There were like two hundred other kids waiting behind us but whatever.
“Professor Zenith will be conducting their Awakening as usual,” Nova went on. “And we thought it might be apt for the five of them to be gifted by the stars before the rest of the students.”
“Oh, that’s really not necessary,” Antonia said cheerily and Melinda nodded.
“I think it would be appropriate,” Father said firmly, directing Nova and Zenith to start walking ahead of us, taking charge.
We followed them through campus and Tory drifted along at my side, seeming disinterested in anything but occasionally gazing wistfully at my father. I frowned at her, wishing I could do something to help her, but as she met my gaze, I could see she was hardly even there. Was Father going to allow her to come back to the academy this year?
The thought of her having been stuck alone in the manor with him all summer was awful. But it wasn’t like I’d been able to get near her, and Darius certainly hadn’t. Shit, what could anyone even do at this point?
We wound along through the beautiful campus under the light of the stars and the mutters coming from the crowd of freshman behind us said we were the talk of the night. Grayson kept throwing flirtatious looks at the group of fangirls at his and Hadley’s heels. Come to think of it, there were a bunch of girls pointing at me and whispering too. Heat blazed along my neck and I turned back to face the way we were going before I tripped over my own feet or some shit.
We reached a sweeping meadow full of tall grass and Nova directed the rest of the freshman to wait by the trees before leading me, Tory, the Councillors and their kids down to the centre of the field.
My heart lifted at the sight of the Heirs waiting for us there. Darius, Max, Seth and Caleb were dressed in smart suits, watching us closely as we approached. I could see their lips moving and Caleb’s hand curling around Darius’s arm as my brother stared at Tory. The tension in his posture made my chest ache, and he gave Caleb a firm nod even though the action seemed to cause him pain. They were clearly talking within a silencing bubble, but the second we got close enough, they disbanded it and all moved forward to greet their families.
Darius pulled me into a hug, speaking in a low voice in my ear. “This is your night, Xavier. Enjoy it.”
I smiled at him as he released me, but my smile started to die as his gaze moved to Tory again and she acted like he was invisible. It hurt me to see the two of them like this. Wasn’t being Star Crossed enough? Now my father had to do this to them too? It wasn’t right. Sometimes I didn’t have any faith in the stars. It was hard to accept they were ever on our side when all I saw from fate these days was bullshit.
“Let’s begin,” Zenith said brightly.
My heart thrashed against my ribcage as she directed the five of us to stand in a circle and our parents and Tory stood back behind us. It was easier to concentrate when my father was no longer in sight and I smiled at Hadley across from me who smirked like a cocky asshole.
Zenith stepped between us as Nova moved away to watch and Athena and Grayson grabbed my hands on either side of me.
“That’s it, hold hands all of you,” Zenith said, her eyes sweeping over us with an assessing gaze.
Ellis and Hadley clasped hands then took hold of the twins’ hands too so we were all linked in a circle.
“It is my greatest pleasure to Awaken your Elements tonight,” Zenith announced. “Now please tilt your heads towards the sky as it is time for the stars to bring forth your inner power.”
I dropped my head back, a shit eating grin pulling at my mouth because holy fuck, I was about to get my magic at long last. I wouldn’t be totally indefensible anymore. I’d be able to learn and get strong and maybe help my brother and his friends against the asshole of a Dragon who called himself my father.
The stars above were endlessly bright and glittered like a million eyes watching the world unfold below them. I could feel their power thrumming in the air, injecting my veins with a rush of exhilaration. They might have been dicks, but they were going to do at least one good thing for me tonight.
“Virtus aquae invocabo!” Zenith cried up to them.
The air fell still and I stopped breathing as I waited, tension gripping the atmosphere as silence fell around me. Then water droplets dotted my cheeks and I laughed as the swell of my water Element crashed into my limbs, running through my body like an overflowing lake.
Ellis laughed and a sound of excited clapping came from behind me.
“That’s my girl!” Ellis’s mom cried and Tiberius cheered.
“Wonderful, you two have the Element of water,” Zenith announced.
“Guess you won’t be drowning me then, Athena,” Hadley taunted her and she pouted.
I drew in a breath as the magic in me swirled like a whirlpool. I was a double Elemental. No doubt about it. My star sign was linked to fire so I would have the same Elements as my brother after all. I couldn’t wait.
“Everyone focus on the sky. Rogo vim aeris!” Zenith called to the heavens.
Grayson and Athena’s hair gusted in a wind I couldn’t feel and they whooped excitedly.
“Wonderful, your air Element has Awakened in you both,” Zenith told the twins and I grinned as they both squeezed my hands. “Invoco virtutem ignis!”
Heat flared at my feet and I grinned as I looked down at the fire tearing around me in a circle.
“Fuck yes!” Hadley whooped as fire blazed around him too. I grinned as I spotted the fangs in his mouth and the look of bloodlust peering from his eyes as his Order Emerged.
The Heirs all started cheering behind me and a grin stretched across my face that felt permanent. I was free, I’d soon be learning how to wield my power at the academy I’d dreamed of attending my entire life. This day was starting to rival my first flight as a Pegasus.
“Wonderful, Xavier,” Mom’s voice reached me.
My chest swelled as the Elemental heat spread through my body, warming every inch of me and a sense of real power thrummed in my chest.
“Oh shit.” Hadley’s eyes turned dark and he gasped, lunging at Zenith who promptly offered her arm to him like she’d seen this happen a thousand times. His fangs sank into her flesh and he drank deeply from her to sate his bloodlust. He finally tugged his fangs free, grinning satisfactorily as he stepped back to re-join the circle.
“You have the gift of fire, Xavier Acrux and Hadley Altair,” Zenith announced and I felt everyone else’s eyes on me as no one else had yet received a second Element. But earth was last so Hadley would definitely have it as he was a Virgo and the others would surely have it too. I looked back at the sky once more as Zenith cried out her final command to the stars. “Rogo vim terrae!”
I looked down, watching as grass grew up around Hadley’s legs, curling hungrily along his body. The same was happening to the twins and they laughed excitedly as they whooped. I glanced at Ellis, seeking the same, but there was nothing there and it took me a second to realise she was staring back at me with utter horror in her eyes. Something tickled my hand and I dropped my gaze to it, my heart lurching in complete disbelief as I found the grass coiling up around my body too.
“Holy shit,” I breathed.
“He has three Elements!” Mom gasped and I turned my head to look at my family. Father’s eyes were wide, a look of pride filling them that I’d never seen aimed at me in my damn life.