The Broken Queen

Chapter 54; Morality:

Lexi's POV:

A dark shadow ripples across the treetops ahead, shrouding everything around us in subtle darkness. It isn't natural—just a faint dimming of the light, confined to the area around the old building. My wings twitch instinctively. The air feels charged, heavy with magic—dark magic. My magic aura soars for a moment and then unfurls as if...brushed by unseen fingers — curious, not hostile, but unnerving. Glancing down below, I see the threads radiating their magic from beneath the earth, giving the soil a soft golden glow. It's beautifully disturbing. It's like they are somehow, recognising my magic, brushing against it like they are old friends. A weird sensation floods my veins safety and familiarity. It freaks me out, my skin breaking out in goosebumps.

I decide to get out of the sky, we are within eyesight of the building now. I slowly descend, my wings fluttering against my back before vanishing as I land softly on the dewy grass. Jonah comes out from behind a nearby tree, fully dressed with a duffel bag in hand. She stands right in front of me, hand on the hilt of the blade tucked in her belt, with this odd look on her face I can't quite place.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask, a little startled. She tilts her head slightly with a nearly imperceivable twitch of the side of her mouth. "Your wings are absolutely stunning, and you land so..gracefully. I was just thinking — it's so beautiful, you're so beautiful..." My cheeks begin to burn, flustered at the implication. I turn away, wiping my suddenly sweaty palms on my jeans, as my magic stutters along with my traitorous heart.

'MATE' my vampire's voice cuts through my thoughts and emotions like butter. A wave of fear and unease flooding my system instead. Confused and nervous, I ask, 'what do you mean mate? Fairies don't mate like wolves do, we choose our life partners.' There's a shrill laugh and I can practically hear her smirk in my head. 'But vamps do, and that wolf is mine, as odd as the pairing is. She is mine, and she is yours, you just haven't realised it yet...but you will Lexi, you will.'

A icy pain fills my head before receding, as does she, leaving me creeped the hell out. A shiver runs down my spine. "Everything alright?" Jonah's duty laced voice distracts me from my discomfort.
"Hmm? Oh. Yeah, all good. I just don't want to fuck this up somehow." Jonah hums, clearly not believing my lie but not acknowledging it either and I'm grateful. "There's no need to worry Lexi. You can handle this, and no matter what happens, I am here to protect you and make sure you get out of here, even if I don't. I've got you, I swear."

Her tone is calm, too calm. Like she's already accepted the possibility. She seems content with that scenario, her eyes boring into my soul with a depth and determination I didn't expect to find there. It makes my chest tighten.

I wring my hands together, nervous. "I know you have your orders Jonah, but you really shouldn't risk your life to save mine if it comes to it." She just smiles at me and stalks forward, eyes focused ahead of us.

I clear my throat in a poor attempt to calm my racing heart. I need to focus, I've got a job to do.

"Wait up, Jonah—I need to cast a cloaking spell." I force authority into my voice. "If anyone's watching, I'd rather they see nothing. Plus, it will give us a defensive advantage if things go south."

She nods and walks back to me—standing a little closer than necessary—probably without realising it. Wolves don't understand the nuances of fairy magic.

I inhale, slow and measured, letting my magic flows down my arms. It spills from my fingertips as I weave the spell mid-air—delicate motions forming a thin, shimmering veil. When my hands fall to my sides, the magic drops with them, unfurling like mist.

The air bends. Scents vanish. We fade into the world like ghosts.

I spot the compound up ahead as we move carefully through the trees. It's a large, rotting, concrete structure, half-swallowed by the forest—almost half the size of Alpha Timmothy's pack house. It might be impressive in size but it's also impressive in the weight of it's sinister aura. It makes my skin buzz with unease, my magic reacting to the wrongness of the place. Ivy has pierced the stone walls at every opportunity, like nature is trying reclaim what was once built here. Thick iron bars line all the windows. Every entrance looks like a dangerous idea.