by Evie Wilde
“I’m sorry, Braeden. I didn’t know what I was doing. I should have weighed the consequences of my actions.”
Hearing that made me laugh angrily. “How many times did you tell us that during our training?” I asked. “And yet you can’t even take your own advice. Don’t ever repeat that to Cass.”
“I would take it all back if I could.”
“Can you teach me harder hexes?” I asked. “And how to be a witch doctor. Kyler said you aren’t necessarily born with the ability but can learn it. I’m here to learn.”
“Because of Sonny?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“If I pass those skills on to you, Edius will want us both. I can’t do that.”
“So you continue to betray us?” I asked. “You owe us that much. You owe Cassandra.” Seeing his hesitation, I moved to within an inch of his face. “The longer I stay here the longer Cass is in danger because of you. And I’m not okay putting that responsibility off on the other guys.”
“Okay,” he said. “But on one condition.”
“What?” I asked, tired of his games.
“I want you to end this little harem thing she has going,” he said. “It’s not right. I didn’t teach you two to do things like that.”
I laughed out loud. “Now you suddenly care about her. How nice.” I shook my head. “But that’s not happening. You either care about her or you don’t. We’re all with her because that’s what she wants. And nobody is going to change that.”
“I’ve watched her grow up,” Ren said. He looked away. “It doesn’t seem right. And how can you accept sharing her with other men?”
“Because it’s not about what I want; it’s about what she wants.” I moved away and then turned, still shaking my head. “Don’t interfere with her desires, Ren. I love her more than you’ll ever understand. So don’t ask.”
“Then don’t be angry with my decision to work with Edius,” Ren said. “You just make sure you stay by her side no matter what.” He tried to poke me in the chest. “Do you understand?”
“No matter what,” I said. “Now get me the hell out of here.”
Ren rubbed his hands together, his skin glowing. “Stay safe, Braeden. I hope someday you’ll be able to forgive me for what I’ve done. But I swear to you, I had nothing to do with the guild’s demise.”
“Just get this done.”
Ren drew his hands apart and then brought them together, the sonic boom knocking me unconscious.
***
“He’s awake,” I heard someone say. I opened my eyes, my vision blurry. “Take it easy.”
“Where is everyone?” I asked. “Are they dead? Where am I?”
“You’re still in the infirmary,” the nurse said. “In a private room.”
I sat up and rubbed my head, hoping to get rid of the freight train running between my ears. The nurse checked my pulse and shined a light into my eyes, asking me a dozen questions I couldn’t answer. I needed to leave. I needed to find the others.
“You’re the first to wake out of it,” the nurse said.
“I’ve gotta find Cassandra and the others,” I said and tried to stand, wobbly on my feet. “I have to help them!”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Cassandra
There were twenty-four ceiling tiles in my dorm bedroom. I knew because I kept counting them, thinking it might put me to sleep. Thought maybe it would help me forget for a little while. It did, for a while. But I kept having the same dream. Losing Braeden to the reality where we left him. I'd wake up and then as soon as I fell asleep, the dream would continue. I needed Braeden home. We all needed Braeden home.
I also needed to go to the bathroom, but the floor was littered with the guys who’d crashed on my floor last night. Oliver had his head on my clean laundry, his lips way too close to a pair of my panties. He snored gently, his hand on his computer. I wondered if maybe he loved his computer more than he loved me. The thought made me smile. We had a few minutes alone last night. He kissed me and laid his hand against my cheek, his touch soft and gentle. He again told me he loved me and didn’t know what he would do without me. I assured him I felt the same.
I turned on my side and tucked my hands beneath my pillow, watching Dash who laid next to my bed. He’d fallen asleep with his hand on my leg. An hour later his hand fell and whacked himself in the face. He stirred a bit, but I’d learned Dash could sleep through about anything. While Oliver and Kyler ran out for pizza, Dash and I found a few moments to get close. A lot of kissing, a lot of hands, but no sex. We’d done a pretty good job of making each other horny as hell. When we heard the door opening, we scrambled to straighten ourselves. He promised we’d get back to it very soon.
Kyler was still worried about Sonny. After the other two fell asleep, he laid in bed next to me, the two of us facing, our lips so close. He told me about his home and family. He said things he’d yet to say to Dash or Oliver. And then he told me he loved me. I couldn’t count the number of times we’d had sex, but I could count the number of times he used those three little words. Once, that night. We moved closer on the bed and held each other, me falling asleep in his arms but waking when he moved to the floor.
Maybe if my bed had been big enough, we could have all shared; though, I guessed they weren’t close enough to allow that to happen. Not everyone could sleep against me. We talked about other things that involved the five of us. Sexual things. Everyone was a bit iffy about the possibilities. But Kyler assured me when the time came it would all be okay.
As I looked at the three guys on the floor, my heart felt heavy, missing the man who’d taken care of me for so long, betrayed by a man I considered a father. A year and a half into the academy and things were worse than they were before I arrived. It was all on me. It was hard not blaming myself for all the death and destruction. Edius was toying with me. I’d never met the man or had any dealings with him, so I was still at a loss as to why he’d made this all about me.
