Delayed Admission

by Heather Renee

  Her spirit circled around me once more, and I felt nails scratch across my left wing before she began to dissipate. The bitch might have had the upper hand for that fight, but I wasn’t giving up. My gut told me a war was coming, and it wouldn’t be the only time I faced her.

  Once her presence was gone, I collapsed to the floor and heard the doors slam open. The council was coming, and it was their turn to deal with the mess before us. I was done, mentally and physically.

  “Raegan, are you alright?” Headmaster Stone picked me up from the ground, stronger than I would have expected for such an old guy.

  “Just get me out of here,” I begged with a hoarse voice.

  I wasn’t ready to see Enzo in my current condition. I needed a clearer head before I saw him after what we had both been through, and he needed a thorough cleansing before we had our reunion.

  “Where’s Raegan?” I heard Enzo groan, and I ignored the pounding of my heart that was urging me to go to him.

  “Please, Headmaster,” I said.

  He nodded and carried me from the room without another word. Instead of going back to my room, he carried me to his office and laid me down on a couch that seemed to come from nowhere. Closing my eyes, I gladly let my exhaustion take over.

  “She needs more time,” Aunt Jules demanded in a soft but urgent voice. “My niece just did what the entire council couldn’t do. It’s the least she deserves.”

  “I understand that, Jules, but he’s begging for her and we can’t risk what he might do if she doesn’t go to him. We don’t know for sure that he’s fully free of the darkness.”

  That last bit came from Headmaster Stone. From what I could gather in my shattered state, they were discussing me and Enzo. Deciding to see how far the conversation would get, I kept my eyes closed and breathing even as they continued.

  “That’s not her problem. Plus, I won’t risk her being subjected to Malina’s energy so soon after fighting her. Raegan has done more for you than necessary. I refuse to let you wake her before she’s ready and demand even more from her. She’s only a child,” Jules said.

  “It’s been two days. If she doesn’t wake soon, we’re going to have to force her anyway, just to make sure she’s okay. You can’t keep her in here forever.”

  Shit. Two days since I busted through Enzo’s cage? That was more than enough for me to hear.

  “How about both of you let me decide for myself?” I suggested groggily.

  “Raegan?” Aunt Jules’ hands cupped both sides of my face as she leaned over from her spot next to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like I was hit by a truck.” Sitting up slowly, I realized I wasn’t in my room, but in Aunt Jules’. “What’s happened since I broke through the box?”

  “Surprisingly, not much,” Jules answered. “Malina has been quieter than usual, and Enzo has been back to normal, according to Alistair.”

  I glanced at him for confirmation. “He was out like you until yesterday, and he’s been demanding to see you ever since. We won’t force you, though.”

  Right, I thought. They wouldn’t force me, but I was pretty much being volun-told based on the tone of his voice and what I had overheard. Not that I minded. Even though I was nervous, I wanted to see Enzo as well.

  “What time is it?” I asked.

  “Just after three in the afternoon,” Jules answered before adding, “On Thursday.”

  “Can I get some food and shower first?” I glanced between the two of them.

  Headmaster Stone nodded. “Of course. I’ll leave you two. Just let me know when you’re ready.”

  He stood from the chair at the foot of the bed and disappeared around the corner. When we heard the door click shut, Aunt Jules turned her full attention on me. “What happened?”

  “They didn’t tell you?” I asked in confusion.

  “Well, they told me what they wanted me to know. I want to make sure it matches what you remember.” She grinned.

  I couldn’t fault her for not trusting them. Not that their intention was to keep her out of the situation, but there was a good chance they wanted the story of what happened to be spun in a different light than I recalled.

  There was nothing good about what I remembered.

  Starting from the moment the door to the conference room opened, to when the headmaster carried me out, I told Jules everything I could think of at the time. Even the part about me being part dragon, which she hadn’t known. It had been the only part I withheld from her during my mental breakdown when she last arrived.

