by G. K. DeRosa
His lilac irises locked onto mine, and the expressionless façade he usually wore slipped away. “I wasn’t exactly pretending, and I’ve wondered what it would be like to kiss you for some time now.”
My jaw dropped open, and I was certain my eyes were bugging out like some crazy cartoon character.
He didn’t miss a beat, continuing on, “And regarding winning the race, I do think I deserve a little bit of credit. I have been spending hours tutoring you one-on-one. There’s not a single other student at the academy that can say the same.”
I still couldn’t speak, not after his prior revelation, which he just skimmed right over. The ice prince had wanted to kiss me? That was beyond unexpected.
He tapped his pen on my textbook, snapping my attention to the blur of letters. “Get to work, human. If you don’t pass your classes, I’m not devoting any of my extra time to helping you.”
I buried my head in the yellowing pages, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t get my brain to focus on the words. Then an unpleasant thought wiggled its way into my mind. “Drake, aren’t you a third year? Doesn’t that mean you graduate at the end of this term?”
“If this were a regular academy, yes, but the curriculum is rather fluid here. I can stay on if I choose and take more advanced courses and assist one of the professors. Given my position on the team, Ryder and Cillian have asked I do exactly that.”
“So you’re staying?”
“For now, yes. My brother believes we’re doing something important here, and he can get along fine without me. Until I’m needed to step into my role as his second, I’ll stay.”
“Good.” The word popped out of my mouth unbidden.
He smirked, lavender specks lighting up his unique irises.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, ice prince. I’m only saying I don’t find you as annoying and stuck-up as I used to.” If he wanted to pretend he didn’t just say what he did, I could too. As much as Drake drove me nuts sometimes, he was my friend and a great trainer. Without him, I doubted my magic would’ve become such a force to be reckoned with.
“Study date?” asked Scarlett, smirking. She and Aeria appeared from around a towering bookshelf and nearly made me jump out of my seat.
I’d already given my roommate the low down on the prince’s unwanted kiss, but she still liked to tease me about it. “Yeah, right. I’ve been waiting for you guys to arrive to put me out of my misery.”
“That’s not what it looked like from our side,” said Aeria, flipping a neon blue lock of hair behind her shoulder. “Raine high-tailed it in the opposite direction when she saw you two together.”
I groaned, spearing Drake with a dark glare. “How many times do I have to tell her there’s nothing going on between us?” I grabbed Aeria’s hand and squeezed. “Please, make her understand.”
She shrugged and sank down into the chair next to me. “Raine’s pretty stubborn. It’s going to take her a while to get over this. Especially when you two spend so much time together.”
“She was spending time with Des too.” Scarlett waggled her eyebrows. “Doesn’t that count for something?”
“Scarlett,” I hissed. I knew she was trying to help, but the last thing I needed was word getting out about my vampire-biting thing. And it was over anyway.
Drake squirmed in his seat and avoided meeting my eyes. “I thought we were supposed to be studying. If you girls can’t keep the gossip in check, I’ll find somewhere else to go.”
“Chill out, ice prince,” I said. “We’re studying.” With only a few days until my first exam, I shoved all the other swirling thoughts aside and focused on the text in front of me.
After a particularly sweaty workout with Ryder in our supe squad private training center, we walked back toward the dorms, the frosty air cooling my heated cheeks.
“Nice job today, mini minx. You almost had me quite a few times.”
“Almost?” I raised an incredulous brow. “Please, I had you on your back three whole times!”
He opened the door to the dormitory building, holding it for me to enter. As I passed him, he lowered his voice. “Maybe I wanted you to.”
His breath tickled the back of my neck, sending a wave of goose bumps over my skin. My cheeks heated, and it wasn’t from the warm air wafting over me. “Whatever,” I mumbled.
Ryder’s joking expression fell, his brows slamming together. “What?”
