#sky fic

"Focus!" Riven lands a sharp punch to Sky's shoulder giving him a pointed look. "Or I'll personally drag your sorry ass to the infirmary."

"At least she'd have to talk to me then," Sky mutters, voice low and bitter. Glancing her way one more time, for one more stolen glimpse, he shifts just in time to block Riven's next punch.

"You're pathetic," Riven snarls. "She dumped you. Get over it!"

"It's not that easy!"

"Fuck that. There are dozen of girls who are falling over themselves for a shot."

Sky's shoulders sink as he exhales. "None of them are her."

Riven scoffs. "Cold hearted bitches? Maybe that's a good thing."

"Don't call her that!" Sky’s fist moved before his brain caught up, and the impact was solid, knuckles colliding with Riven’s jaw with a thud that echoed through the courtyard.

Riven hit the ground with a grunt, but laughed as he cradled his jaw. "Okay. Anger. That's something. Anything is better than this pathetic moping."

Sky runs a trembling hand through his disheveled hair, his chest heaving. "You don't get it! It's torture. This past month is pure, relentless torture! I don't understand why she left! She just did. No explanation, no goodbye, nothing."

"For fuck's sake." Riven pushed himself up, spitting blood into the grass before storming across the yard toward her.

"Hey!" he barked, frustrated.

Y/N turned slowly, one brow arching, her expression unreadable. “Yes?”

He didn’t get far. The second his boots touched the grass near her, her eyes flashed an otherworldly green. Vines erupted from the soil like serpents, coiling around his ankles and calves, tightening until he was pinned in place to ensure he remains at a respectable distance.

"Ha! Cute trick!" He rolled his eyes and tried to yank his legs free, only to find they didn’t budge an inch. "You're so quick with your fairy dust. What, now you're too much of a coward to even talk to us?"

"Us?" Her gaze sharpens.

"Me and Sky!" He glances over his shoulder, only to see his friend didn't follow him. Of course he didn't.

She smirks. "Yeah. I'm soooo scared." Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she stepped closer, and with another flicker of green in her eyes, the vines obey her command, instantly wrapping around his arms, locking him in place like a fly in a web. "How about you stay away from me? Your friend's smarter than you give him credit for."

"My friend is a fucking liability thanks to you!" Riven spat. "You've destroyed him He's a mess! He can't focus. Hasn't slept or eaten properly since you broke his heart! All he does is stare at you, a ghost of the life he imagined he can't stop grieving."

Swallowing thickly, her eyes flicker to Sky for a moment, a flash of vulnerability crossing her features before she averts her gaze and all signs of emotion vanish beneath icy indifference. "That's not my problem," she says courtly. "People break up every day. It's the circle of life."

"No. Fuck that. Listen to me," Riven demands. "He will get himself killed and I'm sure a few others who rely on him to do his job. Maybe you're right and it's just a break up he can't shake, but he deserves a reason." Riven's voice cracks. "Y/N, don't...He's my best friend and I've never once felt this worried about him - not when he had to kill Andreas, not when Silva was infected nor when he was almost executed, not when we were surrounded by the Burned ones." Pausing, he exhales loudly. "You don't have to take him back, alright? Just...talk to him? Give him some damn closure!"

"I can't," she says through gritted teeth.

"Can't? Why the fuck not?"

"Because if I do, he will realize..."

"That you still love him?"

The silence that followed was shattered by a single, choked breath.

Sky had moved without either of them noticing. His blue eyes locked on her like a magnet, his presence a storm pressing in on her feigned indifference. “You what?” he asked, voice trembling.

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat. “Sky…”

"Do you?" He steps forward, cautiously, as if she might disappear if he moves too fast. "Do you love me?"

Y/N's eyes flash green again, and vines twitch at her feet, but Sky moves first. His arms wrap around her waist, grounding her, tethering her in a way only he could.

"For once," he whispers, forehead pressing against hers, "just tell me the truth."

"What does it matter?" She sighs.

"It matters to me. It matters more than anything."

"Yes," she moves her hand slowly to rest over his chest, over his thundering heart, repeating, "I love you."

"Then why.... Why do this?"

"You're a prince," she reminds him. "And I'm not princess material."

"Wait...What?"

"You'll have to take that throne, eventually. I won't be allowed to rule beside you. Sky, I'm not a fool. I'll be cast aside when the time comes. Better to end it now than years later when I’ve given you everything and get a broken heart in return."

Sky stared at her like she’d just confessed to murder. "You really think that low of me? That I'd ever let anyone take you from me? That I'd choose a crown over us?"

"That's the thing...It won't be a choice," she says softly. "You will have to do this and I won't waste my life just to be torn apart later."

"So you decided to break both of our hearts now?"His voice cracks. "You think tearing us apart now rather than facing what might happen in the future makes it any easier?"

She smiles sadly. "I break my heart better than you can," she shrugs. "But I'd heal it faster too."

Sky’s hands cradled her face as he pulled her in, his forehead pressed against hers, his breath mingling with hers, and she allows it. "You're insane."

"You knew that when we started dating."

Sky laughs, a wet, broken sound passing his lips before they find their place on her forehead, leaving a gentle kiss. "Yeah. Which is why I'm telling you right now that I can't let you go. Not now. Not ever. So stop forcing me to suffer for no reason, because even when you tell me to go, I will still be yours."

"I'm no royal."

"Fuck royalty," he raises his voice, tilting her chin up so she can see it in his eyes - he means what he says and he won't change his mind on this matter. "If they want to dictate who I love, they can find themselves a new heir. I don't care about titles or crowns. I'd only ever ascend the throne with you by my side. if I can't have you, none of it means anything. I will walk away from it all." Brushing his nose against hers, he continues. "I will love you until this world is nothing but ash and dust, and even after."

"I'm sorry," her eyes water, blurring her vision.

"All is forgiven, love," he murmurs. "As long as you don't do this again. You're only ever allowed to leave me for reasons pertaining to us, not them. Okay? If I turn into a douche or you stop loving me, I'll leave you alone. But breaking my heart over a throne I don't even want? I don't accept that."

She nods.

"Good," he says, cupping her cheeks again. "I'm yours. Whether you want me to be or not."

And then he kissed her, soft at first, then deeper, like he was pouring all his broken pieces into her, trusting she could hold them without dropping a single shard.

They walked off together, hand in hand, leaving behind the chaos that left them broken, hearts stitched imperfectly, but still beating.

Stella texted her in the morning, letting her know Queen Luna had arrived. Surprisingly, she informed her that the students don’t remember Bloom’s role in Rosalind’s death, but the Queen does. She succeeded to some degree, after all. Not as useless as she believed she was. 

The girls will try to convince the Queen to release Bloom later in the day, Stella acting as a layer of defense. The others will find where Farah was buried. 

That should go over well.

Part of her wishes she could seek her grave as well, to get some much needed closure, but Sky is here. He’s alive and Farah isn’t and the person who did her harm is already dead, so what is the point. Revenge is off the table, all that remains is sadness and Y/N has plenty of sadness in her life. 

Glancing at Sky, she envied how peaceful he seemed. Not even an inkling of worry or heart-wrenching sorrow as he’s asleep. It’s ridiculous, but it angers her. How is it she’s the one saddled with all the rage, sadness, and worries? Somehow, Y/N is meant to take the brunt of this horrible thing that’s happened to them and she will. As long as there’s a chance to bring Sky back, the actual Sky she knows and loves, she’ll take anything life has to offer. 

“I feel you staring,” Sky murmurs and she sighs.

“Here we go again.”

“I don’t mind,” he smirks, eyes still closed. “I know I’m easy on the eyes.”

“Is there an off switch for the cockiness?”

Chuckling, he raises his brows and glances at her before his gaze falls to his hardened member. “There might be.”

Rolling her eyes, she gets up. Head in her hands, she groans. “I can’t believe the dick is back.” It felt like they made some progress after their talk last night, but this made her believe it was all an act. 

“It’s a natural process,” Sky defends.

“How do you even know that? You remember pizza and morning wood, but I’m not even a footnote?”

Shrugging playfully, he smirks, “Food and their dicks, kind of the most important part of any man’s life.”

Turning away, she pinches the bridge of her nose. “Guess I’m the idiot thinking I was an important part of your life too.”

Heading into the bathroom, she slams the door behind her. 

Licking his lips, Sky sits up. “Guess I’ll just…handle it myself.”

Yanking the door open, Y/N glares at him. “If you jerk off anywhere near my bed I will lobotomize you!”

Rolling his eyes, Sky scoffs. “You’re all bark and no bite.”

Filled with anger, Y/N’s eyes glow with a soft, violet light. Sky cocks his head at her determined expression, raising his eyebrows as she extends her hand toward him. As if caught in a gentle breeze, he feels himself lifted from the ground, his body floating weightlessly in the air. Holding his breath, he looks down, marveling at the realization.

“I’m flying!”

Clicking her tongue, she scowls before pushing him against a wall. “Actually, I’m biting.” Adding light pressure to his neck, she smirks. “I’m not one to be played with.”

Instead of fear, a sense of wonder fills Sky’s heart as he gazes at Y/N. The way she commands the room, the tempered way she speaks even in anger, and the gentleness of her power despite his arrogance is mesmerizing. He’s captivated by the purple hue surrounding her, wishing she’d release him and allow a single touch just so he knows he’s not imagining things and this is real. That she is real.

When she finally lowers him to the floor, he lands with a soft thud, his eyes never leaving hers. Without any words, he closes the distance between them, cupping her face with a tenderness she missed greatly.

“I’m not playing with you, I promise.” Licking his lips, Sky’s eyes flicker to hers for mere seconds before focusing on the remnants of purple in her gaze. It’s dear to his heart despite reason, as if it speaks to some part of his soul he’s lost.

Swallowing thickly, she closes her eyes. “It hurts.” Returning his gaze, she sighs. “You have no idea…the weight of what we lost last night is suffocating me. And you’re here, but not really. Sky, you’re a stranger with a fascination, not the man who loves me.”

“You can reverse it,” he shrugs meekly as her hands pull his away from her face. “You’ll bring me back to who I was and it will be fine.”

Looking away, she covers her mouth and he realizes she’s holding back tears. “Would you want that?”

“What do you mean?”

Letting out a heavy breath in response, she sits on her bed. “A lot has happened to you Sky. A lot that I know you’d rather not have to deal with. Maybe that would be the best thing for you?”

Frowning deeply, he shakes his head lightly. “That can’t be true.”

“It is,” she responds instantly. “I’ve never seen you this carefree before, not since we were kids!”

Getting on his knees, he rests his hands on her thighs carefully, as if awaiting her reaction. “You say I loved you.”

Nodding, her lips quiver. He’s right before her, he’s touching her and his eyes are filled with confusion. Somehow, she’s managed to break him in less than 24 hours…he was a clean slate, happy! If he went with Stella, he’d still be content instead of lost like a child.

“If I loved you as much as you say, I don’t think any amount of heavy shit that would come with loving you would matter.”

“You only say that because you can’t remember what it was. It broke you. I broke you.”

Before Sky can say anything, his phone rings, startling them both.

“What the fuck is that?”

Taking the phone from his jacket, Y/N answers, putting it on speaker.

“You’re calling a guy who has no memories. That’s a new level of stupid even for you.”

“Figured you’d fix him by now with your fairy shit,” Riven remarks. “Saul’s calling all the specialists. The Solarians found Sebastian’s hideout. It’s not far from here.”

“And he clearly left Sky out for obvious reasons.”

“His memory might be wiped, but his muscles remember the training,” he clarifies. “We have to take these guys out. End this war before it begins. If he’s capable of fighting, he should come.”

“How do I know if I can fight?” Sky asks, ignoring the disgruntled look on her face.

“Have Miss Sunshine bring you down and we can check it real fast.”

“I don’t think this is a good idea. Saul won’t let him come anyway,” Y/N insists. “Even if he can fight, he has no idea what he’s fighting.”

“Blood witches are evil, control people like puppets whilst enjoying killing us and the fairies. There, now he knows.”

Grimacing, Y/N shakes her head. “It’s too dangerous. If he’s coming, I’m coming too.”

“No!” 

“No!”

Raising her brows, she sets her lips in a thin line. “Since when do either of you think you have any choice in the matter?”

“Since they nearly took your magic last time, which would have given them all the power they need to kill us all!”

“Listen,” Y/N licks her lips, “I’ll bring Sky, but if he goes with you, I’m not staying behind. So, it’s really your choice.”

Once they got to the grounds, Y/N was hoping Sky wouldn’t show any physical capabilities. If he was just an ordinary man, he’d stay with her away from the fight. This would make her life so much easier, she’d be able to breathe again and maybe find a way to have him fall in love with her all over again – without the memories of their past that so deeply affected their lives. She’d force herself to let it all go and just enjoy him as he is, to truly live this time around. 

But that didn’t happen.

