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Dmitri

I want to rip the little shit's head off. Fucking Benjamin. My dislike of him from the beginning now feels justified.

I look over at Sky. Instead of a shocked expression, which is what I expect her reaction to be, she laughs.

"Look, guys, I don't know what kind of trick this is, maybe some sort of initiation or prank. Whatever it is, I don't do group activities, and I'm tired, so... I'm going to bed."

Earlier, when Raina had called her out, saying she isn't what I think she is, a sliver of doubt had settled in my mind. That maybe she was part of the hunter's organization and was sent to get close to me for information. Any doubt is totally dashed. She is totally oblivious. This wasn't even denial. Just pure and utter guilelessness. Maybe she had just been exposed to too much too quickly. Whatever it is, she isn't having any of this.

As Sky steps forward, Raina grabs her hands, wrists up. I move to her side, not liking anyone touching her.

Before Sky can do anything, Raina says 'revelare' followed by some witches' incantation I had never heard before. Sky is tugging her arms, trying to get free, but Raina is clenching them, her eyes now glazed over, appearing white.

"Stop it," Sky says, looking from her wrist to Raina. "It's burning!" she shouts, panicked.

"Raina!" I say loudly, trying to snap her out of whatever trance she is in.

She continues, words spilling into the room, as a circle of wind forms around us.

"Move back!" Ally shouts, pushing people aside.

I stand closer to Sky, my hand around her waist.

The wind is circling around us, moving faster and faster, and getting louder and louder.

"Raina! Stop!" I shout, trying to move but unable to, as if we are statues.

I glance at the birthmark on Sky's wrists, which now appear to be moving. What once were light brown, indiscernible marks have now become moving black snakes. The black cracks, and through the cracks, you can see something akin to lava moving around underneath.

Sky is now screaming, tears streaming down her face. I'm unable to do anything, the force of the wind allowing only slight movement.

The next minute, Sky screams out loudly, "I SAID STOP," before a burst of energy sends Raina and me flying backwards. It's so strong that I am thrown through the wall and into the corridor that Sky and I had exited earlier.

I get up to see Sky's body engulfed in orange flames, her body levitating in the air. She appears to be unconscious, and all her clothes have been singed off her body. Even the beads in her hair and the jewelry in her ears have been burned into nothingness. The only thing not burning is anything purely Sky.

I look past her and see Ally helping Raina up. Her eyes have returned to their normal hazel color, and she has blood dripping down her forehead from a cut to her scalp, probably sustained as she was flung back. Every piece of glass has been shattered, and the large chandelier in the middle has been obliterated. All the windows on the sides of the hall are smashed from the burst of energy. People are scattered all over, some on the ground, injured from all the glass, while others are concussed from the force of being pushed back. Most were busy recovering thanks to their advanced healing abilities, but some witches and other supernatural beings unable to heal would need treatment.

Marko appears at my side. I had seen him in the crowd on the outskirts of the wind circle, standing next to Elanor, with shocked expressions on their faces.

"Are you alright, Dmitri?" he asks, looking from the chaos in front of us to Sky still floating behind me.

"I'm fine, Marko. Check on everyone. Call reception and get some medics in here for the injured."

He is off in a blur. I turn to face a floating, unconscious Sky. I've never experienced anything like this before. I had felt the surges of energy that Sky emits, but a part of me thought it had to do with us, just like the sparks we feel. I would never have guessed anything like this. Especially since she smells human, and my ability to smell is amplified as a Lycan. I can't be wrong, can I?

Raina approaches and stands next to me.

"I tried to contain it, but it was too strong. She is too strong. That burst of energy was Sky's. It's dangerous," she says, her hand on her head trying to stop her head wound from bleeding.

"That flame is part of the curse. It's old magic. And it's protecting itself. I can't seem to get through. And I can't tell what she is," she mumbles, concern written on her features.

I approach Sky, the flames licking her body and flicking out towards me.

"Skylar," I call out when I am arm's length away from her.

She is floating, about waist-high, her eyes closed. I repeat her name, and this time I see her eyes flutter.

"Dmitri," I hear her whisper, so quietly I'm sure only I can hear her.

She holds her hand out, orange flames licking her fingers and hand, all the way down her arm. Her eyes are still closed, softly fluttering as if she is fighting to wake up.

This might hurt, I think to myself, bracing for the burn. I'm instead met with the usual sparks as I take her hand. Raina approaches, and as she does, the flames seem to flicker. She holds her hand out towards Sky's shoulder. The flame flicks out and scorches the skin on her hand, causing her to pull back quickly, her hand cupped against her chest.

"That's curious," she says, looking at my hand holding Sky's, the flames gently moving around us.

A crowd has once again gathered behind us, watching intently.

I move closer, putting one hand under her legs and the other under her shoulders, pulling her towards me. The flames instantaneously disappear as her body goes limp, the full weight resting in my arms.

Raina removes the cloak she is wearing and drapes it over Sky's body.

"Thank you, Raina," I say, making sure no part of Sky's body is visible to prying eyes.

"I will let you know when she is awake. There is a lot to discuss. Make sure Benjamin stays put and bring him with you later."

With that, I turn around, people parting as I make my way through the dinner hall, careful not to step on the shards of glass everywhere. News of this would spread far and wide. By tomorrow, this would be news, and a big, fat spotlight would be on us.

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