by Emma Dean
18
The hilt of Lucien’s sword hit her right across her cheek and Mika dropped, seeing stars.
“Jesus,” Lucien muttered, kneeling next to her. “I didn’t mean to hit you so hard. Normally you dodge that without any issue.”
Mika shook her head, gritting her teeth against the pain and the migraine she knew she would have later. “I know, it’s my fault.”
“Why are you so distracted?” Lucien asked, helping her stand up. They walked toward the table along the wall of the training center with various different first aid supplies, water, and tonics.
Mika glanced over at Corbin on the bleachers who looked like he could be sleeping, but she knew he wasn’t. Not that it really mattered. The raven had already overheard the conversation with Malachi. Knowing more about these people who wanted her would only help him protect her.
“I talked with the captain. He told me why he’s avoiding me.”
Lucien handed her a tonic and then opened the cooler under the table. “Because he’s a douchebag?”
“No.” Mika glared at the fox. “Because apparently someone is trying to get to me through him and he’s trying to protect me.”
Lucien grunted like he didn’t really believe her, but he didn’t say anything else. He grabbed an ice pack and then stood up to gently press it to her cheek. She watched him closely as he inspected the already bruised and swelling cheekbone.
The gold in his brown eyes always surprised her a little. It made him look so unique, so…feral – even when he was pretending to be nothing more than a hunter. His shaggy black, shoulder-length hair was tied back and the white shirt he wore was open at the neck and she could see his pecs.
Mika licked her lips and took the ice pack from him. Lucien was truly one of the most beautiful males she’d ever seen. “He said ‘they.’ ‘They want you.’”
His golden-brown eyes darkened at that. “Sounds like something else I need to look into. Shouldn’t be hard. He lives in the same House as Ethan.”
“Everything okay here?” Bartholomew asked on his rounds of the training room.
“It’s fine, Professor,” Mika assured him. “I’ll be good to go again in a few minutes.”
“Good! Because in a real fight you won’t have the time to stop and tend to your wounds. You’re all lucky you’re not in my fourth year class!” Bartholomew went on and on as he barked at people, walking around the massive training room with his hands crossed over his chest.
“How’s the other thing going?” Mika asked, adjusting the ice pack.
Those sharp brown eyes flicked to the raven and then back to her. “It’s going,” Lucien admitted. “How long are you going to have a shadow for?”
She shrugged and finished her tonic. “I’ve no idea, but I assume until the end of the semester if not longer.” There was a slight growl and Mika glared at Lucien. “It’s not that big of a deal. I have nothing to hide.”
Lucien laughed harder than she thought appropriate. “Sure, little witch. Keep telling yourself that.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her forward until she was pressed against his chest. Lucien wrapped his arms around her and then studied her face closely. “Don’t worry, Ethan and I will take care of everything.”
Mika felt flustered, but being held by him felt too good to push him away. “I’m astonished you two haven’t killed each other yet.”
The fox snorted. “There have been a few close calls. But, there is one thing I think you’ll like.”
“Oh?” Mika tossed the ice pack back into the cooler and headed back to their sparring ring. “And what’s that?”
“I told him I planned to ask you on a date. I figured I should at least warn him considering he convinced you to call him ‘boyfriend.’”
Mika choked and started coughing. She desperately reached for her water. It went down, easing the pain in her throat, but it didn’t soothe the shock she felt. “You asked him to do what?”
Lucien grinned and patted her on the back harder than necessary. “Oh, I didn’t ask him. I told him. But I am asking you, if you’d like to go out on a date with me and make things official. Since apparently that time we broke into—”
“Hey!” she yelled, looking around to see if anyone had overheard him.
None of her classmates or the professor were looking in their direction, but Corbin was staring right at them.
“So, will you go out with me?” Lucien asked with that infuriating smirk on his face.
Mika glared at him and picked up her sword. “I don’t know. What do you have in mind? After all, Ethan had this entire romantic evening planned.”
Lucien’s smirk dropped at that reminder. He picked up his own sword and held it to his chest for a moment to signal that he was ready. Mika did the same and gave him a little smile that she knew would set his blood to boiling.
“I can’t cook, and I don’t know anyone who does,” Lucien snapped. “But I can go fetch something. What would you like, sweet Mika?”
She gritted her teeth at that and narrowed her eyes, waiting for him to attack. “Surprise me.”
“Dinner and a movie it is. You’ll come to Wolfsbane House and I will make all your wildest dreams come true.”
The statement was so ridiculous and over the top Mika was too busy rolling her eyes to see him attack. She barely brought her sword up in time to block him, and she snarled her frustration. “You are the most aggravating person I’ve ever met,” Mika snapped, slipping to the side and spinning around.
Lucien blocked her overhead attack, but he didn’t see the kick to his shin. The fox cursed and growled as he tried to readjust his balance. While he was moving she flipped her sword like Corbin had taught her and drove it up, blade pressed to Lucien’s throat.
The fox froze and stared down at her in pleasant surprise. “That was a neat little trick.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” she said, smiling slightly. “I think I’m starting to get the hang of this again.”
