Shadowland i-3

by Элисон Ноэль

  “And of course you know Roman.” Haven smiles, lifting her hand so I can see it entwined with his.

  But I refuse to react. Refuse to give anything away. I just nod and smile, as though it doesn’t bother me at all.

  Because it doesn’t.

  It’s just a matter of time now ’til Roman’s handing over the cure and doing my bidding. That’s the only reason he’s here.

  “Oh, and this is Rafe.” She nods, jabbing her finger toward the glorious rogue just behind her.

  Same group of rogues the twins were talking about, minus Marco, the one with the Jaguar who doesn’t seem to be here. And even though I’ve no idea what they’re up to, what their agenda could possibly be, if they’re hanging with Roman, the twins have every right to be worried.

  Haven heads for the den, eager to introduce Misa and Rafe to her friends, as Roman lags behind, grinning at me.

  “I’d almost forgotten how good you can look when you put a little effort behind it.” He smiles, gaze gliding over my turquoise blue dress, hovering at the deep V of the neck, the expanse of bare skin where my amulet should be. “Guess this must be the reason,” he nods, motioning toward Jude. “Since we know it wasn’t for me, and Damen doesn’t seem to be around much these days, does he? What happened, Ever? You forfeit your quest?”

  I swallow hard and steady my gaze, taking in the tousled hair, designer board shorts, leather flip-flops, and long-sleeved tee, nothing about him appearing the slightest bit different, and yet we both know it is. That gleam in his eye, his lascivious gaze, his attempt to embarrass me—it’s all just a front, a bit of bravado, trying to save face before he hands over the goods.

  “So, you pouring?” He nods toward the punch bowl filled with nonalcoholic sangria. “Or is this a help-yourself situation?” Eyeing the bowl in a way that sets me on edge.

  “I don’t think you’d like it.” I shrug, gaze fixed on his when I add, “Not your kind of drink.”

  “Good thing I brought my own.” He winks, raising his glass bottle and stopping just shy of his lips, tilting it toward Jude when he says, “Wanna try? Takes the edge off. Guarantee you that.”

  Jude squints, entranced by the sparking, pearlescent liquid Roman jiggles before him. And I’m just about to intervene when Romy and Rayne barrel down the stairs, halting when their eyes meet Roman’s, knowing I’m responsible for his being here.

  “Well, if it isn’t the Catholic school twins.” Roman smiles, cheeks spread wide as he takes them in. “Love the new look! Especially you—you little punk goddess.” He nods at Rayne, prompting her to turn away as he takes in her short dress, ripped stockings, and black patent-leather Mary Jane shoes.

  “Go back upstairs,” I tell them, wanting to get them as far from Roman as I possibly can. “And I’ll—”

  About to say that I’ll be there in a minute, when Jude steps in, nudging my arm when he says, “Why don’t I take them home?”

  And even though I’m not thrilled with the idea of him going to Damen’s, sure that Damen will like it even less, there’s really nothing else I can do. As long as Roman’s in my house, I’m pretty much stuck here too.

  I follow them to the door, Rayne tugging my sleeve, pulling me down to her level when she says, “I don’t know what you’ve done, but something very bad is brewing.”

  I look at her, about to refute it, tell her it’s nothing like that, it’s all under control, but she just shakes her head and adds, “Changes are coming. Big changes. And this time, you better choose right.”

  CHAPTER 45

  By the time Jude returns I’m out by the pool, watching the blond, tanned, physically glorious, golden-boy Roman splashing around and inviting everyone to jump in and join him.

  “Not a fan?” Jude says, sitting beside me and eyeing me closely.

  I frown, watching Haven’s aura light up like the Fourth of July, glowing brighter and brighter as she clings to his back as he dips underwater, having no idea that he isn’t really her date like she thinks. I’m the one who brought him here. He’s bound to me now.

  “Is it concern for your friend, or—something else?”

  I fidget with the crystal horseshoe bracelet on my wrist, the one Damen gave me that day at the track, turning it around and around, as I narrow my eyes. Wondering what’s taking so long. If the spell truly worked (and I know it did), then why don’t I have the antidote now? Why is he delaying?

