09-05-2026, 02:18 AM
He let out a long exhale the second he felt the tingle.
Adrian’s attempts to channel were half-hearted at best. As much as the man demanded to be taught, he sure didn’t seem to want to really learn. Not that Jay knew how to teach it. His sole experience about teaching this shit was with Vanders, who stumbled through learning on instinct himself only to turn around and try to teach Jay. And how does someone teach instinct?
Well, there were probably ways. But a glance at Adrian’s profile showed only the same flat gaze and a mere trickle of power inkling from the other man.
A sweep upward showed the exterior wall free of its previous scaffolding, all now dismantled on the ground around them. Maybe that’s why his neck hurt, all the staring upward? He absently rubbed out a knot and cleared his throat.
“Let’s get this cleaned up. I’ll bundle up those diagonals and you knot them up. Then I’ll explain how to tie it off so they don’t come apart.”
Adrian’s face was almost unreadable, except for a brief nod and an utter look of stoic concentration, and Jay went back to channeling. Each time another one was added, a twang of metal bracing against metal tolled. They floated a few feet off the ground in six foot long rods. A few moments later and a bundle of diagonal supports were stacked like a kid gathering sticks.
“Okay. Now.”
Jay glanced at Adrian. Waiting.
But Adrian just stared. Jay knew he had the power in his grasp. Could feel it wafting off the guy like aftershave. Meanwhile, Jay was just standing there, hands in his pockets, with a bundle of steel bars floating in front of them. He glanced around to see if anyone was watching.
“Any time.”
But to his shock, Adrian just growled and walked away in a hurry.
The hell?
The bundle clattered to the ground a little harder than he intended to, and he caught up with Adrian.
“Look, give yourself a break, man. It’s hard.”
Adrian turned and looked at him with such a fuck-you look that Jay literally stopped in his tracks. After a few seconds, Adrian kept walking.
Jay frowned as he left. He felt a little guilty, knowing he’d insulted Adrian, and for some reason, he knew he shouldn’t give two shits what the guy felt. Shit.
Vanders would probably chase Adrian down, tell him to give it another try, and force success through sheer encouragement. Nox, on the other hand, would probably have already gone on to something else by now. But the irritation faded almost as quickly as it had flared, replaced by a deep, bone-weary apathy. Let the corporate prince storm off to nurse his pride.
“I’m leaving this here until you come back and clean it up yourself!” He called out after Adrian, who was out of sight a few seconds later.
With a low grunt, Jay turned on his heel and walked back to where the bundle of steel supports lay discarded on the ground, left half-knotted and messy just where they had been dropped.
He didn't pick them back up. He didn't try to finish the job. He just kicked the nearest iron rod with the toe of his boot, watching it clatter against the others with a flat, dull ring, and left the scaffolding right where it lay. Let it be a mess. Let Adrian come back and stare at it tomorrow.
Adrian’s attempts to channel were half-hearted at best. As much as the man demanded to be taught, he sure didn’t seem to want to really learn. Not that Jay knew how to teach it. His sole experience about teaching this shit was with Vanders, who stumbled through learning on instinct himself only to turn around and try to teach Jay. And how does someone teach instinct?
Well, there were probably ways. But a glance at Adrian’s profile showed only the same flat gaze and a mere trickle of power inkling from the other man.
A sweep upward showed the exterior wall free of its previous scaffolding, all now dismantled on the ground around them. Maybe that’s why his neck hurt, all the staring upward? He absently rubbed out a knot and cleared his throat.
“Let’s get this cleaned up. I’ll bundle up those diagonals and you knot them up. Then I’ll explain how to tie it off so they don’t come apart.”
Adrian’s face was almost unreadable, except for a brief nod and an utter look of stoic concentration, and Jay went back to channeling. Each time another one was added, a twang of metal bracing against metal tolled. They floated a few feet off the ground in six foot long rods. A few moments later and a bundle of diagonal supports were stacked like a kid gathering sticks.
“Okay. Now.”
Jay glanced at Adrian. Waiting.
But Adrian just stared. Jay knew he had the power in his grasp. Could feel it wafting off the guy like aftershave. Meanwhile, Jay was just standing there, hands in his pockets, with a bundle of steel bars floating in front of them. He glanced around to see if anyone was watching.
“Any time.”
But to his shock, Adrian just growled and walked away in a hurry.
The hell?
The bundle clattered to the ground a little harder than he intended to, and he caught up with Adrian.
“Look, give yourself a break, man. It’s hard.”
Adrian turned and looked at him with such a fuck-you look that Jay literally stopped in his tracks. After a few seconds, Adrian kept walking.
Jay frowned as he left. He felt a little guilty, knowing he’d insulted Adrian, and for some reason, he knew he shouldn’t give two shits what the guy felt. Shit.
Vanders would probably chase Adrian down, tell him to give it another try, and force success through sheer encouragement. Nox, on the other hand, would probably have already gone on to something else by now. But the irritation faded almost as quickly as it had flared, replaced by a deep, bone-weary apathy. Let the corporate prince storm off to nurse his pride.
“I’m leaving this here until you come back and clean it up yourself!” He called out after Adrian, who was out of sight a few seconds later.
With a low grunt, Jay turned on his heel and walked back to where the bundle of steel supports lay discarded on the ground, left half-knotted and messy just where they had been dropped.
He didn't pick them back up. He didn't try to finish the job. He just kicked the nearest iron rod with the toe of his boot, watching it clatter against the others with a flat, dull ring, and left the scaffolding right where it lay. Let it be a mess. Let Adrian come back and stare at it tomorrow.
Only darkness shows you the light.