Warring Mates

Whispers—a symphony of voices—danced inside my head, driving me crazy. A gabble of words. Scaring me.

“Stop...” I mumbled. They had to stop. “No—”

I clutched my head, my breathing quickening. With each second, they worsened. A cackle of sound that made me want to scream out.

Electricity coursed through me. Thunder rumbled in the distance. I couldn’t keep it in. My magic—

The windows shattered. The lights breaking.

My sketches flew through my room, a quake rumbling the palace. Its intensity worsened as the voices in my head became louder.

“Lexi!” my dad yelled as he barged into my room.

“Make it stop,” I screamed. My head... it pounded. Sharp jabs of pain going through my entire body.

He held me close to him, stroking my head. “Jay, get Silas.”

“Please, make it stop,” I whimpered, tears rolling down my cheeks.

“Focus on my voice, Lexi,” he ordered. “Everything is going to be okay. Silas will be here in a moment. He can show you how to block out the thoughts.”

“It hurts.” I clutched onto my dad’s arms, my nails digging into his skin.

“Just breathe,” he said in my ear, “and concentrate on one thought.”

“I can’t,” I rasped, clenching my eyes shut.

“Lexi, listen to me,” Silas said. “I know the thoughts can be scary and a lot to handle, but you can block them out. You just have to imagine a wall around your mind.”

I shook my head. The pain... it was too much. It clouded my mind, preventing me to think as I desperately searched for an opening. But there it was... A small clearing.

I reached for it; the voices drowning out as my mind freed itself and I pictured a wall. One of steel—invincible. I could see it solidifying around my mind, the voices turning softer and softer.

“Looks like you are going to need some extra training sessions,” Silas said as I relaxed in my dad’s hold, a soft groan leaving my lips. I didn’t have the energy to speak.

“You should get some rest,” my dad said, his hand stroking my back.

“No... I’m fine... really...” I breathed out—each word quieter than the last one, my mind drifting away.

“Sure you are,” he whispered, kissing my head before darkness whisked me away.

...

I ran through the corridors; the wind playing with my hair as my chest rumbled with laughter. A second gift. I still couldn't believe it. Goddess, I had to tell Lachlan about this.

My steps quietened down, my smile disappearing. Lachlan... he would be so happy for me, already trying to figure out what it exactly entailed. A broken laugh left my mouth as I wiped a tear away. I had to stay positive. To believe that he would come back. That we would win the Spirit Fest together, join the Elite, go on missions.

I breathed out, rounding a corner as I kept my tears at bay. I had cried enough these last couple of days. Right now I had to focus on this second gift of mine or I was sure to lose at the Spirit Fest.

"Everything okay?" a voice asked. One I didn't recognize and my eyes met with a pair of amber pools. Lachlan... I closed my eyes, shaking my head. It wasn't him. This man had a scar running along his face.

Opening my eyes again, I met his stare. "And you are..."

The corner of his mouth tugged up. "I guess your father hasn't told you about me."

I crossed my arms, raising a brow. "Should he have?"

"I'm Rokan." He held out his hand, his eyes analysing me. "A friend of your father's."

I stared at his hand, shaking it after a couple of seconds. He must be with this Ace. "Is this about those creatures?"

"Always going straight to the point?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Is it?"

He sighed out. "Yes, and no. Your father ordered me and Evie to keep an eye on you.”

I rolled my eyes. Of course he did. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

"That's something you can discuss with him, but right now I have been given orders." He leaned against the wall, his hands in his pockets. "Besides, you are not the only one with a babysitter. Zak and Ryan are keeping an eye on your mother."

I scoffed out, storming away. It was still the same. My dad didn't trust me.

"It's for a good cause, Lexi," he said, catching up with me. "For some reason, those creatures are drawn to here. The guards have spotted them on multiple occasion when they tried to sneak into the palace."

This made me halt in my steps. "Dad didn't tell me anything..."

"I would have—" the person in question said, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "But Rokan decided to tell you before I could."

"Sorry," Rokan said, his own smile playing on his lips. "See you at the meeting."

"What mee—"

"One you are not invited for," my dad interrupted. "And before you get all angry, Silas is waiting for you in the library. He will help you train your second gift."

I jumped in my dad's arms, a squeal leaving my lips. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," he murmured in my hair.

"Why? Scared he is a better teacher than you," I said, fist bumping his arm and a shriek left my mouth when he picked me up.

"You wish," he said, tickling me.

"Having some fun, have we?"

"Mom..." I smile brightly at her, squirming out of my dad's hold.

"It's good to see you, honey." She wrapped me in her arms, kissing my head.

"And me?" my dad said, giving my mom a pout.

She chuckled at his behaviour and kissed him briefly. "I love you, too," she murmured against his lips.

I shuddered at their little make-out. "Gross."

My dad let out a snort. "Go to the library."

"With pleasure." I dashed through the hallways and into the library, where I saw my gramps sitting at the table.

“Someone’s excited,” he said, mirth gleaming in his eyes.

I sat opposite from him, bouncing on my chair as my eyes went over the various ancient books on the table. “Why wouldn’t I be? I have a second gift.”

“One that can be dangerous, Lexi," he lectured, closing the book he was reading. "You have to be careful with it. It’s not something you can use just because you want to.”

I shrugged, finding those books more interesting. I couldn't read the titles since they were in a foreign language, but the picture in the book he was reading looked a lot like those creatures.

