“I’m in trouble,” I said, turning my gaze back to him.
He turned one side of his mouth into a frown, making more heat rush into my cheeks. I couldn’t even look at Preston without melting. “What happened?”
“Peony is determined to make my life hell. Because of her gossip, I had to report to headmistress Cardinal again.”
He swiped his gaze to my wrist. “That’s not good.”
“Peony...Peony insinuated we had sex. Perhaps it’s best if we don’t see each other in public.” Now my whole face was on fire.
Preston grinned. “Did she? I never liked that girl. Her tiny bit of plant magic has gone to her head.”
As much as I wanted to trash talk Peony, that was not why I was here. “Blair and I need to get out of here. It’s not safe for us. Please, we’ll do anything.” His eyes glittered, and I groaned inwardly. That didn’t come out the way I meant. “We’re hard workers,” I tried again.
Preston gave me a look I couldn’t decipher, then nodded. “Meet me at the outer gardens tonight at midnight. Make sure no one sees you, and just to be extra safe, let's keep this between you and me for now.”
Exactly at midnight, I slipped out of my bed as Blair snored away and made my way to the classroom level. Just as he promised, Preston was waiting for me near the staircase. His gaze slid over me, and he smiled. “The outer gardens are rarely visited at night in the summer since the few vamps here prefer our indoor gardens and false sunlight. At night, they tend to go off campus to party and mingle with the humans.” He snorted. “Which are nothing compared to our parties in the fae realm.” He flashed me his perfect smile, and I wished I could stick my head into a freezer to cool down.
Ugh, I needed to pull myself together. Preston was hot, but he was also my teacher and the only person who might get me out of the academy. I couldn’t complicate everything by swooning over him.
Preston guided me through the corridors toward the grandiose entry hall with its spiral staircase and chandeliers. No one was around, with all the fae students having retreated to their dorms. Thank God, I didn’t need anyone else to get the wrong idea and spin more vicious rumors.
Preston led me through a side door I’d never used before, and we emerged onto a cobblestone path lined with evergreen bushes. Huge vines and flowers grew on either side as we took the trail farther from the castle, past gurgling ponds and fountains. Pears and red apples hung from trees while lanterns set into tree trunks cast gold on the surroundings. Fireflies of different colors blinked in the darkness between plants and trees. This was a real fae garden. Warm magic seemed to hang in the air, which soothed my skin. This place felt like freedom.
Then I saw that a wooden fence was the only thing between us and a sheer drop to the lake far below. I could climb over it. And then what? I imagined tumbling downward, falling through open space. Dizziness overtook me, and I stumbled into Preston.
He wrapped his arm gently around me from behind. Tingles raced under my skin. I could barely breathe. “Be careful. This garden is a bit deceptive.” In a lower voice, he added. “I come here all the time to sit and think. Reminds me of home.” He steered me toward a bench next to the gurgling pond. More of the shimmering fish darted around inside, lit by a nearby lantern.
“Is all of faeland like this?” Preston couldn’t lie. Like the boy I’d rescued, he was a pureblood fae. Anything he told me would be true, but there was always the possibility he could omit parts of the truth or phrase things cleverly, something the fae folk were rumored to be famous for.
“Well, some of it,” Preston said, leaning back. “We have the Summer Court and the Winter Court. The Seelie and Unseelie. We know them as light and dark. Elementals tend to be nomadic. They’re neither. A lot of light fae are here in this world because they were running from a plague spread by the Unseelie Court. The disease reduced our population dramatically. Those who escaped here weakened with each generation. That’s why some fae have no magic.”
“That’s terrible.” I wondered if my father had been very weak and that was the reason for why I hadn’t inherited any magic. “Is the Winter Court as bad as the vamps?” Sullivan had made it sound as if both sides were equally responsible for the war, but I could easily imagine that he didn’t think the Unseelie Court was at fault for attacking the peaceful fae. Vamps lived in a world where the dominant ones ruled and everyone was expected to accept their place in the food chain.