I shook my head. I was so tired of playing the Ryder flirting game. I didn’t know how much more my battered heart could take. “Nothing. I’m just worn-out and hungry.” I stepped onto the staircase to head to my room, but Ryder’s hand closed around mine.
“Want to grab some dinner together?” he asked, his usual teasing tone gone. “I can order some pizza, and we can catch up.”
My stomach growled. He had me at pizza, a rare delicacy in Azar, but I still hesitated. “Catch up on what?”
He ran his hand over the back of his neck. “Some new developments.”
Well, that was vague. Honestly, I had wanted to talk to him about telling the others about my warlock-ness. Maybe this would be the perfect time. “Okay,” I finally answered. “You want to meet in the seventh floor common area?”
“Nah. Come to my room. I’d rather speak in private.”
My eyes widened. “But Cillian—”
“Don’t worry about Cillian. If he finds out, I’ll explain it to him.”
“Okay,” I huffed. What the hell, right? I’d been breaking rules since day one. What would another forbidden visit to my instructor’s room matter?
After a quick shower—okay maybe not so quick, I did take the time to blow dry my hair and dab on a little makeup—I headed over to the faculty dormitories. The halls were quiet with most students studying for finals, which was what I should’ve been doing. I promised myself a speedy dinner with Ryder, and then I’d go back and hit the books.
As I turned onto Ryder’s floor, a familiar brunette Barbie strutted down the hall, her high-heels tapping along the hardwood. Ms. Mikalson’s perfectly shaped brows arched when she saw me.
“What are you doing here, Luna?”
It only took me a second to come up with a lie. “Something urgent came up with the team. Ryder asked me to stop by.” Luckily, she was one of the few faculty members that knew about our secret squad. I wasn’t sure how detailed her knowledge was, but it was enough that she didn’t question me further. She still shot me a sidelong glance as I scurried past her.
My skin prickled, some dark vibes radiating from the beautiful demon. I waited outside Ryder’s door until her footsteps completely fell away. Something felt off, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
Before I lifted my knuckle to the thick timber, the door swung open. Ryder filled the entryway, wearing a tight-black tank and low-slung sweatpants. His swirling tattoos covered his shoulders and trailed down his bulging biceps. I swallowed hard, forcing my eyes to his face.
“Perfect timing. The pizza just arrived.”
The scent of zesty tomato sauce and Italian spices filled his room, making my mouth water. A box of New York style pizza sat on the table by the fireplace, and my stomach growled again. “Is that legit from New York?”
He nodded, a sly smile splitting his perfect lips. “I had to call in a favor from Professor Arcana for that one.”
“He portalled into the city?”
“Nah, I went.”
My brows knitted as I looked up at him. “You went through all that trouble to get me pizza?”
He shrugged. “It wasn’t a huge deal. Plus you’re always complaining about how bad the Fae pizza is, so I figured I’d get the real thing tonight.”
“What’s the special occasion? Is this my last meal or something?” I grinned, but anxiety was spilling through my veins. What did he want to talk to me about?
Ryder chuckled, a thousand stars dancing across his dark irises. “No, nothing like that. You deserved a treat, and I wanted to do something special for
you.”
Folding my arms over my chest, I gave him a sidelong glance. “Okay, where’s the real Ryder? What have you done with him?”
“Just go sit down and help yourself before it gets cold. I’ll grab some drinks.”
He headed toward the kitchenette, and I dug into the extra-large box. I was practically drooling by the time my lips closed around the cheesy deliciousness. “Oh man, it’s so good,” I moaned.
Ryder returned with a glass in each hand and a pleased grin. “Well, if I knew that was all it took to get you moaning I would’ve portalled into the city a long time ago.”
I swallowed the big mouthful of pizza and sneered. “Very funny.” He knew very well how to make me moan, and the naughty thoughts alone made my insides clench.
Sitting beside me on the couch, he handed me a glass and clinked it against his. “Cheers. To surviving your first year at Darkhen Academy.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I haven’t passed yet.” I took a sip of the frothy beverage, and my lips puckered. “Azarian champagne? Are you trying to get me drunk on a school night, Mr. Strong?”
