Solasta Academy: Blood & Moonlight

Chapter Thirty-Five

Calia sat up in her hospital bed with Mister Cuddle in her lap. It had been an hour since she awoke and, from what Soari told her, days when she went in and out of consciousness. She could recall vague details about what happened, which her guardian was in the middle of telling her. She sat beside her as she grimly explained Calia's injuries, most of which have yet to heal. So, from the order of the King and Queen of Ambrosia, she was supposed to rest for two before leaving. Great.

"Where's Arzhel?" Calia rasped.

Soari pulled her lips into a knowing smirk. "On his way with Amias. He found him sulking."

She frowned. "Why?"

"He blames himself for what happened to you," Soari admitted. "Everyone does, I suppose. We all have a weakness when it comes to you, so it's been one hell of a Breevort family shouting match for the past few days." Calia wanted to laugh but couldn't—as part of her neck was bandaged, and she feared Gideon hit her vocal cords. Maybe that was why her voice sounded so hollow. Soari delicately placed her calloused hand on top of her, giving Calia a reassuring smile. "I may have freaked out a bit when I got the call. Amias and my Father had to hold me down because I wanted to see you...but you were in surgery."

Calia gave her a sad smile, but her guardian continued as if she had waited days for this moment. "I asked my sister if her Phoenixes could take you into their world and you could attend their academy. After what happened, I wanted to ensure you were protected. The Phoenix doesn't allow any men in their realm."

"No, thanks," Calia murmured. "No more running—from either of us. We brace whatever conflicts are headed our way and see it through."

"Okay," Soari replied. "No running."

In just the right moment, her door barged open and there he was beside Amias. Arzhel Koen was grinning ear to ear as tears spilled down his cheeks, relieved she was awake. He wore a maroon-colored jacket with a beanie the same color, dark ripped jeans, and sneakers. Gods, he was beautiful. "Hi," she whispered, her smile growing at seeing him.

"Hi," he replied.

Arzhel strided to the other side of her, while Amias stood at the base of her feet—looking pale. But her eyes trailed over to the Fae boy as if it was the first time they met. Calia glanced at the bruises along his wrists and frowned. She held his slender wrist with her hand, and Arzhel stilled at her touch but let her trail her fingers over his bruises. "Why aren't you healing?"

"I think it was the magic in the chains," he shrugged. "It might take a few days for my healing to kick in."

"Good," she said. "He doesn't get to take anything else away from us."

Soari nodded, silent as she watched her and Arzhel's interaction. "How are you so hopeful after everything that happened?" Arzhel asked, smiling. He stared at her like she was the entire world—something healthy and lovely rather than Gideon's sick obsession with her. Even after everything—the clothes he forced her to wear and the way she had to kiss him to distract him—it seemed unimportant now.

"Because you and I are alive," Calia replied. "We survived together."

"Well, at least there's one thing we can celebrate about." Arzhel winked. Soari raised an eyebrow at that, but he kept his eyes on Calia. "When you leave the hospital."

"It's a date."

Arzhel shook hands with Mister Cuddles, and for the first time, she let him. Though she felt he carried the bear before, she said nothing. Both Soari and Amias stilled at the sight, as if they were ready to brace Calia's wrath.

Before he could say anything else, Amias's phone rang with another text. He frowned as he read it repeatedly until Soari noticed his demeanor and leaped next to him. "What's wrong?" Calia asked. Her guardians looked as if they saw a ghost. Or maybe something far worse because they only looked at each other as though it was the beginning of the end. "Soari? Amias? Tell us,"

Soari whirled to Calia at once and straightened. "While all of us were distracted with finding you, somebody stole an important and deadly artifact from our Trove."

"What artifact?"

"The Book of the Damned," Soari stuttered. "It went missing."

"And there's one more thing," Amias whispered. He didn't look at her once, but from here, she could see how heartbroken he was. "Sebastian called earlier to tell us that your adoption papers couldn't be finalized. He explained that your biological father denied your adoption."

Calia's heart broke in two. "What?"

"He wanted to remain anonymous," Soari admitted as tears fell down her cheeks. "Unless he signs away his rights, we can do nothing."

"He...knows about me?" Soari and Amias nodded as if they didn't know what to say or do. Not when a deadly artifact was stolen, and they couldn't adopt Calia. Gods, when could they catch a break? But Arzhel squeezed her hand, reassuring her that he was there. He always would be. "It's not over yet."

"No," he shook his head. "It's not."