Chapter 163 GATHERED IN THE STORM

Chapter 163 GATHERED IN THE STORM
CHAPTER 163

EMBER

I watched Lance and Magnus head off toward Emberplate, their broad shoulders cutting through the lingering crowd of exhausted students. My stomach still felt hollow, but food was the last thing on my mind.

Kael stood beside me, arms crossed tight over his chest. His jaw worked back and forth, the muscle jumping under his skin. I nudged his arm with my elbow, the contact warm through his sleeve.

He glanced down at me, stormy gray eyes narrowing. “I still don't know the reason I agreed to this.”

I offered him a small smile. “You’re agreeing because the majority won the vote.”

He frowned, the expression pulling his brows low. “Fuck the majority,” he muttered, voice low and rough. “I’m only agreeing because I want you close tonight. Otherwise none of you would be stepping foot in my room, and I’d be sanitizing the whole damn place tomorrow.”

The blunt honesty in his tone sent a flicker of warmth through my chest, but it tangled quickly with guilt. He didn’t like sharing space. He didn’t like sharing me. Yet here he was, bending anyway. What should I think of this?

Before I could respond, strong arms slid under my knees and around my back. Rowan lifted me clean off the ground like I weighed nothing.

His crimson eyes glinted with that familiar mischievous spark, but I caught the tighter set of his mouth, the way his fingers pressed a little too firmly into my waist.

“Just say the word, Queen,” he murmured close to my ear, breath warm against my skin, carrying the faint coppery hint of blood he hadn’t fully washed away. “I’ll speed you away from this dragon’s ass to somewhere comfortable. Just us.”

For a split second, the offer tempted me. But the thought of leaving the others behind twisted something sharp in my gut.

I tilted my head, studying his face. “Where would you even take me?”

Kael’s growl ripped through the air. His hand shot out, yanking me from Rowan’s arms so fast my feet hit the floor with a jolt. I stumbled slightly, catching myself against his chest. The heat radiating off him was intense, almost feverish.

“Hope you’re not actually considering that bloodsucker’s suggestion,” he bit out, glaring down at me. His fingers stayed wrapped around my upper arm, not painful but definitely possessive.

I sighed and pushed at his chest, my palms meeting solid muscle. “I don’t have time for your mood swings, Kael. Weren’t you just complaining about all of us being in your room?”

He scowled, the expression deepening the lines around his mouth. “I already agreed because of you. Why are you making a big deal out of it now?”

I searched his face, noting the tension in his shoulders and the way his free hand clenched at his side. “I just don't want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

Kael must have read the hesitation on my face. He grabbed my hand, his grip rough but careful, thumb brushing over my knuckles. “No one’s uncomfortable,” he said firmly. “And you’re not spending the night alone with a vampire.”

Rowan squared up instantly, sliding between us so he faced Kael directly. The air crackled with sudden tension.

“What’s your problem with my kind?” Rowan demanded, voice low and edged with real anger. His wings twitched behind him. “You talk like we’re dirty shit that shouldn’t exist.”

Kael leaned in until they were nearly nose to nose, a deep growl rumbling in his throat. “I just don’t like the idea of gaining power by sinking fangs into someone’s body.”

My stomach churned. I hated this—the constant pushing and pulling between them. I still don't understand the feud between both of them. It drained me, especially tonight when all I wanted was to feel safe. Before I could step in, Ragnar’s warm hand closed around mine. He gave a gentle tug.

I glanced back at Kael and Rowan one last time, their bodies rigid with challenge, then let Ragnar pull me away.

My heart beat unevenly as we walked. “Do you think they’re going to fight?” I asked, voice quieter than I intended. “Hurt each other?”

Ragnar smirked, the expression softening the sharp lines of his face. He squeezed my hand. “They’ll stop when they realize you’re not there to watch.”

He pushed open the door to Kael’s room. The familiar deep purple walls and heavy curtains wrapped around me like a tired embrace. I climbed onto the massive bed immediately, the mattress dipping under my weight, the sheets cool and smooth against my palms.

Ragnar joined me without hesitation, stretching out beside me. His wing brushed my arm, soft feathers against my skin.

“The shadow monsters have basically declared open war on our world,” he said after a moment, voice low. “With how things are going, the Year Three students will be pulled to the front lines.”

I sat up fast, staring at him. “You’re joking.”