Sky successfully blocked every attack Riven utilized against him, having Riven pinned to the ground so effortlessly that it seemed as if he was better at this than before.

“He’s coming with us,” Saul states. “He’s perfectly capable of fighting, and you can do the same here.”

“What?”

“Bloom is gone, Y/N. Her sentence is harsh and she’s out of the picture for now.” Staring at Sky throwing Riven over his shoulder, Saul shrugs. “Unless you save her.”

“But Sky –“

“Will be with me. I will keep him safe as I’ve always done in the past.”

Wrapping a protective arm around Y/N, Saul kisses her temple. “Queen Luna is a powerful fairy, but your power is ancient. She can’t fight you and Bloom openly, so she’s manipulating events to take you out of the game one by one.” Giving her a pointed look, Saul raises his brows. “Do not let her.”

Glancing at Sky, Y/N nods. “I have to talk to him first.” 

“I understand.”

“And if something happens to him, Saul, I swear to you I will burn The Otherworld to the ground.”

Despite the severity of her threat, Saul smiles. “I’d help you.”

Shielding her eyes from the sun, she draws in a shuddered breath as catches Sky’s gaze on her. It wasn’t an accidental glance or a shy glimpse, he was staring at her unapologetically as if he knew she was undeniably his. 

Yours truly.

Sky frowns in confusion, rubbing his forehead. His eyes widen slightly before putting his shirt on, hastily walking toward her.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Saul taps her shoulder, reassuring her he will protect Sky.

With his shortened breathing, Sky places his hands on his hips. Towering over her, he quirks an eyebrow. “You know, I could have sworn I heard you just now.” There’s a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, a glimmer of bewilderment dancing in the blue-green depths. “But your lips weren’t moving,” he manages a wry smile. “More like…your voice echoed in my head? Does that make any sense?”

A pang of guilt tugs at her heartstrings, her lips parting slightly. “Yes,” she sighs. Biting her lower lip, she struggles to find the right words to express her remorse because she’s done it again – Sky hated intrusions of this sort, so how does she explain she messed up without him running from her.

“I’m sorry,” she decides an apology would be most sincere. “It’s not a conscious thing most times. Seems like it happens with you often though, I still don’t know why.” Pinching the bridge of her nose, she turns away from him. 

Curling his fingers around her wrist, Sky turns her to face him. There’s a subtle, but undeniable intimacy in the gesture, one that sends a shiver of warmth coursing through her veins. “Don’t turn away from me like that. Okay? I don’t like it. In fact, I really don’t like when you decide how I perceive things. I don’t know how I reacted to stuff before, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to be the same. You said it yourself, I’m a stranger right now, so don’t assume I’ll go off the rails about things I don’t even remember.”

In response, she moves her hand, mirroring his gesture, holding onto his wrist, their position resembling the solemnity of making an unbreakable vow.

“I’ll stop assuming,” she promises. “I’m sorry I keep projecting all my problems and insecurities onto you. I think I’ve always done that and it’s exactly why we broke up.”

“See, some things are best left forgotten. I don’t really want to remember that. Sound painful as fuck.”

Pursing her lips, she tugs at the zipper of his jacket with her free hand. “Yeah. It is.”

Narrowing his eyes at her, he cocks his head ever so slightly. “What is it?”

“Hm?”

“You’re trying to say something. Just say it.”

Exhaling as she smiles, Y/N drags her palm into his hand, holding it tightly. “Saul wants you to go with them. He’s the closest thing both of us have to a father. I trust his judgment.”

Raising his eyebrows, he chews his lips. “Alright. That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

Nodding, she forces a smile. She has to be strong and project confidence and assurance for Sky’s sake, but there’s nothing other than anxiety in her heart.

Her lips curve upwards, but the smile doesn't reach her eyes. It's a facade, a mask she wears to hide her true emotions. She can feel the tension radiating off Sky, his sharp gaze probing her facade, searching for the truth hidden beneath her carefully constructed facade.

“I won’t be coming with you.” 

“Oh.” Inhaling sharply, he nods. “Well, that’s understandable. You’re a fairy, I’m the specialist. Riven made it pretty clear my role is to protect fairies.”

Summoning all her strength, she steadies her trembling breath and nods in affirmation. “That’s the bare basis of it. But there are layers to it. Plenty of layers, especially for us.”

“Peel a few for me before I leave?”

Cupping his cheek tenderly, she holds her breath as he leans into her palm. “I’m your fairy, Sky. It’s not just a random pairing they made in class, we are connected in a deeper way. When we have to defend each other, we are deadly.”

“Do others have their fairy?”

“Some do,” she shrugs. “It’s a rare thing.”

“Are other fairies joining this fight?” Sky tightens his hold on her as she shakes her head.

“Mind fairies are the only ones effective against Blood witches, but we don’t have many at this school. One of my friends lost her magic the last time we faced them…I nearly lost mine and we cannot afford mine to be taken away, no matter how much I wish it.”

As the words sink in, Sky's eyes widen in disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend the gravity of what Y/N has just revealed. For a moment, he is frozen in stunned silence, his heart clenching with a mixture of shock and anguish. 

“You wish for that?” He can't fathom the idea of Y/N willingly giving up her magic, the very essence of who she is. It's as if she's offering to sacrifice a part of herself, a fundamental aspect of her identity, and the thought fills him with a profound sense of sorrow.

“Why would you –“ With a heavy heart, Sky reaches out to Y/N, his fingers trembling as they brush against her cheek. He searches her eyes, silently pleading for her to reconsider, to see the beauty and wonder of her magic in the way he does. He’s barely seen a fraction of it and he’s already hooked. 

Riven’s voice interrupts the exchange. “Get your ass going! We are leaving!”

“We’re not done talking about this,” Sky states firmly, but there is a glimmer of understanding, a flicker of empathy for the pain that must be driving Y/N to such drastic measures. He can see the weariness etched into her features, and in that moment he realizes that wish stems from a place of profound desperation - a longing to be at peace. If he’s part of the reason, then he can’t imagine what a dick he truly is to have her questioning this beautiful part of her soul he’s inexplicably drawn to. 

“NOW”, Riven shouts.

Huffing, Sky frowns as she pulls away from him. “Stay safe,” she smiles. 

Come back to me.

Glancing over his shoulder, he drags a hand across his face before accepting the sword Riven holds out for him. “We’re coming back in one piece, right?”

Riven scoffs, “I sure hope so.”

Watching them drive off, only catching a small wave from Sky, Y/N feels as if her heart might give up. They’re not good apart, especially not in a fight. Together they survive, but apart? It’s never a good thing.

“Now that they’ve gone, could you spare a few minutes for me?”

Y/N's breath catches in her throat as she lays eyes on Farah, her mind struggling to process the impossible standing before her. A ghost of her past in the flesh, returning to haunt her.

“This isn’t real.” Shock and disbelief wash over Y/N in waves, leaving her trembling and disoriented. She blinks rapidly as if trying to dispel the illusion before her eyes, but Farah remains steadfast and real, a reassuring smile playing on her lips.

“I’m here.”

Unable to find the words to express the emotions raging within her, Y/N simply reaches out to Farah, her hand trembling as it brushes against her arm. It's a gesture of disbelief, a wordless acknowledgment of the miracle that stands before her. Embracing her, she lets the tears flow freely.

Holding her tightly, Farah runs a soothing hand over her back. “I’m sorry darling, but we don’t have much time.”

Pulling away, sniffling, she frowns. “What does that mean? I just got you back!”

“You didn’t. Not truly.” Brushing away her tears, Farah smiles sweetly. “I did not survive the attack. When I realized what Rosalind was going to do, I drew on as much magic as I could, and called on the natural world to preserve me.”

With trembling lips, Y/N shakes her head. “I don’t have long, but I do have time for one final lesson. For both you and your friends.” Farah turns around, waving her hand lightly. The girls followed shortly after, forming a tight circle. Bloom’s with them, much to Y/N’s confusion. Didn’t Saul say she was gone? Isn’t that the reason she was told to stay behind?

“When I was your headmistress, I shielded you from the harsh truths of the world. I believed that positive emotions were the cornerstone of powerful magic. Rosalind felt the opposite. That strength was only forged in those harsh truths. We were both wrong. To unlock true magic, you must make peace with all your emotions. The reckless joy of the positive and the despair of the negative. There is beauty and power in both. I'm so proud of each of you. And of the women you're becoming.” 

Tucking her hair behind her ears, Y/N folds her arms. “Using my emotions in my magic has only ever caused others to get hurt. It’s not that simple.”

“Y/N, shall we take a walk?”

Walking toward the woods, Y/N grumbles. “Are you sure it’s not Bloom you meant to invite?”

Farah chuckles. “Bloom has gotten all the wisdom she needed from me. You still need a little more.”

“It’s always been this way,” Y/N remarks. “She’s the star pupil, even when she sets someone on fire. I’m the one needing extra lessons and work no matter what I do.”

“Darling, you’ve got it all wrong.” Farah stops. “The reason you needed extra care is because you’ve locked yourself in a shell out of fear. You’ve been so afraid of your powers, hating it, running from its potential, but this kind of power can’t be locked away. The shell cracks eventually and you have extremely powerful magic escaping it in terribly, uncontrolled ways. Y/N, what happens when a dam begins to break?”

“The water trickles through the cracks, slowly at first…but then there are all these pressure leaks that increase the speed damage to the structure of the dam…and when it breaks and the water comes out all at once, it’s certain to take out everything in its vicinity.”

Tilting Y/N’s chin with her index finger, Farah smiles. “Don’t you understand? You’ve created a dam that’s breaking and instead of letting the river run free, in its natural state, you’ve created a dam and pressure leaks, and when it breaks entirely, it will annihilate everything.”

Clenching her jaw, Y/N trains her gaze on her feet. “So I’ll explode one day...like I always thought?”

“It’s never too late to detonate,” Farah wraps an arm around her, moving her forward as they continue the walk. “Embrace your emotions, even the ugly ones. The fear, the anger, the grief, all of it is a part of you and you are in control. Those emotions do not control you or your magic, not if you don’t let them.”

Biting her lower lip mercilessly, Y/N looks up at Farah. “I’ve been so angry at you. So, so angry.”

“You couldn’t have known –“

“I’m a mind fairy, I should have seen it! If I was in control, I’d have known…maybe I could have even stopped it.”

Grabbing her by the shoulders, Farah frowns. “Stop! You are very powerful, darling, but you’re not all-powerful. There are things we can’t see coming, no matter how hard we try. You can’t save everybody. It doesn’t work like that. Don’t ever blame yourself for what happened to me…I don’t.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead, Farah sighs. “You are my favorite student. I know you’re afraid of your power, but you have to use it. One way or another, those you love will need you to fight.” Offering a smile, she takes a step back. “I believe in you. You have the power to protect this realm, to save it from those who wish chaos upon it.”

“Rosalind said something similar to Bloom once,” Y/N presses her lips in a thin line.

“How about this, then? Don’t think about saving the world. Focus on saving your world. When you have that in your heart, you can’t go wrong.”

Sniffling, she nods. “You waited until they were gone. He would have loved to see you.”

“Saul would understand. Our friendship was dear to me, you can tell him that.”

Lifting her head to the sky, Y/N wipes the tears slowly forming their path on her cheeks. “I hate saying goodbye.”

“I’m glad we have the chance to do it properly,” Farah wraps her arms around her, letting her cry while the sun goes down. As the last ray of light dies down, Y/N’s arms wrap around herself, realizing Farah is gone…this time for good.

“You look badass in it”, he smirks. “Makes me think about all the things I’d like to do to you.”

Chuckling, Y/N places her hands on her hips. “Do tell”, she purses her lips. “Maybe we can come to an agreement on some of them.”

Blushing, Sky bites his lip. “Well, for starters”, he moves closer, pushing her back into a wall gently. “I’d make it so you’re near me”, he speaks quietly, his voice low and dark. Suddenly, he turns her around, pressing her hips into the wall as his fingers graze her tights, slowly pulling up the hem of her dress. “And then I’d kiss your neck”, his lips graze her ear before they find a home on the left side of her neck, nibbling lightly on the soft flesh. With his hands making way forward toward her inner thighs, Y/N lets out a few short breaths in anticipation. As his fingers brush her wet panties, Sky peels away from her body.

“Where do you think you’re going?” She asks, her eyes narrowing as his smile turns into a grin.

“Class”, Sky shrugs, heading to the door. Pausing, he turns to her with a cocky smirk. “But it’s good to know how wet I can get you in a matter of minutes.”

Throwing a pillow at his head, she growls as he ducks just in time and laughs at her. “JERK!”

“I’ll make it up to you”, he promises. “As long as you wear the dress.”

Stella’s gaze softens. She can tell how hard it is for Y/n, how lost her friend seems. Y/N is navigating in the dark, but Stella has the power to change it. “You’re getting that look on your face again.”