Lucien pushed her sword from his neck with a single finger, a smile spreading across his face. “Does that mean my little witch will declare herself a hunter for sophomore year?”
Her smile dropped from her face and Mika twirled her sword, tossing it between both her hands to strengthen her arms and hands. The stronger she was the faster she could whip the thing around which was why she’d added weights to her morning routine.
“I don’t know, Lucien. Only one witch has ever been a hunter in my family and that was a long time ago. I figured I’d probably end up back in my family’s greenhouse. The plants are suffering under Claire’s care.”
They circled each other, Lucien holding his massive, heavy broadsword like it weighed less than her own, much smaller one. “If that’s what would make you happy.”
Mika narrowed her eyes, watching his tells. “I have no idea what would make me happy.” At this point she was still just pleased she wouldn’t accidentally end up a serial killer.
“Fair enough.” Lucien shrugged and then sheathed his sword at his back. He clasped his hands behind him and grinned at her. “Let’s play.”
She couldn’t help her grin as she crouched into position, both hands on the hilt of her sword. Sparring with Lucien was never boring.
“That bruise is disgusting,” Corbin told her, eyeing her face like it was particularly grotesque today. Someone was in a mood. “Being distracted could easily get you killed during a fight.”
Mika rolled her eyes but kept her ‘obviously’ to herself.
Corbin circled her as she stood on the roof of Oleander House. “You can never let your personal life interfere,” Corbin told her. “You cannot let emotions rule you. No wonder all of you fall so easily.”
Mika glared at Corbin. “That’s not what Kenzie told me.” And clearly he was having his own issues with emotions.
The raven stopped pacing and glared at her. “The void? Yes, we heard about that. But that wasn’t my flock. Don’t assume we’re all so incompetent. That will also get
you killed.”
Was he worried about her? Was he trying to get her to some level of preparedness? Mika was nowhere near ready to take on an assassin despite all her current practice. “It’s not like I could win against you anyway,” Mika told him, watching as he started to pace again. “I don’t even know how you disappear.”
Corbin whirled around to face her like she’d just accused him of something atrocious, but he didn’t say anything. He was clearly conflicted. Mika had never seen him so…emotional before.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Tell me something,” Corbin said instead, crossing his arms over his chest as he inspected her from head to toe. “What makes you so special?”
Mika took a step back, shocked and yeah, a little bit hurt too. “Excuse me?”
There was that sharp head tilt like she was a mouse he planned to hunt down. Corbin’s eyes flashed and suddenly they were glowing a red so intense it reminded her of the rubies hidden in her room.
“You were such a cold bitch during that first week,” Corbin said, his body so still he looked like a statue. “Then finally you spoke to me.”
Her chest ached strangely and Mika’s heart started pounding. She didn’t understand what was happening, but it was scaring her a little.
“I saw into your life and for some reason you’ve confided in me,” Corbin murmured. “I still don’t understand why, when it could be the end of you if I decided to tell the Council what I know.”
“But you haven’t.”
Corbin narrowed his eyes at her. “No, I haven’t. As you said, I would have to explain how I know what I know since you so carefully chose your words.”
She gave him a vicious smile. “I’m not stupid.”
“No,” Corbin agreed. “You’re very clever, dove. But what I really don’t understand doesn’t have shit to do with your magic, or your family, or any of that.”
Some of the fear eased with those words. But Mika didn’t understand. What was the raven talking about then?
“Explain to me why you have a witch willing to share with a hunter?” Corbin asked. “Why is the captain not worried about that, but rather keeping you safe when he clearly has feelings for you as well? Then there is that poor boy, Matthew. At this point I’m wondering who else is secretly in love with you. Your roommate perhaps?”
Mika was so taken aback that she really didn’t know what to say. She sat down at the table they’d pushed off to the side and shrugged. “Audrey is my sister. But I couldn’t explain the others to you. I don’t even understand it myself.” Was he jealous?
But that would mean he felt jealousy.
“Which is why I ask, what makes you so special that they are all willing to accommodate each other?” Corbin glared at her like whatever inner turmoil was her fault.
So Mika got to her feet and closed the distance between them, getting in his face. “Why don’t you tell me?”
His arms dropped to his sides and the assassin looked completely shocked by her unspoken accusation. This time it was his turn to say, “Excuse me?”
“Clearly you’re jealous,” Mika said, circling him like he had her just a few moments ago. “You have to be, to care so much. Are you annoyed that you’re interested in me – a disgusting witch? Or are you bothered that there’s competition? And here I thought you were just a cold-blooded killer.”
“You assume I can even feel something as petty as jealousy,” Corbin snapped.
She stopped in front of him and stared unflinchingly into his ruby red eyes. “Then why are you so mad?”
He opened his mouth, and then closed it again. The glowing red gave way to green and he stared at her in confusion as the anger seemed to melt away.
Mika’s heart started pounding again, but for a completely different reason this time. She took another step closer so that they were practically touching, but not quite. She slipped her hand in his – easy and gentle so as not to overwhelm him.
“Your emotions are on,” she murmured, searching those green eyes like they might have the answer as to why.
