Delayed Admission
Page 13
My fingers toyed with the stone against my chest as I thought about his words. Was I ready to blindly trust him just because he knew a guy and had been tutoring me? I didn’t even know if I was mentally capable of making the correct decision of whether or not to trust him.
With my girly bits still doing somersaults when he was around, I had no idea if it was my pent-up sexual tension telling me to trust him or my sensible head. Unfortunately, only time was going to tell, and with Lyssa having blasted my supposed evil intentions all over the school, I needed more allies than I already had.
“Fine,” I snapped at him even though he wasn’t really the person I was mad at.
“Fine, what?” He grinned.
“You win. Keep your secrets. Give me stones to keep Malina out. Tutor me. Whatever. As long as the school no longer thinks I’m the devil’s daughter here to ruin all things Shadow Veil, then I’ll try to be cooperative in whatever it is you have planned.”
His deep laugh filled the room. “What makes you think I have a plan?”
“Well, you forced me here, had a necklace for me, and spilled some of your secrets. If you don’t have a plan, then you’re kind of an idiot and I should probably go.”
His hand reached for mine, the table no longer between us. “I don’t have a concrete plan, but I promise I have only the best intentions, Raegan. I meant it when I said I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you. If you haven’t figured it out by now, you’ve gotten under my skin.”
I snorted. “Actually, no, I haven’t noticed. Please, enlighten me on your feelings and intentions.”
My body was suddenly pressed against the wall without a moment’s notice, and Enzo’s eyes bored into mine as he pushed closer, only clothes separating our bottom halves. His honey eyes swirled with gold this time as his fingertips traced along my jawline, down my neck, and around my collarbone before starting over again.
“I might not have a beast within me like shifters do to claim their mates, but you’re mine, Raegan. I knew it the first time I laid eyes on you. Your soul called to mine like a siren. I tried to fight it for the longest time, but I’m done fighting it now. Consequences be damned.”
Before I could question what consequences he was referring to, his lips pressed against mine, and when I gasped in surprise, he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss with his tongue. All coherent thoughts left my mind.
Lust, pure and strong, crashed into me, and I finally understood why other supernaturals weren’t afraid of a little PDA. If Enzo was to kiss me like he was then in public, I wouldn’t have given a shit about what others thought, either.
My hands snaked under his shirt, and I felt his muscles bunch and pull as my fingers traced every line they could find.
He, on the other hand, didn’t touch me with his hands. They stayed right next to my head, keeping me locked in against the wall, but his tongue and body were doing enough damage to me that I didn’t worry about it. I might have combusted if he put forth all of his efforts.
Vibrations from his pocket startled me, and I almost bit down on his tongue before he backed away just enough to pull a phone from his pocket.
“Hey, why do you get one of those?” I pouted, missing being able to text my aunt whenever I wanted.
“It’s all in who you know, but it’s not always a good thing, so don’t be too upset.” His brow narrowed. “I gotta go, but this right here isn’t a one-time thing, Raegan, and I don’t share. That witch better keep his hands off you.”
The last bit was said with more jealousy than I anticipated, but I patted his chest. “I don’t share, either, and I don’t do drama, so keep Lyssa away from me.”
As much as I wanted to see all of what Enzo could offer, especially after that kiss, it wasn’t worth it if I had to worry about bitch drama.
“Don’t worry. I already heard the rumors, and they’ll be a distant memory by Monday morning. Lyssa isn’t as bad as she acts. She just needs to understand that what we had is over and I’ve moved on, so she needs to as well.”
He made it sound so easy, but Lyssa had that vengeful vibe going for her. No way was she ready to wave the white flag and admit defeat. That crazy bitch was going to fight for what she thought was hers until she decided otherwise. Not for any other reason or person.
He kissed me once more. “I really do have to go, but I’ll take you back to your dorm first.”
My first thought was to object. I was a big girl and could find my way home, but before I could say anything, my stomach was turned inside out. When I blinked, we were standing in front of my door, and a smirk was plastered to Enzo’s face.
“You enjoy that entirely too much,” I groaned as I got my bearings back.
Being a hybrid had its advantages, especially when I could practice both witch and elven magic, but it also meant I sometimes missed out on certain perks by not being pure-blooded. Teleporting like Enzo had was one of the elf traits I wish I did have.
“I’ll see you soon. If it’s not tomorrow, then I’ll meet you before school Monday morning. I can walk you to your first class,” he said, leaning against my doorframe.
“Sure. Are you going to carry my books for me, too?” I teased.
He moved in closer and lowered his voice. “If you had books to carry, I certainly would.”
Sexy bastard knew how to make a girl swoon. Too well.
With one last kiss, we said our goodbyes and I slipped into my room as he disappeared to wherever he had to go. I realized I never asked him what his text had been about, but I didn’t really care. I wasn’t a nag before arriving at Shadow Veil, and I wasn’t going to start being one now.
I was mentally exhausted, and my body was feeling pretty heavy, so I didn’t even bother to turn on my light or get out pajamas. Instead, I began stripping off my clothes and fell into bed in nothing more than my bra and underwear.