“What look?”

“The ‘I miss Sky’ look which can also be seen as the ‘I’m constipated’ look.”

Rolling her eyes, Y/N places the dress back on the hanger. “I do not miss Sky and I am not constipated.”

“You’re emotionally constipated and you definitely miss Sky”, Stella insists. “No need to lie to me.”

Swallowing thickly, Y/N grimaces. “I miss my power.” Admitting it out loud seems like a crime, as if she’s saying she misses being an out of control monster that hurt people. Placing a hand over her heart, she chokes up. If she could put it into words, the pain that has taken a hold on her since it happened, she would. It’s as if someone locked her in a windowless room and shut off the light. The last time she felt any flicker of her power was when she was walking away from Sky. It’s the hardest thing she’s ever had to do – but it’s for his own good.

Nodding, Stella forces a smile. “It’s a good thing you’ll get it back.”

“There’s no guarantee”, Y/N frowns.

“Well, if you helped us with the Blood witches, maybe we’d have a guarantee.”

“I’m useless against them. Especially now,” Y/N remarks bitterly.

“At least you’re not cleaning toilets like Musa,” Stella tries to lighten to mood. “She’s become the janitor.”

Y/N gives a weak smile, appreciating the pep talk, but it’s not going to fix her struggles. “I’m not getting involved. But I could do with a short walk, if you’re so insistent.”

Stella nods, offering a reassuring smile. “I’ll take it!”

Glancing at her closet again, Y/N nibbles on her bottom lip as her eyes focus on the black dress. Sky did keep his promise that night. He kept it so good that she could hardly walk for two days after that. Shaking her head, she takes it in her hands again and gives it a good look.

“I look damn good in this dress and you’re about to eat your words.”

She was right. Stella had nothing but praise for the dress once it was on Y/N’s body. It fit her as if it was tailored to every curve Y/N has, something quite a few students noticed as they passed by her.

“I swear this was the fifth guy willing to risk his life and give you his number”, Stella exclaims. “If Sky gets his hands on them, they’ll be begging for a quick death.”

“Why?” Y/N presses her lips in a thin line. “He’s not my boyfriend anymore. There’s no reason for him to scare off others who’d like to get to know me.”

“He loves you”, Stella reminds her. “He’s never going to be okay with other men trying to get into your pants. Or under your dress in this case.”

Stopping by the lake, Y/N stares into the distance. “I’m not so sure you’re right about that.”

“Of course, I am! It’s Sky! The guy worships you!”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Y/N shakes her head. “He was scared of me,” she admits quietly. “He’s just hid it better than everyone else.”

“If that’s true, why has he been staring at you ever since we came out here?”

Glancing over her shoulder toward the specialists training, Y/N meets Sky’s gaze. The emptiness inside her aches. She can hardly breathe as her jaw clenches and the lump at the back of her throat grows. Shivering with the cold spreading through her, Y/N turns away.

“Are you shivering in this heat?!” Stella frowns.

Without a word, Y/N continues to walk but in a few steps her walk becomes a sprint until she reaches her dorm. Closing the door behind her, she locks it before falling to the floor. Gasping for breath, she claws at her throat as the sobs make their way through her and out into the world, filling the room with loud, barely human cries as Y/N comes to realize one thing she cannot admit out loud – it’s not her power she’s missing, it’s him. The echoes of their last argument haunt her every time she closes her eyes. Her fingers tremble as she clutches onto the black dress, a painful reminder of a time where Sky was by her side and the love that used to fill her heart wasn’t a hollow ache. She’s pushed him away, finally. It took a while but she won, he finally let her go. Sky watched her walk away and for once he didn’t follow.

Isn’t this what she always wanted? Isn’t Sky’s devotion an inconvenience? Wasn’t she always picking apart everything he’s ever said or done to justify her need to push him away?

As Y/N was breaking down under the weight of her emotions for the first time since their split, Sky was on the other side of the door, listening. He ran after her, desperately wanting to make sure she’s alright.

He didn’t see her in almost two weeks since their split, relying on updates about her state from Stella and occasionally Musa, hell even Riven saw her before he did. This time he wanted to talk to her personally, last thing he expected was to hear the gut-wrenching sound of her sobbing on the other side of the door. He’s listening, unable to tear himself away.

She might as well be in a different dimension to him now, that’s how distant she feel to him. Absolutely no bridges can be made when she refuses to even see him. But, if he’s being truly honest, he hasn’t sought her out either. In the time they’ve been apart, Sky focused on himself. More importantly, Sky focused on honing his skills and pushing away the pain of losing her.

Saul and he have both been iced out by Y/N, which had weirdly enough brought them closer together, fostering an unlikely bond Y/N would likely approve of.

He can walk away now, pretend he doesn’t hear the love of his life crying her heart out, but he doesn’t. His love for her won’t allow it. Instead, he sits with his back resting against the door frame, unable to stay away any longer, and finally speaks.

“Beatrix told me I should have let Andreas kill Saul.”

Silence falls heavy on his shoulders. The cries have stopped, stifled by the sound of his voice, but he can feel her tears still flowing. Just because she’s not bawling, doesn’t mean he can’t feel every tear she spills over him.

“Accused me of doing it on purpose, using Saul as an excuse”, he chuckles bitterly, still in disbelief over the ridiculousness of the accusation. “I think she forgets he was my dad too.”

Sniffling, Y/N unlocks the door. Sky shifts in surprise, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Part of him expected that perhaps him speaking would entice her to open up.

As she opens the door, she remains seated on the inside, crisscrossed. Her eyes are brimming with tears, red from irritation, and her face is blotchy, but she doesn’t seem to care about that. Her own pain is unimportant when Sky is hurting – something she’s always done.

“I knew you’d do that”, he sighs. Sitting with his legs crossed on the outside, he sniffles too. “I shouldn’t have followed you.”

“But you did”, she states.

“Do you know the girls tried using some sort of a convergence crystal to give Musa her power back?”

“It didn’t work”, she shrugs meekly.

“Maybe it would work if you were with them.”

Biting her lip, she frowns. “I don’t have any power to help anyone.”

“We both know that’s not true”, Sky gives her a pointed look.

“I don’t know what you mean”, she defends.

“Yes, you do.”

Y/N shakes her head. “Have you been drinking? I can smell the booze on your breath.”

“Why ask questions you know answers to?”

“Because I hoped you’d tell me I was wrong.”

“You are wrong”, he quips. “You’re wrong for ending things with me.”

“You don’t need me.”

Letting out a heavy breath, Sky runs a hand through his hair. “It’s not about need, Y/N. It’s about wanting and loving and I both want and love you. I’m just tired of chasing you and being met with a million of these doors and invisible lines I cannot cross.”

He’s tearing himself raw for her, the ache in his chest so unbearable it’s like the very air is suffocating him. It’s all he can do – be honest and be present.

“You’re right”, she says quietly serving as a knife to his already bleeding heart. “So, give it a rest.”

“I killed my dad”, Sky spits out through gritted teeth. “I had to wonder if you’re going to survive too and to hate myself for being the reason you were even there to begin with.”

“I made my choice that night because I wanted to make sure you’re safe”, Y/N remarks. But when she continues her voice is laced with regret and bitterness. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save Andreas too. I was weak. And now I’m nothing.”

“You’re never nothing”, Sky’s quick to correct her. “To me, you’ll always be everything.”

Nodding, she doesn’t reply. What’s the point? Whatever she says, he’ll counter it with the exact opposite…the opposite she doesn’t believe in. It’s like talking to a wall.

“I did hear you”, she whispers, her voice breaking as truth spills from her lips. “It was a flicker of power, but I haven’t felt it since. It’s quiet”, she points to her temple. “Nothing happens in here anymore.”

“You miss it?”

“All the fucking time.” Tucking her hair behind her ears, she sighs with sorrow and longing. “And I miss you.”

“You don’t have to miss me”, his words are a desperate plea. “Say the word and I’ll cross this barrier”, he points to the doorstep, the barrier she had set.

“The problems we had aren’t so easily solvable.”

“Had”, Sky repeats with hope.

“I’ll get my magic back”, Y/N furrows her brows. “I know I will.”

“Is that what you want?” Sky swallows thickly, barely keeping himself together as he realizes just how fractured their seemingly unbreakable love is.

“Y-yes.”

“In that case, I hope you do get it back.” Sky looks down, finding it hard to keep eye contact. His heart is bleeding for this girl who seems to be tearing herself apart. They can fix each other, but she doesn’t allow that.

Nodding, she sniffles tears cascading down her cheeks. Wiping them away, she forces a smile. “Saul says you two are finding common ground.”

“We’ve got a problem.” Saul walks up to Sky. “You were drunk, weren’t you? Last night? That’s why you don’t remember.”

“Are you gonna lecture me?”

“No”, Saul sighs heavily. “You know, when I thought I killed Andreas, I got drunk for two years straight.”

“Yeah?”

“You were just a baby then. Y/N’s mom tried to sober me up and then you got older and I realized I had a job to do.” Pausing, Saul licks his lips, the memories are still vivid. “I’m still here, Sky. Still trying to do that job.”

“I know”, Sky sighs. “But I can’t train. Every time I pick up my sword I’m…”

“Back there. I know. It will pass. It’s going to take time and it will not be easy, but when it comes time when you need to fight to protect someone you love, you will fight.”

“Speaking from experience?”

“I picked my sword up for you, Sky. You’ll pick it back up for someone too.”

“Y/N”, he nods, the thought of her giving him strength. “If someone threatened her, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

“What does she have to say about it all? Have you even talked to her?”

“I haven’t even seen her since she walked away from me. She’s avoiding me.” Sky shrugs, attempting to hide the true depth of pain he’s been in. “What would I tell her? That I was hoping I would have some sort of redemption with my dad? With her? That we’d have a future?”

“See, that’s your problem. You try to predict your future, but we’re soldiers Sky. We don’t get to make predictions.”

Scoffing, Sky takes a step back, frustrated. “That’s fucked up.”

“Life’s fucked up. And guess what? It doesn’t give a shit about your plans. Once you come to terms with that, you become unshakable.”

How can he ever come to terms with that? To accept he might never have the life he wants with Y/N? That all those nights they spoke sweet nothings to each other about their plans are best to be forgotten?

Sky wants a proper life: he wants to marry Y/N, to have kids together, to be able to breathe without living on borrowed time.

“All great fighters are unshakable, Sky. We make peace with those we love every day, because we know tomorrow it could all be gone.”

“So, I’m meant to go through life in a constant state of uncertainty?”

“Readiness”, Saul corrects

“And how did that work for you when you lost the one you love? Huh? You’re still mourning her, watching over her daughter. You’ve mourned my father for all this time and yet you think it made you unshakable?” Tapping Saul’s shoulder, Sky forces a smile, a fragile façade. “You think it works, or that it works for you, but that’s not the life I want to live.”

“We’re trying”, Sky nods. “It comes with ups and downs.” ‘Would be a lot easier if you were around.’

Swallowing thickly, she musters a fragile smile. “I know it’s hard, especially with all the what if’s about Andreas, but Saul has always been there for you,” her voice cracks. “He’s not your blood, but he is your family.”

‘You’re my family.’

“You just need to take time to heal and it’s gonna be fine.”

Pressing his lips in a thin line he nods faintly. “Time…yes.” A sad smile tugs at his lips as his eyes glide across her body. “You look really beautiful in that dress.”

Y/N reaches over the threshold, a trembling hand hesitating before Sky notices. But he does notice and he doesn’t hesitate, taking her hand in his before she has time to change her mind.

For a moment, they both half expected a jolt of electricity to shake them both upon contact, to reignite the spark that once held them so close. But it never comes. Nothing really happens…except Y/N doesn’t feel cold anymore. The empty spot in her chest is filled, even if for a few fleeting moments.

Because the sound of an explosion that caused them to separate had left her feeling empty again. In that moment, the world feels impossibly fragile, teetering on the edge of an abyss.

Sharing a worried look with Sky, Y/N’s the first to speak, fear and confusion evident in her eyes. “What the fuck was that?!”

Part one  

Part two 

Part three 

Part four 

Part five

Part six  

Part seven  

Part eight  

Part nine   

Part ten   

Part eleven  

Part twelve  

Part thirteen  

Part fourteen  

Part fifteen 

Part sixteen 

She’s unsure if it’s too soon to cross this bridge, worried gifting Sky all she has to offer would be putting her in a position of vulnerability she’s not ready for. What if he chooses to walk away from her after? He’s not the kind to sleep with a girl and never call her again, but losing him in any way, shape, or form would destroy her. That’s when she becomes volatile, when her powers are beyond her control and the danger of that makes her pull back. She barely touched him, he probably didn’t even notice.

Right?

Looking down, her eyes find his curious gaze upon her with a devilishly handsome grin gracing his features. He’s far too good-looking for her sanity to remain intact. It’s not fair how much beauty he’s given, how a flutter of his eyelashes can disarm her.

