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Back Seasons of Chaos
Chapters (70)
  1. Dedication
  2. Prologue
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. 60
  63. 61
  64. 62
  65. Epilogue
  66. Acknowledgments
  67. About the Author
  68. Books by Elle Cosimano
  69. Back Ad
  70. About the Publisher

“You may elect to retire,” he continues, “in which case you will be stripped of your magic and assigned to a vacant position of service here within the school, where you may live out the remaining years of your natural life. But I will advise you that our systems have changed. Our rules are different now, Douglas. Our Seasons strive to live, both here and above ground, in peaceful coexistence. I will not allow anyone to disrupt that goal.”

A cold, dry laugh escapes me. “And what if I don’t want to retire?”

“Then that decision will result in Termination. As will any intimation of harm against Jack or Fleur.” Lyon’s eyes meet mine. There’s no mistaking the unspoken threat inside them. So that’s what this is about. This isn’t about protecting the Observatory. It’s about protecting Jack. It’s about keeping me powerless down here, where I can’t get to him.

“You might as well just kill me now,” I say through my teeth.

“It’s a significant decision—”

Despite the lightness in my head, I launch to my feet. “No, it’s a punishment!”

“It is also a choice, Mr. Lausks.” Lyon doesn’t rise. Doesn’t reach for the staff.

“Maybe I wasn’t clear, old man. I’m not giving you my magic. I’d rather die than serve you. You are not my Chronos. You never will be.”

“Your Chronos would never have given you the option,” he says quietly. “I will not take it from you. You will have one week to think on your decision. Extraction is taxing on the body, and you should use this time to rest and reflect. You’re tired, and you have a lot of information to absorb.”

One week. Long enough for me to recover the strength I’ll need to survive the pain of extraction as they rip away my magic. But not long enough to gather the power to fight it. “And if my decision won’t change?”

“You may use the week to put your affairs in order. Gaia and I will consider any final requests you’d like to make with regard to your personal property.” His eyes lift to mine. “Death doesn’t have to be the only choice. There is a way forward. Take time,” he says pointedly, wielding that word as if it belongs to him.

“Is that all?” As far as I’m concerned, we’re done here.

“Douglas,” he says, stopping me before I reach the door. “I am truly sorry for your loss.”