“That was…” he murmurs.
“It was,” I sigh contentedly.
“Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” He asks, raising my face to his with his finger under my chin.
“No,” I shake my head. “Any pain was more than worth it.” I smile and kiss his cheek before I get up and go to the bathroom to clean up. I look at my reflection in the mirror, the evidence of what we’ve just done written all over me.
I pad back out to my room and crawl back in next to him.
“You’re mine, Eden DeMontford, Evie Astor, whoever you are.” I can’t help but feel safe as he wraps his arms around me and I drift off to sleep in his arms.
Chapter Five
Eden
“Where’s Creed?” Ruby asks as she sits across from me in the cafeteria, wiggling her eyebrows making me laugh. I’ve had enough of hiding away, and I’ve missed enough classes as it is.
“He’s with Aurora. She’s still recovering, and she needs him more than I do.” I tell her, sipping the blood from my bottle.
“So, are you guys like an official thing now?” She asks wide eyed. The girl loves gossip, I’ve got to give her that.
“I don’t know,” I shrug. “We haven’t had chance to talk much since, you know.”
“Oh do I!” She whoops and I laugh at her again. “Do you want to be?” She asks. “I mean, you’re practically surrounded by the hottest guys at this place; do you really want to settle for just one?” I throw some of my hash brown at her and laugh.
“You’re incorrigible!” I finish the rest of my bottle and she shrugs.
“Well, do you at least know if you’re going to train?” I shrug at her as Cam and Kane take a seat next to us, and I focus on the breakfast enchilada on my plate while Ruby keeps talking animatedly to Cam. I push the enchilada around, my appetite gone. I wish I didn’t feel so guilty, like I’m letting Kane down, but surely he has to understand my point on this. I can feel his eyes on me, so I look up and meet his sad, but determined gaze.
“We should talk,” he says, staring at me like I’ll disappear if he blinks, and it’s fair, because I just might. I shrug and wave at him to start talking. “I meant alone, Eden.”
Cam and Ruby go quiet, watching to wait and see if they need to intervene. To say I’ve been a little volatile since this all started is maybe a bit dramatic but pfft. You get told you’re meant to save the world and see how peachy keen you feel.
I sigh and stand, “I suppose. I’ve got to head to class anyway. You can walk me.” I smile at Cam and Ruby, “I’ll see you guys in a bit.”
Kane gets up and follows me out of the cafeteria and we walk in silence through a few corridors. I don’t like how tense it is between us, but I think he’s being selfish. He’s not risking anything in this, and he’s asking me to risk everything. All of a sudden, he grabs my arm and pulls me into an empty classroom and slams the door shut.
“What the hell is your problem?” I shout at him, rubbing my arm where he pulled at me, shooting daggers at him. He paces in front of the door, pulling at his hair. I can feel the anxiety pouring off him in waves, be it my powers leaking or just knowing him so well, and guilt overwhelms me again that he feels like this because of me.
“I hate this, Eden. I…” he groans and starts to pace again. He darts toward me and before I can blink, his hands are in my hair and he’s kissing me. Holy shit, Kane is kissing me! He softens the kiss after a second but only slightly. My body reacts before my mind does, and I kiss him back, wrapping my arms around his waist pulling him closer to me. His lips ignite an unexpected fire in me, and it’s like I have no control over myself. After what feels like forever, my senses return and I pull back, touching my swollen lips.
“Kane…” I gasp.
“I’m… not, I’m not sorry. I’ve been so twisted up inside, so conflicted about all of this. But I need you to know how I feel, despite what I’m asking you to do. I don’t want it to be you. I wish it was someone else, but I know, deep in my bones it’s not. I know it’s you, and I know that you probably hate me for asking this of you, but if I could show you what I saw in my vision…”
“You have visions?” I ask.
“All of that, and that’s what you take from it?” He laughs and steps back from me.
“I didn’t mean…”
“Don’t, just…” he barks a laugh. “Just at least consider training. You’ll need to train with someone from each race. A Fae, a Mer, a Shifter and a Vampire. The trials are based on all abilities.”
