of energy when I did. “Who are they? Arterians?”
“They’re Atlantean assassins,” he said without hesitation. He hadn’t been kidding about not being able to keep a secret.
I blanched. “Say what now?”
Axl shook his head. “It’s a long story, and I have to get out there and help my brothers. All you need to know is they’re hard-core. The only—and I say this as nice as possible—the only reason you three are not dead right now is because they want something from you.”
I nodded, and then half in shock, shooed him away. He shut the door firmly and I sank back into the seat, trying to get my shit together. After a few minutes, I pressed my face to the window, a relieved breath escaping as Ilia and Josh came into sight. Josh was no longer furry, wearing a pair of pants that must have been magicked into existence. Both of them, thankfully, looked ruffled but not injured.
The Arterians were no longer in sight. Despite Axl’s belief that they were scary, it seemed to have only taken Asher and his friends showing up to scare them off.
How scary did that make the Atlantean-five?
Allowing myself to relax, I closed my eyes and dropped my pounding head into my hands. Adrenaline crash was not a pretty sight. Normally I wasn’t the type to bury my head in the sand; I preferred to know the truth and deal with the consequences. But right now I was tired. I didn’t want to deal with assassins; I didn’t want to deal with whatever the Atlanteans were doing or how they knew to come save us.
I just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep for fifty years.
Doors opened on either side of me and I jerked my head up, relaxing again at the familiar faces. Jesse and Axl slid in on either side of me, Asher got into the driver side, Rone beside him, and Calen slid into the far back.
“Where’s Ilia and Josh?” I asked immediately.
“They’re taking the car back. Princeps Jones will want to examine it,” Calen said. “Ilia also insisted that your clothes and phone had to make it to your room.” He leaned forward, his breath brushing across the back of my neck.
I spun to glare at him. “Personal space, dude. Learn about it.”
He grinned. “We just saved your ass. Where’s the gratitude?”
Before I could call him out on that asshole question, Asher swung the car around and drove onto the main road. I settled for flipping Calen off. His low chuckle had my hands clenching, but I knew ignoring him was my best defense.
Asher drove fast too, but he felt more controlled than Ilia. Which gave me plenty of time to overthink everything that had just happened. After about five minutes, the silence was too much, and words spilled out. “Can someone please tell me what just happened? Why were we attacked by Atlantean assassins? And how did you know we were in trouble?”
Asher turned to look at me, which was kind of stressful considering he was the driver. “We felt them when they started using their power. Atlanteans are all connected. Our power calls to each other.”
“The Arterians are well known in our world,” Axl added. “We’ve crossed them a few times before and they usually know better than to play in our territory.”
Apparently their badass reputation was actually earned.
“We’re the ones who control the Academy and its territory,” Jesse said, shooting me a lazy grin. He definitely had that sleepy cat thing nailed. Right until he sprang into action. Jesse was even bigger and scarier than Josh, so it stood to reason his lion would be as well.
“Can you sense Atlantean blood in me?” I asked, deciding it was best to come right out with it. Ilia’s words had stuck with me, and after this little run in with the Arterians, it stood to reason that I might be connected in some way to Atlantis.
“No,” Asher said. “I have sensed no Atlantean blood. I have no idea why you were a target.”
Huh. What the fuck, then?
“He asked if I was Macilinta of the Sonaris people…” I let those words trail off into a heavy silence.
“He said I was a royal,” I pressed further.
Rone shifted toward Asher, speaking for the first time. “Tell her some of our history. Also … check her blood thoroughly.”
Short and not-very-sweet, was Rone. But, for the first time in my presence, there was no disdain in his voice. Asher eyed his best friend for a beat, and then nodded. “When we return to the Academy.”
We got back in record time, and Asher didn’t pull his car into the same garage that Ilia had taken the Mercedes from. He followed a dirt road around toward the back of the Academy. I’d never been in this section before. I blinked as a gorgeous weatherboard house came into view. It had a huge garage off to the side, with double automatic doors that opened as we neared. Asher parked his SUV inside, the space big enough for about ten vehicles. In fact, there was almost that many parked under here.
“Is this your personal parking space?” I asked incredulously as I climbed out and blinked at all the shiny and expensive cars filling the room.
The guys looked around like they were trying to figure out what had me so shocked. “It’s ours,” Axl said. “We like cars, and we had permission to build this plus the pool and house for our private use.”
I rushed across to the window and peeked out. The Academy was about a hundred yards away. “How special are you five? Truthfully … has any other student been allowed to build their own freaking house on campus?” I paused. “Wait, don’t you all live on the sixth floor of the magic users' wing?”
Rone glared. “Why don’t you mind your own business? What we do with our lives has nothing to do with you.” He waved toward a door on the far side. “Let’s get this over with. I have shit to do.”
