Nobody else speaks, but the collective weight of everyone’s eyes swings to Azur, watching for his decision. Waiting.
“Let’s do this,” Azur answers.
Instantly, I want to pull him away from her, to stop this from happening, just like that feeling a moment ago.
Irrationally, my feelings towards Ever are far more intense than I understand. I don’t know her, but I’m drawn to her, not just in a physical way.
I want to fight for her.
I want her to fight.
I nod as her eyes find mine again and watch as she moves towards Azur, rolling her shoulders a little as if throwing off the tension.
“I don’t know you very well, but can I trust you to drop our touch if it’s needed?” Her voice is calm as she asks Azur.
Her eyes slide to mine, and I’m hit with a pulse of guilt at keeping our connection longer than I should.
He nods, and I curse not learning every facet of every other trainee in this place before now.
And we all watch.
Hands meet.
A weird beat of energy radiates across the room, but I wonder if it’s only me who senses it, as nobody else seems to react.
Azur’s stance shifts a few inches, but Ever’s eyes fix on his face. Her breathing is steady. She’s calm. My gut wants to check with my power, but I don’t want to risk distracting her.
No darkness. No rain. No commentary from either.
I inch forward to watch Azur’s face and wonder if he’s trapped in a mental prison of visions like I was. But his face looks calm. Just as calm as Ever’s.
Maybe there’s no energy between them. Maybe he has shields—it’s something Guards can do, and I need to get a fuck-load better at. Or maybe their power doesn’t mix, but I know it can’t be that. Everyone’s power reacts to another’s in some way. It’s one of the principles we’re taught and rely on.
And then I take another look at Azur.
His eyes have gone vacant, like he’s staring off into another world. And Ever’s brow now has slight frown marks marring it.
A chill runs over me. Is this how Ravi felt when he saw us, and why he stepped in? Because everything in me, every fibre of me, is screaming to pull Ever out of whatever is going on between them. A silent battle we can’t see or witness.
I step forward, unable to stop the pull I feel towards them. Towards Ever.
“Wait, Ten,” Calix states. He’s moved, now standing right next to me, and I haven’t even realised, my focus solely on Ever and Azur.
“Easy to say.”
“What happened with you two?” he asks.
The images, the pain, all scream back inside my head. I’d never usually hesitate to share with Calix. He’s been my best friend since we were kids. But I shake my head. “It’s hard to explain.”
Azur doesn’t shift, nor does Ever.
“Aurelia? Rowan?” I snarl a warning to them both, unable to stand and watch.
They can intervene without risk, or at least with less risk than the rest of us.
It’s Aurelia that moves, pulling at Azur’s hand, but he just remains standing, motionless, like he’s been turned into a statue. Ever steps back, blinking. And she watches Azur, waiting, and the worry on her face deepens.
“Azur?” she asks through deep, panting breaths.
