by M Guida
He offered up a throaty laugh. “Believe in us like I do.”
I studied him. “I do believe in all of you, but I just couldn’t bear to watch another one of you die.” Especially you. Before I spoke, I took a deep breath and then scanned his eyes. Even in the darkness, I could see the glint in them. “Do you really think we’ll be able to pierce Ryker’s magic?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I do. But it won’t be easy.”
That was totally an under statement. “It never is.”
Ding Dong Ding Dong
He scrubbed his face. “The clock tower? Seriously? We have a curfew?”
I stiffened and searched the sky wildly for Montae. “Shit. If we don’t go–”
He lowered his head. “They’ll come looking for us.”
“We need to go.” I spread my fingers wide over his chest, feeling his beating heart. “Now.”
“Yeah, I know. I know.” He slowly pulled out of me and rolled onto his side. “This won’t always be like this. Someday this blasted war will be over and will be together.”
I clasped his hand, and I thought of what he said. I never thought of what would happen after Legacy, or if the war ended, what then? All I knew was I wanted to be Lucien and wherever he led, I would follow.
Ding Dong Ding Dong
Lucien got up and dragged me up next to him. He put his hands around my neck and tilted his head. My budded nipples pressed against his chest and clasped his broad biceps. All I wanted to do was ease into him again, fall into a whim of bliss, and then sleep in his brawny arms until tomorrow morning.
Ding Dong Ding Dong
I groaned and bent my head.
“I guess we’d better go before someone comes and looks for us.”
I stepped away reluctantly from him. “I think you’re right.”
We quietly got dressed and then held hands as we proceeded to go through the boys’ locker room. Lucien opened the door, and I gasped.
Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap
Montae leaned against the wall with his arms folded across his chest and had a smirk on his lips.
Lucien narrowed his eyes. “How long have you been here?”
Montae shrugged. “Long enough. Your father sent me to find both of you. We have a long day tomorrow and he wants to make sure both of you get plenty of rest.”
Fifteen shades of heat whisked through me. Beads of sweat burst all of me, making my clothes stick to my slick skin. God, had he seen what we’d been doing?
Montae reached over and pulled a piece of grass out of my hair. “Was it windy in the arena?”
“Yes. Very,” Lucien snapped and lifted his chin high. “And we don’t need a keeper.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer.
“I didn’t say you did. Your father’s orders.” Montae gestured with his arm. “Shall we?”
Montae and Lucien walked me back to my dorm first.
Lucien tilted up my chin and brushed his lips over mine. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Montae saluted me and they both disappeared into the night.
They were both warriors, and I was expected to lead them and the rest of the Defenders. Last time my dad had been with me. I thought of the Path of the Burning Flame and what sacrifices of my team and I the Archangel Azrael would demand.
But one thing for certain, the only one making sacrifices this time would be me.
Chapter 16
When I got up to my room, Mina was already fast asleep. I quickly changed out of jeans and T-shirt. My skin was chaffed from Lucien’s love making and my inner thighs were sore, but he had been right. I felt more rested, more confident, and stronger than I had in a long time.
Tomorrow, we’d met as the Defenders for the first time in months. I didn’t know how we would move as a team. The Puriforgio Virtueus had taken months of practice, and even then we struggled to use it in battle.
I stared out the window, wondering how I was going to practice on the field, knowing what Lucien and I had done.
My eyes fluttered shut and a night of blissful sleep escaped me…
I was back on Mt. Elbert, holding my crossbow. The wind howled angrily and blood stained the mountain. My team laid dead around me, including my beloved Lucien. His hair brushed around his handsome face, his dead dark eyes staring at accusingly.
Tears stung my eyes, and I dropped my crossbow.
Bo stepped over the dead bodies.
He stretched out his arms. “See what you did? You murdered your friends.” He pointed his sword at Zayne. “Including my foolish brother.”
Bo pointed his sword. “You’re such a coward. Do you really have what it takes to take an arrow or a sword for a friend?” He laughed eerily. “I don’t think so. I’ll be waiting on the other side to punish you.”