Biting his lower lip, he pulls himself up and pecks the left corner of her lips. “Where’d you go?” His voice is kind, patient, and void of annoyance most guys showed her in the past. He isn’t demanding answers or pushing her to do something more. Sky’s genuine interest in her mind and heart makes it so much harder for her to keep her legs closed. He wants all of her, she can tell and that’s precisely what’s so scary about him. She can’t just screw him and forget about it, in fact, she can’t imagine ever forgetting him.

“Just thinking about us”, she presses her lips in a tight-lipped smile, her hand cupping his cheek. His face is so close, his mouth reminding her just how kissable he truly is, how easy it is to get lost in his embrace.

“Good. Because that’s exactly what I’m thinking about”, he smirks, brushing her nose with the tip of his.

Holding her breath, she can feel her heart skip a beat with the small display of affection.

“In what way”, she asks coyly, unable to tear her eyes from his.

Sky leans in, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "In every way," he murmurs, before capturing her lips in a kiss.

Y/N considered stopping him, pulling away once more, but she didn’t want to. Truth be told, she can’t get enough of him. She’s plagued by a million worries that all seem to evaporate when his tongue presses at the seam of her lips and she welcomes him eagerly. Instead of pulling away, she pulls him closer, finding comfort in his weight on top of her. Her hands wrap around him, gripping his shirt tightly.

His kiss stops and her hands release the fabric he tugs on. Suddenly his warm skin replaces the cotton and she can’t help herself, placing a hand on his bare chest with a breathless smile.

“Hey there”, her smile grows into a grin as he licks his lips.

Covering her hand with his, he guides it to his abs slowly. Pursing her lips to stop herself from nervously giggling, she wasn’t sure if her heart would survive his teasing because once she had a feel for his abs, his hand guided her toward his happy trail and down to the band of his boxers. He sits up straight, straddling her while his eyes study her carefully for any signs of uncertainty.

Glancing below her hand, she swallows thickly. He’s more than excited, she can easily tell. Sky desires her just as much as she desires him and that’s all she truly needs, isn’t it? Time and time again, he had the chance to leave and he always stayed. He did more than stay, he fought for her, for them and he’s given her his heart without a second thought. She’s the flight risk, not him. She’s the one unable to accept the spectrum of emotions he evokes. They have their hiccups, but who doesn’t?

She’s tired of running. It’s been so long since she felt safe like she does with Sky, too long since she could trust another person without fear of it being used against her. Sky loves her and his touch drives her insane and she’s not going to deny herself this pleasure anymore.

The skin on her face and throat is burning hot but her fingertips are cold as she looks back at Sky and playfully allows her hand to pull at the band of his boxers, enjoying the surprise in his eyes as his underwear falls down, pooling around his knees.

Licking her lips painfully slow, Y/N looking up at him with her doe eyes has Sky’s insides shaking. Her hand touches his chest again before it begins to fall in excruciatingly slow designs to his twitching member. Sky knows she’s daring him to make the next move when she clicks her tongue while her fingertips begin to dance along his happy trail.

“I know what you’re doing”, he says, voice gruff.

Raising her eyebrows, she takes his cock in her hand and smirks. “Yeah?” She’s hoping he’ll take action soon, unsure what to do next. She doesn’t have much experience in this, but she’s trying her best to seem confident.

“You’re driving me crazy”, he accuses playfully.

Snorting, her hand moves up and down his dick slowly. She smirks as his breath hitches. “So?” She purses her lips, lifting her chin up. “Do something about it.”

It’s interesting, she thought, just how easy it was to imprison his whole body there without any use of magic. Brushing a few loose strands away from her face, his fingers disappear in her hair.

“Are you sure?” Sky asks, his breathing growing louder as her hand moves again. She’s definitely playing with him now, realizing he’s completely under her influence.

Nodding, she releases him from the sweet torture and grips his hips for support. Sky feels her calves brush his legs as she pulls herself up to sit back on her soles.

Taking off the shirt he lent her, Y/N tosses it aside. Sky’s eyes widen, swallowing thickly. He assumed she had something underneath, but he knows now it was a stupid assumption. He’ll never be able to wear that shirt again without getting hard.

“You”, he pauses as a nervous chuckle escapes him.

Tilting her head, she chuckles too. “Yeah?”

Her cheeks are tinted a much darker shade, and he can’t help but shake his head in disbelief. After ALL THAT, this is what makes her blush?

“You’re perfect”, his hands rest on her waist.

They kiss and it was at this moment she felt his arms tense. Suddenly, in one swift, athletic move, Sky pulls her to the side and she’s under him. Though his weight is mostly through his elbows and forearms planted on either side of her head, she’s pinned down and breathless underneath him.

Y/N's heart is racing, Sky’s fiery kiss sending shivers down her spine. She feels his hot breath on her skin as his lips move from her mouth to her neck, planting soft, wet kisses along her sensitive skin. She moans softly, unable to play coy anymore as his hands roam over her body. His lips claim her breasts as his right hand busies itself exploring ways of getting her out of her panties. His fingers tug at the fabric at first, but his patience wears thin within seconds of failing.

Lifting her hips, she helps him pull them down her ass. They’re wrapped around her thighs as his hand makes its way back up her inner thigh. Moaning loudly as his fingers brush her clit, Y/N grabs his hair. Aware of his findings, Sky didn’t give her much reprieve as he found her body contorting under him. Her walls are gone now, songs of pleasure filling the room getting louder with every passing moment. She feels the heat building between her legs, the desire becoming almost too much to bear.

Sky’s lips find hers again and as the kiss deepens, she finds herself losing control, giving herself completely to the intensity of their passion. She wants him, needs him, and nothing else in the world matters. Their tongues entwine, exploring each other's mouths with wild abandon. The intensity of their passion grows stronger with each passing moment until it feels like they are both about to burst with desire.

That’s when Sky pulls back and his fingers retreat to Y/N’s dismay.

Struggling to draw a proper breath, Y/N’s eyes open. “Why did you stop?”

Pecking her nose, Sky sits up. Pulling her panties down first, he turns and reaches back to his nightstand. “Just a sec!”

Propping herself up on her elbows, Y/N’s eyes linger on his erection. It’s a good thing one of them had some ability to think rationally because she was more than ready for him to bury himself between her legs without protection.

She’s never lost her senses like this with someone before. Granted, her only sexual encounter was with a guard in Solaria who seemed more interested in getting his fix without any care for her needs. Unlike him, Sky took his time. They’ve been building up to this moment for months if not years. She’s always been attracted to him, and on nights when she was too lonely and needy, she’d imagine them together like this.

Her imagination didn’t come close to the real thing.

Watching him put on a condom, Y/N found Sky to be even sexier. She’s on the pill since the night with the guard, though she never told him that. After all, better to be safe than sorry.

She never told him about her previous partner, only that she’s not a virgin and she didn’t ask him about his partners, but she could guess a few. She didn’t expect they’d be having sex yet, thinking she had more time to stomach her jealousy over Bloom and Stella, let alone any other girl he might have bedded. It’s silly, but she hates that someone else had him before her, just as much as she hates herself for not waiting.

This should have been her first time.

Hastily, Sky returned on top of her. She spread her legs immediately, nodding to reassure him as he paused. “I want to”, she whispers softly and that’s all encouragement he needed. With one hand on her hip, he used the other one to guide himself inside. He watched her lips part as he filled her slowly until his hips pressed against her inner thighs completely.

“Are you okay?” His breathing is labored, just as hers is shuddered. He can’t stop looking at her softened face, her eyes closed in pleasure and her parted lips forming a content smile.

“Never better.”

Resting his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes too. There was nothing between them now, no secrets and no fears left as he moved his hips against hers, eliciting gasps, moans, and screams of gratitude and ecstasy. Sky’s kissing her eyebrows, her eyelids, her nose, cheeks, and mouth, his lips leaving marks on her neck as her own find a home on his shoulder. She’s seeing flashes of light, fleeting images, as though she’s losing consciousness, her mind. Just as she thinks she can’t bear more, a flooding sensation overtakes her. A shiver runs down her spine as her legs shake. Biting into his shoulder as her insides explode, Y/N can hardly breathe as Sky keeps up his rhythm. She’s still twitching as Sky moves faster, grunting. His movements are becoming jerkier, his body shivering just as hers did. With a final, deep thrust, Sky’s guttural moan echoes in her ears as he collapses on top of her.

Fighting for breath, their sweat mixing, neither of them moves yet. There is peace in the silence that follows, in the way his breathing slows down and his lips drag across her skin.

Once their heartbeats return to a sensible rhythm, Sky reluctantly pulls out. Y/N opens her eyes lazily, seeing him discard the condom.

How is he even standing now? She can hardly stay awake, let alone get up.

“C’mon”, he outstretches both hands for her to take and she frowns.

“Huh?”

“Up, up”, he smiles at her grimace. “We need to shower and you should probably pee.”

Rolling her eyes, she grabs onto his hands. She knows he's right, but she really wanted to stay in bed a little longer.

“Finee”, she whines as he pulls her up to her feet only to catch her when she stumbles. “Fuck”, she grumbles. “You destroyed me.”

“Yeah, I did”, he grins as she shakes her head, unable to hide her own smile.

Once out of the bathroom, they changed the sheets and fell asleep. Well, Y/N did. Sky would lay awake, watching her peaceful features that came alive underneath him just a few hours ago.

If he once tried to delude himself into believing he can survive without her in his life, there’s no more denial left in him. Y/N is his destiny, no one can tear him away from her.

“GET UP”, Riven shouts, scaring them both awake.

If she wasn’t half out of her mind with the rude awakening, Y/N might have melted at the way Sky sat up in front of her, shielding her from whatever his sleepy mind thought was disturbing them.

“What the hell, man?!” Sky grumbles groggily as Riven raises his brows.

“Rosalind is holding a training camp in less than 15 minutes. Would you rather I let you two oversleep?”

Standing up, Y/N raises her hands in mock surrender. “No, no, thank you.” She nearly stumbles as she goes toward the bathroom, walking awkwardly, almost limping.

Looking her up and down with furrowed brows, Riven tilts his head in confusion, then realization.

“You fucked her, didn’t you?” Riven whispers. Wide-eyed, he checks to see if the bathroom door is closed because the last thing he needs now is to be choked to death.

Narrowing his eyes, Sky shakes his head. “Don’t say it like that and don’t fucking talk about it to anyone else.”

Snorting, Riven bites his lower lip. “Alright, alright, I won’t.” Leaning on the wall as Sky grabs his pants, Riven rubs his chin. “So, how was she?”

Earning a glare for his question, Riven rolls his eyes. “You said I can’t talk to anyone else about it, but I can talk to you, can’t I?”

“No”, Sky exclaims.

“You’re no fun”, Riven complains. “I would never hurt you this way.”

“What’s up?” Y/N walks in, confused by Riven’s ‘hurt’.

“Don’t mind him”, Sky runs a hand through his messy hair.

Shrugging, she grabs her bag and walks back into the bathroom, Sky following behind.

“We are short on time”, Riven shouts, making Sky flip him off.

Once on the field, they meet with the girls who were already deep in conversation.

“Rosalind thinks it surfaces in times of great conflict.”

“Because that’s not ominous at all”, Bloom states. “I know she’s still shady, but she..”

“She’s still shady.”

“But we want the same thing”, she insists.

“And that’s?” Y/N interjects.

“Find the Blood Witch stealing fairy magic and stop them”, Bloom remarks. “At least it’s what most of us want.”

Stepping closer, Y/N’s eyes glow purple. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

Flames dance in Bloom’s eyes as she steps closer too. “Not all of us are running scared when faced with danger when we have the power to save lives.”

“And not all of us let homicidal maniacs out of their cage and cause that danger”, Y/N remarks.

“How about we take a breath and remember we’re all on the same side”, Stella says nervously, trying to signal Sky to intervene.

Licking his lips, he sighs. “Stella’s right. We can’t fight among ourselves now. There’s too much at stake.” He needs the girls to care for Y/N and to accept her as part of their circle because he might need their help in protecting her.

“Look, shady or not, I’m happy we have Rosalind to help fight them now. I’m not saying I didn’t make mistakes, but I’m working on fixing them”, Bloom explains, the orange glow in her eyes fading.

Pursing her lips, Y/N nods. “I still don’t trust her.”

“You don’t have to”, Musa sighs. “No one trusts her. But we need her.”

“For now”, Y/N adds.

Touching her shoulder, Sky redirects Y/N to the very person they’re talking about. Rosalind takes her place in the center of the field, confidently looking on at the students. Most are standing separated, specialists on one side, fairies on the other with a few mixing in between.

“We don’t know much about the scrapers”, she begins. “We do know that fairy magic is ineffective against them, which is why now is the time when the Specialists must shine.”

