Eventually, I must have nodded off because I sense a slight change in Robb’s breathing, and that’s enough to jar me awake. I pull back, my hand falling on his chest, and I can feel his heartbeat. It’s slow, slower than most peoples would be, but then again, human athletes have slower heartbeats than non-athletes, and werewolf heartbeats tend to be even slower than human athletes.
His heartbeat is a little irregular, I notice as I lie back down, resting my head on his chest. With a groan, he turns toward me and kisses the top of my head.
“What time is it?” he mumbles.
“Not sure.”
A soft laugh rumbles through his chest. “Do you want to go look?”
“No.” I hug him. “I don’t want to move.”
He laughs again, and his arms circle around me. The hug isn’t all that tight, almost as if he’s afraid to squeeze me, as if I’m the one who had fought in two battles instead of him.
Again, I draw back and gaze out the window. I left it open. Whoops.
“It looks like it’s well past morning.”
“We slept a good while then.” His lips quirk into that crooked smile of his that makes my heart flutter.
“Time for breakfast,” I announce.
He groans. “Class—”
“Don’t you dare worry about class,” I tell him. “You aren’t going.”
“Is that an order?”
“Yes,” I retort.
He just stares at me with his sky-blue eyes. They’re glowing more than normal this morning, and they are so bright and full of life.
But there’s also a haunted aura to him that makes me swallow hard.
“Robb, have you healed entirely?” I ask, careful to frame my question so he won’t feel insulted.
“Most of the way,” he admits.
“Is there anything you need from me?”
“Just for you to stay with me.”
“And risk angering my professors.” I gasp as if horrified.
“Please. The professors love you.”
It should come out teasing, but there’s a note of urgency in his words that makes me worried all over again. He doesn’t want to be left alone. Is he afraid Roald or Wyatt—or Roald and Wyatt—will come for him?
“I’ll stay,” I say for a third time. “You don’t have to worry about that, but I still want that date. Breakfast now instead of dinner. Where do you want to go?”
“You can pick.”
I grin, ease him to sit up, and hold his hands up to my throat. “Do you want to get changed first, or can we leave now?”
He glances down at his clothes. Although wrinkled from sleep, they’re clean. “Leave now, I guess,” he murmurs.
Immediately, I teleport us to Cinnamon Crunch. Once we’re there, he starts to laugh.
“Am I predictable?” I ask.
“Yes, but I don’t mind. Not at all.”
A different fairy takes our order this time around, and Robb has a bit more color to his face the more he eats. I insist on him eating his fill, and he puts food away like there’s no tomorrow.
As we wait for dessert to be brought out—yes, I insist on dessert too—I grin at Robb. “Are you feeling up for a race afterward?”
He groans. “After eating all of this food?”
I try to eye him discreetly as I attempt to discern the reason behind his refusal. Is the food excuse legit, or does he have another reason for declining?
“All right, fine. Tell me the one place you want to go to if money or distance wasn’t an object.”
He shrugs. “Cinnamon Crunch.”
“Because that’s where I am?” I ask.
“Yup.”
“Man, we should head to the dentist after here,” I tease. “Too sickeningly sweet for me.”
He winks at me.
Dessert arrives, and I let him have first crack at them.
“What about you?” he asks around a mouthful. He swallows. “Where do you want to go?”
“I would’ve liked to have taken you to a place that I used to go to all the time as a girl, but there’s no point now.”
“Why not?”
“It’s broken.”
“Broken?” He leans back, appraising me. “Sounds like there’s a story there.”
I stifle a laugh. “Actually, you’ve already been there.”
“Wait. I have?”
I nod, but I don’t give him any more hints.
Slowly, realization dawns, and his eyes glow even more. “That treehouse?”
I nod. “I used to always feel happy there. I guess that’s why I chose that spot to teleport, but I hadn’t been in there since I was eight? Nine? Something like that. A great deal lighter, and only with one person…”
“I’m sorry we broke your happy place.”
I shrug one shoulder. “I have a new happy place.”
“Oh, yeah? Now who’s the one being sickeningly sweet?”
I bite my lower lip. When’s the last time I felt this happy?
Never. The answer is never.
Once we finish eating, we wipe our hands to get all of the cinnamon off. I pay, and we stroll outside, hand in hand.
“Ready?” I murmur.
He nods, and I whisk us away to an isolated beach. Mom brought me here once. It’s a beach on an island that no one goes to, an island so small you can walk the length of it in one day, and that’s where Robb and I spend the rest of the day. We sunbath, play in the water, splash each other, collect seashells, make sand wolves…
It’s a perfect day even if Robb does seem a bit tired and out of sorts. He doesn’t stop smiling, though, and he never complains, and I’m falling for him even more.
Robb makes me happy. For now, that’s enough.
But I do want to know what my dad is up to. By the moon, I want to know what my mom is up to as well, but for now, Robb is all I need.
Chapter 28
Bellanore
When we return, it’s late. Robb insists that I don’t need to spend the night with him again. I want to, though, but I don’t push it. The last thing I want is to seem overbearing and pushy. We spent the entire day together. We don’t have to be together twenty-four seven.
