Tasting Darkness

Book 2 Chapter 9 Aleera POV Tobias askedto step forward , and | did . My bond becexcited , and | stamped it down , forcing it back . | knew they felt it , but when I felt Darius’s presence moving closer, | didn’t want him to feel my reaction to my mates . H So it was no surprise when | felt him stop behind. ” Hold your hands out , ” Tobias whispers , then his eyes dart over my shoulder . | glance back at Darius . He leans against the door fr, watching us , but | turn my attention back to Tobias and focus on the casting he was about to show. Tobias holds his hands out above mine , and | watch the air between his hands ripple and thicken . A picture forms and my magic wants to latch on to him, and it does .

He transfers the strange sphere into my hands , and it hovers above my palms . He pokes it with his finger , and it ripples , taking the form of the rainforest . ” Why are casts dangerous ? ” he asks , looking out at the class , yet he looks back atfor the answer . Vampiric - Fae primarily did casts because my kind no longer existed or was rare . It took compulsion and could temporarily blind an opponent , yet it also took a lot of concentration to maintain . ” They are dangerous because they act as virtual reality , and people can be trapped within them until the cast holder releases them , ” | tell him , and he nods . One demon in the class raises their hand , and Tobias nods to him . ” Why are we learning this , though ? Only vampiric and Elemental can yield it , the demon asks , and Tobias asks . ” You think a vampiric will care if you can yield it if they are planning to use it against you ? ” he asked , and as Tobias said , the man dropped his head . It was a stupid question to ask . ” So, how does one break out of the spell of a cast ? ” Tobias asked before the sphere was suddenly wrapped around my face , blindingto the rest of the classroom . Forest scenery surrounded, and | could vividly see and hear, even smell , everything . The classroom completely disappeared , and | stumbled forward . | could even hear the crickets chirping , the sound of the soft breeze , and feel it like it was real , the air thick and moist , and the ground smelled of moist soil .

Yet Toblas’s voice | could also hear faintly , his voice becoming more distant until he touched, makingjump , thinking something fell from the trees and landed on. My hand moves to his hand on my shoulder . ” Focus on my voice , Aleera , ” he says , yet the cast | am stuck in feels real, so | instinctively look up when birds take off out of the canopying trees above . ” You need to remember it's a cast . Remember your true surroundings , no matter how much fear or what is going on around you . It isn’t real . You just need to focus on where you were before , paint that picture in your head , and implant it .

This will force fake reality away to bring you back to your true surroundings , ” I try , but I find myself stuck as everything becomes overwhelming . ” Where are you , Aleera ? ” Tobias asks . ” Rainforest , ” | murmured , turning when | heard leaves rustle behind. ” Where were you before Aleera , focus ? ” his voice says , and | look for him but can’t see anything but forest . My pulse races when | see a giant tiger step out from the foliage .

| stagger , taking a step back , only to trip over my feet . It charges at, and | put my hands up to shield myself when the cast is dropped , and | find Tobias grabbingand haulingto my feet . Everyone in the class laughed , and Darius even chuckled at. Embarrassment coursed through.

” This is why you should have been in my class instead of running hiding in an advanced defense class , ” Darius says , makingglare at him as | catch my breath . ” You did well . Ignore them . It was your first go , ” Tobias whispers , yet as | went back to my desk , everyone tried to stifle their giggles , and Darius clicked his tongue . ” Do it again, ” | snap , gritting my teeth . | hadn't wielded magic like that before it was banned in the schools , yet | could feel how he did it and knew | could mimic it if | could just touch it again .

” You don’t have to , ” Tobias says , his lips brushing my cheek . The demon holler and whistles at his gesture , and | glare at them . ” Do it again, ” | tell him, turning to face him . | refuse to let them think | don’t belong here or that I can’t do this .

Tobias’s eyes search my face before he sighs , looking pastto Darius . | look at him , too , and he waves arrogantly , thinking I would fail again . | could feel his amusement at my anger which only served to angermore . When Tobias sets the cast in my hand this t, however , my magic locks onto his , but instead of letting him manipulate it when he flicks his fingers , | grasp onto it tightly . He raises an eyebrow at. ” Aleera ! ” he hisses , wondering what | am doing , but | hold on firmly and feel for the compulsion he was using in it before crushing and stamping it out . His magic fizzled in my hands . | feel how it disintegrates his cast, dying out as | destroy it . The demons laughed . ” What's a matter , Aleera , scared , burned it out before entering it ? ” one chuckles . ” That was my intention , ” | tell the demon . He scoffs , throwing his head back . Lycus snarls at him, and he jumps when my mate stands behind him . ” Stop playing around and get either to my class where you should be or back to your seat, ” Darius snaps at, and Tobias nudges me, but | refuse to move . ” | can do one better, ” | smirk , feeling my magic sing in my blood , morph and twist as it writhes through, cold and chilling while also warm tingling as | blend both sides of my magic, melding them into one .

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