I jerked awake in a bed of sweat and sat up with my hand over my pounding heart. Mina lay softly snoring in her bed with the moonlight highlighting her peaceful, serene face.
I threaded my shaking fingers through my hair. I crawled over to the window and gazed at the blowing thick pines and aspens. Even with the full moon, darkness loomed over the campus, but I could make out the faint outline of the arena.
Mina sighed softly. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry. Did I wake you?”
“No. Go back to bed, Raven.” She rolled over and turned her back to me. “You need your rest.”
My sheets and blankets were rumpled. I got down from the window ledge and went through my bag until I found a necklace with a dragon charm. Mom had given it to me the day she’d disappeared. I hadn’t worn it for some time, but always had it with me. I put it on and crawled into bed, hoping I could sleep without any nightmares.
“Raven. Are you going to get up?” For a minute, I thought it was Julie, and I was safe back at the Sumners.
I opened my eyes to see Mina dressed. “Don’t you want breakfast before practice? You’re the one who wanted to start at dawn.”
Groaning, I crawled out of bed. “I know. I know.”
Since we were going to be practicing on the field, I decided to just slip on some Legacy workout clothes that had been supplied in our room. I’m sure courtesy of Anton.
I tied up my hair and smiled. “Coffee.”
Mina opened the door. “I was just waiting on you.” I grabbed my crossbow.
Mina already had her blade. It wasn’t as long as a sword, but she was deadly in a knife fight.
We headed to the cafeteria and as we drew near. The smell of coffee and frying bacon made me pick up my pace. The Defenders were already seated at the Royal table, including Montae.
Montae picked up a piece of bacon. “Everything’s almost gone, Captain.”
I frowned as I looked at the heaping amount of bacon and scrambled eggs he had on his plate. “It is?”
Lucien elbowed him in the ribs. “Don’t listen to him. There’s plenty.”
Not wanting to tempt fate, I hurried into the kitchen and my mouth dropped. Instead of the professors, Anton and King Gregori frying bacon and scrambling eggs. They both had aprons on and had their hair pulled back. It was strange to see a couple of badasses playing cooks.
King Gregori winked. “Don’t worry. I can cook. My wife insisted I learn when she was pregnant with our crew. My speciality is scrambled eggs.”
He must love his wife very much, and all I could think of was how lucky she was. I wondered if my dad did anything like that for my mom. If he did, she never mentioned it.
I picked up a plate and King Gregori piled on two scoops of scrambled eggs that had bits of cheese and green and red peppers. It actually smelled delicious.
The oven dinged. He rushed over. “My blueberry scones are done. We also have clotted cream. You’ll have to try some. Lucien said you were partial to blueberries, so I thought I’d make some for you.”
He baked too. I don’t think my dad even knew how to make cookies.
“Thank you. That’s so sweet of you.” He definitely was trying to make
it up to me. Some resentment I held melted away.
He actually blushed as he put a scone on my plate and then Mina’s. He was a man of many talents.
Anton loaded both my plate and Mina’s with bacon. I was going to go back to get coffee, but when I came to the Royal Table, there was a piping hot coffee loaded with cream.
Lucien grinned. “Just the way you like it.”
“Thank you.” I wondered if he would bake scones or cinnamon rolls for me when I was pregnant.
His brows crinkled. “What? You got a silly ass grin on your face.”
I shrugged. “I’m just impressed with your dad. Scrambled eggs and blueberry scones.”
Lucien put clotted cream on his scone. “He likes to cook and bake, but he doesn’t always get the chance.”
Montae picked up his coffee cup. “Lay off on the carbs, Lucien. That’s your third scone.”
“You’re counting?”
Montae gave him a knowing look. “I’m not the one who’s going to be sluggish.”
Lucien narrowed his eyes. “We’ll see old man.”
Montae flashed him a grin that only meant trouble. “Old man? You’re on, little prince.”
Rhys looked between them. “What’s the wager?”
Lucien grinned. “Loser has to do dishes every night.”