The moment I set foot in the castle with my room, Ellamaria races toward me.
“What is going on?” she hisses as she wraps her arm around my waist, dragging me along to her room.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you picked a fight with Wyatt, didn’t you?”
“He deserved it, and I can’t even remember for sure who started it. I mean, he came up to me, with his insults and all of that, so—”
“But you two fought.”
“Yes.”
“And then what happened?”
I cross my arm as she shuts the door. This feels like an inquisition, and I don’t care for that.
“How do you know I fought him but not what happens next?” I ask suspiciously.
She lifts her chin. “Just tell me.”
“Robb came,” I mumble. “They fought. How… How badly hurt is Wyatt?”
“A broken arm, cracked ribs… He should be fine in a few days.”
“Wish it would’ve been worse,” I mumble.
Ellamaria flinches.
“Oh, come now. He’s tormented me for how long, and you’re going to judge me for appreciating that he was put in his place?”
“I’m just wondering what’s going to be next,” she says. “Robb’s been getting into a lot of fights lately.”
“He fought Wyatt to stand up for me,” I protest.
“No, I know. I get that, and it’s sweet, but if he keeps this up, he’s going to get himself expelled.”
My stomach churns. He’s the best part about Moonstone Academy. I can’t imagine going here without him.
“I just don’t want you or Robb to get hurt,” Ellamaria continues.
“Ah, so you’re Team Robb now?” I tease.
“Yes. No. I’m Team Bellanore. Team whatever makes Bel
lanore happy.”
“Then you are Team Robb because he does make me happy.”
“Good.” But Ellamaria doesn’t seem happy. If anything, she looks downright worried, maybe even scared.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I ask.
“You teleported off campus, didn’t you?” she asks.
“Maybe,” I say carefully. “Why would it matter if I did?”
"The lockdown is real." Ellamaria bites her lower lip. "Others are already trying to see if they can find a way around it. The werewolves are all on edge, and I don't know what they're planning. I can't tell."
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s not anything good, and if they’re trying to get around the lockdown, then hopefully it’s related to the vampires.”
Ellamaria nods miserably. “That’s my guess too, but I don’t think we should get involved.”
“Why not?” I ask sharply.
She glances away.
“What is it?” I demand.
“Wyatt’s really not happy about the stunt you and Robb pulled,” she mumbles.
“What about it?”
“Aren’t you related to a vampire?”
“Yes. Distant cousin.”
“Does the cousin attend Blood Haven?”
"Yes." I swallow hard. "They aren't threatening her, are they? Planning to go after her just to hurt me? I barely know her!"
“I don’t know, but I did hear people talking about you and you being a vampire lover and vampires being demons and all of that.”
“That’s absurd,” I fume. “Okay. You’re right. We shouldn’t get involved.”
My best friend narrows her eyes at me. “Don’t you dare try to pull that,” she snaps.
“Pull what?” I ask innocently.
“You don’t think we should get involved, but you just mean that I shouldn’t. If you’re going to—”
“Ellamaria, it’s bad enough that we’re best friends.”
“How is that a bad thing?” she grumbles.
“Because. They’re targeting Romelia right now, but what if they can’t get to Blood Haven? They’ll have to pick another target, an easier target, a werewolf target. They could change and alter course and make you the next target instead. The sooner you distance yourself from me, the better.”
“No way,” she says flatly. “You’re a member of the Ember pack too, and I won’t leave you.”
“If my mom did, then you can,” I say, my tone just as flat.
Ellamaria wrinkles her nose. “You didn’t just say that.”
“I not only said it. I meant it. Please. I’m asking you to be a friend to me and just let me handle all of this.”
“You can’t,” she protests. “Not alone.”
“I can and I will. Watch me.”
Ellamaria grimaces and clenches and unclenches her fists.
My lips quirk. “What are you going to do? Fight me so that I can’t stop the other werewolves?”
“A bit ironic, I know, but yes, I’m debating just that,” she says with a dark laugh. “Bellanore, you take on too much.”
“I take on just enough. I mean, I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?” she questions softly.
I nod firmly.
She hesitates. “Where were you this entire time?”
"I thought it might be prudent for Robb and me to disappear for a bit."
Ellamaria lifts her eyebrows. “And last night?”
“What about it?”
“You didn’t sleep here.”
“I was with Robb.”
She blinks a few times, her jaw dropped.
“Nothing like that happened,” I say, my cheeks growing warm. “He didn’t want to be alone, and I wasn’t going to leave him.”
“The more you talk about him, the more I like him,” she says begrudgingly.
I can’t help laughing. “You act as if that’s a bad thing.”
“Put yourself in my position. You want me to stop being your friend, and you’re growing super close to your boyfriend super fast.”
“He’s not replacing you.”
“‘Course not! I’m irreplaceable!”
We laugh, and I give her a quick hug.
“Just promise me you’ll be careful,” Ellamaria says. “It’s taking everything in me to not follow you out of here.”
I burst out laughing. “It’s not as if I’m your alpha.”