My arm stretched out, and I screamed when I made contact with another body. “Lumad,” I said, for “light” in witch magic.
When my light came on, I was already halfway across my room, ready to fight, practically naked. But, when my eyes focused in on the blonde hair and thin frame of my best friend, I relaxed.
“What the hell, Gemma?” I asked as I began pulling my clothes back on, no longer half-asleep.
“What the hell is right. Where have you been?” she demanded.
“I was with Enzo. He showed up and—”
She moved off my bed, cutting me off. “I know what happened. He practically ripped you away from Embry while shaking with rage as he carried you away from the party before disappearing into the trees. Where did he take you?”
“Back to his place. What’s the big deal?” I asked, concerned my friend was going a little crazy. “I know you don’t like him, but your reaction is a little much, don’t you think?”
I wasn’t trying to be rude; I was just being honest. I didn’t understand her hostility toward him. Unless there was something she wasn’t telling me, she was overreacting.
“I’m sorry, Rae. There’s just something about him. I can’t read him most of the time, and when I can, his aura is all over the place. I don’t like you with him.”
Gemma’s witch specialty was reading auras. It wasn’t an ability I had mastered yet, but it was one she had done rather well since she was a kid. I understood better then why she was so hesitant about Enzo, but she also didn’t know he was more powerful than he let on.
Him being able to prevent his mind from being messed with and knowing that I needed the necklace to get a reprieve from Malina was far beyond any second-year student I knew, but it wasn’t my knowledge to share, even if Gemma did know about Malina.
“I know you don’t like it, but I’m going to give him a chance,” I said. “And it would make my life a lot easier if you did, too. I’m not saying you have to start giving him hugs when you see him, but a little less hostility would be cool.”
She sighed. “This is really happening?”
“I think so.”
“I promise that will never happen. If it helps, I give you full permission to kick my ass if it does.” I reached my arms out to her. We’d both had a long night, and I could go for a hug from my friend before I crawled back into bed.
She met me in the middle and we hugged it out. “Why don’t you stay in my room tonight?” I asked.
“Fine, but no boy talk unless we’re talking trash. Like, did you see Silas rubbing his junk all over Abby tonight?”
And just like that, everything went back to normal. My only hope was our first day back from break went just as smoothly. Something told me that wasn’t going to be the case.
Chapter 15
The following Monday had been… interesting, to say the least. That was the only way I could have described it. The glares and sneers from the other students were minimal as long as I was with Enzo, but when I wasn’t, it was made very clear I was still an outcast.
I didn’t say anything to him, though. I was a big girl, officially an adult, and could handle my own problems. Or so I hoped.
Three weeks into the second semester, more than halfway through November, the little voice in my head kept warning me this was the calm before the storm.
Thankfully, that little voice was not Malina. Her voice hadn’t been able to penetrate the magic of the stone Enzo had given me. He had taken the necklace and powered it back up twice already, even though it hadn’t seemed to be dulling at all, but I could still sense her wrath brewing just beneath the surface, and the call I felt toward the dungeon continued to grow.
“What are we doing tonight?” Peyton asked at lunch.
Fridays were deemed mandatory “girls’ day” and I wasn’t allowed to hang out with Enzo on those days. Even though our relationship was going slowly, we spent a lot of time together as he continued to tutor me, and it was nice to take a break from him, if I was being honest.
“Last week it was hiking through the forest, so I vote for something more relaxing this time,” Finley answered.
“Dinner in the Courtyard of Tranquility?” Gemma suggested, and my entire body tensed.
I still hadn’t tried to go there again, and I wasn’t about to let my second attempt be in front of my friends. It had taken a solid week for Peyton and Finley to warm up to me after Lyssa had convinced half the school I was pure evil. I didn’t need them to back away again.
Some might have faulted them for their lack of loyalty when I was going through a hard time, but I didn’t. I was a stranger to them. I didn’t hang out with them nearly as much as Gemma, and they didn’t know my secrets like she did.
Trust was a two-way street, and I wouldn’t be a hypocrite by judging them for their lack thereof.
“Nah, it’s too cold at night now, even for us supernaturals,” Peyton said, allowing me to relax some. “How about every other week we be lazy in one of our dorm rooms and the other weeks we get out to do something adventurous?”
“I think that sounds like the best idea I’ve heard all week,” I finally piped in. “Who wants to volunteer their room first?”
All three of them raised their hands, and we broke out in unnecessary laughter. After lunch, it was decided we’d start in Finley’s room, and I had to admit I was nervous. I had only been to the vampire dorms once before, and nobody made a move to suck my blood or anything, but it still creeped me out.
Eventually, someone was bound to snap.
When we parted ways, I headed toward my History of Elora class, which I was excelling in. Research had become my favorite pastime as of late, but the more I did, the more questions I had.
Sitting at my desk in the furthest corner from Lyssa, I swiped through the pages on my tablet as the professor droned on about the middle ages of Elora. The only subjects that ever truly held my attention were the creation of supernaturals and the ending of Elora.
My mind was convinced there was something I was missing, a connection I had to all of it, but there was still no word from the council on who my parents were, so I had no idea how any of it truly pertained to me. Except for the fact that Malina needed me for something.
