He smiled sadly.
“Thanks, Blue. Really...sometimes I don't need a sorry, sometimes I just want to say it out loud.”
They came to a stop at the gates of the cemetery. It seemed to be their spot now. In all honesty, despite the Vamp attack the last time she’d been there, she still preferred the dark, dreary graveyard to being at school filled with everyone who despised her. Looking out over the headstones, they watched as spirits floated nearby, not doing anything in particular other than wandering around aimlessly, doing whatever it was that spirits did to keep themselves occupied.
“Was his body ever found?” She asked Jasper, biting her tongue immediately. She really needed to stop the word vomit.
“Yeah, they found him the next day, washed up along a river embankment. We had him cremated that same day. He’s at rest now at least, so there's that…” He leaned against the black rod iron gate, resting his tanned, tattooed forearms over the edge while he watched over the spirits.
“What's with the tatts?” She asked, unable to help her burning curiosity.
His hand absently traced over the black ink of his wrist as he smiled at a private joke.
“I guess I went a little nuts after Marcus died. I was obsessed with becoming the badass that I always remembered my brother being.” He laughed at himself. “I wanted to be bigger, badder than he was so that someday, I could kill all the fuckers responsible for taking him from me...I guess tattoos just seemed like a good outlet for a while.”
Blue laughed openly at the confession.
“Well they suit you.” She winked. “You've got the whole brooding bad boy thing locked down.”
“You think I'm hot?” He asked with a grin.
“Now your putting words in my mouth, buddy.” Blue rolled her eyes. The moment had lightened.
Jasper pulled away from the fence, turning towards her and caging her body against the rod iron posts. Her heartbeat picked up and she was almost afraid to breathe. She didn't know what it was about these guys that suddenly turned her into a massive pile of goo, but she wasn't sure she ever wanted it to stop.
“You've got to stop calling me ‘buddy’...I don't feel very buddy-like right now, do you?” His voice was gravely and lower than she was used to.
She watched his pupils dilate and his jaw go rigid. The muscles in his arms tensed as they caged her body between them. Jasper towered over her like a giant, making her feel small and dainty but she loved it. She’d been a badass her whole childhood, it was sort of nice feeling like a girl for once.
Jasper brought one of his large hands to her waist, placing his palm on her hip bone and adding a bit of pressure. Her skin tingled where his fingertips grazed the slightly exposed skin of her abdomen. Skimming his hand up her torso, she let a shudder visibly roll over her and watched as his eyes darkened even more. Dipping his head down, his lips caressed hers and they felt like silk between her own.
He tasted like coffee and felt like home as she pushed into him further. His hands had gone from her sides to caressing her face in an instant. The kiss grew more frantic and more intense when suddenly he was lifting her up with ease and turning her around so that her back was pinned to a nearby tree.
His lips left hers but only for a moment while he kissed down the side of her pale neck. He growled under his breath, cursing slightly when she let out a breathy moan. She was humming with pleasure as he pinned her against the bark. Her Slayer skin was thick enough that the feel of the scratchy bark didn't irritate her and she was never more grateful for her durability than in that moment.
Raking her fingernails over his scalp, she continued to trail her hands down his neck and over his shoulders. Gripping on tighter, his hips ground into hers urgently causing her to toss her head back without a care in the world. He was a mad man, possessed by his lust for her and she loved it. In the back of her mind, she knew they were being watched, but the spirits hardly counted. If anything, they were getting a hell of a show to break up the monotony.
“Well isn't this just the cutest.” Came a voice she wanted to hear the very least in the entire world.
They broke apart and Jasper gently lowered her back to the ground, both of them breathing hard. Jewel stood there watching with her arms crossed over her chest, foot tapping the soil beneath her boots. Next to her stood a boy she didn't recognize and on the other side was Dresden. His brown eyes looked almost black as he watched her, his jaw ticking and hands fisting at his sides.
“What do you want JJ?” Blue called out to her once best friend.