"Lexi," he said sternly.

I clicked my fingers against the table, my jaw clenched. "I know our gifts aren't something you just use."

"You’re not understanding me." He leant his elbows on the table, folding his hands. "Reading one’s mind is a powerful ability, and you shouldn’t use it carelessly. Everyone has their right to privacy."

“I understand,” I said earnestly. I did.

“Now that you know that, you should also know that it is dangerous to peek into someone’s mind. You can easily get lost when you dig too deep.”

I furrowed my brows, leaning forward. “You mean like a maze?”

“Yes, exactly like a maze.”

I nodded my head. “Are there any more dangers I should know about?”

He picked up a book, one in our language. "The ability of reading one's mind has many dangers, which is why we will start with the easy things. Such as creating a shield around your mind and keep it up even when experiencing strong emotions," he explained, adding an emphasis on the last sentence.

I crossed my arms, hurt by his words. “Are you saying I have trouble controlling my magic?”

He handed me the book. “We both know the answer to that, Lexi.”

“Fine,” I grumbled. “Maybe I can work a little on that department.”

“A little?” he joked.

“Shut up.”

Silas laughed, shaking his head. "I also suggest you read that book. But don't do anything without my supervision," he warned.

"Okay..." I leafed through the book, the many words dizzying me. "Also, why did I hear so many voices when no one was inside my room?"

"Did your dad ever tell you about the so-called levels of an ability?"

I placed the book down, thinking back upon the last training I had with my dad. "I think he mentioned them, but I can't really remember anything."

Silas pulled his hand through his hair, a sigh leaving his mouth. "In short, it means that another fae can have the same gift as us, but will only hear the thoughts of the persons in the same room whereas we can hear them of the entire palace and maybe even the surrounding area."

Right.

That sounded logical, and I couldn't believe I forgot something like that. This was basic knowledge. Facts even the children knew.

“So,” I said, clearing my throat as I hoped he didn't see the slight blush on my cheeks. “How are we going to train it?”

“Not yet," he answered, a smirk dancing on his lips when my face fell. "You first need to be able to keep that shield up or it will be pointless. To get into one’s mind, you have to open your shield without letting everyone else’s mind in... Kind of like a door.”

“And how boring is this going to be?” I complained. I thought we would have some action. A sparring session or something else. Sitting all day, keeping a shield up, wasn't like me. I didn't have the patience.

“It will be good for you." He stood from the chair, squeezing my shoulder before leaving.

“Wait,” I said, my head whipping to the door. But he had already left. “How the hell am I supposed to practice keeping this shield up?”

I pinched my lips, my eyes skipping to the strange books. The brown leather book begged me to open it—to take a peek. So I did. I undid the leather ropes, the old yellow pages creaking as I opened it. Strange symbols covered the pages, making me wonder how my gramps was able to read it.

"What kind of language is this..." I skimmed through the book, stopping once in a while when a picture showed up which were all from creatures I had never seen. Expect for one—the dragons.

My eyes stayed still on the page. A beautiful charcoal drawing of a mighty dragon adorned half the page, its wings spread wide, and the details made my mouth gape. Even I could not draw like this. And with great reluctance, I turned the page, my entire body freezing.

Black pool of eyes stared me in the face. The same ones those creatures had. Chills went up my spine, my heart quickening. I slammed the book shut, storming out of the room before I completely lost my mind.

"Shield... Keep up the shield," I chanted to myself, imagining an iron-steel wall around my mind as I rushed to the garden. The singing of birds and the koi fish swimming in the pool always did an amazing job on calming me. Just staring at them was pure heaven.

“Good morning, sunshine,” a breezy female voice said from behind me, and I turned around. A marvellous woman stood beside Rokan. Her short black hair danced in the wind, baby blue eyes gleaming with mischief. She must be Evie.

I pressed my lips together, my hands balling into fists. "Can't the babysitting start tomorrow?" I just wanted a moment for myself, preparing for the upcoming days of being haunted by these two.

"Nope," Evie said, a cunning, feline smirk playing on her lips. "Silas asked us to help you train your new gift."

I tilted my head, already not liking the way she looked at me. "How?"

“Don’t know.” She shrugged her shoulders, her smirk only widening, and I forced myself to take a deep breath, mending the small crack in my wall.

“I guess I have to figure it out on my own then,” I mumbled.

“Did you say something?” Rokan asked.

I ignored his question and went back to the palace. Going to my favourite spot didn't seem as fun anymore with these two. They would only ruin it.

"Where are we going?" Evie asked.

"Nowhere."

"So, you are going to walk all day?”

"No." A short and clipped answer as I stormed into my room, slamming the door shut.

"We're supposed to help you train," Evie said from the other side. "Can't really do that from here."

"I don't care," I said, falling down on my bed as I ignored the knocking on my door. Though after a couple of minutes, it drove me insane. It didn't stop, and I was pretty sure Evie enjoyed annoying me.

"What," I roared, throwing my door open.

"How's it going with that wall of yours?" Evie asked, poking my forehead.

I swapped her hand away, giving her a glare. "Great." Though that was a lie. Cracks had formed themselves, and I desperately tried to mend them, which was easier said than done.

"That's good to hear." Evie crossed her arms over her chest, a smug look on her face. "Maybe we can spar a little... look how well you can keep it up when I beat your ass."

"Who says I'm gonna lose?" I dared, lifting my chin.