At the end of history class, Enzo met me outside the door to walk to Accelerated Elven Abilities. It was the only class I was still behind in, but Professor Trinket cut me some slack since I was a hybrid. There weren’t a lot of elven hybrids, so they really had no idea what to expect out of me.
“Are you sure you have to go with the girls tonight?” Enzo sulked.
“Very sure. Gemma is just now warming up to you. I’d rather not piss her off.”
He scoffed. “You call that warming up? She lit my ass on fire two days ago when I was leaving your room.”
I shrugged. “Fire is warm, isn’t it? And it didn’t actually burn you, so don’t be so sensitive.”
“You two have twisted minds.”
I didn’t bother disagreeing with him.
Glancing out the window, I noticed the rain coming down and wished the shield around the academy protected us from the elements as well. I wouldn’t have complained about living all school year in seventy-degree weather.
“I seriously don’t understand why the girls don’t wear pants,” I said randomly. “They have to be freezing this time of year.”
Shortly after we learned I couldn’t leave the school grounds, Gemma had taken my pants size and grabbed me several more pairs of black pants from town and a couple for herself, but I’d yet to see her wear them to class. I gave her another week, tops, before she caved.
“Most girls only care about what they look like, not how they feel. Another reason why I keep you around. You don’t give a shit what other people think.”
“Neither do you, Mr. Mysterious,” I teased.
“Mr. Mysterious, huh? How’d I earn that nickname?”
Peeking up at the teacher, I made sure we weren’t missing anything important. “Well, when I really think about it, I don’t know a lot about you. I know you’re full elf, but I don’t know who your parents are. You never talk about your time before Shadow Veil. You don’t really have any friends or even hobbies. You’re always ‘busy’, but I have no idea what you’re doing.”
He looked away before commenting, seeming lost in thought. “You’ve never asked. I didn’t think you wanted to know.”
Ah, he was going to play that card. Game on.
“Who are your parents?” I asked casually.
“My father was Luca and my mother’s name was Gemini—after her two different-colored eyes. They died when I was young.”
Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have started there, but I wasn’t going to stop. My parents were dead, too. He knew I understood the pain.
“What’s your favorite hobby?”
He hummed a moment before answering. “Fighting. More accurately, teaching combat.”
“Seriously?” I said a little too loudly and caught the attention of the teacher.
“Ms. Keyes, Mr. Vaughn. Is there something more interesting you’d like to share with the class? I know my droning can be a bit much at times, but we are in school. If you aren’t here to learn, what are you here for?”
His questions were rhetorical, but Enzo didn’t seem to care. He stood up from his chair in the back of the class. “Sorry, Professor Trinket, but Professor Nyx beat you to this subject last year, and I already taught Raegan about power absorption.”
The teacher cocked his head. “Is that so? Well, then. If you’re such an expert at it, then why don’t you come up here and teach the class?”
There was a challenge in his voice, and I pulled on Enzo’s hand. “Just sit back down.”
Professor Trinket was one of our more relaxed teachers, but he wasn’t a saint and Enzo was pushing him too far.
“I’d love to,” Enzo answered and pulled his hand from my grip. “Though, I’m better at doing than I am at speaking.”
Enzo wa
s already halfway down the steps, moving swiftly toward the front of the class, a grin firmly in place.
“Alright. Let’s see what you can show us, Mr. Vaughn. Give me your best attempt at absorption.”
Oh, this was going to be so bad. I knew Enzo held back most of the time, at least, when he was tutoring me and when we were practicing abilities in class.
When Enzo stood before Professor Trinket, the two of them wore identical smirks. Both of them were sure they could best the other and knock them down a peg. The class was eerily silent as everyone waited to see who would come out on top.
“An elf draws their power from deep within,” Enzo began. “Before you can take another’s ability, you must have full control of your own. Once you’ve strengthened your core, utilize your hands and send a tether to your target.”
In a matter of seconds, Enzo was rubbing his hands together, and a dark grey, almost-black glow emanated around them. When he seemed confident enough, Enzo held his hand out, and I saw the moment Professor Trinket knew he was about to be bested. His eyes narrowed as he tried to fight Enzo’s power, but there was no use.
Within a minute, the professor was on his knees, sweat beading on his forehead. “I think you’ve proved your point, Enzo.”
“If you’re sure,” he goaded before pulling back his magic, then turned to the class. “Focus on your inner being and only when you’ve mastered your own power should you try to take another’s.”
Enzo waltzed back to his seat, grinning the whole way.
“You’ve just put a target on our backs. You know that, right?” I hissed when he sat down.
“Nah, Trinket likes a challenge. He’ll be back for more. I know it.”
I sighed and hoped he was right. I was finally feeling comfortable in my classes; I didn’t need any setbacks. Hell, I couldn’t afford any at this point.
Friday night and Saturday afternoon passed in a blur as I hung out with all three girls first and then spent Saturday with just Gemma. That was until I received an email on my tablet from Enzo telling me to be ready for a training session that required “inconspicuous clothing”.