  The reprimand on that subject wasn’t as severe as it could have been, but considering I was recovering from magic overload, Jules took it easy on me.

  When I was done, her arms wrapped around me. “I’m never leaving you again. It’s like you attract chaos, and not in a good way.”

  “I’m going to be fine. I promise. It was just a lot all at once and, now that I’ve rested, I feel a lot better. As soon as I eat, I’ll be back to normal,” I promised, trying to minimize her worries.

  “Do you want to eat in or go to the commissary?” she asked.

  “Definitely in. I’ll call Gemma while you order food.”

  Grabbing the phone I still had from Lyssa, I pressed Gemma’s name in the favorites. Even though I finally had a smartphone, I still never used it for anything other than calls and the occasional text. Yes, I realized that made me sound like an old lady refusing technology, but I didn’t care.

  Within ten minutes, I had taken a shower, and our food arrived as soon as I got out. A steaming bowl of chicken alfredo and garlic bread was placed in front of me, with dessert waiting on the table. Gemma and Jules sat next to me on the bed with their own meals.

  Even with the distraction of Gemma and food, though, Enzo hadn’t been far from my mind. I knew I couldn’t delay seeing him for much longer. My heart ached for him as I considered all he might have been through. I just needed to make sure I was at my best before I went to him.

  “So, what are you going to do now?” Gemma asked after we filled her in.

  “I’m going to go see him. Make sure he’s okay, and then I don’t know. We’ve both been through a lot, and that very well could have changed the direction we were headed in,” I answered honestly.

  “Fair enough,” Gemma mumbled between bites of her pasta primavera. It was Italian night, and each of us had ordered a different kind of pasta. Jules was currently devouring spaghetti carbonara.

  When we were done, I knew I had delayed the inevitable long enough. “Jules, will you take me to wherever Enzo is?”

  “He’s just in his room. Desmond put a boundary spell around it, so they’d know if he tried to leave just in case Malina still had a hold on him. He’s been waiting for you.”

  “Oh.” I guess I didn’t need an escort, which meant I was going to have to face him on my own or admit I really wanted someone to hold my hand while I went. I didn’t understand why I was so nervous, but I needed to squash the feelings within the five minutes it would take for me to walk to his dorm.

  “We can still go with you if you’d like,” Gemma added.

  Hesitating, I almost said yes, but ended up shaking my head. “I’ll be fine, but thanks for offering. I’ll let you both know when I’m done.”

  Putting my dishes in the butler box, I closed the door and heard the swoosh of air, meaning they’d disappeared just the same way as they arrived. That damn box was probably one of my favorite things about the academy. I hadn’t done a dish in months, and I wouldn’t ever complain about that.

  Slowly, I made my way through the hallways. Students stared at me before leaning over to whisper to whoever they were with, probably having heard some horrid version about what happened already, but I couldn’t find my give-a-damn to care and decided to ignore them.

  When I arrived at the platform in Elven Hall, my hands began to shake, but I brushed it off and reminded myself this was necessary. No matter what happened in Enzo’s room, he was back, and he
was safe. I had done all I could do for him, and that would have to be enough, even if my heart continued to break.

  Enzo’s door was cracked open, and I wondered if he already knew I was coming. Not that it mattered, but the curiosity was there anyway.

  “Hello?” I called as I pushed the door further open.

  “Raegan?” Enzo responded with elation in his voice.

  Joy filled me at the happiness radiating from him. He had been so full of hatred the last time I looked into his eyes that I wasn’t sure I’d ever see the old Enzo again. The only problem was the hesitation I felt toward him. A part of me was afraid to let him back in, and I wasn’t sure how much that part would affect how the coming conversation would go.

  Within seconds, he was standing before me with the biggest smile on his face. When mine didn’t quite reach my eyes, his darkened, but not the black I had seen before. The deep brown I was used to made its appearance.