That’s when Saul walks onto the field and takes his place by Rosalind. Y/N’s eyes widen, her hand grabbing onto Sky’s wrist.

Catching Saul’s eyes, Sky nods lightly. Whatever animosity he feels for Saul, Sky knows he can be trusted with Y/N’s safety. If there’s anyone here, besides Sky, willing to go to great lengths to protect Y/N, it’s Saul. It doesn't mean he's happy about his return. Quite the opposite. He spent his entire life lying about everything he thought he knew. Even if he wants to forgive Saul, a part of him resents him for it and always will.

“Now that I’m back, I’ll be taking over ranged combat, the primary method of taking down scrapers.” Saul glances at everyone for a moment before speaking again. “Let’s see what you got.”

Sighing, Sky, Y/N, Riven and Musa move to the stations. Y/N and Musa stand to the side, talking in hushed voices while Sky and Riven begin training.

“It’s like he never fucking left”, Sky grabs an arrow.

“Come on, man. Aren’t we over this anti-Silva shit?” Riven picks up a bow.

“He acts like he has the moral high ground. Hypocrite.” Pulling back the string, Sky shoots the arrow immediately, missing the target completely.

“What? You’d prefer Andreas?”

“At least Andreas is who he is.”

“Yeah, and who he is is a massive prick”, Riven reminds him. “He almost took my arm off in sparring yesterday.”

Barely hitting the target this time, Sky stops. “Stella texted me about Beatrix being gone. Maybe that’s why.”

“I heard Rosalind sent her on a mission, but when I tried to ask him, he pretty much told me to fuck off, so…”

“You don’t know anything, do you, Riven?”

“Nope”, Riven clears his throat. “She’s not my problem anymore. That nightmare is over.” Shooting at the target, Riven misses too. “For homing arrows, these fucking suck.”

Sky chuckles.

“You should focus.” Saul orders. “Combat won’t be as easy as hitting a single target and in situations where Blood witches and scrapers attack together, any loss of focus could cost you greatly.”

“Mind fairies can protect Specialists from Blood witch magic”, Rosalind looks to Y/N and Musa. “Might want to practice before an actual attack happens.”

“You want me to use my magic with everyone here?” Y/N raises her brows.

“You’re the strongest mind fairy here. Probably in the entire Otherworld. All you need is motivation.” Rosalind glances at Sky. “And other fairies can learn from you.”

“I doubt you’d want me to lose control here”, Y/N tries, her voice a little louder than before.

Hearing her, Sky turns around only to find Rosalind’s focus on him.

“Protect him while I simulate an attack or he’ll suffer a tremendous amount of pain.”

Y/N takes a deep breath, her hands trembling as she tries to control her magic. If she doesn’t focus, her powers will go haywire and she can’t be sure who’ll end up hurt because of it. Closing her eyes, she allows the memories of the night before to flood her mind, reminding herself what she’s fighting for. As she does, she feels a surge of ancient magic coursing through her veins, and her body begins to glow with an otherworldly light.

Suddenly, her eyes snap open, and she gasps as she feels her magic take over. It's as if an invisible force is propelling her forward, and she can feel her body moving without her even willing it to.

As she steps forward, her eyes begin to glow with a deep, pulsing purple light. The amount of power threatening to explode sends shivers down her spine.

“I won’t let you hurt him”, she says through gritted teeth, struggling to keep the beast stirring inside her at bay.

“I can feel you”, Rosalind smirks, “Push me away!”

She raises her hand, and a beam of purple energy shoots out from her fingertips, slamming Rosalind into a tree just a few feet behind, pressing her tightly into the bark.

Y/N takes a step back, startled by the power that she's just unleashed. Her heart is racing, once again proving how much control she lacks. She tried to warn Rosalind, but no one ever listens.

Sky rushes toward her, but she’s quick to stop him. “DON’T!” Her eyes are wide and filled with fear, but something else too. Sky can see the longing for release like a bomb wanting to explode and annihilate everything surrounding it.

Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes once again and begins to focus all of her energy on the sound of her heart beating, hoping to slow it down. If she can’t tame this burst of pure power now, she’ll hurt more people.

With a few more deep breaths, the purple glow around her fades and her powers slowly return to their dormant state. She opens her eyes, her gaze clear and focused on Andreas helping Rosalind get up.

An arm wraps around her she recognizes Sky’s scent the moment he pulls her into his side.

She can see Rosalind struggling to keep her composure as she walks toward them. “I suppose that’s a solid way of defending your specialist. I hoped to see you use mind control more than telekinesis. However, what we just witnessed is certainly an interesting development.”

“What do you mean?” Y/N frowns.

“You glowed”, Sky tells her quietly, his hold on her tightening as Rosalind smirks. This made his mission to protect Y/N a lot harder.

“And that means with the right motivation you can transform.”

Narrowing her eyes at Rosalind, Y/N shakes her head. “If you ever threaten Sky again, I’ll make sure you can never threaten anyone again.”

"If he's the key to unlocking your potential", Rosalind begins but Y/N's eyes narrow at her.

"Finish that sentence", she steps closer as her hues turn to purple once more. "I dare you."

Staring at Rosalind with a smirk, Y/N nods. "That's what I thought."

Turning around, she grips Sky’s hand and begins walking.

They can try and stop her, in fact, she’d love for them to provoke her further, but they won’t. No one would dare test her fury now.

Nausea intensifies, and she doubles over, clutching her stomach as a wave of dizziness washes over her. She feels as though she might collapse at any moment, and she struggles to stay upright.

Without question, Sky’s by her side, holding her up. “It’s alright, just breathe.” Running a hand up and down her back, he helps lean her back against the tree. “I’m here. We’re safe.” 

Hearing Sky’s voice is all the remedy she needs, allowing her mind to find a way out of the fog it got lost in. She has spent so much of her life feeling like an outsider, always different from everyone around her. If she’s being completely honest, part of her thought about giving up. Wouldn’t it be easier to surrender her magic to a scraper and neutralize herself as a possible threat? Because that’s all she’s been so far…a disaster waiting to happen. Farah told her to embrace it, to feel her emotions and let them take form she can later use as a weapon. She’s been doing anything but since Farah left the school. 

Last night was the first time she truly embraced every emotion available to her and today when she channeled them, her power was a little easier to control. If she was too far gone, she would have likely killed everyone in the field, but she didn’t. Her magic attacked the threat with just enough intensity for Rosalind to be warned and not killed. 

She did have some control and her love for Sky is the key to unlocking it fully.

As nausea begins to subside, Y/N straightens up, her eyes still glowing with a purple light. She takes a deep breath, feeling the power of her magic coursing through her veins. It's terrifying just how addictive it is, the power growing stronger inside her with every passing day. Just like any other drug, magic creates euphoria with everyday use. But it also corrupts. Too much power is dangerous for anyone - even her. Despite knowing that, for the first time in her life, Y/N feels ready to face whatever challenges may come her way.

Turning to Sky, her purple eyes meet his ocean-blue ones. She used to be afraid of hurting him when her powers would show, but this time she doesn’t run or push Sky away. Instead, Y/N smiles. 

“You’re beautiful”, Sky shakes his head in disbelief. When her eyes change to a purple color, it's as if a storm is brewing in her irises. The deep, rich hue swirls and dances like an otherworldly mist, drawing him in with an irresistible pull. The color seems to radiate from her pupils, casting a soft glow on her face and giving her an otherworldly, mystical quality. It's as if the purple light carries with it a sense of power and magic, making her seem both dangerous and alluring at the same time.

Every time he believes he might find a way to convince himself she’s made of flesh and bone, Sky finds himself enthralled by something new. How can he believe she’s anything but ethereal in every possible way? 

“And crazy”, he adds with a smile.

Chuckling, she nods. “When you’re involved, I don’t think I am capable of being normal.”

“Would you hurt Rosalind if she tried to continue her experiment?” 

“Yes”, she replies immediately. “I don’t think you understand to what lengths I’d go to for you.”

Sighing, he licks his lips. “But maybe she’s right.”

“You can’t be serious”, her face falls.

“If I have to take a little pain to help you, I’ll be at her mercy.”

Shaking her head, Y/N swallows thickly. “If it were Farah, I’d entrust you to her. Rosalind is too fickle for me to allow her this freedom. When will you realize that I’ll always put your safety first?” 

Cupping her cheeks, he rests his forehead on hers. “I think I understand. Mostly because I’d do the same for you.” And in a way, it scares him just how little he cares about consequences when Y/N is at stake. He’d get his hands bloody for her without hesitation.

Kissing her gently, Sky steals the very breath she drew in surprise at his response. How can she even find it shocking? If there’s anything she should be sure of it’s that his moral compass is lost when she’s in question. Maybe that makes him a bad person, but he’ll gladly be a villain in someone else’s story if it means his heart is safe.

Parting, Y/N sighs in disappointment. She’d love nothing more than to spend the day with Sky, to forget what is waiting for them when they return. Unfortunately for them both, they can’t ignore the world forever.

Sky wouldn’t say it out loud, but he loves the disappointment in her eyes when he pulls away. It means she longs for his touch as much as he aches for a taste of her lips. After chasing her for so long, it feels good to be wanted too.

“I don’t want to go back”, she whines as her phone vibrates. Looking at the notification, she furrows her brows.

“What’s wrong?” Sky moves behind her, looking at the message.

Bloom: Beatrix was taken by the Blood Witches.

Stella: When?

Bloom: The night of the banquet.

Terra: What do we do? 

Bloom: Rosalind thinks there’s a Blood Witch in school.

Aisha: Like a student?

Bloom: She’s not sure.

Flora: Is there a way we can find out? Musa?

Musa: I don’t think I’ve noticed anything off about anyone this year…In a different way than before.

Stella: Y/N might have. I’ll ask her at the party.

Aisha: Is she even going to the party?

Stella: She is.

“Why is she so confident I’ll show up?” Y/N grumbles, pocketing her phone as Sky’s phone rings.

Turning the screen to Y/N, Sky smiles innocently. “Probably because she knows she can harass me into coming and I’d bring you along?”

Rolling her eyes, she crosses her arms over her chest and leans back on the tree. 

Rejecting the call, Sky raises his brows. “What’s up with”, he gestures to her, “all that attitude?”

“You’re super close to two of your ex-girlfriends and I’m trying to be cool about it. Honestly.”

Chuckling, he nods in amusement. “Tell that to your face.”

Shrugging, she scowls. “I hate feeling like this.”

“I kinda like it”, he remarks. “Means you care. Just don’t blast anyone into a tree.”

“Ha-ha”, she grimaces. “Now text her that we’ll be there.”

“You sure?” 

Nodding, she bites her lower lip. She can be annoyed by it all when the danger’s passed. Besides, she’s not too worried about Sky straying. No matter how hard she tried to fight it, he’s in love with her and the history they share is stronger than anything he had with others.

Holding out his arm for her, Sky smirks as she peels away from the tree and links her arm with his. 

“Let’s find us a Blood Witch.”

Parting with Sky felt like a piece of her heart left with him. It was only to get ready for the party, but she didn’t like being away from him knowing a Blood Witch is close by. If they’re at this school, they know Bloom isn’t the only one that can pose a threat to their plans and that means whoever Y/N cares about is in danger. 

When Rosalind chose to use Sky as leverage during training, she showed everyone he was important to Y/N. It paints a target on his back for everyone looking to get their hands on Y/N and that’s just another reason why she’s uneasy about the distance between them. 

Another thing she dislikes is Sky deciding to meet up at the party because he wanted to talk to Riven. It prolongs the torture of not knowing he’s alright and she can’t help the dread wrapping around her intestines, twisting and turning until she can hardly keep down her stomach contents.

The first thing Sky does upon entering the party is taking a proper look at the people who’ve already arrived. It’s hard to tell in the darkness, but he’s fairly certain Y/N didn’t arrive yet. He would expect her to text him when she’s on her way, but then again, she could have easily forgotten. 

To his left, Aisha is downing a drink like it’s a cure for all that ails her. Deciding he could use a drink too, Sky joins her.

Lifting up her cup, Aisha smiles, already tipsy. “I’m drinking!”

“I can see that”, Sky chuckles as he brings the cup to his lips. Frowning at the bitter taste of stale beer, he grimaces. 

“Cheap alcohol mixed with different cheap alcohol,” Aisha states.

“Mhmm”, he clears his throat, dropping the cup back on the table. “Uh, keep at it then and I’ll just…uhh find Riven.”

“He’s probably making out with someone in the corner”, Aisha jokes.

“Or vomiting”, Sky shrugs before leaving to look for Riven. 

Despite his original thoughts, the last thing Sky expected was to find Riven talking to Musa. It seems as if he actually enjoys the conversation, his eyes never leaving the mind fairy. 

Chuckling, Sky shakes his head. Isn’t he the one who warned Sky to stay away from mind fairies, claiming they fuck with your mind? It’s actually nice to see him eat his own words for a change. 

