Page 69 of The Awakening of Essensia

“This way’s longer, but if you enter through the barracks on this side, you’ll be seen. If not by Jurah, then by my mother’s spies.”

As they neared the gate, he pushed back his hood. Moonlight lit his features. A strong brow, sharp jaw, high cheekbones, and full, curving lips. Maybe she didn’t mind walking a little longer after all.

Old Town felt like a different city compared to the Noble Quarter. People filled the streets, arms linked as they strolled aimlessly. Laughter echoed between stone buildings, and pipe smoke curled on the wind.

The Seven Squids was still packed. Music drifted from its open doors, undercut by clinking glasses and conversation. A woman stumbled down the steps, calling out to someone below. He caught her before she fell, and she shrieked with laughter, throwing her arms around his neck as he swept her back inside. It felt like a world untouched by black veins or burnt corpses, where no one went missing in the dark.

By the time they reached the quieter street that led to the barracks, Vaelira felt more awake than when they’d left the townhouse. Elijah slid his arm from her shoulder, and a shiver ran through her at its absence. “You’ll meet Galfri soon,” he said as they neared the gate.

“When?” she said, a smile breaking across her face.

“I’ll send word.” Elijah’s eyes were bright as he looked down at her. He gave her a wink and stepped forward, murmuring something to the guard. The gate swung open silently and she passed through, glancing back. The guard stood with his head down, a torch in one hand, a heavy-looking coin purse in the other. Elijah was already walking away.

Her thoughts spiralled as she climbed the stairs to the dormitory. She was finally going to get answers. Maybe even a way to control the power that simmered within her.

As she walked down the hallway, she slowed. A dark figure huddled against the door to her room.

Ressa.

Her cloak was laid in her lap, her cheek resting against the wood. As Vaelira approached, Ressa jerked awake, eyes locking with hers in the dark.

“Where in the Abyss have you been?” Ressa hissed.

Vaelira took a step back.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay after this morning,” Ressa continued, rising to her feet and stepping towards her.

Vaelira stiffened at the memory of Kolborn’s fist slamming into her gut. “I was in the courtyard,”

“Don’t lie to me.”

Vaelira shifted her weight. Her father had once told her that lies were sometimes necessary for the greater good. If you must lie, he’d said, lace it with truth to make it believable.

“We found a body on patrol,” she said. Truth. “I didn’t want to sit around thinking about it, so I sat in a tavern until I felt tired enough to sleep.” Lie.

Ressa’s features softened. “I heard about that. You should’ve come back and we could’ve joined you. There’s been talk. It’s not safe after dark.”

Vaelira pictured it. Ressa taking her arm as they walked to the tavern, Fang beside them cracking jokes to fill the silence. “I didn’t feel like talking.” She did. The words pressed against her throat like steam beneath a lid, but the moment she cracked, everything would come spilling out.

And then what? Would Ressa condemn her for her magic, like so many had before, when the mages were hunted to near extinction? It was how Veyrakh had managed to summon the Great Fire in the first place. There hadn’t been enough mages left to stop him. She couldn’t let that be the reason these summoners prevailed in the city now.

Vaelira stepped past Ressa, unlocking her bedroom door.

“How did you get back through the gate?” Ressa asked.

Vaelira turned slowly, meeting Ressa’s gaze, pleading silently for her to let it go. “It’s better you don’t know.”

Ressa’s eyes widened. “Oh Gods, Vaelira. Please tell me you didn’t use your assets?” Her eyes flicked briefly to Vaelira’s chest, then back to her face, brows raised.

Vaelira’s mouth fell open. “Ressa,” she hissed. Her lips tugged up and laughter broke through. A second later, Ressa joined in.

A door down the hall opened and a mop of red hair poked out. “Can you two keep it down?” Fang grumbled, voice hoarse with sleep.

Vaelira glanced back at Ressa. Their eyes met, and they both snorted. Ressa waved Fang away, still grinning as she turned back to her room, shaking her head.

The next morning at breakfast, Ressa didn’t mention the night before. Fang had muttered something about being rudely woken in the middle of the night, but nothing else. Vaelira suspected Ressa had told him about the burned body and warned him not to bring it up.

A group of recruits passed their table and Vaelira recognised the scrappy-looking woman she’d tripped in the training hall last week. Someone muttered under their breath. Prince’s whore.