I hate that I’ve hurt him, but I’m still reeling from the fact he kissed me. Especially after everything with Creed, and he has to know. I sigh and nod.
“I’ll train. I need to keep training anyway, but I’m not agreeing to more than that, Kane. Unless there’s infallible truth, then I’m out.” I tell him softly.
“Good.” He nods and then turns and storms from the room. It’s hard to remember that he’s a softie underneath it all when he projects such strength all of the time. I just hope I haven’t ruined our friendship. I never thought of Kane that way, but I can’t deny he lit my body up like a firework display. I hang my head before making my way to class, even though I know I’m not going to be able to concentrate for shit.
***
I groan as I drop down onto my bed. Today has felt like the longest day. From this morning with Kane, to my defense class this afternoon and getting my ass handed to me by the instructor, both my body and my mind feel utterly fucked, and not in a pleasant kinda way. My door swings open and Ruby saunters in, humming away carrying a pizza box.
“I had the weirdest feeling that you needed this, and a no boy night. Watchbox binge?” She says with a smile, dressed in the most ridiculous wolf onesie. I burst out laughing at her as she winks at me, and she laughs too, setting the pizza box down on the table before whirling around and dashing back out of the door. She returns seconds later with a blender in one hand, and chocolate in the other. “You have ice cream up here still, right?” She asks, putting the items down on the counter and sticking her head in my freezer. She pulls out the two tubs of chocolate ice cream, some milk from the refrigerator, the brownies I brought up from the cafeteria this morning and chocolate sauce from when we made sundaes a few weeks ago.
“What on earth are you doing?” I ask, shaking my head at her.
“Milkshakes, duh. Now go get changed into your PJ’s,” she shoos me back into my room and murmurs the chant to seal the door. I laugh again and grab my shorts and tank and get changed, slipping on my robe.
“No boys allowed!” I hear her shout, before the whirring of the blender starts drowning out all noise. I pull on some thick, fluffy socks and pad back out to the main room where Ruby is pouring the milkshakes into two giant glasses that are already drowned in chocolate sauce.
“Calories make life better,” she shrugs when she sees me and brings them over to the sofa, grabbing my remote and flicking on Watchbox. I open the pizza box and my mouth waters at the gooey cheese and greasy pepperoni pizza.
“Where did you get this?” I ask. I didn’t know we could order in from outside.
“I know people,” she shrugs. “My older brother lives nearby and he owes me like a bajillion, so I traded in a favor for a pizza. Seemed reasonable.” She pulls a slice from the box and folds it in half before taking the biggest bite. She smiles at me wolfishly after she swallows. “Eat up. Carlo’s Pizza is the best thing you’ll ever taste… other than my milkshakes, they totally bring the boys to the yard.”
I burst out laughing at how absurd she is, but she was right, this is exactly what I needed.
“So, come on, tell me what’s eating at you.” She looks at me as if she can see right through me and I squirm uncomfortably.
“Erm, so, Kane kinda kissed me.” I tell her and take a slurp of my milkshake so I don’t have to keep talking.
“I’m sorry, what?” She squeaks. “First Ethan, then bumping uglies with Creed, now Kane? Girl, you have some serious power
over those boys.” She rubs her hands together with glee and her eyes light up.
“It’s not like I asked for any of this. I am so freaking confused. I haven’t even seen Ethan in weeks! He’s avoiding me I think, though I have no idea why, and he’s not around for me to ask. As for the other two, I have feelings for Creed, I have since I first saw him; and Kane, man I don’t know. I hadn’t thought of him like that, but that kiss.” I touch my lips at the memory. No one has ever kissed me with the need and love that Kane did. Not that I’ve kissed many people before.
“Oh my god, talk about first world problems. All the hot guys vying for your attention.” She laughs and takes another bite from her pizza, groaning as she does. “I say enjoy it. We’re young, and you’re you, which means people are probably going to try to kill you if they find out what you are.”
“Sorry, what?”