“Just one glass for a toast.”
My thoughts whirled to the last time we’d indulged in the inhibition-lowering drink. We’d ended up in a heated make out session in the middle of the academy hall. I couldn’t help but wonder who he was trying to loosen up for this conversation, himself or me?
I’d better get out what I wanted to ask him before he dropped whatever bomb was coming. “I was talking with Drake, and I think we should tell the team about my warlock-ness.”
“Drake knows?” His eyes widened to bottomless onyx pools.
“No, not about me exactly, but he does know Garrix is my father. He figured it out when he was helping me research my darker tendencies. Oh, and he knows about the skinwalking.”
Ryder shook his head muttering. “I don’t like it, Luna. The less people that know the better.”
“But this is our team, Ryder. We need to trust each other completely, and how can I ask them to trust me when I’ve been lying to them for months? Plus how long can we keep my portalling ability a secret? Assuming I can master it, it would be helpful to the squad.”
“You’re right; it would be.” He gnawed on his bottom lip, and I could almost see the gears grinding in his head. “I’ll discuss it with Cillian and let you know. But until then, keep it between us, okay?”
“Fine,” I gritted out. I knew getting him to agree wasn’t going to be easy, and at least he was considering it so that was something. I took another sip of my champagne, Ryder’s gaze heavy on me. “Okay, the suspense is killing me.” I set my empty plate down but kept a tight hold on my glass. “What did you want to talk about?”
He exhaled a long breath and twisted his body toward me. “It’s Luxora. She’s planning something big according to the Underworld rumblings. This came straight from my father’s lips so I’d be stupid not to take it seriously. After what those demons that attacked you in the city said, I’m worried.”
My pulse skyrocketed, and I took a gulp of my drink to attempt to settle my nerves. “You think she’s coming for me?”
“I don’t know, but I need to find out.”
“So what are you thinking?”
“Maybe it’s time I pay her a visit.”
My chest tightened. The last time Ryder had gone to the Underworld, he’d been gone for days, and I’d barely survived without him. I reminded myself things were different now. I wasn’t weak and powerless. I’d be fine. “If you think that’s the only way…”
“I think it’s our best option. I’d like to think I could come to some sort of understanding with my sister. Or at the least, find out what she’s up to.”
“You think she’d confide in you?”
His expression darkened. “Luna, there are things you don’t know about my past. I’ve told you before that I wasn’t always like this—I wasn’t good. My demon side is very attracted to the power Luxora embodies. Let’s say we weren’t always on opposite sides.”
“Oh.” The magnitude of his words struck me like a sledgehammer. I knew he’d lived in the Underworld for a time, but I’d never asked what he’d done while he was down there. He’d always been very evasive about it. Now I knew why. “And you’d still risk going to see her?”
His hand closed over mine, and he squeezed. “I’d risk anything to keep you safe.”
My heart flip-flopped at his unexpected words and the feel of his skin against mine. I’d been burying my feelings for Ryder for so long, and now they were all bubbling up to the surface. “I don’t want to lose you,” I whispered.
He pierced me with those impossibly black irises. “You won’t. I promise.”
Chapter 24
I slammed my pencil down and slid the packet off my desk, running up to Professor Arcana’s desk. “Done!” I handed him the final exam of the week as giddiness simmered in my chest.
“Very well, Ms. Hallows. The results will be posted by the end of the week. I wish you a pleasant winter break.”
“Thank you, you too!”
Cinder glanced up as I whizzed by to collect my belongings from my desk, her brows furrowed in concentration.
“I’ll see you after class,” I mouthed.
She nodded and bent down over her exam.
I raced out of the classroom to a hallway filled with students. Excitement swirled in the air. It was one thing all the supernatural species could agree on—the thrill of the end of final exams and the start of winter break.