Before I could think about it, I flipped him off. I’d done nothing to him. Nothing. He could take his scariness and bad attitude and shove it. Rone’s face darkened, and it looked like he was coming to throttle me—until Asher got in his way. The friends exchanged an extended look, and then Rone swung around and left the garage in a few long-legged strides.
“Come on,” Asher said, following Rone. We walked through a large doorway, Axl and Calen behind us, and up a set of stairs that led to the first floor of a loft-style house. It definitely had a vibe of the guys about it. Everything was simple but high quality, with large and cozy couches, huge windows that showcased a thick dark green forest beyond, and a roaring fireplace splashing heat and light across the dark wood floor.
“This is our home,” Axl said, stepping closer to me, his eyes doing that analyzing thing again as they ran across my face. “Seeing you here in my environment … it’s very interesting.”
I laughed gently, because I was falling in love with his unique quirks. In a purely platonic way. “It’s exactly what I would have expected from you five. I mean, not that I know you well yet or anything … but this place suits you.”
I didn’t want to dwell on the fact that they hadn’t brought anyone else here before, because I knew this was not a “you’re special” sort of situ
ation. This was a “some crazy shit went down and we need to deal with it in private” situation.
Asher waved me toward the couch and I dropped—more like sank—onto a plush three seater. He stood before me, staring down with an unreadable expression. It should have felt uncomfortable, but … it didn’t. We just stared at each other, whatever the connection was between us continuing to pulse slowly.
“There is a lot about us that you don’t know,” he said softly.
I nodded, needing to hear this story.
Asher sat beside me, and energy licked across my skin again. I had to hold back a groan because it felt so good, and so scary, to have him this close. We weren’t touching, he was very careful not to do that, but I could still feel him.
The others, minus Rone, sat in various chairs and couches around us, and Asher continued, “A lot of our history we’ve pieced together from books and legend. There are none left who remember the original days, and the stories have been passed down so many times that it’s almost impossible now to know what’s true. But we’ll tell you what we know … or think we know.”
My breath caught in my chest, and I couldn’t quite figure out why this felt so important.
“Atlantis was thought to be the first instance of supernaturals crossing from Faerie to Earth,” Asher started. “Somewhere around 10,000 B.C., if you want to use the Christian way of measuring time.”
I appreciated human references. It gave me a better level of understanding.
“The original Atlantean supes were not like any of the races today,” Axl said. “If I had to classify them, it would be magic user crossed with fey, but not in a way of our mixed race. This was literally their own classification, and they were strong with an affinity for water magic.”
“They were very ambitious,” Asher added. “In a world that was still relatively primitive, they pushed themselves to be gods among humans.”
Calen snorted. “Arrogant bastard runs in our genes.”
Asher ignored him. “There were three royal families on Atlantis. Sons and daughters of Sonaris, blessed of god. Sons and daughters of Corpinicus, blessed of water. And the final royal family was Jervania, blessed of earth.”
Corpinicus … that was Asher.
Two royals.
The Arterians had definitely believed me to be a descendent of Atlantis. From their royal bloodline.
“These royal families ruled peacefully together,” Jesse said, picking up the story, “and there was prosperity and power for hundreds of years. Until the Sonaris line, who always thought they were slightly superior because they were blessed by the gods, decided to take their power a step too far.”
Of course I’d be possibly descended from the very assholes who sank Atlantis.
Asher caught my eye and I braced myself for what was to come next. “They created something so powerful it caused wars. The three royal bloodlines turned on each other, each trying to possess and control the weapon.”
Rone’s deep voice came from the doorway. “Sonaris sank them into the ocean, and only a few hundred survived. It is those that we are descended from.”
“What was the weapon?” I asked.
There was the briefest of pauses, and I wondered if they were going to tell me. Maybe they didn’t know. “We think it was the elixir of life,” Rone added. “The secret to unlimited power and immortality.”
Well, fuck.
20
“Supernaturals live for hundreds of years anyway, right?” I asked, looking between them all. “Why was that such a big deal?”
“It wasn’t just about living forever, it was about power,” Axl said, back in scientist mode. “The energy in our center has limits, and unless a magic user can connect to a ley line, they will exhaust their own power quite quickly. The rumors—and I really hate relying on hearsay, but it’s the best we have—spoke of a weapon that might give the Atlanteans eternal life and limitless power. But there was a price to pay. What that price was, we haven’t found any details.”
I thought this over. “I’m not surprised Sonaris was upset,” I said with a shrug. “They were basically attempting to turn themselves into gods.”
“Exactly,” Asher said. “And whoever controlled the weapon would most likely rule the entire world.”
Definitely a weapon worth killing for.