Still Corbin didn’t respond, but he also didn’t take his hand out of hers.
He was nearly as tall as Ethan and she had to crane her neck to look up into his face. On the roof of her House, under the night sky…Corbin was gorgeous. His blond hair looked silver under the stars and the waxing moon.
The tattoos on his body had always intrigued her, even when she’d hated his guts. Mika reached up to run a feather-light touch over the one on his neck. Corbin had a vicious beauty that had always taken her breath away.
But now she knew how conflicted he really was, and for some reason that made him even more attractive. Corbin was being vulnerable with her whether he knew it or not, whether he acknowledged it as such or not.
And even though this had been her goal all along, Mika knew it had turned into much more than getting him to take her side. She wanted him on her side. She wanted this man to confide in and learn from, but in their world it felt like that could never be possible – despite everything the Morrigan had said.
Mika blinked as she stared at him and realized she had feelings for him, real feelings that ran deeper than she could have ever anticipated.
“I need to leave for a few days,” he said suddenly. Corbin avoided her question and all its implications, but he also didn’t move away from her touch.
Mika’s stomach dropped out as the meaning of his words sank in. He was leaving her?
She shouldn’t care. It would finally give her the freedom she’d so desperately wanted, even if it was only for a few days.
“Why?” Mika couldn’t resist reaching for his hair. It might be her last chance while he was still in such an amenable mood. Who knew what he would be like when he came back from wherever.
The shaved sides had a nice texture she wanted to run her hand over again and again, but the longer, blond hair that was in the shape of a braided mohawk was soft, like she imagined his feathers might feel.
“If there’s really a threat against you, I need to find out what I can. The rest is…personal.” Corbin reached up and wrapped his long, deft fingers around her wrist but the touch was gentle. He pressed a kiss into her palm. “I’ll be back in three days.”
Then he took the necklace she’d given him to keep safe and lifted it over his head. Without a word he slipped it around her neck, the crystals pulsing the moment they touched her skin.
Mika hated that the idea of him leaving her actually hurt. She took a step back, wrapping her hand around the crystals, and mentally chastised herself. This was the perfect opportunity to finally talk openly with everyone and try to figure out what the hell was going on with Malachi before Corbin returned.
“I promise,” Corbin murmured, like his promise would actually mean something to her. “I will be back.”
Then he folded in on himself and the flapping of his raven wings softly brushed her face. Mika watched as he flew off into the night to only the Morrigan knew where.
She buried that bereft feeling down deep and turned to go back inside the house to find Audrey.
19
The study room was empty. Mika and Audrey set up the food and drinks just like they had last time. There was a fire in the fireplace again even though it wasn’t as frigid as the last time they’d met in this room.
With Corbin gone Mika needed to take advantage as much as possible. This would be the first time in weeks she could actually talk to everyone. That she felt a tiny bit melancholy didn’t matter and Mika shoved it down deep.
The raven giving her a few days alone was a blessing – not something to be sad about.
Audrey checked her phone for the thousandth time. “I don’t know if I should ask Natalie or not.”
“I said it was fine,” Mika reminded her. “If you trust her that much, then I trust her.”
Audrey grimaced and tossed her phone on the table. “That’s just the thing though. I’m not sure I trust her that much. This kind of secret i
s life-changing and I’m just not sure…I’m not sure this is going to work out.”
Mika wished there was something she could do to help Audrey, but there wasn’t anything in her power to do so.
Love potions were strictly forbidden and no one wanted a lover under that spell anyway. They became a stage five clinger and everything remotely attractive about them disappeared.
“Why not?” Mika asked, pouring tea into the various cups. The boys had better hurry up before her anxiety maxed out.
Audrey tapped her fingers on her phone and watched it like she was waiting for a very important response to come in. “I know it seems dumb when the whole reason we’ve been arguing would be solved by bringing her in, but why couldn’t she just trust me?”
“Uh, because you guys barely know each other?” Mika handed over a cup of tea and pushed the sugar bowl over.
Audrey actually snorted. “If I wasn’t sure you were straight I would be now. That’s not how lesbians work darling. If we were living in the real world I’d have already moved in with her.”
“Oh, so is she the top?” Mika asked, sipping at the exotic oolong tea.
The other witch stopped stirring and stared at Mika, who hid her smirk with her cup. “Stop confusing me! I thought you knew nothing about my world.”
“I don’t.” Mika shrugged and set the cup down. “But I do listen to you guys chatter.”
“She’s the top, yeah,” Audrey said with a laugh, grabbing a few of the macarons she’d made earlier. Mika still couldn’t believe she could make macarons, and they tasted better than the ones that cost a fortune in San Francisco. “But I’m starting to wonder if we’re going to break up or not. So, I’m not sure, you know? I don’t want to invite her in, and then have it all go to shit.”
“A blood oath like the rest of you took should ensure it doesn’t matter,” Mika said, taking the small plate of cookies from Audrey. “You two could go your separate ways.”
Audrey sighed. “Thank you for being so open, but I don’t think I’m ready. Maybe I’ll feel differently in a few weeks.”