As I was about to fall back to sleep the bedroom door opened, and Ruby winked at me. She eyed the guys on the floor. “Did you?” she asked.
“Yeah, that’s why they’re all so wiped out,” I said, and laughed. “No, we didn’t.”
“But you thought about it. I know you did.” Ruby nodded over her shoulder. “You have a visitor. I think you’ll want to see him.”
Ruby stepped away, and someone stepped forward from the darkness behind her.
“Braeden?” I said. “How? Are you real?”
Braeden moved around Oliver and then Kyler, but I couldn’t wait. I darted out of bed, tripping over Dash and falling into Braeden’s arms. I thought he was still a ghost, and I dreaded the moment I’d undoubtedly hit the floor.
But Braeden was real. So real that our lips came together. I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed, making sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me, making sure he hadn’t been hurt. Our kiss became heated, his life having been on the brink driving me into his arms.
“I so fucking missed you,” I said, and pressed my lips against his again.
“We all did,” Dash said, and I looked around to find the guys awake and watching us. “But I’m not going to kiss you.”
“I second that,” Kyler said and stood. He hugged Braeden and I. “I’m passing on the kiss.”
“They were kissing,” Oliver said. “We should go into the other room.” Oliver started out of the room but was called back by Braeden. I winked at Oliver, and he winked back.
“No, everyone needs to stay,” Braeden said. “We need to talk.”
“Guildmaster Ren?” I asked. “He let you go?”
“Yeah, he did, but not before telling me he’d sold us out.” Braeden told us everything Ren had confessed to. Then he said something that made things worse. “Ren wants forgiveness.” He paced around the room and put his hands on his waist. “I’m torn,” he said.
“Forgiveness from us?” I asked angrily. “He needs forgiveness from the entire academy, all those he harmed.
There’re families waiting to hear about loved ones.” I shook my head. “I don’t know, Brae.”
“I told him it would never happen,” Braeden said. “First our guild and then the academy. Who knows what else they’ve done or are planning to do.”
“What’s left to do?” I asked and headed to the living room, not sure what to do. Ren had been like a father for so long that I couldn’t comprehend the knife he’d put in our backs. Yes, everything led back to Edius, but these people had choices to make, and they seemed to always be making the wrong one. How many more henchmen did Edius have?
“You okay?” Ruby asked and sat next to me on the couch. She held my hand and put her arm around me. I loved the guys, but it felt good to feel Ruby’s warmth around me.
“I don’t know. Every time I think things can’t get worse, they do. And when I think I know what’s what, I realize I’m still as dumb as I was when I entered the academy.” I buried my face in my hands, trying my best not to cry. I needed to show strength to the group.
The guys entered the living room and sat in front of me. Their energy was as strong as ever. Every time one of them was in distress, the energy of the entire group weakened.
“Braeden says you and Ren were close,” Dash said. “You wanna talk about it?”
I looked at the guys, remembering that I told each of them I was always open to hearing their troubles. They were nicely turning the tables on me. I didn’t mind at all and felt even closer to them for offering. I could never doubt their love for me.
“I was eight,” I began, struggling to tell the story. “My parents had been dead for six-months.” Ruby handed me a bottle of water, and I took a long swallow. “My magic was all over the place. I couldn’t control a fireball to save my life. In fact, I was more likely to destroy a life.” I looked at Braeden. “Then Braeden and I were introduced to a guild in our hometown. I was told if I didn’t get my magic under control I’d be exiled.”
“Keep going,” Dash said when I paused.
“It was rough going at first. The guildmaster was a complete asshole and wanted me gone.” I downed another drink of water. “He told me I’d never be anything more than a magician at kids’ birthday parties. He said I’d be pulling rabbits out of hats the rest of my life.” Ruby placed her hand on mine, helping fight back the tears. “A month in, I was told, not asked, to leave by the guildmaster. He told me I was no longer welcome and that I’d become a liability to the guild. A dozen other kids watched the guildmaster walk me to the front door, smirking and laughing.”
“Brats,” Ruby said. “That’s why I don’t want any.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “They were just being kids.”
“Here’s the good part,” Braeden said. “Go ahead, Cass.”
“When I opened the door to leave the guild, Ren was standing there waiting.” I glanced at Braeden and smiled. He gave me an encouraging nod. “He turned me around and marched me back into the guild. Before we passed the guildmaster, Ren stopped. He told the man I would be his responsibility from then on, not the guildmaster’s.
“Ren taught me how to control my magic,” I said, and they all looked at each other.
“She’s right,” Braeden said. “It used to be much worse.” He shrugged, and the guys laughed.
“Ren spent hours every day training me. Teaching me the ropes. He told me I had more potential than anyone he’d ever met. I just needed some encouragement.” I took a deep breath and nodded at Braeden.
“We followed him on to his guild,” Braeden said. “He continued to train both of us.”
“Wait,” I said. “He knew Edius might come after us at the guild. That’s why he sent us here, trying to hide us.”
“He was always good to us,” Braeden continued. “This is not who he is.”
“I agree.” I finished off the water. “What did he say when you left?”
Braeden shook his head. “That I should protect you. There are things coming that will require cohesion among our group.”