“I know, but it also…” The strangest expression crosses over her face. She shakes her head, and some of her confusion lifts. “Go on, but be smart. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I wink, and I leave the castle.
It’s one thing to sense sins, but as I stalk around the campus, I swear I can almost smell the growing tension. It’s a bitter smell that makes my stomach churn, and it leads me to a small clearing on the side of the campus closest to Silver Ironwoods, which rests between Moonstone and Blood Haven, albeit closer to the werewolf side.
The werewolves gathered there are ones I mostly don’t recognize, but one does stick out. Pablo Starfell.
I go to head toward him when another werewolf shifts to stand in front of me. I look up and up and up to see his face.
“What are you doing here?” he rumbles.
"I could ask you all the same thing," I say sweetly. "I saw a few guards nearby along the perimeter. If this is a party, we might want to keep it down, so they don't bust us."
He glances over his shoulders at the werewolves behind us and starts to laugh. “You think the guards here don’t want this?”
“Want what?” I ask innocently.
“They’re werewolves too. They hate vampires too.” The werewolf stalks toward me. “Do you?”
“Do I what?” I ask.
“Hate vampires.”
“I hate clichés. I also have a strong opinion about the Oxford comma. Do you? I mean, without it, things can become really confusing. Who wants to imagine JFK and Stalin as—”
“You talk too much,” the werewolf rambles.
“And I should care about your opinion of me when I don’t even know your name?” I cross my arms.
“You should care very much because if you aren’t with us, you’re against us, and we all have reason to believe—”
“You know me so well, huh? Then you should know where I stand.”
“You stand alone,” a female says from behind me.
I stiffen. Nia. Of course the witch of a werewolf would be here. Hmm. A witch werewolf. Are there any? That would be something.
I don’t dare turn away from the male werewolf in front of me even though I don’t relish having my back toward Nia. I don’t trust her, and knowing she’s involved with this crew makes me even more anxious. That’s the thing about numbers. There really is safety in numbers, and I have no one else here on my side. They have the number advantage.
But I’m not just a werewolf. I’m a demon too, and I know how to take care of myself. They will not get the upper hand on me.
But to ensure that end, I need to talk to them. This is a battle of brains, not brawn.
It takes everything in me to just stand there, silent, and wait for Nia to make her next move.
She stalks toward me, slowly coming around to stand near the male werewolf. They stand close together without touching. None of her normal crew is around as far as I can tell. None of the bullies are here either, but somehow, that doesn’t make me feel any better about my chances.
“You’re a half-demon. You’re related to one of the vampires, aren’t you?” Nia asks in a tone that suggests she already knows that answer. “Vampires are demons. Are you on their side?”
“I’m not alone,” I say, purposely ignoring her question in favor of correcting her earlier point.
Nia makes a show of glancing around. “I don’t see anyone here who will stand with you.”
“Maybe I don’t need them.”
Nia smirks. “A werewolf who prefers isolation to a pack. Doesn’t strike me as a smart
werewolf.”
“Or a strong one,” the male says.
“More like a cunning one,” I say. “I think about the future, and I plan. You want to go ahead and do what exactly? Raid Blood Haven? Fight the vampires? Kill one? What will that do? Start a war. You might think you want that—”
“Don’t try to tell us what we think we want,” the male hisses.
“He’s right,” Nia says idly. “We know what we want. We’ll go there, and we’ll do what we want.”
“That so? What makes you think you’ll win? I hate to break it to you, but vampires are faster than werewolves.”
Nia smirks and nudges the male. Those around them laugh.
“We have a way of evening things out,” he says.
“That so?” I ask, and as discreetly as I can, I inhale. A vaguely familiar scent lingers on the air, something I’ve smelled exactly sixteen times before.
Mystic Twilight.
Nia tilts her head to the side. “You couldn’t stop us if you tried.”
She claps her hands, and each of the werewolves holds up a cup. They all go to drink.
Before I can think twice, I teleport again and again and again, knocking each cup to the ground before any of them can drink, moving so fast I rival a vampire with their great speed.
Last of all, I knock down the male’s, considering I did Nia first. I’m so dizzy and don’t know which way is up or down, but it’s done.
Nia scowls, staring at her cup on the ground, at his, glancing back to see all of the other cups on the ground, the grass all stained with the spilled Mystic Twilight.
I give them a huge smile. “What was that about evening things?” I ask sweetly. “You want to fight the vampires? Do it with honor. Don’t you dare abuse Mystic Twilight. Your heart will—”
“That’s a lie,” Nia snarls. She inhales deeply and reassumes her normally cool attitude. “It’s a mistruth that the elders tell us so that we will be kept in check and not overthrow them, but we hold the power. The Mystic Twilight—”
“Your mom makes it, doesn’t she?” I ask idly, tapping a finger to my cheek. “I wonder how the alpha of the Forge pack would feel knowing that she’s allowing her daughter to supply werewolf teenagers with as much Mystic Twilight as they like. For that matter, I wonder how Headmaster Virgil Thorn will appreciate knowing that it’s being consumed on campus.”
Moonstone Academy: Year One: A Mayhem of Magic World Story Page 18