“Girl, I’m not stupid. I know what you are,” she shrugs and finishes her slice. “I honestly couldn’t give less of a shit. My family were against everything that happened, the elitist Mer-folk and their holier than thou rantings of how people of blood magic shouldn’t be the top of the hierarchy just screams jealousy and stupidity to me.” I look at her, my mouth agape. Apparently, I’m terrible at keeping secrets. “Plus, there’s the whole prophecy thing. You would never be suspected if you weren’t an original. Everyone knows that’s where the true power of the Vampires comes from. The original curse families have the purest lines. Bitten Vampires don’t have half the strength or abilities, so it would make sense that you’re an original.”
“Oh my god…” I murmur.
“Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. And like I say, have your cake and eat it too,” she winks at me. “I’d give my left tit to have those three panting after me. As it is, I’ll make do with the rest of the male population thank you. Enough of this anyway, let’s get this binge session started!” She grabs another slice from the box and I steal the remote from her, putting the Alien show on that Cam got me hooked on. I lean forward and grab a slice of the pizza, settling in for the most relaxing night I’ve had in forever.
Ruby yawns and stretches out. Five episodes later, the sun has set. We obliterated the pizza and milkshakes, along with a ton of chips and dip I had stashed away, and I feel so bloated.
“I should probably go back, we still have class tomorrow, but I enjoyed tonight. We should do this more often.” She smiles.
“Not too often,” I groan and poke my bloated stomach and she laughs.
“Dude, you’re a Vampire. You literally can’t put on weight because of how your body processes shit, so shut the hell up.” I shrug. I didn’t actually know that. I should probably focus more in biology, but it genuinely sends me to sleep. I’ve never had enough food around for my weight to be an issue. “But yeah, I’m going to turn in. Oh, by the way, Kane was here earlier. I told him to buzz off. Thought you should know.” She smiles cheekily with a little wave and runs out of the room giggling, slamming the door behind her. Hopefully everyone is deeply asleep on this floor otherwise there will be complaints I’m sure.
I turn off the TV and sit in the darkness of the room, looking out at the academy grounds, lit up by the moonlight. I still can’t quite believe everything that’s happened in the last week. My mom always said that life never gives us more than we can handle, but she isn’t here right now trying to handle all of this. Accused of murder. Of actually killing someone, which I still haven’t really let myself dwell on. Being locked up and caged. Finding out my secret is out, and all of the lengths Dannika and I went to were essentially useless, meaning chances are, I’m on that fucking cult’s hitlist for students to kill and maim. On top of that, having people think I’m some prophesized, all-powerful being that can save the earth. Then there’s the three boys who seem to think they care for me, but my head and my heart can’t make head nor tail of what it is I feel, other than the fact that I’m pretty positive kissing three different guys is wrong, despite what Ruby thinks.
What the actual fuck is my life?
The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I start to pace in front of the windows when I feel my power threatening to take over. I try to tamp it down, but it just pisses me off more and I feel it break through. I scream out at the onslaught of emotions pouring into my head, and then my beast takes over. My vision becomes blurry and my entire body burns. Pain rips through me as if all of my bones are breaking. It feels as if it’s lasting forever, but is actually over in an instant. I can’t think, but then I focus on something moving outside. I hear the smash of glass, and it’s like I’m watching myself from the outside as I jump from the broken window in my room. I hear a roar, and then the world goes black.
Chapter Six
Kane
The slam of a door wakes me, and I groan into my pillow. I fucking hate living with so many people nearby. Fae are not peopley people. I prefer small groups and quiet. Tossing and turning in my bed, I sigh, resigned to the fact I’m not going to get back to sleep, despite the time, when I hear the loud shattering of glass from down the hall.
Eden.
I throw the duvet off me, run out of my room and down the hall. I try the door and feel the power seal blocking me from the room.
“Eden! Are you okay?” I shout and bang on the door.
“Kane, what the hell?” Ruby’s sleepy head appears out of her door, her eyes skimming over my barely covered body. “I only left her a while ago. She’ll be fine.” She yawns and retreats into her room. I sigh, and head back to my room to put on more than the boxers I slept in. I pull on a pair of jeans, my boots, and a t-shirt, making sure to grab my cell as I leave, slamming the door behind me as I jog out of the dorm tower. I quicken my pace when the cold air hits me as I leave the warm building. Jogging round to the back wall where Eden’s room looks over the grounds, a feeling of unease builds.