  “What’s wrong? Are you not okay? They told me you were fine, which was the only reason I obeyed their stupid rules of me staying put. I didn’t want to make anything worse for you.” Anger dripped from his words at the thought of me not being alright.

  “No, I’m fine. It’s just been a while for us, and the last time I saw you… well, you weren’t you, or at least, I don’t think you were.”

  He reached for me, but I took a step back.

  “I’m sorry, Raegan. I wasn’t in control. Malina was there, but you pushed her out. I don’t know how, but you did, and I couldn’t be more proud of you.” His eyes regained their golden sparkle, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Where have you been all this time?” I asked, reaching a hand out to him, which he gladly took.

  “I was locked in the dungeon. Malina kept me hidden in her cell for weeks or what I thought was mere weeks, but apparently it was months. I was rendered unconscious for most of it and lost a lot of time. I managed to get out of the cell when you distracted her, but she took control of my mind before I officially left the dungeon, and there are some things I don’t remember. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the school, and the council took me in.”

  Maybe Malina had been the one to get to me when I lost time the day Enzo left. I had never figured out what happened before I woke up in my room with the massive pain in my head. It didn’t matter much, though. It hadn’t happened again, so I tried not to dwell on it.

  “Did she say why she took you?”

  He nodded. “It was motivation to make you fight for me. Every day you grew stronger, she went on and on about how soon she’d be free and the two of us would be her pawns. Then, within the last week, her plans changed. I don’t know why, but suddenly I was no longer necessary to keep you motivated.”

  That was about the time I had finally let Enzo go. Since I was no longer fighting to find Enzo, Malina had figured out she lost her leverage. Bringing him back was a distraction I probably shouldn’t allow, but I had a feeling that sticking together was also something she didn’t want.

  Seeing him now as I remembered him before he disappeared resurfaced all the feelings I thought I had managed to tuck away after months of suffering. I knew whatever nerves I had felt before coming to his room were unnecessary.

  “What are you supposed to do now? I’m assuming she didn’t just kick you out of the bird’s nest without instructions,” I said, trying to learn as much as I could before deciding what to do next.

  “I think I was supposed to come back and hurt you. Well, Malina was by taking over my body, but you ended up being stronger than her, thankfully. I don’t know what I would have done if I had hurt you.”

  “How long did she have control of you?” I cringed thinking it had been the entire time he was missing.

  “For a day or two before I showed back up at the academy and until you came to visit me in the cage. I’m not sure I would have survived her darkness much longer than that. I’m still weak from it, if I’m being honest.”

  He took several steps closer, closing the gap between us, and I didn’t back away. His hands wrapped around mine as he stared intently into my eyes. This time, the golden honey color sparkled, drawing me in like it had always done before.

  “I know we have a lot to move past. I will do whatever it is that you need,” he said with conviction. “All that time away made me realize you’re all that matters. I have spent my entire life doing things the wrong way and for the wrong reasons, but for you, I’m going to be better. I’m going to make up for all of the bad I’ve done. I promise.”

  His words triggered a hundred more questions, but it wasn’t the time to ask any of them. Instead, I met Enzo in the middle and pressed my lips to his for the first time in way too many months.

  As I thought about all of the reasons I should have been more cautious, I realized I was done worrying so much. All that mattered was Enzo wasn’t under Malina’s control anymore and I had him back.

  If I was wrong about him and everything else, I’d deal with the consequences when the time came. For the moment, I was going to enjoy the victory of having Enzo back where he belonged.

  Chapter 21

  Every day after the first week of Enzo being back, Headmaster Stone, Desmond, and Bennett did daily scans on Enzo to test for dark energy, and all of them thankfully confirmed he was free from whatever hold Malina had on him. Even Gemma was impressed with how he was being toward me, and she didn’t even really like Enzo.

  So, after confirming I didn’t have to worry about anything happening to him if we left the school buildings, I finally said yes to a date with him. We could go on a real date that didn’t have to be held cooped up in his or my room, but still had to stay within the walls of the academy shield. As long as we were far away from the evil that continued to seep into me, I didn’t care.