Deciding he can catch up with Riven later, he leans on the wall and looks around. Someone here could be the Blood Witch and he doesn’t know how to feel about it. 

“You’re here”, Bloom joins him, a drink in her hand. “Alone.”

“So are you”, he notes. “Unless you count that drink as company?”

Shrugging, she takes a sip. “I’ve been busy theorizing who the Blood Witch might be all day. I need a break.”

“Any theories worth sharing?” Sky raises a brow, hoping Bloom could help shed some light on this enemy. He’ll accept any help available.

“I didn’t, but Sebastian did.”

Glancing at her, Sky nods. “Like?”

“It could be anyone”, she looks at the dance floor. “A student”, she begins. “A professor”, her gaze shifts to the new alchemy teacher who joined them at the party. “The catering staff”, she shrugs before turning her body toward Sky. Licking her lips, she tilts her head lightly, “Or someone close to us.” Placing a hand on Sky’s chest, she smiles. “Someone we trust.”

“Me?” Sky scoffs.

“Y/N”, she remarks. “We all know she’s never quite been right in the head and everyone says she’s been an outsider in Alfea from the start.”

“Same could be said about you”, Sky narrows his eyes. Pulling her hand off him, he steps to the side to create some distance. “You’re fairly new with a lot of power you can’t control as well as you like to believe.”

Meanwhile, Y/N stands in front of the mirror, her eyes fixed on her reflection. She's wearing a seductive red party dress, intricately designed with a plunging neckline and a thigh-high slit. The dress accentuates her curves, making her look even more alluring. She takes a deep breath and checks her makeup, making sure everything is perfect.

As she steps out of her room and makes her way to the party, she can feel the eyes of the other partygoers on her. Once inside, she sees Sky standing across the room, talking to Bloom. Pursing her lips, her nostrils flare as she watches Sky move away from Bloom. 

Their eyes meet, and she can see the shock and admiration in his gaze. He steps closer, licking his lips as a smile spreads across his face.

Sky can't believe what he's seeing. Y/N looks absolutely stunning in the red dress, and he can feel his heart beating faster in his chest, screaming for her to come closer. Y/N’s head is held high, slowly moving toward him across the dance floor. Most students move out of her way, some in fear, and others in astonishment he shares. Sky's never seen her look so confident and alluring before, and he can't take his eyes off her.

As Y/N approaches him, Sky's breath catches in his throat. He can see the way the dress hugs her curves and the way her hair falls softly around her face. He feels a sudden surge of desire, his pants becoming tighter as he imagines how good that dress will look on the floor when they find a moment to themselves.

"Wow," Sky says, his voice low and husky. "You look amazing."

Y/N smiles, feeling her cheeks flush with heat. She can see the desire in Sky's eyes, and it sends a shiver down her spine. Everything she wants is right there, inches away and she can’t help the way her heart jumps when his hand brushes her cheek as he leans in to peck her cheek. 

Grabbing his collar, she keeps him close.

"Thanks," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "You look pretty good yourself."

Sky chuckles, feeling his heart swell with affection. No one has this amount of power over him and there’s no doubt in his mind that she can bring any man to their knees without ever using her magic.

To him, Y/N is magic.

“Everyone’s looking at you”, he informs her as his eyes follow where the neckline of her dress leads. “I might have to show them you’re mine.”

“I suppose it’s a good thing I only care about where your eyes wander”, she grins. Tilting his head with her index finger on his chin, Y/N pecks his lips. “Now, we can look for Stella.”

Looking over his shoulder, Sky looks to Bloom. “Do you know where Stella and the others are?”

“I just got here”, Bloom responds.

“I saw Aisha drinking nearby the entrance and Musa was talking to Riven.” 

“Riven?” Y/N raises her brows.

“Guess he thinks mind fairies are interesting after all.”

Shaking her head fondly, she turns back to the dance floor. Students are dancing again, mostly inebriated. Usually, it would make them easier to read, but she can’t sense any malicious intents and she doesn’t know if it’s truly the case or if there are too many of them for her to properly focus.

Groaning, she takes a few steps closer, looking at their individual auras, but none jump out as particularly hostile. 

Grabbing Sky’s hand, she walks into the hallway behind them, Bloom following behind. “No one here is plotting to kill us.”

“Yeah, but can they conceal themselves?” Bloom asks. “If they have the scrapers stealing our powers, maybe they can use those powers to conceal their true intentions?”

“Maybe”, Y/N admits. “If we had someone specific in mind, I could dive in and make sure if they’re a Blood Witch, but this is too wide of a search.”

“Right”, Bloom presses her lips in a thin line. “Well, we tried. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my cup is empty.”

Sighing, Y/N rests her hands on her hips. “I feel useless.”

“You’re not, though.”

“Thank you for saying that, but I failed spectacularly.” Huffing, she looks to the door with a small frown. “We should go back and try to enjoy the party.”

Placing a hand on the small of her back, Sky pulls her closer to him. “Or we can go back to one of our rooms and party on our own.”

Biting her lower lip, she tries to suppress a smile. “Your offer is tempting, but I actually like the song they’re playing.”

Rolling his eyes playfully, he nods. Leading her to the door, he opens it for her. “Ladies first.”

The night turned into a blur. It was easy to forget about their worries with music numbing their senses and the spiked punch certainly helped as well. For once, Sky saw Y/N without a care in the world. She didn’t seem weighed down by anything, laughing and dancing, free of the burdens this world placed on her. 

Stella, Musa, Riven, Terra, and Flora joined them on the dance floor and Sky felt more at ease too. With most of his friends there, Y/N was safer and he could relax as well, have a few drinks too much and just enjoy this moment. 

With an arm tightly wrapped around Y/N, Sky walked out of the party a little before dawn. 

“Want to continue this party on our own?” Y/N wiggles her eyebrows, her smile bright.

Exhaling loudly, Sky shakes his head. “You're not sober enough to have sex.” 

Stepping in front of him, she runs her finger down her plunging neckline, making Sky groan.

“Are you sure”, she raises her eyebrows. “I’m sure we’ll both agree it was consensual.”

Dragging a hand over his face, he rests it over his heart. “Stop trying to kill me and allow me to be a gentleman.”

Shrugging innocently, she starts walking. “Okay…I guess I’ll have to find a way to party on my own.”

“You’re not playing fair!”

Despite Y/N’s teasing, Sky left her in her dorm with a heavy heart…and a situation in his pants he was planning on taking care of the moment he gets back to his room.

Waking up with a major headache wasn’t quite as enjoyable. Having to take a few shifts as a guard was even worse. He’d barely see Y/N in the day, catching a few glimpses of her in class. The strongest fairies would train outside, practicing the deadliest ways of directing their magic and while Y/N still struggles with control, Sky could tell she’s got a better grasp of her powers.

It would be three days before they had a proper moment to see each other again, agreeing to meet their friends at a bar outside the confines of Alfea. 

“I missed you”, Y/N smiles against his lips, wishing they could skip the bar and just kiss all night long. 

“I know what you mean”, he sighs. “It’s torture when we’re apart.”

Taking his hands in hers, she intertwines their fingers. “And heaven when we’re together.”

Nodding, he brushes his nose against hers, enjoying the way she beams at him. 

Opening the door for her, he sighs as his phone rings. “Probably Riven wondering where we are.”

“Any idea how dangerous it is out there?” 

Rolling his eyes, Sky looks around. “Oh yeah, it's... it's terrifying.” 

“Who is it”, Y/N whispers.

“I want you back before sundown”, Saul orders. 

“Or what?” Sky challenges.

“Excuse me?” 

“Trying to figure out the consequence.” Leaning on the car, Sky continues. “Will it be a Silva-style lecture or a Rosalind-style torture? It's hard to nail down your moral center lately.”

Smacking his arm lightly, Y/N shakes her head at him. She keeps hoping Sky will forgive Saul, but it’s like a festering wound that never heals. 

“Sky, whatever your feelings are towards me, put them aside. You're speaking to your commanding officer.”

“Let me talk to him”, Y/N whispers, but Sky waves her off.

“Don’t drink and stay aware of your surroundings.” 

“I always do”, Sky remarks. “I'll be back at a reasonable hour.”

Hanging up the phone, he finds Y/N glaring at him.

“What?”

“That was a bit harsh”, she notes.

Closing her door, he gets inside as well, starting the car.

“He loves you”, Y/N tries.

“I know, okay? I’m well aware.”

“So what’s the problem?” Tilting her head, she places a hand on his knee. “You don’t have to talk to me but talk to someone. Don’t bottle it up.”

“He lied to me”, Sky clenches his jaw. “My life was a lie and he wants me to move on like nothing ever happened? He was gone and I learned the truth and I could finally be my own person.” Squeezing the steering wheel, he sighs. “I felt free for the first time in my life and then he came back and I don’t know what to do with that.”

“Saul’s only looking out for you. He’s probably worried about how you’ve dealt with the whole thing, especially the way Andreas is.”

“So, he scared him away?” Sky glances at her, a lump growing at the back of his throat as he turns his gaze back on the road. “Andreas has barely said anything to me since the banquet.” Biting his lower lip, he continues quietly as if every uttered word brings pain. “Right when I was…starting to get him.”

“I don’t think he’s like that because of Saul or you”, Y/N gives his knee a light squeeze in reassurance. "I think he’s having a hard time dealing with Beatrix missing.”

“You’re probably right”, he sighs. “He left me and then decided to raise someone else’s daughter and I’m still here overthinking everything he says or does.” Chuckling dryly, Sky shakes his head. “I just wish I knew why he did it.”

“I could get him to tell you anything you want to know”, Y/N offers.

Chewing the inside of his lip, Sky blinks fast. He’s considering it, but what good would it do? Is there an answer that could satisfy him? 

“I love you”, he states, “but no. I don’t want to risk alienating him more.”

Nodding, she forces a smile. “In that case, let’s forget about everything. We can let loose for a night.”

“And how will we get back?” He raises his brows, a small smile on his lips.

Pausing, she sighs. “Alright, YOU can let loose and I’ll babysit you and then drive us back.”

“You’re gonna be sober all night?”

“I don’t even like drinking”, she shrugs. “It makes me lose control and I can’t afford to lose control now.”

“Okay then”, Sky reaches for her hand, bringing it to his lips. “Be my guardian angel for the night.”

“I’m always going to be your guardian angel”, she promises.

She meant it. And whether Sky was aware of it or not, that night she’d prove just how far she’d go to protect him. The night that began as fun with dancing, laughter, and making out quickly came to a horrific end.

Seeing the girls arguing, Y/N excused herself to see what was happening. 

“We have to do something”, Stella insists. “The specialists are wasted, but I could grab…”

“Nobody’s grabbing anyone until I’m told what’s happening”, Y/N crosses her arms.

“Stella thinks she knows where Beatrix is being held”, Musa tells her.

Eyes wide, Y/N glances at Sky raising his drink and laughing. 

“How do you know?” Y/N’s eyes darken. 

“She texted me”, Stella shows her phone. 

Shaking her head, Y/N laughs cynically. “It’s a trap.”

“Maybe, but we still have to try”, Stella exclaims. “I’d do it for any of you. Why isn’t anyone willing to do it for Beatrix?”

Chewing on her lips, Y/N inhales sharply. “We should call Silva and see what he thinks.”

“We don’t have time for that”, Stella remarks.

“Either way, I won’t let you put us all in danger over a text.” Swallowing thickly, she takes her phone out. “I’ll be right back and we’ll figure it out then.”

Checking on Sky once again, she smiles when she sees him hugging Riven. He’ll be fine for a few minutes.

Dialing Saul, Y/N gnaws on the soft flesh inside her left cheek. Glancing around, she lets out a shuddered breath as she puts the phone to her ear. It rings once. Twice. Three times.

“Did something happen?” Saul’s voice startles her.

Licking her lips, she sighs. “Someone sent Stella a text from Beatrix’s phone with an address.”

“Don’t go there”, Saul all but growls. “Send me the address and I’ll assemble a team.”

“No, shit. I was about to walk into what’s clearly a trap and decided to call you so you know how stupid I am.”

“I trust you won’t do it, but the rest of your friends don’t usually think. They just do and always live to regret it.”

Running a hand through her messy hair, she sniffles. “What do I do if they don’t listen to me?”

“Use your magic.”

Nearly choking on her spit, she coughs. “Absolutely not!” Clearing her throat, she frowns. “I’m not about to risk lobotomizing all of my friends.” 

“Then I need to be quicker than them. Text me the address and make sure to stall them.”

Sniffling, she nods. “Yeah. I’ll try.”

Sending him the address, she lets out a long, heavy exhale. Maybe Saul is right? If they decide to go to the location, they’ll be in danger she can’t save them from. 