He shook his head, sea-green eyes serious. “Last time it happened exactly like this. It always does. The shadows push relentlessly. Academies across Sovranna send their strongest third-years.”

“That’s really bad,” I whispered, my throat tightening. Images of Magnus, Lance, Rowan, and Ragnar fighting those creatures skimmed through my mind.

Ragnar sighed, the sound heavy. He reached out and patted my head softly, his hand warm and surprisingly gentle. “You’re so soft-hearted, Ember. This world isn’t made for people like you. You belong somewhere kinder. Maybe when you rise as queen, you can change the laws.”

His voice dropped. “But refusing the call? They give you two choices: die as a coward or die without asking.”

The brutality of it hit me like a punch. I lay back down, staring at the ceiling, the weight of his words pressing on my ribs. I can’t lose them. Not any of them.

The thought looped in my head, sharp and painful. I’d only just found this strange, messy connection. The idea of it being ripped away made my eyes sting.

The door opened. Magnus, Lance, Kael, and Rowan filed in, the tension between the last two still thick enough to taste.

They climbed onto the bed without a word, the mattress shifting and dipping under their combined weight.

The room filled with the rustle of clothes, the faint scent of soap from those who had washed, and the earthy smell of snacks.

Magnus and Lance had brought back bags of chips, wrapped pastries, and some fruit instead of real meals.

Ragnar grumbled, sitting up. “Are you two seriously this dumb? How do you fetch snacks after a battle like that?”

Magnus shrugged his massive shoulders, tearing open a bag of crisps. The salty crunch filled the air. “There was no proper food left at Emberplate. This is what we could grab.”

Rowan laughed, the sound surprisingly light. He leaned back against the headboard, wings folded. “Michal’s students are gluttons. What do you mean everything got ransacked?”

Lance chuckled, popping a pastry into his mouth. “If I hadn’t gone with Magnus I would’ve called it a lie too. But we looked everywhere. Nothing decent left.”

Kael glanced at me, his expression softening just a fraction. “Ember seems to be enjoying it without complaining.”

I looked up from the bag of chips in my lap, the salty grease already on my fingers. “Food is the least of my worries right now. I’m wondering what’s going to happen to all of us.”

Rowan shrugged, reaching over to steal a chip from my bag. His fingers brushed mine, sending a small spark up my arm. “With how furious Michal was, he’ll probably enforce more training. Extra classes around the clock.”

I studied each of their faces—tired eyes, bruised knuckles, the way Magnus’s shoulders still carried tension.

“Will you guys be okay with the new ward system covering the whole academy?” I asked.

Lance tilted his head. “Why?”

I shook my head, chewing slowly. The new wards felt like both safety and a cage. “No one expected the shadow monsters to attack the festival. Their portals opened everywhere. And with Brienne spying on us…” My voice trailed off. The betrayal still burned. “I’m just wondering who else might be watching.”

Ragnar nodded slowly. “The attack was too well coordinated. There’s definitely another spy inside the academy. If Brienne’s locked away, who’s feeding them information now?”

Magnus cleared his throat loudly, the sound cutting through the conversation. He set his bag of snacks down with more force than necessary. “I came close to dying tonight. I’m not spending the rest of the night on an investigation mission. Can we drop this and just eat and rest?”

Rowan and Lance spoke at the same time. “Supported.”

I let out a long breath and leaned back against the pillows. The guys settled around me, their warmth pressing in from all sides. Kael stayed a little apart at first, but eventually shifted closer until his arm brushed mine… he stayed above me.

Rowan claimed the spot on my other side, his hand resting lightly on my knee. Magnus stretched out at the foot of the bed like a guard dog, while Lance stayed by my other side. Ragnar on the other hand went to the bathroom.

My mind wouldn’t quiet, though. Liana’s absence gnawed at me. The dark energy the seer had sensed. The way my fire had reacted to her touch.

And now spies, front lines, the possibility of losing any of these men who had somehow become my strange, protective circle.

I closed my eyes, letting their presence anchor me. The bond with Rowan pulsed steadily. Kael’s dragon heat warmed my side. Magnus’s and Lance's quiet strength grounded the room. Yet beneath the comfort, fear twisted tight in my chest.

What if I’m not strong enough to protect them when the real war comes?

One by one, their breathing grew deeper. I stayed awake a little longer, listening to the sounds of the academy settling into an uneasy lockdown outside the walls, wondering how long this fragile peace would last.