Onyx Storm (The Empyrean #3)

by Rebecca Yarros

“Any chance you have an affinity for public speaking?” I ask Aaric, undoing the first button on my flight jacket as the heat builds. “It certainly runs in your family.” “Was it the shunning of my birthright in

hot. fuck z i want v

“Dain isn’t the strongest!” Andarna repeats, and this time, I get the point. I am. Aura whips off her

period

hand. I throw, releasing my dagger a second before flame erupts from her palm. The steel pins her glove to the wooden support of the dais. Aura gasps, and the flame dies before it can touch Dain, her head tracking the loss

fingertips. “And if you’re going to wield, then it’s me you’ll be dealing with.”

Never turn your back on a rider. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition) Chapter Six “You dare—” Aura turns to fully face me, yanking off her other glove. “I dare.” I lift my open palms skyward, and heat streaks along my arms as I release a wave of power, forcing it upward and letting it go. Lightning splits the sky, flashing bright above our heads and branching outward into the clouds. Thunder follows instantly, so loud it shakes the masonry. The crowd quiets, and Aura’s mouth hangs for a moment before she lowers her hands. “You see, Dain’s too honorable to wield in a challenge, but you’ll find that my sense of morality has learned to…waver.”

right. “Shh, it’s more fun when she blows shit up,” Ridoc whispers.

real

with every second I keep my power ready. “Well?” I ask. Silence falls, thick and heavy, but no one moves. “Is this what you do when we give you a break from classes?” Everyone turns toward the rotunda at the sound of Devera’s voice. The professor stands with her feet braced apart, flanked by Professors Emetterio and Kaori. All three look in desperate need of a bath and a good night’s rest. Thank you, Dunne. I force the Archives door to Tairn’s power shut and note the steam rising from my hand before the conduit dims. “Sorrengail is right,” Devera shouts. “There is every chance we will all meet Malek in the coming months, but you must decide if you’d rather die fighting each other or facing our shared enemy.” She rocks back on her heels. “Go ahead and choose. We’ll wait.” “Die now or die later, what’s the difference?” someone from Second Wing asks. “Die now, and the scribes will call your name in the morning.” Emetterio shrugs. “Choose to fight your common enemy, and there’s a chance you’ll live to graduate. Personally”—he scratches his beard—“I like our odds. The last time a shadow and lightning wielder fought side by side, they managed to drive the venin back into the Barrens for a few hundred years. We’ll figure out how to do it again.” I fumble the conduit and nearly

our squad brings up the rear. “I can see it sometimes,” Cat says, pulling up her hood as she walks ahead of me. “Why he chose you. Nice speech. Took you long enough to step in, though.” “You’re welcome,” I mutter to her back,

girl.

“I feel so protected.” Ridoc puts his hand over his heart. “Nurtured, even. Wouldn’t you agree, Violet?” “You pretty much described

love him

was going to torch me there for a second.” “Thanks for coming

bro thinks we forgave him

have been if he’d shown the same faith in me during my first year as he did today. Not different enough to change the way I feel about Xaden, though.