  Malina’s presence continued to grow stronger, and when I asked Headmaster Stone about it, he didn’t really have an answer for me. The council had been working nonstop to contain Malina, but even the most powerful sorcerers, shifters, vampires, and elves couldn’t stop whatever she was trying to accomplish.

  But for tonight, I wasn’t going to stress about it. There was literally nothing I could do about Malina except wait for her to show her cards, so I might as well say “screw it” and live my life while I still had some freedoms.

  “Do you need help getting ready for your date?” Gemma asked as she entered my room without knocking.

  “Nope. All done.” Glancing in the mirror one last time, I shook off my worrisome thoughts as best I could.

  “Uh, are you sure?” she asked nervously.

  “Yeah, why?” I was wearing jeans and a sweater with my hair down. It was going to be in the thirties that night. I didn’t need to look cute; I needed to avoid hypothermia.

  “Do you want me to do your makeup at least? Oh, and I also have these heeled boots you could borrow.”

  “Gemma, I appreciate the thought behind your words, but after everything that’s happened, if Enzo isn’t going to accept me for who I am, then I’ll be glad he’s back safe and sound, but nothing more will come from our relationship. This is who I am. I love who I am, and I’m not going to pretend to be someone else for a second first date.” I considered the time he took me to the mountain peaks for our first date, but since so much time had passed, it felt like we were starting over, which hopefully wasn’t a bad thing.

  She let out a low whistle and clapped her hands. “You’re seriously a badass, and I want to be you when I grow up. The last time I went on a date, which was way too long ago, by the way, I went all out, and the jerk spilt his drink on my outfit. Didn’t apologize or anything. I ended up ditching him when I excused myself to go clean up.”

  Grinning, I reached my hand toward her. “But that is who you are and there is nothing wrong with that. You enjoy all the dressing up, so own it whenever possible. You don’t need to be me when you are already equally badass, my friend.”

  “Aww. Are we having a moment here? Like, a bestie
moment that we can look back on when we’re old and remember how awesome we were?”

  “I believe we are. Now leave me alone. He should be here any minute.”

  She smirked at me and shook her head. “Nope, I think I’ll stay. Give him a good talking to before he takes my little girl out.”

  “Oh, my gosh. You’re ridiculous. Seriously, you need to leave.” I began pushing her back toward the door in hopes of forcibly removing her from my room, but I was too late. A knock sounded, and Gemma’s eyes lit up with mischief.

  “Coming,” I called out as I moved her out of my way.

  “That’s what she said,” Gemma murmured as I passed her by.

  Turning back to her, I flipped her off. “I kinda hate you right now.”

  “But you also kinda love me, so I don’t care.”

  There was no winning this battle with her. Instead, I ran a hand through my hair, pretended I was completely ready for my date despite the jackhammers going off in my stomach now that Enzo had arrived, and opened the door.

  Enzo stood on the other side with his signature grin I hadn’t seen since before he disappeared. He wore jeans a shade lighter than mine with a hooded cream-colored Henley sweater and kept the top button undone. His hair was down instead of tied back like normal, and his eyes practically glowed as he smiled at me.

  “Hello, beautiful.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek.

  I felt my face flush as I tried to keep him from coming inside. “Hi. Let’s get going.”

  “You’re not even going to say goodbye, Raegan? It’s so unbecoming of you,” Gemma called from behind me.

  “Hi, Gemma,” Enzo said, waving at her over my head.

  “Oh, hi,” she drawled. “Just a few things before you go. Please keep her out past midnight. Make sure to at least get to second base. Oh, and if she comes home with all of her clothes, you have failed at your date.”

  Pushing Enzo as hard as I could out the door he tried to step through, I turned back to Gemma. “I really do hate you right now.” As I slammed the door shut, I heard her yell something about being the best part of my life, but I ignored her.