“Biological warfare exists back home,” Preston said sadly. “We are still dealing with the repercussions of it even though the plague itself has died down somewhat. The fae realm is still much better than the human world, and definitely more pleasant than Nocturnal Academy.”
“Why did you come here?”
He balled his fists, his eyes flashing with anger. “Because while it was wrong of my sisters and brothers to flee when war broke out, they and their offspring don’t deserve to be treated like cattle.”
I didn’t push more for why he was chosen for this undercover mission. My guess was that the vamps underestimated him, thinking of him as a spoilt princeling, while also not daring to harm him courtesy of his high social standing.
I changed the subject. “Is the war still going on?”
“No. The plague was so terrible that there was no more reason to fight.” He gazed into the pool, watching the fish. As he did, his shoulders dropped, and he let his hands open.
My heart fluttered with hope. “Can you return to the fae realm at any time?”
He stayed silent for a moment. “No, but I should be able to soon.”
Hope spread through me in full bloom. Please take me with you.
Preston’s green-gold gaze held me prisoner as he slowly lifted his palm to caress my cheek. His fingers were soft, and I giggled as he pulled my hair back and touched my pointed ear. My giggle soon turned to a moan as I realized how sensitive the flesh on my earlobe was.
“When the time is right, I can take you to the fae realm with me, but you must promise me that you’ll not turn on my people, and that you’ll support our ways once you’re in the Seelie Court.”
I licked my lips. Mom had told me that fae contracts were binding, but what Preston was asking was reasonable, especially since his folk had just been through a war. He wanted to ensure that I came with good intentions. If that’s all it took to get out of this horrible place, I was in. “I promise,” I whispered.
Preston moved his hand to the back of my head, tangling his fingers in my hair as he pulled me close. Our lips met, and electricity arced between us, racing under my skin as he grasped my arm with his free hand. I inhaled mint and spice, tasting the forbidden fruit as our lips pressed together. And at long last, Preston broke away from me and rose quickly, as if he feared getting caught. “I’ll stay in touch. We need to return before anyone sees us.”
9
I spent the next day on cloud nine, excited about my future. Nothing could get me down. I didn’t mind Peony holding out her foot when I walked past her table in the cafeteria. I managed to answer Sullivan’s questions in history class, thanks to the time I had spent in detention, reading the course material. This was my day. I even received a compliment from Mr. Chad on doing a forward roll on the high bar. He managed to keep his creepiness to a minimum, or maybe he didn’t, and my good mood simply helped me ignore his leery stare.
All went well until after dinner. I had managed to stay out of detention, but with the teachers not caring that I had missed a lot of what they had taught previously, I needed to catch up. Blair had been tasked with mopping the floors, her punishment for setting the desk on fire the day before. Since everyone was expressly forbidden from helping her, my hands were tied, so I headed toward the study hall. The corridor was empty this late in the evening, and the candles on the wall seemed dimmer than usual. A sense of unease rose in my chest, but I shook it off. I was fine. Nocturnal Academy was messed up, but I would survive as long as I stuck to the protocol for a few more days, maximum a few more week
s. Then, I could leave with Preston to the fae realm.
I smiled as I imagined what the faeland would be like. There would be plants everywhere, waterfalls, and calm lakes. The folk would sing and dance, everyone would be happy and surrounded by real sunshine. I might not be special since I didn’t have powers, but the folk would accept me warmly, and I would find a way to contribute to their society. Best of all, I’d no longer have to hide.
I thought of Mom, but after selling me, I had no more reason to speak to her again. Sadness gathered under my heart, but parting with her was for the best. After such a betrayal, we’d never be on good terms again. She could spend her money on cigarettes and coffee until she had to go back to her grueling work. I didn’t need her anyway. I had Preston and Blair now.
Lost in my thoughts, I was oblivious to my surroundings until it was too late. Somebody grabbed my wrist and yanked me out of the corridor. I unleashed a scream, but my captor quickly muffled it by pressing a wide palm over my mouth. He—it had to be a guy given his muscled arm—dragged me to a side door. A single candle flickered in warning as my captor pushed open the door and revealed a dimly lit storage room the size of three closets put together. The air here reeked of dust and long hours.
