“Are we interrupting something here?” Ophelia strolled out onto the blue mats to stand at my side.
Tucker shook his head and let his swords disappear. Confusion covered his features. “I don’t think so.”
I threw my blades down, embedding them onto the mats beside my feet. I didn’t know what to think. Terror and worry for him overcame me at the same time. I was pretty sure he’d just attacked me. My hands shook at my sides, and I just needed a moment to think. I stomped over to Ophelia and grabbed her hand. “We have to talk now.”
“Zinnia, wait.” He called out after me.
I couldn’t wait. I had to figure out what was wrong with him and I had to figure it out now. “I need to talk to Ophelia. I’ll catch up with you later, okay?”
Tucker’s shoulders hunched and he looked at the ground. “Um yeah, okay.”
I didn’t want to leave him when he clearly needed me, but I had to get to the bottom of this. I pulled Ophelia out into the hallway and glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to us. I leaned down and whispered, “Something is wrong with him.”
“Who?”
“Ugh, Tucker the guy you helped me save.”
She looked up and met my eyes. “Tell me exactly what you saw. Exactly Zinnia do not leave anything out.”
“We were in the training room…alone. And I thought we were going to work on my combat skills for the Magtrac exams. But when we started fighting his eyes, they flashed black. Like pitch black it was freaky, and then he attacked me.” The words rushed from my mouth. “It’s not the first time I’ve seen them go black either. They keep changing.”
Ophelia wrapped her arms around her midsection. “Okay first, let’s not panic.”
I shifted from one foot to the other. “I am panicking here. I mean he was super aggressive.”
“Wait a second did he attack you or was he just being aggressive during the training? There’s a difference.”
“Um.” I honestly didn’t know. I felt attacked but maybe I was being overly cautious. “I don’t know.”
“Okay, so let’s not leap to extremes. We don’t even know what this is yet.” She rested her hand on my arm. “But you have to be careful. Watch your ass with him.”
“Is it the hex? Be honest with me. I have to know what I’m up against here. I have to know what I need to fight.” I wanted her to give me something to do otherwise I didn’t know what to do to aid him. Helpless was something I never wanted to be, especially when it came to Tuck.
O shook her head. “It could be the hex or it could be a side effect from the potion. We need more time to figure it out. I mean the dude has go a lot of stuff in his system. He’s not going to be normal right away.”
“I don’t think we have time.” I curled my hand into a fist. “I’m going to tell Niche.”
I went to step by her, but O reached out and pulled me to a stop. “If you do that, they’ll lock him in a room somewhere and the hex may never reveal itself. It needs a catalyst, there is a reason it comes out. The only way to find out why is to watch him closely. Then we go to Niche and tell her what we saw so she can help us. But if you go too soon, we may never know. Then what will you do? Keep the pretty bird in its cage forever?”
She was right, if I said anything to anyone it could end up getting Tuck locked away before we knew exactly what was wrong. There was only one way to find out, let him go about his daily life and watch him like a hawk. “No, you’re right.”
“Good.” She shoved away from the wall. “Then we keep this quiet. And Zinnia?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m serious, watch your ass. No more being alone with secret lover boy.” She pushed away from the wall and walked back into the training room without another word.
I’m so screwed. The only person I could talk to about this was Ophelia…yeah I’m screwed.
Chapter 20
Zinnia
Ophelia’s breaths fell into a steady even rhythm, yet I couldn’t sleep. Next door I could hear Tuck moving around his room. He seemed to be as restless as I felt. What happened to him today? Was the hex causing him to be more aggressive, prone to showing off and fighting? Or was it a side effect? I had to know. “Screw it.”
I kicked my legs over the side of my bed and padded barefoot to the door. When I turned the knob, it creaked ever so slightly yet Ophelia’s breathing didn’t change. “So, we’re still going to pretend that I’m sleeping and you’re not sneaking out, right?”
I jumped back from the door and pressed my hand to my chest. “You scared the crap out of me. And yes, we are pretending exactly that.”