Jewel rolled her eyes, ignoring the nickname. Blue only used it to goad the bitch.
“Oh trust me, Graves, there's nothing I want from you.” She sneered, her dark eyes filled of hatred and disgust.
“C’mon Jewel, let's get back.” Grumbled Dresden as he reached out a hand to grip Jewels wrist.
Narrowing her eyes at that grip, Blue couldn't help but feel a sickening swirl of something foreign in her gut. Seeing Dresdens fingers on JJ was almost enough to make her physically sick and it confused the hell out of her. She didn’t even like the pretty boy.
“Oh no, please, don’t let me run you off of your little nature walk. I’ll be seeing you JJ.” Blue winked at the girl, causing Jewels mouth to flatten even more.
Grabbing Jaspers hand in hers, she laced their fingers together and squeezed tightly. He squeezed back reassuringly before they moved to pass the three intruders. Jewel only glared at her, but as Blue passed closely, her steps almost faltered as she felt the unmistakable caress of a rough male hand on her other arm. Her eyes snapped briefly to Dresden, knowing he’d reached out to her for reasons unknown. The moment their skin touched, however, warmth bloomed within her. His stare was piercing, though the moment only lasted less than a second. Soon they were walking back down the wooded path just in time for their morning classes.
.
Ten
Days passed with no word from Harlow. Blue was becoming increasingly more worried, especially when Wednesday came and went without their customary phone call.
The students had been on edge as reports of more and more Vamp attacks throughout the Pacific Northwest began to crop up. They were getting braver, attacking heavily populated areas and even risking exposure to sunlight at times. If Blue knew Harlow, and she did know her, better than anyone, then she knew for a fact that her sister would have been one of the first responders on the scene of that high school football game massacre. It's what Blue would have done.
It was almost dawn and Blue was still up, yet again sitting up high on the kitchen counters, this time without a disgusting sandwich. Instead, she clutched that bottle of vodka in her tired fingers, willing herself to take a swig in hopes that it might help her fall into some much needed sleep. It was useless though, she knew it. There would be no rest until Harlow was confirmed safe. In the back of her mind she knew she’d already decided to go look for her.
“Again with the night sleuthing.” Dresden's voice pierced the silence of the night. This time though, she’d heard his steps from down the hall.
He stood in the doorway, long blonde hair disheveled and his dark eyes sleepy. He wore black sweatpants and a dark green t shirt that she hated because it flattered him so much. He was a beautiful guy and she lamented the fact that his personality was so nasty.
“I’m too tired for this Dresden.” She sighed as he moved into the room.
He surprised her by hopping up on the opposite countertop, eerily deep eyes penetrating right into her soul as he watched her.
“If your tired then why not go to sleep? Got things on your mind, little Blue Jay?”
Scowling, she ignored the unwanted nickname.
“Not that you’d give a shit, but yeah, can’t really sleep when my sister could be dead in a nest somewhere…”
“You talking about Harlow?” He asked.
Rolling her eyes, Blue huffed. “Well I only have the one sister, your deductive skills are impressive.” She took a swig of
the burning drink, regretting it the moment it hit her throat.
She didn’t even question how it was that he knew her sisters name. She and her entire family were famous, though not for reasons she was proud of.
“Why are you here?” He asked suddenly.
“I told you, I couldn’t sleep.”
“No, not here, here. Why are you at Arcane?”
Frowning, Blue looked up at him, expecting to see a vile smirk, or humor in his eyes, but he was stony serious.
“I also told you once before, in this very room in fact, I was invited.”
Dresden rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. I’m asking why are you here? Why did you accept the pardon? Seems like this would be the last place you'd ever want to be after they way they treated you.”
Blue huffed a humorless laugh. “They way they treated me? As if you're any different?” She jumped down from the countertop, moving closer to Dresden.
“I remember the way you looked at me that first day. I remember the hatred in your eyes. The way they treated me? Why don’t you take a good look at yourself.”