“Relax, it’s just us,” Kassius whispered. I stopped screaming, not wanting to sound like a pansy in front of the bullies, and the hand came off my mouth. I faced the twin. He smiled, but a snake lived behind his perfect olive skin and greased hair. “Why don’t you have a seat?”
I struggled to yank my wrist from his grasp, which felt like a bear trap since he was holding the spot where Lady Cardinal had bitten me twice. Kassius pushed me into an empty chair with a rip in the leather. He and Kayden towered over me.
“Why so jumpy?” Kassius purred as Kayden closed the door.
I made a quick estimation of the situation. The chances of someone hearing me scream from this closed storage room with the hallway empty were pretty slim. It was best if I played along, flattered the twins’ egos, and acted like they weren’t despicable. Hopefully, then they would let me go.
I cleared my throat. “I was just going to the library to study some more history. There’s still so much I need to catch up on.”
“Indeed.” Kassius hummed, running his fingers down my cheek.
Everything inside of me screamed to swat his hand away and punch him in his arrogant face, but instead, I just rose from the chair and forced a smile. “We can talk some other time. I’m afraid I really have a lot of homework.”
Kayden shoved me back into the chair. “We’re the ones who decide when you can leave.” His eyes flashed with hunger, and I wasn’t sure if it was the sexual kind, blood lust, or both. Either way, it didn’t seem like I would be able to talk my way out of this. Confirming my suspicion, Kayden’s fingers wandered to the top button of my uniform shirt, and that’s when my pulse raged into my ears. Enough was enough. I could pretend to flirt with them, but I would not allow them to treat me like a toy.
“Leave me alone, you freak!” I jumped off the chair, taking advantage of his shock, and pushed him back a few feet. His eyes widened in shock. The temperature in the room plummeted. The twins were not used to those who fought back.
“That’s no way to talk to us.” Kassius grabbed my chin and twisted it into his direction. Desperate, I tried to remember the one self-defense class from high school. What had they said again? Go for the sensitive parts like the wind pipe. Yes, that was it. Instead of pulling back, I slammed my fingers into his throat. The color drained out of his face, and he let go, clutching his neck and staggering backward.
“You dumb bitch!” Kayden bore his fangs and charged me, but I dodged, threw the door open, and ran straight into a solid chest.
I was about to throw another punch when the scent of mint and cinnamon wrapped around me. “Shh, it’s just me,” Preston whispered. He stared past me at the twins, now still and silent, and raised his voice. “What’s going on?”
Kassius gasped, still leaning over the table from the blow. Kayden eyed him and spoke to Preston. “Nothing. We were just chatting. Come on.” He slugged his brother on the shoulder as Kassius straightened, the color slowly returning to his face.
The twins walked past me, Kayden shoving me hard with his shoulder. “See you later, Onyx.” His dark eyes promised retribution as Kassius caught up with him, gasping.
As the twins walked away, all the adrenaline left me, and I trembled.
Preston’s face was unreadable. “Meet me in the library in the sociology section on the third floor.” He pivoted and stalked away, leaving me to pull myself together.
Minutes seemed to pass. As much as I wished that I could’ve just broken down and cried on his shoulder, I was also relieved that I hadn’t embarrassed myself. Plus, knowing the twins, they had probably gone straight to a vamp guard, spreading rumors that I was doing something inappropriate with Preston in the storage room they had assaulted me in. It was only wise to talk in a different location, and since the library always had at least one librarian, I hoped even the vamps wouldn’t be vicious enough to accuse me of fornicating there.
Besides the gardens, the library was my only safe place. A middle-aged vampire with a long braid, large glasses, and a gray sweater stood behind the loans desk and nodded at me. I doubted she would be able to do much if anyone attempted something inappropriate, but I sensed she’d have the decency to get help. The library had four floors. Wide, spiral staircases led from floor to floor. The shelves and staircases were made of chestnut wood, giving the space warmth along with the small overhead lights positioned on every floor. Normally, I would’ve gone to one of the study desks, but tonight, I went straight to the sociology section, following the signs. Preston was waiting for me. He didn’t turn to me but continued staring at the book he held in his hands.