“We all need to protect each other,” Oliver said. “That’s what this is really about. It’s why Edius is scared.”
“Scared?” Dash said. “How do you figure that, brainiac?”
“First Challis, then Ren. Why isn’t he doing these things himself?” Oliver said. “He could have ended this all a long time ago.”
“Ren’s still a rat,” Dash said. “Students and faculty died because of him.” He looked at each of us. “We have to fight him and destroy him.”
“Dash,” I said.
“No, Cassandra, it’s the right thing to do. You gotta get over your personal feelings and see the bigger picture.” Dash looked away and then left.
“He’s not backing down from what he wants,” Kyler said. “He’s not wrong.”
“I have to agree with Dash,” Oliver said. “Ren made a choice, and his choice hurt people.”
“Talk to Dash,” Braeden said. “Help him figure it out.”
I left the dorm room and, not finding Dash in his room, I left the building in time to see Dash entering the classroom building. I absolutely had no idea what to do at that moment except go after him and try to figure things out.
“Dash!” He looked back at me and then closed the door.
I followed after him, but the lobby was empty. Empty in the sense I couldn’t physically see Dash. But his energy was strong and that was what I followed.
I took the stairs to the third floor, Dash’s energy leaving a glow in his wake. “Dash,” I called.
“Yeah, end of the hall,” he called out. “You need something?”
I walked the empty hallway, no classes in session since it was a Saturday. I entered the classroom and found Dash sitting at one of the tables.
“You’re either early or late for class,” I said.
Dash smiled. “Since I’m the most astute student at the academy, I’d say I’m early rather than late.”
“You’re full of shit,” I said, and we both smiled. I sat across from him.
“You know what we gotta do with your friend Ren,” Dash said. “Edius has him on his team, not ours.”
“I know,” I said. “What do I do?”
Dash stood and went to the door, looking out into the hallway before closing it. He removed his jacket and laid it neatly on one of the tables. Following his lead, I stood and did the same.
I moved to the end of the table.
“We need to talk,” Dash said.
“Do we?” I asked and smiled.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Dash
“You need to do a better job of watching your ass,” I said. She really did. Me and the other guys couldn’t be everywhere all the time, so she needed to be more careful. The group was solid, and it would only take one small slip up to send things into chaos. I had to make sure she understood. There were only a handful of people who Cassandra could really trust: myself, of course, Braeden, Kyler, and Oliver. Probably Aurelius and Ruby. Headmaster Eliphas I couldn't say for sure. The other students and or faculty? No.
“Thought it was your job to watch my ass,” Cassandra said. She gave me a sheepish smile, a smile saying she understood my concern, but that she was also in a playful mood. Before we got to the fooling around part, we needed to get a few things straight concerning her safety. Yeah, I was about to lay down the law to her.
I sat in a chair at the table. “This guy, Ren. I get why you have an attachment to him. But look at what he’s done.” I leaned back in the chair, the front two legs coming off the ground. “You do remember he almost killed Braeden and me?” I leaned forward and placed my elbows on the table, shaking my head at her. “He’s wanted for multiple murders, not to mention those who may never recover. We don’t know what the lasting effects of the hex will be.”
“I know all that, Dash,” she said. “What’re you trying to tell me?”
“That you’re too caring. Too trusting. Ren can’t ever be trusted again. No matter how much you cared about him. It’s i
n the past now.” She looked away and down at the floor. I fucking hated these kinds of conversations. “Cassandra, did you hear what I said?”
“I know, Dash,” she said. “Hell, I thought you were pissed about me kissing Braeden like I did in front of everyone.”
I laughed. “I’m not the jealous type, Cass. You know this.” I stood and held her hand. Touching her was like touching the heavens every day of your life. “I’m worried about you, not me. It’s like you got something buried deep inside and don’t want it to get out. You approach everything as if it’s good and kind and will never hurt you. I get that’s the way you want the world to be. But it’s a dangerous way to look at things. You let too many things go or roll off your back.”
“You don’t think that’s the kettle calling the pot black?” she asked. “The part about keeping things inside?”
“Not really. It’s me saying I know what it’s like to hide things. That’s all.” I watched a bird on the tree limb outside the window, wondering if I’d taken myself down a rabbit hole.
“You’re worried about the group,” she said. “I like that. It shows you care about everyone.”
“Yeah, because what hurts one of us hurts all of us. If something was to ever happen to you, I'm not sure how the rest of us would get by. I have this sinking feeling that we would go in four different directions and never speak to each other again. Oliver would return home to his parents. Kyler back to the woods. And I’m not sure how Braeden would deal with it. If he could.” I ran my fingers between hers, the softness exhilarating. Oddly enough, I didn’t mind sharing her with the others. She really was that special, and being a fourth of her pie was better than not being part of her pie at all. “The only way to keep us together is to make sure you stay safe.”
“There’s always going to be something, Dash,” she said. “Who knows when we’ll find Edius. And I can’t hide away like a coward. It wouldn’t be good for me, the group, or the academy. And because of what we do we’re always going to be in harm’s way. There’ll be others like Edius.” She ran her fingers down my arm, and I fought the need to hold her, to make love to her and forget the conversation.