“You still didn’t answer my question. I have my reasons, but what are yours? You just figured you’d waltz into Arcane Academy like nothing happened? Like your family hasn't been in exile for a decade?”
“You don’t know shit about my family!” She poked her finger into his chest. His eyes flickered down and watched in amusement.
“You don’t know me or my sister. You don't know my family...or our story, so stop pretending like you do.”
She was breathing hard now. He’d gotten under her skin and he knew it. It was his plan all along and she was letting him win.
“Thats where youre wrong, little Blue Jay. “
“What are you talking about?” She asked.
Dresden grasped her finger still resting against his chest. His grip wasn't too tight, but just forceful enough to jarr her.
“I know your family Blue. I know you, your sister, your father Bernard and your mother Catherine...you just don’t remember me.”
A million faces flickered through her mind at that moment, but not one of them was Dresden. This stumped her. His face wasn’t one she was likely to forget.
“I don’t understand. I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
His grip softened. “That's because I grew up behind these walls. I saw you all the time, you and Harlow. Every time you came to pick her up from her semester, you'd run around campus with Jewel Hobbs and I’d see it all from my bedroom window.”
Frowning, Blue recalled those days with equal parts fondness and sadness.
“That still doesn’t explain anything.” She complained.
“Your mother and father got my uncle killed. That night, with all the others. I watched them cremate his body, listened to my mother cry for days after his death. You don’t remember me, but I remember everything about you, Blue Graves.”
His voice sounded choked and husky, as if he were on the verge of tears. Still though, his face remained stony and hard. His eyes were blazing as they traced over the lines of her confused face.
“Your uncle? I knew everyone on my parents team...who was your uncle?”
“Henry Hobbs.
Her heart dipped into her stomach. Henry Hobbs. Jewels father was Dresdens uncle? How could she not have known? Jewel had been her best friend and never did she mention a cousin.
“Wait...you said he’s your uncle...then who are your parents?”
“You know her as Headmistress Montgomery. I just call her mom.”
Her world was spinning. Is that why Headmistress Montgomery seemed so short with her? She didn’t even know the woman, but remembering their brief meeting now, there had been detest in those eyes of hers. Brown eyes that matched Dresdens perfectly.
“Dresden I’m sorry for the loss you've suffered. If I could, I’d do anything to change what happened but I can’t. I can see why you hate me.”
“I don’t hate you. I want to hate you, but I just don’t.” He grumbled. “Please don’t psychoanalyze that one.”
“Then why all the games? You look at me sometimes like you want me dead.” She asked him honestly. She could feel herself thirsting to know more about the strange buy.
“I said not to try and analyze it. I don’t know what to feel anymore. You're not what I pictured.”
“What you pictured? Did you know I was coming here?”
His eyes snapped to hers and she could see the truth in them.
“I’m the one who asked her to bring you here.”
Her eyes widened.
“Why would you do that? Why go out of your way to get me here after all these years?”
His frown deepened and he slid from the top of the counter, bringing his body flush with hers. Still she didn’t move away. Dresden reached up and gently took a strand of her midnight black hair between his forefinger and thumb, caressing it lightly. His eyes followed the movement.
“I’ve watched you since we were young. Always drawn to the raven haired girl with the freaky blue eyes…” He confessed, making her heart stutter in her chest.
“I waited on your arrival every year, face pressed to the window like an idiot, searching the sea of faces for you every time. And every time I spotted you, I promised myself that someday I’d speak to you for real.”
“I don't get what you're saying. What does this have to do with anything? So you had a schoolyard crush on me, is that it?”
He laughed. “It wasn’t just a crush, Blue. I fell in love with you years before you and Harlow were sent away. The day I heard the news about Henry and the rest of the team, my world was shattered. Not only did I lose the uncle I had idolized for my entire life, but I’d lost the one girl I looked forward to seeing again and again every year. The girl I fell head over heels for from afar.”