“What you did was very stupid,” he said in a stern whisper.
I balked. What? “It wasn’t my fault. They attacked me.”
“You should’ve gotten out of there ASAP. In this place, you need to be aware of what’s around you at all times.”
I crossed my arms, fury coursing through me and heat rising to my cheeks. “Thanks. I didn’t realize that.”
Preston finally looked at me, his golden-green gaze cold. “This is not a game. I’ll do my best to get you out of here, but I won’t be able to if you continue attracting attention. I don’t want to see you get hurt. Please, Onyx. I worry about you and what could happen.” His voice softened as he spoke the last sentence.
Angry tears pricked my eyes at the unfairness. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Of course, I should’ve been paying more attention instead of letting my thoughts distract me. Preston had a point. “I’ll do my best.” Even if I never did anything to provoke the vamps or Peony, trouble always found me. I hardened myself. Weakness had no place at the academy, and Preston wasn’t interested in being my babysitter. “Is that all?”
Preston reached out for me, but I shrank back. Hurt crossed his face. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m just stressed. There’s a lot riding on me being here and being able to return.” He swallowed hard. “I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
I brushed my fingers against his, and electricity darted up my arm. “No, I’m sorry. You are right, I should stay under the radar, but the others make it impossible. Blair and I need to get out. Soon.”
He nodded. “When the full moon arrives, I’ll open the portal.”
I swallowed hard. A portal. That made sense, but it was also terrifying, especially since I was only half fae and had no magic. “Are you sure I can enter it?” Without dying.
He smiled. “You won't die as long as you go with me.”
I returned his smile, then realized he hadn’t said anything about Blair. Now that I thought about it, he had never promised to take my friend. “And Blair?”
Preston sighed. “I can only take one of you at a time through the portal, but I’ll return to Nocturnal Academy.”
It wasn
’t the ideal solution, but I didn’t want to appear ungrateful, so I nodded. “Thank you.”
Preston held my gaze for a moment. “Be patient, Onyx. I’ll get you out of here."
10
When Preston told me to be patient, he meant it. When he had spoken to me in the library, the moon was just starting to wane, which I discovered when I checked the lunar calendar hanging on the library’s first floor. I didn’t know why the moon had to be full for Preston to open a portal to the fae realm, but I figured it had to do with magic being more powerful around that time. I’d seen stuff online before about the full moon being tied to everything from lunacy to crime and even to rituals.
Weeks passed. And as they did, fall got closer, and Blair and I woke to some very chilly mornings in our dorm. Stone apparently wasn’t a good insulator and neither was our tiny window.
“Ugh. I can’t believe real classes will start so soon,” Blair groaned, turning off her siren alarm. She got out of bed and stretched. “Summer prep tests start this week.”
I gulped. “Let’s hope that Preston is easy on us.” I wanted to tell Blair that summer prep tests weren’t the end of the world, but then I’d be lying. Failing grades meant severe punishment. While our teachers hadn’t specified what exactly would happen if we failed, the looks on their faces during the past week were threatening enough. Since the day Blair had been bitten, she’d shied away from so much as volunteering answers in class, though she’d gone to the Home Decor room almost every night to practice lighting candles and oil lamps. She hadn’t told me how she’d been doing, and that made my heart sink.
Preston coached us as usual, with a different vamp teacher supervising every time, and our lessons moved on to magical gardening and music. I sucked at both, much to Peony’s delight. She took joy in snickering when I failed to produce a tune on the piano and failed to make a tomato plant grow from a seedling. Peony then waved her hands over the sprout, and it responded to her motions, uncurling and rising from the black dirt. Show-off. Oh, and obviously, she was a maestro at the piano.
The Nocturnal and Fae Prison Academy Boxset [A Complete Paranormal and Fantasy Series Boxset] Page 6