So far I’d passed all my classes and after the Spellcraft test, I felt fairly confident I’d done well. Tomorrow was the end-of-the-year dance, and the following day, Cinder and I would be off to spend our two-month vacation in Draeko. I’d been beyond happy when Kimmie-Jayne had extended the invitation. Otherwise, I would’ve spent the entire break at Darkhen by myself.
“How’d you do?” asked Drake. He and Triston appeared, each flanking me as I continued down the packed hall.
“Good! I’m pretty sure I passed.”
“Perfect,” growled Triston, his amber eyes glowing. “I can’t wait to let loose tomorrow night.”
It was a full moon tonight, and I could always feel when Triston was jonesing for a good hunt.
“You going out with the pack tonight?”
His head bounced up and down, and he reminded me of an excited puppy dog. “So no wandering out into the woods tonight, Luna.”
“Please, I learned my lesson the first time. Never again.”
Triston bounced from foot to foot, his desire to shift rippling through my own veins. “All right, I’m out, guys. I’ll see you tomorrow night at the dance.”
“Have fun!” I shouted as he bounded down the corridor.
My own skin itched. With Garrix MIA with presidential business I hadn’t done any skinwalking in weeks. I missed it, which kinda freaked me out.
“Sometimes I can feel it,” said Drake, moving closer beside me.
“Feel what?”
“Your desire to skinwalk.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “It’s similar to what we feel with Triston wanting to shift or Scarlett needing to feed.”
I knew exactly what he meant. “Do you think the others feel it too?”
“Probably, but without knowing that’s one of your abilities, they wouldn’t be able to decipher what it is you’re experiencing.”
“I talked to Ryder about letting the rest of the team in on the secret. He said he’d speak to Cillian about it, so maybe soon everyone will know.”
He grunted. “Doubtful. Ryder would never risk anything happening to his little human pet.”
I punched him in the shoulder, and my knuckles screamed. It wasn’t as bad as hitting Ryder, but Drake was pretty solid too. “I’m not his pet.”
“I have more colorful descriptions if you’d like to hear them?” A wry grin curved his lips.
“No, please, don’t.” I shook my head as we c
ontinued down the hall. I didn’t even want to think what he thought about Ryder and me. The ice prince was pretty perceptive. It was time for a subject change. “So who are you taking to the dance?”
“No one. Taking a girl to the dance makes much too big of a statement. I’d rather go alone and not risk unwanted jealousies.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “It must be so hard to be you, Drake.”
“It’s certainly not easy.” He cocked a brow. “How about you, are you taking the vampire?”
The rush of approaching footsteps made us both spin around, cutting off our conversation. Cinder bounced down the hall with a huge smile on her face. “We’re done! I can’t believe it!”
She wrapped me in a big hug, and we jumped around in a circle, laughing.
“And that’s my cue to leave,” muttered Drake. “I’ll see you ladies tomorrow night.”
In keeping with our Darkhen dance tradition, Cinder and I got ready together in my dorm room the following evening. Scarlett wasn’t a big primper so having an extra person wasn’t too rough on the bathroom situation.
Plus, I needed some backup against Raine’s hateful glares. I stood beside my witchy suitemate at the bathroom double sink as she brushed mascara over her full lashes. Her fitted forest green dress brought out the emerald in her irises and accentuated her cascading auburn locks.
She spun away when her eyes caught mine in the mirror and nearly knocked me out in the process.
“Raine, wait.” I was tired of this unfounded animosity between us. Ryder had been right; it wasn’t good for the team.
She twirled back, pinning me with her seething irises and her hands firmly planted on her narrow hips. “What?”
“What’s it going to take for you to believe that there’s nothing going on between Drake and me? I don’t want to end our first year like this when I felt like we’d really made some progress this semester.”
“Make me believe it, Luna. Because every time I see you, all I can envision is Drake’s lips pressed against yours in front of the entire school and Winter Court.”