Clapping from the doorway startled her but Dresden just turned his head and glared at the intruder. Cole stood there in the shadows of the doorway, leaning against the wall and watching them with violence in his golden eyes.
“Well that was just touching, Slayer. Nevermind all the creepy stalker shit you just said. Well done though, you shot your shot, now leave.” He spat.
On instinct, Blue took a step towards him, prompting a sharp glare from Dresden.
“What are you doing here, Cole?” She asked as she watched his eyes snap to hers, softening ever so slightly.
“Patrolling, as is my job. What's his excuse?” He nodded towards Dresden.
“That's not your business, Guardian.” He spat.
This was turning ugly and it was only a matter of time until fists started flying.
“Okay...there's a bit too much testosterone in this room for my liking, so can ya’ll tone it down just a bit for me?” She tried to lighten the mood, but the guys just stared at each other.
“I’ll stop when he leaves.” Growled Cole.
Blue rolled her eyes. “Yeah well technically he was here first.”
“Are you taking his side?”
Blue stepped forward, hands raised passively.
“There are no sides, Cole.”
“Sure there are. I’m your mate, you should always be on my side.”
Throwing her hands in the air, ignoring the muttered curse from Dresden, Blue couldn't help but groan in frustration.
“Oh for the love of...I’m not your mate! Not yet anyways. Cole, I told you I don’t do the whole relationship thing.” She said as she gestured back and forth between them.
“I don’t do boyfriends, and I sure as shit don’t do mates.”
Snickering brought her attention to someone just over Coles shoulder.
“Don’t do mates? Did you really just say that?” Jasper quipped. When had he arrived?
‘Gods kill me now.’ Blue thought to herself. She really wasn’t sure how her night turned out this way. She’d come to the kitchen for some relaxation but somehow ended up in an ambush.
“What's happening here?” Dres
den asked, eyes flickering between the three of them.
“Nothing, except for me leaving. I need some sleep.” Blue told him, preparing to leave the room, but Jasper blocked her exit
“I’m with him.” He nodded to Dresden. “I’d love to know what's going on here. What exactly did I walk in on? Lovers quarrel?” His voice held a tinge of bitterness.
Soon the guys had her surrounded on every side and she had never felt so trapped. Even though she knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, she couldn't help the guilt that flooded her. Each of the guys had come to mean something to her in such a short span of time, even if Dresden only just opened up twenty minutes ago. In all honesty, she’d felt a pull towards him from day one. Each of the boys were so different when seeing the all standing together in the same space. Dresden with his serious eyes, Jasper with his perpetual smirk, and Cole a ticking time bomb.
“I made no promises. You guys all need to chill. You want to fight over me? Go ahead, but leave me out of it. I’m done.”
“Done?” Laughed Jasper. “You're far from done, Blue Graves. I’m throwing my hat in the ring, doesn't matter what these morons say.”
Cole snarled at Jasper. “There are no hats! There are no rings! Blue is my mate and that's all there is to it.”
“You wanna bet, dog?” Dresden snapped, surprising Blue.
“Guys, stop.” She tried to command them but they were ignoring her now.
“You want her? Fight me for her!” Yelled Cole as he stepped into Dresdens personal space.
Suddenly Dresden went flying as Cole bounded over the countertop.
“Fucking hell! Stop!” Blue screeched.
Jasper hung back to watch the spectacle, clearly enjoying himself immensely.
“My money's on the wolf.” He murmured in her ear as she watched their fists fly.
Punching his shoulder she cursed him. “Your not helping Jas.”
“Wasn't trying to. Hey, if they rip each other to pieces, it's just less competition for me.” He told her smugly.
“This isn't a competition. I'm not a trophy. They’re being idiots, you all are.” She folded her arms across her chest and leaned back against the countertop.
Blue Blooded: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance (Arcane Academy Slayers: Book 1 ) Page 8