Shaking her head, she rubs her temples. No one would forgive her if she did that, Sky especially. But then again, letting them go would be worse. At least they’d be around to hate her, instead of buried six feet under.

Shivering with the wind, Y/N walks back inside only to find the guys are gearing up.

With quivering lips, she rushes to Sky who was already dressed, ready for combat.

“Sky!” She pulls him by his shirt to get his attention. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Without so much as a glance her way, Sky sheaths his sword. “We’re going after Beatrix.”

Gulping, Y/N’s lips part. “Stella told you?”

“If by that you mean she told me she knows where Beatrix is, then yes. Would have been nice if my girlfriend told me, but then again, you’ve always been fond of secrets.”

Taking a step back, she bites her bottom lip. “That’s not fair. I would have told you, but this is a trap and I called for backup instead of rushing into danger blindly.”

Turning to face her, Sky’s ocean-blue eyes have frozen over as he looks down at her. “You called Saul?”

“The Blood Witches are trying to lure fairies to steal their magic and if they get to kill Specialists while they’re at it, I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to.”

“We’ve been training for this”, Sky reminds her. “Specialists can take out scrapers, while mind fairies can protect us from Blood Witch magic.”

“I’m in”, Musa raises her hand.

“So am I”, Y/N states readily. The last thing she wants is to let them all go in this alone. If there’s anything she can do to help, she will. 

“You’re not coming”, Sky exclaims instantly. 

Scoffing, she raises her eyebrows. “I don’t remember asking for permission.”

Grabbing her by the arm, Sky’s eyes narrow and his grip tightens as he steps closer to her. “Your powers are too volatile to be of any help. You’re not coming and that’s final.”

Her chin trembles but her eyes never falter as her anger begins to surface. “Trying to intimidate me with brute force, huh? You once told me to take your brain for a joy ride if you ever hurt me and right now I’m seriously considering that.”

Sky’s grip only tightens, and Y/N can feel the pressure of his fingers digging into her skin. “Threatening me won’t work, Y/N. The only way you can keep me here is by using your magic, but know we’ll be over if you do.”

Trying to pull away from Sky, she grimaces in pain. “And we both know you can’t stop me from coming, so let me go or I swear I’ll make you regret it.”

“I don’t think any of us should go”, Bloom speaks up. “It’s not safe for fairies.” Looking at Y/N, she adds, “Any fairies. We’re gonna go back to Alfea.”

“I’m going”, Y/N repeats. “Saul is on the way and I am not letting the boys walk into a death trap with no one to help them.”

“What can a fairy with out-of-control abilities truly do?” Sky crosses his arms. 

Clicking her tongue, she ignores the hurtful comment. “Go”, she tells the girls. “Musa or I will text you if we find Beatrix.”

Heading to the door, she holds her breath. Most times she’d tell herself Sky was just saying that to make her angry enough to stay, but she can’t help it. When the doubts come from him, they always find their mark.

She sat in the car, waiting for them to follow. Swallowing the lump at the back of her throat, she lets out the breath she was holding. Sky, Riven, and Musa sit with her, while the other few take the other car.

No one really spoke during the short drive, the tension growing thicker as they approached the lodge.

“Saul isn’t here yet”, Riven states. 

“He should be on his way”, Y/N checks her phone, but he’s sent her no messages. “Should we wait?”

Glancing at the other Specialists getting out of the car, she shakes her head. “Guess not.”

Pulling her hair up in a ponytail while Sky, Musa, and Riven leave, she leaves her phone on the passenger’s seat. The last thing they need is Stella calling when they’re trying to sneak around.

“A playground would be less creepy?” 

Sky’s voice leads her to where they went. She doesn’t say anything, closely following behind, nervously looking around for signs of Blood Witches. The wind whistles through the trees, and the moonlight casts eerie shadows across the path ahead.

The lodge comes into view, and it looks even more ominous up close. The windows are boarded up, and the door hangs off its hinges. The group pauses before entering, all on edge in case it's a trap.

Y/N’s fingers tingle with magic awakening as if to warn her there’s something amiss. A shiver runs down her spine as they step inside, the darkness enveloping them. They move carefully, taking each step with caution.

The air is thick with dust, the only sound heard inside is their soft footsteps. Suddenly, Y/N hears a creaking noise and her heart races. She turns towards Sky, who nods at her reassuringly, letting her know he's got her back. Despite the harsh words he threw in her face, Y/N knows he wouldn’t let her get hurt and that scares her the most. She’d much rather be the one who takes all the pain, as long as he gets out of here unscathed.

They make their way further into the lodge, searching for any signs of danger. Y/N can feel her pulse pounding in her ears as they turn a corner. Y/N pauses, turning to Musa.

“She’s here”, Musa whispers. 

“Upstairs”, Y/N confirms. “But something doesn’t feel right.” 

“What does that mean?” Riven asks, cautiously looking around.

“I don’t know how to explain it, but I don’t think we are here alone.”

Heading for the stairs, Musa turns to the group. “In that case, we’ll be quick.”

Reluctantly, Y/N walks after Sky and Riven who follow Musa. The room they enter is small, the smell of mold overwhelmingly strong. The roof is leaking, and the floor is drenched by the flooding. 

“Beatrix”, Musa runs to the small figure lying on the floor. “She’s still alive”, she exclaims happily.

“Let’s get her and go”, Sky urges Riven, moving toward the girls.

Y/N can't shake off the feeling that someone, or something, is watching them, waiting to attack.

Her eyes dart around, scanning the dark corners and shadows, but she sees nothing. Still, the feeling persists, gnawing at her gut like a predator stalking its prey.

“If she’s unconscious, how did she text Stella?” Musa asks, looking at Riven with concern.

Tension in her chest is making Y/N's magic hum restlessly under her skin. Y/N's eyes widen as she sees movement out of the corner of her eye, but when she turns, nothing is there.

"Guys," she whispers urgently, her voice barely above a breath. "We need to get out of here. Now."

Just as the words pass her lips, the sound of slithering and chittering fills the room and Y/N finds herself pulled back and behind Sky.

“Scrapers”, Riven grumbles under his breath.

“Just what we needed”, Sky mutters.

Everything after that felt surreal.

The creatures appeared out of nowhere, their sharp claws and teeth glinting in the dim light of the lodge. Y/N and Musa were taken by surprise, frozen in terror as the scrapers lunged at them.

Sky and Riven reacted quickly, drawing their swords and aiming their arrows at the scrapers. But the creatures were fast and agile, dodging their attacks with ease.

Y/N took a deep breath, her eyes flashing purple as she summoned a burst of energy, sending it toward the scrapers but it had no effect just as Rosalind told them.

Sky and Riven fought with all their might, their swords and arrows glinting in the dim light. Y/N could see the strain on their faces as they tried to protect her and Musa.

She knew they were outnumbered, and the odds were against them. 

Noticing Andreas walking in, Y/N’s eyes widen as Sky sees him too.

“Andreas?” His voice is filled with uncertainty as Andreas stares at them menacingly. 

“There’s something wrong with him”, Musa warns. “He’s not Andreas.”

Turning to Y/N, Sky grabs her forearm. Forcing her to look at him, his eyes plead with her while his lips form an order. “Run.”

“What about you?” 

“If they catch you, they’ll be unbeatable”, Sky reminds her. “Run!”

Everything inside her told her to stay, but her legs moved on their own accord. She needed to get help or she might never see Sky again. 

Catching a glance of the fight as she disappears down the stairs, Y/N yelps as a scraper latches onto her wrist. Slamming it against the wall, she groans as it falls off, blood gushing out of the wound. Rushing, she ducks, narrowly escaping yet another one only to scream out when sharp teeth break the skin on the back of her neck and a few more bite onto her legs.

Shaking, she grips it tightly, sinking her fingernails into the creature as a soft violet light emanates from her glowing skin. Its jaw relents as she reaches the door, tossing it to the ground before grabbing a rock and slamming the door behind her. Smacking the three scrapers with the sharp edge of the rock, she manages to detach them from her legs, realizing they’ve already gotten a taste.

Gasping for breath, she runs her hand across her neck. Her skin is still glowing, but she can hardly contain her powers as the pain intensifies. What happens if she loses it? 

Pushing the thought away, she focuses on Sky. He’s just one floor above her, fighting his father who is likely under the influence of the Blood Witches. She’s supposed to be a mind fairy capable of fighting them, of protecting Specialists, but she’s hiding in a dark room like a coward.

Biting her quivering lips, she closes her eyes. If she’s got all this magic wanting a release, she might as well find a useful way to do it.

She’s felt a presence since the moment they walked into this lodge, but a part of her was afraid of exploring it, worried it would alert them of her presence if they weren’t already aware.

There’s no reason to hide anymore. 

Searching through the dark, she could see an outline of a person as it fights with a sword. He’s attacking without respite, pushing his opponent into the wall.

“Andreas”, she whispers under her breath. The Blood Witch is in his mind, forcing him to do this. Disarming the man in front, he points the tip of his sword against the man’s throat.

Sky. He’s fighting Sky.

With fierce determination, she closes her eyes and channels all of her magic toward Andreas. She can feel his body trembling, and she knows that the Blood Witch can sense her and is fighting back. But Y/N isn't going to give up, not when Sky’s life is at stake. All of her is focused on pushing the Blood Witch out of Andreas' head. She can feel the witch's power pulsing through her veins, trying to take control of her as well. But Y/N refuses to let that happen.

Suddenly, she feels a jolt of pain shoot through her head, and she cries out in agony. But she doesn't stop. She keeps pushing, using every ounce of strength she has to force the Blood Witch out.

The room is filled with the sound of crashing furniture and shattering glass as her powers begin to explode from within her and slam everything in the room against the walls. She can hear Silva’s voice through Andreas, feeling his muscles tighten as he swings his sword toward Sky. 

“No”, she trembles violently as Silva blocks his attack, allowing Sky enough time to grab a sword too.

As they begin to fight, Y/N struggles to stand her ground with the Blood Witch. They’re incredibly powerful, using Andreas like a puppet. 

He knocks Sky back, only to push Silva against the wall, his sword under his throat. Pushing further, Y/N could hear Saul choking, trying to draw breath but to no avail. Sky’s beside her…beside Andreas, begging for him to let Saul go.

Tell him I’m sorry. Tell him I cared.  Andreas tells her.

“Tell him yourself!”

Hands forming fists, she grits her teeth. If there was ever a time for her to let the beats out, this is it. With a scream, she lets all of her magic flow into the fight, managing to break the connection.

With a clear mind, Andreas looks to Sky. “Do what you have to do. Please.” 

The connection was broken, indeed. But only for a moment. The presence returned, pushing against Y/N with a strength she never encountered before. Her body feels like it's on fire as she struggles against the powerful grip of the Blood Witch, their dark energy coursing through her veins, trying to take control of her own mind.

Y/N is fighting back with all her might, using every bit of her own magic to push against the Blood Witch's influence. But the more she struggles, the stronger the Blood Witch seems to become, its grip on Andreas' mind tightening. She can feel herself starting to weaken, her own magic failing her as the Blood Witch's power overwhelms her. She’s losing the fight, Andreas is already attacking Saul and Sky again.

Desperately, Y/N tries to hold on, but it’s of no use. She’s failing Sky and she’s failing everyone in Alfea. Sky was right…she’s of no use to them.

And that’s when she feels a sharp pain in her stomach, a coldness spreading from it to her limbs, darkness overtaking her senses. The last thing she remembers is an oddly familiar whisper echoing in her mind. 

You lose. 

‘He’s not here’, she notes. ‘He really left me.’

Y/N takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She reaches for a glass of water on her bedside table, hoping it might offer some relief. With shaky hands, she takes a sip, feeling the cool liquid soothe her dry throat.

Her mind feels foggy, and she struggles to piece together the events of that night, however long ago it was. She remembers the adrenaline, the fear, and the determination to protect her loved ones, but the details are hazy, lost in the fog of pain.

“Andreas”, she gasps. The Blood witches took control of him and attacked Sky. What if Sky was hurt in the process too? What if they’re both injured and she’s here thinking about some stupid fight they shared while Sky might be dying?!

She tries to push the headache aside, knowing that she needs to get up and face the truth. But it's a constant, nagging reminder of the battle she's fought and the toll it’s taken on her.

Biting her bottom lip, she pulls down the fabric of her shirt, revealing her chest. A large wound consisted of hundreds of tiny cuts, circularly placed, rests just under her collar bone, reaching down to her left breast.

‘Scraper.’

Looking at her legs, she finds more wounds alike it. The back of her arms have smaller ones and when she touches the back of her neck and back, it’s hard to ignore the texture of her skin is similar to the wounds she can see. 

Y/N takes another deep breath, determined to push through the pain. She can’t stay here and waste more time. With that thought in mind, she swings her legs over the edge of the bed, steeling herself for whatever lies ahead.