  “So, the twins—they okay?” I ask, tearing my gaze away from the pool and focusing on Jude.

  My eyes meeting his when he says, “Damen might’ve been right about the book being too strong for them.”

  I press my lips together, hoping Damen doesn’t know I went behind his back and interfered with his lesson plan.

  “No worries.” Jude nods, reading my face. “Your secret’s safe. I didn’t even mention it.”

  I sigh in relief. “Did you see him—Damen?” I ask, throat tightening, heart clenching, the mere mention of his name turning my insides to mush, imagining how he must’ve felt to find his nemesis of the past several lives, the very same guy I embraced on the beach, standing on his front porch, Romy and Rayne at his side.

  “He was out when I got there, and the twins were so freaked I waited ’til he got back. That’s some place he’s got.”

  I press my lips together, wondering what he saw, if the twins gave him a tour, if Damen’s special room is restored.

  “I think he was surprised to find me watching TV in his den, but once I explained, it went fairly well.”

  “Fairly?” I raise my brow.

  He shrugs, looking at me, gaze so direct, so open, it’s like a lover’s embrace.

  Prompting me to turn away, voice shaky, unsteady when I say, “So how did you explain it?”

  His cool breath on my cheek as he leans in and whispers, “I told him I found them at the shuttle stop and decided to give them a ride. No harm done, right?”

  I take a deep breath and focus on Roman, watching as he hoists Haven onto his shoulders so she can dogfight with Miles. Splashing and playing, and, on the surface anyway, engaging in nothing but good clean fun—until Roman turns, and time seems to stop. His eyes meeting mine, gleaming, mocking, as though he knows what I’ve done. And before I can blink he’s back to playing again, making me question if I really did see what I thought.

  “No. No harm done,” I say, a terrible ache invading my gut, wondering just what it is that I’ve started.

  CHAPTER 46

  After Miles’s third failed attempt to get me to dive in, he finally gets out, moving toward me as he says, “Hey, what gives? I know you got your bikini on—I can see the straps!” Laughing when he pulls me off the lounge chair and hugs me tightly to him, whispering, “Have I ever told you how much I love you, Ever? Have I? Ever, Ever?”

  I shake my head and pull away, glancing at Holt just behind him, rolling his eyes and tugging on Miles’s arm, trying to convince him to leave me alone and quit dripping on me.

  But Miles won’t have it, he’s got something to say and won’t stop ’til it’s done. Throwing a wet arm around my shoulder as he leans all over me and slurs, “I’m shlo shlerious, Ever. Before you came to this school—it was just me and Haven. But then—from the moment you shlowed up at our table—it became me and Haven and you.” He looks at me, head bobbing, struggling to focus, as he grips me tighter and fights to keep his balance.

  “Wow—that’s really—deep.” I glance at Holt, the two of us stifling a laugh as we each wrap an arm around Miles and lead him into the kitchen for some coffee. Getting him settled at the breakfast bar just as Haven and her three immortal friends come in.

  “You guys leaving?” I squint, seeing they’re back in their clothes, wet towels in their hands.

  Haven nods. “Misa and Rafe have to work tomorrow, and Roman and I have an appointment.”

  I look at Roman, holding his gaze. How can he be leaving when he hasn’t given me what I want? Hasn’t even begun to grovel, beg, and ask my forg
iveness like I visualized?

  How can he be leaving when it goes against my plan?

  I follow them to the door, heart racing as I take in the tilt of his chin, the gleam in his gaze, and I know it’s not good. Something’s gone wrong. Terribly wrong. Even though I cast the spell exactly like the book said, from the look in his eyes, and the curl of his lips, it’s clear the goddess and queen have both failed me.

  “Where are you going?” I squint, trying to peer into his energy but not getting anywhere.

  Haven looks at me, brow raised, smile on her face as Roman throws his arm around her shoulder and says, “Private party. But there’s room for you, Ever. Maybe you can stop by a little later, you know, when you’re done here.”