“I saw something in a movie like this, big sister sneaks out, little sister covers for her. It was stupid. Here’s a tip: don’t lock yourself out, and if you get caught, I’m so not covering for you.” She pulled the blankets in closer to her face. “Good luck, big sis. And if you’re not going to listen to me about not being alone with him them make sure you bring protection.”
“Ew, we don’t need condoms, we haven’t even…you know.”
She held her hand up. “Stop right there. I meant bring a knife or something incase his eyes go all creepy. I do not want to know what my sister is doing behind closed doors.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t call me that.”
“Whatever you say, sis.”
When I pulled the door open and peeked out into the hall, it was empty except a few pixies buzzing about. Kumi lay up against the wall across from my door. I froze. What are you doing here? I thought you went back to your room on the beach.
Yeah, no. Something doesn’t smell right. I’ll just be here.
I opened my door a little wider. “You can come inside.”
Kumi didn’t hesitate. She got up and trotted right past me, pulled the blanket from my bed, threw it on the floor and planted herself right on top of it. Make yourself at home…
The door creaked again as I pulled it closed behind me, and suddenly, I was nervous to knock on his door and try to talk to him. Not because of what happened today but because I was going into his room, at night, in nothing but my black cami and a pair of too short gray shorts that would fall off if it wasn’t for the draw string. I glanced up and down the hall once more, then raised my hand and knocked on his door. I wrung my fingers together as I waited and listened to him moving closer.
He yanked the door open and his eyes widened in surprise. “Zinnia.”
My jaw dropped, and all forms of speech were completely forgotten. Tuck stood before me in nothing but a pair of dark gray sweatpants. Sweatpants that fell so low on his hips that I could see every muscle in his stomach and then some. His abs were toned, and as my eyes traveled lower, they tapered off into a perfect V-shape that peeked out over the top of his waistband. Tan skin…so much tan skin. That wicked phoenix tattoo ran from just under is ear all the way down the side of his neck. My fingers twitched with the need to trace it.
He didn’t say anything else. He simply took a step back and held the door open for me. I didn’t hesitate to walk in. I spun in a slow circle, taking in every aspect of his room. It was nearly identical to mine, with large dark wooden book shelves, a four-post bed, and a heavy wooden desk. Two other doors told me there was a bathroom and closet in his room as well. The only difference between our rooms was his was immaculate and mine was well…not.
His door didn’t creak as he closed it and flicked the locked into place. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked past me to sit on the bed. “What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Oh no?” He spread his hands out behind him and leaned back a little.
I walked up to him and pressed my leg between his to spread his knees wider. When he let me, I stepped between his thighs. “Look at me.”
I ran my finger over his neck and down his jaw, forcing him to lift his gaze to mine. When his smoldering honey eyes danced with little sparks of red, I knew I was with the real Tuck. The one who was my soulmate, the one I fought to
save. “What happened to you today?”
“I-I don’t know.” He turned his head away from me. “I keep losing chunks of time. I remember being someplace one second and the next I was someplace else doing things I don’t remember doing. It’s not safe for you to be around me, Zin. You shouldn’t be here.”
Since the day I met him, I wanted to run my fingers through his hair. Now I didn’t hold back. I let my hands brush through those auburn locks as I moved in closer to him. “I almost lost you. You can’t ask me to be away from you right now. I need to be here to feel you next to me.”
He leaned forward and wrapped his hands around the backs of my thighs. His touch was so much warmer than everyone else’s. I could feel the roughness of his warrior hands against my skin, and his fingers rose higher and higher. When he looked up at me, I could see the questions in his eyes, could see him hesitate to touch me. But this was Tuck. He was mine and I was his. I wanted him to touch me. I wanted to feel how alive he was after he came so close to death only days ago. I wanted to be around him while his eyes were honey and I knew he was himself.
I leaned down and pressed my lips to his. Strands of his hair tangled with in my grip as I moved closer. Tuck dug his fingers into my legs as he lifted me up and brought me back down to straddle his lap. I sucked in a breath and smiled into our kiss. His arms wrapped around me in a tight grip, pulling me closer to him. My chest pressed into his, and I could feel his pounding heart though the thin material of my tank top.