“Fuck!” I bellow when I reach the back and the glass crunches under my feet. Looking up, I see the hole where the pane of glass should be. The smell of the blood fills my sensitive nose, and I’m glad I found this, not Gus. I follow the trail of blood to the forest that lines Black Water lake. I pinch the bridge of my nose and hang my head. Shit, I should’ve known better than to leave her alone. I’ve seen who she becomes, even if she won’t believe me. I just didn’t know how quick it would happen. How quickly the other powers would emerge when even her Vampire abilities haven’t finished growing.
I hesitate, unsure whether to follow her or call Cam. He’s going to be the best person for her right now. This is something outside of my wheelhouse. I pull my cell from my jeans and dial Cam. It rings for what feels like an age, but eventually, he answers, his voice alert and on edge.
“Cam, I need you. Can you come down to the forest edge?” I sigh.
“What happened?” He asks, but I can hear him moving around as he does.
“Eden. It happened, quicker than I predicted. Which means something has changed the timeline. I’m going to need your help in finding her and calming her.”
“Give me five and I’ll be there.” The line disconnects, my usually carefree friend tense and I hate how much this is affecting the people around me already. Being burdened with the knowledge from foresight, on top of the passing of knowledge from my family, isn’t something I ever wanted. My visions were never that strong before the summer, but something changed and now we’re here. Those closest to me pulled into the shitstorm, and me with no idea how to save anyone, let alone Eden. Why the fuck did I give in and kiss her? I’m a fucking idiot, that’s why. It’s one thing to like the girl my friends like, but to make a move on her, especially with everything else going on? Maybe it was a stupid move, but I can’t help the way I feel. There is just something about her that calls to the deepest parts of me. When Creed called her his, I had to use every ounce of willpower not to throw him across the room. Something inside me tells me that she’s mine. Even if what she is, is something that no one expected.
I shake the thoughts off as I
see Cam coming towards me. I see him take in the sight of the broken glass and blood, and I hear him whine quietly as if he’s hurt.
“We should have started her training before now. Tried to prepare her.” He growls, the alpha in his magic projecting through his words.
“I know, but it’s not like we could force her. All we can do now is help her.” I sigh and head into the forest, casting a ball of light to my hand to help guide us through. Cam steps round me and heads deeper into the forest. Damn him and his superior tracking and night vision. At least I know he was the right person to help me with this, and hopefully we’re not too far behind her.
***
The sun starts to rise and the bear before me roars in frustration. We’ve been out here for hours with no luck. We lost all trace of her by the lake hours ago and have just been scouring the forest for her since. I sigh as I realize we need to return to the school, hating the feeling that I just keep failing her.
“We should head back, Cam. For all we know she’s circled us and is already back and freaking out somewhere.” He grumbles in response before shifting back to his human form, taking his clothes from my outstretched hand.
“This is insane. How can one girl cause so much fucking trouble?”
“She’s not just any girl,” I remind him. “We’re bound to her, whether we want to be or not. You know the prophecy almost as well as I do. She doesn’t, and no one’s filled her in on this part of it yet. She’s freaked out enough.”
“I don’t give a fuck. You or your father should have told her everything. I never agreed to keep secrets from her, Kane. And now look what’s happening. I told you we needed to tell her, that she could handle it, but you fucking Fae and your bindings, thinking you know better than the rest of us.” He storms away from me, and I let him go, following at a slower pace to give him the space he needs. I get it. I feel guilty as shit for holding back from Eden too, but he’s not the only one who wasn’t able to tell her everything. However, I can feel the magic loosening from the bind with each passing minute that her magic grows. The magic knows what she is, that she needs to know, so it fights its binds, and I swear as soon as I find her, and know she’s okay. I’m going to tell her everything else. I just hope to God that Creed doesn’t lose his shit at the same time, because even he doesn’t know the full implications of the prophecy.
Chosen: A Paranormal Romance Academy Series (Black Water Academy Book 2) Page 4