  My eyes meet his, holding his gaze until I break away and focus on Haven again. And even though I promised I wouldn’t do it, I peer right through her aura and into her mind, eager to see what’s lurking in there, what’s really going on, but not getting very far before I’m stopped, run up against a brick wall someone’s placed in my path.

  “You all right?” Roman asks, squinting at me, as he opens the door. “You look a little—peaked.”

  I take a deep breath and narrow my gaze, about to say something more when Jude comes up and says, “Someone just hurled on the rug.”

  And even though my attention’s only pulled for a moment, it’s still long enough for them to exit. Roman glancing over his shoulder, looking at me when he says, “Sorry to bail on you, Ever. Though I’m sure we’ll meet later.”

  CHAPTER 47

  I was expecting it to be Miles, but it turns out he’s fine. Helping to mop up the mess as he smiles and says, “And that’s what you call acting. Viva Firenze!” He pumps his fist in the air.

  “So really, you’re fine?” I hand him a clean towel, feeling bad for making him go through the motions when as soon as everyone leaves, I’ll just make it vanish and manifest a new one. “You’re not drunk?”

  “Not at all! But the point is, you thought I was.”

  I shrug. “The slurring, the loss of balance—all the signs were present and accounted for.”

  He rolls up the towel, about to hand it to me when Jude appears by my side and takes it instead. “Laundry?” he asks, brow raised.

  But I just shake my head and point toward the trash, looking at Miles as I ask, “So who did it, who brought the booze?”

  “Oh, no.” He shakes his head and holds up his hands. “I’m sorry to break it to you, Ever, but this little get-together you orga nized, is also what’s known as a party. And even if you don’t serve it, it’ll still find its way in. You’ll get no information from me.” He clamps his lips shut, pulling the imaginary zipper that seals them, before adding, “I say you just ditch this old thing.” He points at the rug. “Seriously, I’ll help roll it up. All we have to do is move the furniture around and Sabine won’t even notice it’s gone.”

  But I just shake my head, this vomit-covered rug is the least of my concerns now that Roman’s no longer playing along. Taking Haven on some mysterious appointment I can’t seem to crack, and what was that bit about us meeting up later? Was that a reference to the binding spell—or—something else?

  Miles leans in to hug me, gathering me into his arms and giving me a really tight squeeze when he says, “Thanks for the party, Ever. And even though I don’t know what’s going on between you and Damen, I have one thing to say and I hope you’ll listen and take me seriously. Ready?” He quirks his brow and pulls away.

  I shrug. My mind preoccupied, in some other place.

  “You deserve to be happy.” He nods, gaze intense, focused on mine. “And if Jude makes you happy, then you shouldn’t feel bad about that.” He waits, waits for me to respond in some way, but when I don’t he adds, “Party’s pretty much over once someone hurls, right? So we’re gonna bolt. But we’ll get together before Florence, okay?”

  I nod, watching as he and his friends all head for the door, calling, “Hey, Miles, did Haven or Roman mention where they’re going?”

  Miles looks at me, brows merged when he says, “Fortune-teller.”

  I squint, stomach sinking though I’ve no idea why.

  “Remember the other day when she wanted to book one?”

  I nod.

  “She mentioned it to Roman and he arranged a private reading.”

  “This—late?” I look to my wrist to confirm the time though I’m not wearing my watch.

  But Miles just shrugs and heads for the car, making me wonder if I should head out too. Try to catch up with Roman and Haven and make sure she’s okay. But when I try to tune in to her energy again, I don’t get very far. In fact, I don’t get anything at all.

  About to try again when Jude comes up and says, “You really need to ditch that rug. Smells awful.”

  I nod, distracted, unsure what to do.

  “You know what helps?”

  “Coffee grounds,” I mumble, remembering how my mom used it once when Buttercup ate something bad and got sick in Riley’s room.

  “Well, yeah, that, but I was thinking more like getting away from the stench. Always works for me.”

  I look at him, his face lighting into a smile.

  “Seriously.” He slips his arm through mine and leads me outside. “What’s the point of going to all that trouble, going all out with the decorations and food, doing all that you can for your friend’s going-away pool party, when you spend the entire night on the sidelines, watching, observing, but not once diving in?”