The world titled sideways, and he spun around and tossed me onto his bed. I fell back, landing in the soft pillows. Tendrils of my hair fanned out over the burgundy sheets. Tuck crawled up my body and settled himself over me. Though we were both still in our clothes, this was the closest we’d ever been, and I wanted it, wanted him more than anything.
He leaned down and brushed is nose against mine. “You are so beautiful.”
When he brushed his lips against mine, I found hands running up his bare back and holding him tighter. My nails dug into his skin and pulled him close, wanting to feel him against me. “Is this okay?”
He nodded. “More than okay.” His eyes flashed black, and he shook his head.
“What’s wrong?” I pressed my hands to the sides of his face, forcing him to meet my eye. “Look at me. You need to stay with me here, Tuck. Fight this.”
The onyx melted away, back to his warm honey color. He slumped over and moved to lie beside me. He plucked up a strand of my hair and toyed with it, wrapping it around his fingers. “I want to be with you, Zin. But I have to figure this out first. If something happened to you because of me…”
“Nothing is going to happen.” I wanted to reassure him, to help him see that nothing, not even a hex, could tear us apart. But even I questioned if it was safe to be around him or not.
He pressed his lips together and nodded. “Yeah, it’ll be okay. But for now, why don’t you just stay here a little longer, okay?”
I curled onto my side and pulled one of his pillows under my head. Tucker wrapped his body around mine, spooning me. When he wound his arm over my hip, I grabbed his hand and brought it closer to me. His fingers entwined with mine, and we lay like that—for how long, I didn’t know. Long enough for his body to go limp against mine and his breaths to grow deep and even. My eyes grew heavy. I let myself drift off, surrounded by his warmth and with his fingers tightly wrapped in mine.
Chapter 21
Tucker
“The power to bind is the power to hate. Destroy that which you hold as your dearest mate. Forfeit the balance of sanity’s mind if hate does not rise and claim her life in three weeks’ time. Turn to the hunt and let the games begin. Taking her life is the only way to win.”
His voice whispered through my mind, low and hissing. With each breath I took, choking smog filled my lungs and burned my body like acid from the inside out. I wanted to push him away, but I was trapped, caught within his clutches. My arms and legs thrashed, and the sense of falling seeped into my stomach. I fought against it with everything in me. A scream tore its way up my throat.
“Tuck! Tuck, wake up!” Someone shook my shoulders so hard my eyes shot wide.
I scrambled back up the bed and looked down at myself. Blackness forked out in my veins and ran all over my body. A thick smoke covered my hands, and when I looked up, the room was covered in a haze. “Zinnia? Zin.”
I tumbled from the bed and shoved myself up against the wall. That voice whispered in my mind. Destroy that which you hold as your dearest mate? NEVER! I drew my sword, ready to fight him off. The curse of trying to kill my Zinnia. The hazy mist slowly lifted from my vision, and my darkened bedroom came into view. I pressed my back to the wall and fought to catch my breath. I ran my hand through my hair only to find it covered in sweat.
Zinnia stood next to my bed with a blanket pulled up to her neck. She held one of her hands out to me. “Tucker? Tucker Brand, you are okay?”
Am I okay? My eyes darted around the room, looking for the voice that beckoned me to hurt her, the man I now hated more than any other in the world. I rubbed at my eyes. “Where is he?”
“Where is who? There’s no one here with us.” She took a step closer. “It’s just you and me.”
I shook my head, ready to fight for her, to die for her. “No, he was here. I heard him.”
“Tuck, put the sword down. It’s just us. You had a nightmare.” Zinnia came even closer to me.
Claim her life in three weeks’ time. I dropped the sword to the ground like it’d burned my hand. Claim her life? Never. I reached out and pulled Zinnia into my arms and pressed my nose to her hair, inhaling her sugary vanilla scent.