Slowly, she makes her way out of her room. Due to the throbbing headache still lingering, she finds herself barely able to walk straight, stumbling a couple of times. The aftermath of the scraper attack has left her feeling weak and disoriented, and every step feels like an uphill struggle.

‘It was more than a scraper’, she thinks only for the headache to intensify, forcing her to lean on the wall.

Exhaling loudly, she forces herself to open her eyes. 

As she reaches the corridor outside her door, she's surprised to see Sky and Riven standing there, their expressions reflecting a mix of relief and concern. 

"You’re awake," Sky’s lips part, his voice laced with worry and warmth. He’s got more than a few scratches all over his face, his left eye is ringed with a dark bruise and it’s hard not to wonder what injuries hide underneath his clothes. 

Y/N manages a weak smile, nodding in response as she leans back on the doorway to hide her shaky legs. "Yeah, I'm awake. Just a little... drained, I guess."

Concern deepens in Sky's eyes as he takes a step closer to her. "You should have called someone if you were feeling this bad. I’d have come in a heartbeat."

"I didn't want to worry anyone," Y/N replies softly. In truth, she didn’t know he was there. 

Riven gives her a sympathetic look, understanding her desire to be strong for them. "You don't have to carry everything on your own, Y/N. We're here for you, no matter what."

“I must look awful for you to be nice to me”, she chuckles when he rolls his eyes at her. 

Rubbing his chin, Riven nods. “Well, I thought you were dead when I found you.”

Licking her lips, Y/N’s eyes widen ever so slightly. “Y-you found me?”

“Saul was close behind”, Riven explains. “He ended up carrying you out and I took Musa.”

“Is she”, Y/N pauses, afraid of the answer.

“Up and walking, so as well as she can be”, Riven reassures.

Y/N nods, feeling a sense of gratitude. Riven’s been anything but friendly to her and she was most definitely a bitch to him every chance she got. It’s nice to see they can talk without insults. 

Without warning, her legs give out slightly and she loses balance, sliding from the doorframe and leaning against the wall. Trying to steady herself, Y/N feels a familiar hand grab her in time, helping her stay upright.

Hissing in pain, she looks down only to see Sky grabbed onto the same place he left a bruise. 

Releasing her instantly, Sky focuses on the fingerprint bruises on her soft skin. “I did that?”

Pursing her lips, she folds her arms across her chest and averts her gaze. “How long was I out?”

Taking the hint, Riven responds. “About 15 hours, maybe a bit more.”

Closing her eyes, she gnaws at the inside of her lower lip. Sighing, Y/N furrows her brows before opening her eyes. “I think a blood witch was in my head.”

Eyes wide, Riven looks at Sky who speaks. “You were in Andreas’ head too.”

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she huffs with her eyes closing once more. The pulsating in her temples returns, bringing back the painful fog hiding the truth in her memories. 

Y/N's hands clench into fists as she tries to remember the events of the previous day, but every time a memory surfaces, a searing pain shoots through her head, causing her to wince and gasp in agony.

‘You lose.’

The splitting headache intensifies with each attempt of retrieving her memories, and she feels her legs giving way beneath her. She collapses to her knees, clutching her head in her hands, hoping that the pain will subside.

"Y/N!" Sky's voice is filled with panic as he kneels by her side, his eyes wide with fear. "What's happening?”

She tries to respond, but the pain is too much, rendering her speechless. Tears of frustration and pain well up in her eyes as she struggles to make sense of the memories that keep slipping away.

‘You lose.’

Sky wraps his arms around her, pulling her close as if to shield her from the torment. "It's okay, Y/N. Just breathe. I'm here with you. 

His words offer her some comfort, but the pain in her head is relentless. Each memory that surfaces feels like shards of glass piercing her brain.

‘You lose.’

As Sky tries to soothe her, Y/N manages to gasp out a few words between gritted teeth, "I... I can't remember. It's all a blur, and it hurts so much."

Sky's face is etched with concern as he gently strokes her hair. "It's alright, Y/N. You don't have to force it. Take your time. We'll figure out what happened together."

He helps her sit up, his arms still wrapped protectively around her. Y/N leans against him, trying to find some solace in his presence as the pain slowly begins to ebb.

"I'm scared, Sky," she admits, her voice shaky.

Sky kisses her temple. “I’m sorry”, he whispers as he looks to Riven. 

For the first time ever, even Riven could see the cracks in her armor.

"Where's Andreas," she asks, glancing between Sky and Riven.

A shadow crosses Sky's face, and he hesitates for a moment before answering. "He... he's gone, Y/N. We couldn't save him."

Her heart sinks at his words, and a mix of grief and shock washes over her. She tries to process the information, but her mind feels clouded, the headache making it hard to focus.

"I'm sorry," she tells him softly, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I wasn’t strong enough to protect his mind.”

Resting his lips against her temple, he whispers. “It wasn’t your fault.”

Letting out a shuddered breath, she relaxes in his embrace without a word. No matter what Sky says, she knows the truth. If she had a better handle on her powers, she could have defeated the Blood witch. She could have saved Andreas, but instead she lost. 

“We should probably tell someone she’s awake”, Riven states. “So they can check the damage.”

“Damage?” Y/N trains her eyes on Riven. “What do you mean?”

“The scrapers”, Sky swallows thickly. “We need to find a safe way to check if they stole your powers or not.”

“Musa lost hers”, Riven explains. “They say she’ll get them back eventually, that it’s only temporary, but we have no way of knowing that.”

Snorting, Y/N raises her brows. “So, you’re telling me there’s a chance I’ve lost powers that could make the Blood witches even stronger?”

Shrugging, Riven grimaces. “A chance, yes.”

Chewing on her lips, Y/N nods. “Peachy.”

“I’ll see be back soon.”

With that, Riven left the two sitting on the floor, neither saying anything.

“You had to?” Her voice is quiet, half hoping Sky wouldn’t hear so she didn’t have to know this particular truth. If Sky had to be the one to kill Andreas due to her failure, how will she ever forgive herself? And despite him claiming he doesn’t blame her, she can’t imagine that being true, because how can he not? 

“I did”, Sky admits and she grimaces as a flashback agitates the pain again.

“Fuckkk”, she growls out, the pain making her nauseous. Gripping Sky’s clothes, she buries her head in his chest and allows a single sob to escape her. 

“I remember some of it”, she sniffles. “He said to tell you he’s sorry and that he cared.” 

Smiling softly into her hair, Sky inhales deeply. Her scent always relaxed him, made him feel safe. She smells like home, as weird as it sounds, but that’s exactly how Sky feels about her. She’s all he needs.

“Thank you for telling me that.” Sky closes his eyes. ‘I’m sorry I hurt you.’

“You didn’t mean to”, she pulls back slightly, making sure their eyes meet. She’s hurt, but the bruise isn’t what hurts. The words he said, the mistrust, the manipulation and then trying to order her around? That opened wounds in their relationship Y/N isn’t sure how to heal. 

“What?”

“I know you’re sorry, but the bruise isn’t what hurts. Other things from that night hurt me more.”

“Y/N, I didn’t say anything”, Sky states grimly. “I thought it, but I didn’t say it.”

Eyes wide in realization, Y/N pulls away from Sky’s embrace entirely. “The powers are there then. Just out of control.”

“Same old, same old”, Sky tries to lighten the mood, only to find Y/N scowling at him.

“I just read your mind against your or my will and you wanna joke about it?”

“What else can I do, huh?” Sky runs a hand through his short hair and huffs. “I don’t want to argue with you about it, because you obviously didn’t do it on purpose. It’s nothing new to me, Y/N. I’ve been dealing with your accidents for a while now.”

“Accidents”, she repeats. “Right.”

“Do you have a different name for it?” Sky raises his eyebrows for a moment. “It is what it is.”

“Clearly it’s not considering the way you acted last night. You obviously resent me”, she remarks bitterly.

“I”, Sky shakes his head, pausing to collect himself. “I don’t know what you want from me anymore.”

Tucking her hair behind her ears, she pushes against the floor to help herself stand. “I want unconditional love, Sky. But with you, it’s always one step forward and two steps back. I’m constantly terrified of the moment you’ll decide you’ve had enough and break my heart.” Resting her hands on her hips as Sky scrambles to his feet, she continues before he has the chance. “I’ve told you that my powers are out of control and gave you a chance to walk away so many times and each time you fight me on it and then when these ‘accidents’ happen, you almost sound like you hate me and I’m tired of this never-ending cycle.”

“Don’t patronize me”, Sky grumbles.

“I’m not! I am saying the truth, which you clearly ignore! Because yes, I read your mind by accident sometimes and I can sense your emotions and each time it happened you’ve felt violated and angry and resentful and you push it down.” Drawing in a shaky breath, she shakes her head. “Until it happens again. And again. And again and again and those negative emotions grow stronger each time and it feels like we’re going in circles. It’s the same argument time and time again, to the point where I’m scared to admit when I pick up on something from you, so we wouldn’t fight.”

“You’ve got it all figured out then, huh?” Sky steps closer to her. “Starting a fight on your own, arguing for both sides like you know everything in my heart and mind? YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING.”

“I know enough”, she insists. “All of it cumulated and exploded last night and you said some really mean shit, Sky. If you’re going to be with me, you’ve got to accept and understand that I am doing my best.”

“I do!” Sky runs a hand across his face. "I've been accepting this whole time and you're always looking for an excuse to walk away."

Covering her face with her hands, she shakes her head. Letting her hands fall, she reveals her glossy eyes. “You like to think you understand and accept, but you don’t and I’m so tired of convincing myself we’re not bad for each other.” 

The atmosphere in the room is heavy with tension, the echoes of their argument still lingering in the air. Sky and Y/N stand facing each other, both silent and uncertain, the weight of their spoken and unspoken words suffocating the space between them.

Their eyes meet, and for a moment, they are lost in a sea of emotions, unable to find the right words to heal the wounds they've inflicted on each other. Each breath feels labored, their hearts heavy with regret and frustration.

Y/N's throat tightens as she fights back tears, struggling to find the strength to break the silence. Her mind races with a thousand thoughts and apologies, but she can't seem to form any coherent words.

As long as she’s with Sky, she can’t really allow herself to be who she is, nor can she fully embrace her powers. She fears hurting him and for that reason, she'll always be running from her magic instead of embracing it. And as long as Sky’s with Y/N, he’s always going to have issues trusting his mind and emotions are truly his, because it’s never an issue of trust in Y/N’s intentions, it’s in her ability to control the magic she’s made of. 

Sky's jaw clenches as he tries to keep his composure, the pain in his eyes mirroring Y/N's turmoil. He wants to reach out, to hold her close and make everything okay, but the lingering hurt holds him back. She questions his loyalty and love, she questions his devotion and all he’s ever said and the worst part? She’s right. No matter how he tries, Sky can’t shake the bitterness of never being certain his thoughts are private.

“So this is it?” Sky breaks the silence first. “You’re giving up?”

Shrugging meekly, she averts her gaze to the floor. “Maybe I am.” A whimper escapes her as tears rush forth and blur her vision. “I think I just need some time to get my head on straight.”

“Without me?” Sky adds, the pain in his voice shooting arrows into her heart, but Y/N remains quiet and so does he.

In the midst of their silence, they both realize that perhaps they do need time apart. Time to reflect, to heal, and to find a way to mend the broken pieces of their relationship.

Y/N takes a step back, the space between them widening like an unspoken chasm. Her heart aches with the knowledge that they might need this distance, but the fear of it being forever grips her insides.

Sky doesn't reach out to stop her, but his eyes plead silently for her to stay. He knows that pushing her away might be the best thing for both of them because he’s tired too, but it doesn't make it any easier to bear. 

‘I need you’, he wants to say. ‘I can’t live without you’, Sky’s heart whispers. ‘Please don’t leave me.’

As Y/N turns to leave, a single tear escapes her eye, reflecting the pain she feels deep inside. She wishes she could take back the hurtful words, the harsh tones, but she knows that they can't be unsaid. Besides, none of them were a lie. She’s honest with Sky, which is more than he can say. And it fucking tears her apart to leave him, because he just lost his father. But if she doesn’t walk away now, Y/N fears their occasional animosity would become hatred down the line.”

Sky watches her go, his heart torn between the need to hold her close and accepting she’s right. It’s not the right time for them to be so close to each other, both of them struggling deeply with traumatic events that bring out the worst in them.

‘I love you’, he thinks, hoping she reads his mind now. She pauses for a moment, her back tense, yet she doesn’t turn back. Ghost of a smile dances upon his lips. He’d ask if she feels the same way, but silence can be just as powerful as words, and in this moment, as he stares at her back, it speaks volumes.

They both take a deep breath, trying to steady their emotions. And then she moves again, disappearing around the corner. They might have been silent now, but in that silence, they both decide to hold onto the hope that they will find their way back to each other. Once the war with the Blood witches is over, Sky vows to himself that he will mend these cracks and find a way to her heart once more.