Total pages in book: 214
Estimated words: 195876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 979(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 653(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 195876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 979(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 653(@300wpm)
"How have you been feeling?" Voss asks abruptly, yanking me from my internal conversation with Typhon.
"Fine, I guess?" The words come out more a question than a statement.
"Your powers. Do you feel they're progressing?"
My fingers flex unconsciously. "I'm improving some, but it doesn't feel like enough." A heaviness settles in my chest as I think about my limitations. "Sure, I can manipulate small amounts of elemental energy without drawing power directly from someone. A stone rising from the floor. A sudden gust of wind. A needle of water materializing from nothing. A flare of heat dancing across my palm. But my classmates—" My eyebrows draw together. "My classmates are becoming devastating now that they've tethered. Malakai crafts shapeshifting weapons from water. Mireen can summon entire waves of water from nothing. I can barely—"
"You can do far more than them," Voss interrupts, his half-smile knowing. "Your powers are different, Nessa. Subtle. You're discounting that when you draw from someone, you can temporarily surpass their abilities. And you have access to all four elements, even if in limited quantities."
Memories from last night flash through my mind—draining enough water magic to blast people away like dust in a hurricane. But it required physical contact, and my enemies won't always stand still while I reach for them. It also exposes me.
The memory of last night also includes what happened with Raith afterwards. It's not an unpleasant thought, but it feels too private to have here with Voss staring at me. Heat rises to my cheeks as I recall Raith's touch, his intensity, the way he made me feel...
"And me subjected to your mating-obsessed brain. Let the scarred human dock with you, place a baby inside your body, and be done with it. All this time spent imagining the act is time wasted. You could be thinking of your training, of—"
"Typhon?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
Voss perches on the edge of his desk, long legs crossed and arms folded as he watches me. His silver hair is swept back from his face, revealing shrewd eyes that see too much.
"I should mention I heard about yesterday's confrontation," Voss says slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. "Veeni arrived at the healers missing an arm. She won't identify her attacker, of course. The stories we've gathered make at least one thing clear. It was Serena, two fires, and the waters against you and Raith Hollow with the rest of the fires. And Bastian, of all people, showed up in time to stop the fighting from getting worse, from what I understand."
I shift uncomfortably. "Something like that."
"Am I to assume... you bit Veeni's arm off? Or was it your flying fish, which seems rather small for such a significant wound."
My chest constricts, pulse hammering against my ribs. Does Voss know about Typhon? I've had no choice but to trust him with my unbound status, but I've managed to conceal the fact that I tethered a fucking ancient water dragon on Confluence Day. At least, I thought I had.
"I... don't know what happened to her," I manage. "There was nearly a fight, and then there wasn't. Bastian got there in time to stop it from happening.”
Voss cocks his head, amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. "Nessa. I'm not a fool, so don't treat me like one. What happened to Veeni's arm? What really happened?"
His tone sends ice crawling up my spine. Shit. Has he seen through my "Oceanus" the flying fish lie? Does he actually know about Typhon?
"Should I prepare to strike, angry human?" Typhon's voice reverberates with dangerous potential.
"No. He hasn't given us reason not to trust him yet. Everything he's done has been to help. Let's... wait and see."
I straighten my spine, forcing calm into my voice that I definitely don't feel. "I would rather not say, Rector Voss."
He studies me for several excruciating seconds before shrugging. "Veeni will survive, naturally. With sufficient practice, she may even learn to conjure a relatively functional fire-based arm for short durations. Such things are possible with adequate skill."
"Oh." I inwardly curse myself for the relief I feel. Despite knowing she deserved every bit of what happened, guilt has gnawed at me since last night.
"I should have removed her head instead. Let her magically replace that!"
"Typhon, don't be a dick."
"Elementals do not possess dicks. We have a far more sophisticated organ known as—"
I quickly block him out, refocusing on Voss who's watching me with undisguised curiosity.
"Have you and your friends secured a fifth member for the Crucible? I assume my early warning allowed you first selection."
"We're... working on it." I shift my weight on the chair. "But there's something else I hoped to ask about. Something related to finding our fifth."
"Oh?" Voss lifts his chin slightly, eyes sharpening.
"I heard a rumor. About… siphons."
Voss's expression remains perfectly neutral, and I find myself rambling to fill the uncomfortable silence.