I stretched my legs out in front of me. “I love learning of your history, I really do, but does anyone know why they’re after me? Why they would think, when none of you sense me as Atlantean, that I’m a royal descendent? I mean, even if I was, why do they care?”
“That’s a question we’d all like answered,” Jesse said, leaning closer. “The Arterians are a group, formed thousands of years ago, who continue to try and bring about the rise of Atlantis. They’re trained from birth to detect any that might be connected.”
I looked between all of them. “Can Atlantis rise again? Like … is there a legend about what might bring that about?”
All eyes went to Asher again, and he shrugged. “Nothing concrete enough to repeat. It’s actually part of the reason we’re all at this particular supernatural academy. It was founded by my family, and I believe they hid a secret Atlantis library here somewhere. It has unseen and priceless information about our history contained within it. We haven’t found it yet, but we continue to search.”
“If it’s here,” Rone said gruffly, still in the doorway, “we’ll find it.”
A wave of exhaustion pressed on me, and I rubbed tiredly at my temples. “So, what am I supposed to do now? How do I stay off their radar?”
“You should be safe in the Academy,” Axl said, “the securities here are top notch. I’ve even checked them myself. But … there’s no guarantee. Every system has a flaw, and if they figure out this one, then they could infiltrate.”
I rolled my eyes in his direction. “Very reassuring, thank you, Ax.”
The slightest pink lit up the apple of his cheek at my use of a shortened version of his name. “We’ll keep you safe,” he added quickly. “You’ll just have to stick close to us.”
Without conscious thought, my gaze slammed into Asher’s, and judging by his tight jaw, he didn’t appear to be a fan of that plan. “I think step one is to unlock your powers,” Axl hurried on to say. “It’s the best way to determine once and for all if you’re Atlantean.”
“We should try it right now.” Asher rose to his feet, broad frame crowding over me, while that fresh salt-air scent had my head spinning. Before I could protest, he reached out and grabbed my hand. His power wrapped around me, slamming down my arm and stopping in my gut. I cried out as the heat hit me and the ground started to vibrate.
“Asher!” I cried.
“Hold on, Maddi,” he growled, his eyes flashing silver at me.
Doors all around us swung open, and it sounded like glass was shattering somewhere, but I couldn’t turn to see it. The front door was in my line of sight, and I was the first to see the tall blond man that ran through.
“Stop!” the stranger yelled, power bursting from him, so strong that it threw everyone but Asher and me across the room. We were like a live wire at that moment, our power holding us in place, but I was starting to shake so badly I wasn’t sure I would survive whatever was happening between us.
The stranger strode forward. “You need to release her, Asher,” he said, his voice deep and rumbly.
Asher’s jaw was locked, but he managed to mumble, “I can’t.”
Panic was building. The power was literally rattling my teeth; my entire jaw ached. Light started to rise before my eyes; the heat inside of me felt like it was burning through my body, eating away at my insides.
The stranger pushed in closer, but he was moving slowly, like each step was hard for him to take. Another scream rose in my throat—it was hurting. Too bright. Too painful. Too much.
Light and energy exploded from us, and finally our hands were wrenched apart and I went flying back. As my head slammed into a nearby wall, everything we
nt dark, and I lost hold of consciousness.
Awareness returned, bringing with it a pounding head and dry mouth. I was scared to open my eyes in case the headache got worse—it was borderline a migraine right now. My memory was clear though, especially Asher’s face when we’d been blasted apart. He’d tried to fight the energy, to reach me again, and there had been concern on his face.
Needing answers more than I needed to protect myself from the headache, I squinted one eye open, and then the other. Thankfully it was dark in the room. I was tucked into a large, soft bed.
The air was cool and calm; there was a scent of ocean around me. Either this was Asher’s room or he’d sat with me for a few moments, because he was the only one of the Atlantean-five with this particularly unique smell. Dropping my bare feet off the bed, I walked to the door, opening it to find myself in a hallway. It led out into the guys’ living area. Asher and Jesse were standing in the kitchen, and it looked like they were having a somewhat serious conversation. I padded closer, too tired and pained to give a shit about interrupting.
“Maddi,” Jesse said, hurrying toward me. “How are you feeling?”
I shrugged. “Like my head went through a wall.”
He shot me his slow grin. “That’s pretty much what happened, so I’d say you’re doing good.”
My gaze settled on Asher and my chest squeezed tightly as the silence extended between us. “What was that?” I asked softly. He didn’t pretend to misunderstand my question.
“I have no idea. Whatever was blocking your power, it was designed to fight Atlantean energy. Mine was strong enough to cause a reaction.”
I swallowed roughly, needing to move closer to him. “Did you break the block?”
“According to Louis, I did.”
I paused, tilting my head. “Louis was the good-looking dude that busted in?”
I mean, I hadn’t been so out of it that I didn’t notice he was hot as fuck.