  I look away. “The party was for Miles, not me.”

  “Still.” Jude shakes his head, gazing at me in a way that sends a flood of calm through my system. “You’re looking a little stressed, and you know what kills stress, don’t you?” I glance at him, seeing him smile when he says, “Bubbles.”

  “Bubbles?”

  He points at the spa. “Bubbles.” Face serious, gaze fixed on mine.

  I take a deep breath and look at the Jacuzzi, warm, welcoming, and yes, bubbling too. Watching as Jude grabs some towels and sets them by the edge, and figuring I’ve got nothing to lose, that it just might help clear my head enough to come up with a new plan, I turn my back and yank off my dress. A silly bout of modesty since I’ll be half naked soon, but still, facing him would feel too much like undressing.

  Too much like the girl in the painting.

  He heads for the edge and dips a toe in, eyes going wide in such a way that I can’t help but laugh.

  “You sure about this?” I wrap my arms around my waist like I’m cold, when really I’m just trying to fend off his gaze. Seeing the way his aura sparks and flames as he takes me in, the way his cheeks flush when he quickly looks away.

  “Definitely.” He nods, voice thick, rough, watching as I step into the Jacuzzi, at first wincing against the hot water then slowly easing in. Immersed in heat and bubbles, thinking this may be my smartest move yet.

  I close my eyes and lean back, muscles loosening, relaxing, when Jude says, “Got room for one more?”

  I squint, watching as he removes his shirt, taking in his expanse of chest, defined abs, trunks that hang low on his hips, making my way back up past his dimples and all the way to his eyes, two aqua pools I’ve known through the years. Watching as he moves forward, just about to step in when he remembers his phone in his pocket and drops it onto the towel.

  “Whose decision was this?” He laughs, cringing against the steam and heat as he sits down beside me and stretches his legs, his foot accidentally landing on mine and letting it rest for a moment before pulling away. “Yeah, this is the life,” he says, tilting his head back and closing his eyes, then peeking at me when he adds, “Please tell me you use this all the time, that you don’t just forget it’s here ’til someone coaxes you in.”

  “Is that what’s happening? I’m being coaxed?”

  He smiles, that relaxed, easy grin lifting his face and lighting his eyes. “Seems like you needed a little convincing. I don’t know if you’ve notic
ed, but you can be a little intense.”

  I swallow hard, wanting to look away, look anywhere but at him, but unable to leave his gaze.

  “Not that there’s anything wrong with that—being intense that is—”

  His gaze deepens, boring into mine, luring me closer like a fish on his line, his face looming so near I close my eyes to meet it. Tired of fighting, tired of repeatedly pushing him away. Assuring myself it’s only a kiss. Jude’s kiss. Bastiaan’s kiss. Hoping it’ll tell me, once and for all, if Damen’s fears are in any way real.

  His wave of calm energy comforting, tempering, as his lips part and his hand finds my knee, leaning toward each other, mouths about to merge when his ringing phone breaks our trance.

  He pulls away, annoyance stamped on his face. “Should I get it?”

  “I’m off duty.” I shrug. “You’re psychic, you tell me.”

  He stands, turning toward his towel as I take in his form, the squared shoulders, the sharp V of his waist, stopping when I catch a glimpse of something at the small of his back. Something round, dark, barely discernible, but still—

  He turns, facing me again, brows merged, hand over his other ear, when he says, “Hello?” and then, “Who?”

  Smiling at me and shaking his head, but it’s too late.

  I’ve seen it.

  The unmistakable shape of a snake eating its own tail.

  The Ouroboros.

  The mythical symbol claimed by Roman’s tribe of immortal rogues, tattooed right on the small of Jude’s back.

  I reach for my amulet, fingers fumbling but finding only skin. Wondering if this is somehow connected to my spell gone bad, if Roman has somehow arranged this.

  “Ever? Yeah, she’s here—” He looks at me, making a face as he adds, “O-kay . . .”

  He looks at me, arm extended, trying to pass on the phone.

  But I just ignore it, moving out of the Jacuzzi so fast he shakes his head and blinks.