When she wound her arms around my waist and hugged me to her, my heart sunk. “Don’t worry, Tuck. We’ll figure this out. It’s going to be okay.”
How is any of this going to be okay? “I know, it’ll all be okay.” I would never hurt her, and if I had to go insane to protect her from myself, then so be it. I pressed a kiss to her hair. “You better go before everyone else wakes up. If anyone sees you leaving my room…”
“I know.” She tipped her head back and pressed her hand to my cheek. “You sure you’re okay?”
Not in the least. “Yeah, it was just a nightmare.” Or was it? “I’ll be fine.”
Once I figured out how to break this hex and not kill my soulmate, everything would be fine…maybe.
Chapter 22
Nova
I sat on a stool in the middle of the room. Potions class was going to start any second and Zinnia had yet to get here. There were nine other lab tables. Each of them was a long rectangular shape with a heavy cauldron in the middle of it surrounded by vials, flasks and tubes. A burner sat just beside it. Everyone else’s tables were filled with lab partners, and mine had yet to arrive. I tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear and pulled my book out from my backpack.
“Ugh.” Zinnia slammed her bag down on the table next to me.
My head shot up, and I could instantly tell something was wrong. Dark circles hung under eyes, and her hair was wilder than usual, sticking out in a million different directions. She wore a big baggy hoddie, jeans and Uggs. An outfit that took zero effort. “What the hell happened to you?”
“I didn’t sleep well.” She yanked her book and notebook from her bag and slammed it down on the table. People at the tables next to us all turned to look at her. Zinnia froze and glared at them. “What?”
I held my hands up. “Whoa, cool it there, tiger. What’s going on?”
Zinnia climbed onto the stool next to mine and leaned in closer to whisper, “Tucker. He’s not okay. I mean, we knew the potion would only wake him up so the hex could present itself, but so far I think it’s just driving him to the brink of insanity. And things have been happening.”
“Wait a second, what kind of things?”
She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and glanced around the room. “His eyes have flashed black a couple times and I think…” her voice cr
acked. “I think the hex is presenting itself but we don’t know what it is.”
I leaned in and tilted my head in her direction making sure no one could see my mouth. “Who’s we?”
She groaned. “Ophelia.”
“Ophelia? Really? You trust her with this.” I began to stand up. “We need to talk to Niche.”
Zinnia’s hand shot out and she pulled me back down. “No, if we do that what do you think they’ll do?”
I peeled her death grip from my forearm. “They’ll isolate him from the rest of us to try and keep us safe.”
She nodded. “Yes, and if they lock him in a room somewhere, we will never figure out what the hex is. And that means we will never cure him of it. Ophelia said the only way for the hex to be revealed is to let him go about his normal life until it’s obvious.”
“Unfortunately, that’s true. I learned it in my curses class last year.” I bit my bottom lip. “But Zin, this is serious. He could hurt you or someone else.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think he will, not really.”
The other students were still chatting and laughing among each other. It was loud enough so no one could hear us. Even so, I scooted my stool closer to hers and leaned in. “What makes you say that?”
“Last night I was in his room and I—”
“Hold up, what were you doing in his room?” I knew there was something between the two of them. But any kind of relationship between Knights and queens was strictly forbidden. It could endanger the whole crew if two of them favored each other over the rest of us. But I knew Tuck and Zinnia would never do that. Even if they loved each other, the crew would come first.
“I was, um, well, I was…” The room fell completely silent and the door slammed, drawing my attention away from Zinnia and toward the front.
Ophelia stood just inside the door wearing black fishnet stockings, a stretchy pink pencil skirt, and a leather jacket that cut off just at her elbows. Her long black hair was wound in a big puffy bun on the top of her head. The outfit was a far cry from the Wednesday Addams look I’d seen her in when she was working for her father. She glanced round the room, then looked behind her. “What? Is my skirt stuck in the back of my fishnets? Do I have an emergency girl code going on or something?”
Wicked Hex (The Royals: Witch Court Book 3) Page 12