Montae rubbed his palms together. “I hope you brought your plastic gloves, prince.”
Dante and Rhys glanced at each other. “We want in, too.”
“This ought to be good,” Montae said. “All the Royals doing dishes. I hope there are enough hair nets for all of you.”
I flashed him a sarcastic smile. “Pretty confident, aren’t you?”
“Do you want in?”
I laughed. “No, thanks. I’ve not intention in doing a sucker bet and end up doing dishes for a whole week.”
Rhys sat taller. “We did not do a sucker bet.”
I tilted my head, but didn’t answer. I was too busy enjoying my scone to keep track of the testosterone bets being thrown around the table.
Xavier was actually the one to arrive and had Dr. Greenwood tailing him. He had an awful scowl on. If he’d been a wolf, I believe he would have bitten the doctor.
He came out with a plate loaded with eggs, bacon, and two scones. He groaned when Dr. Greenwood joined us at the table.
He glared. “Are you my babysitter?”
Dr. Greenwood didn’t seem the least bit ruffled and picked up a scone. “Today, I am. I’m not letting you rip open those stitches.”
I flipped my gaze over to Xavier. “Xavier––”
Xavier narrowed his eyes. “Don’t even think about it, Raven. I’m not sitting on my ass in the infirmary. I’m a Defender, not a lapdog.”
I understand his pain more than anyone, and he’d fought so hard to get here. “You’re right. You are.”
Dr. Greenwood cast me a warning look. “Just to let you know, Raven, he’s in danger of ripping out his new stitches.”
“You don’t have to worry, Dr. Greenwood,” I said. “The Puriforgio Virtueus spell doesn’t require physical assertion.”
Dr. Greenwood folded his arms. “I know of the spell. It does not require physical assertion, but requires energy, energy that Xavier does not possess.” His curt voice spelled it out.
If anything happened to Xavier––stitches being ripped out, passing out, or any other damage––it would be my fault.
After Xavier finished his breakfast, the time had come. My nerves were on edge and I shook with anticipation. We hadn’t performed as a team for a very long time. I gripped my crossbow tightly in my hand. To be honest, I hadn’t even practiced with it over the summer. A decision I felt I would soon regret.
None of us spoke as we approached the arena. Our footsteps crunched on the pavement. The morning sun seemed to scowl that we were late. We would soon find out whether we had the power to take on our enemies, but nothing would prevent us from meeting them in battle. We would soon learn our strengths and our weaknesses.
Mina, Katona, and I went through the girls’ locker room while the guys went through the boys. So many memories rushed over me. This was where I first confronted my first doppelgänger that tried to kill me.
I shook them off and turned to Mina and Katona. “Are you guys ready for this?”
Katona nodded. “We have to show those he-men that we’re badasses.” She tilted her head. “Same as them.”
I grinned. “We will.”
Mina clasped my arm, and dread flickered in her eyes. “You won’t push Xavier too much, will you? It’s not just his strength that is broken, his heart is.”
I nodded slowly. “I know. Maybe a sword in his hand will make him feel stronger.”
“Or it could make him do something foolish.”
The misery in her tone made me wonder about her feelings for Xavier––her watchfulness in the infirmary, her protectiveness when he came into the cafeteria, and now, her uneasiness over what he would do today. She was walking down a path that would only lead to a broken heart.
Xavier carried an albatross around his neck, loaded with anger and sorrow. I’d heard wolves mated for life, and I doubted he had room in his heart for another.
I opened the door to find Anton waiting for us on the practice field.
Mina frowned. “I thought he was still back in the cafeteria cooking with King Gregori.”
I groaned and motioned with my hand. “Apparently, we have an audience.”
In the bleachers sat the three kings. This was worse than when I had to perform my dragon trials in front of the entire school.
Anton stretched out his arms wide. “Welcome, Defenders, to your first practice.” The apron, jeans, and T-shirt were gone replaced with his long black robe.
Just like Mina, Katona, and I, the guys fanned out around Anton. Montae stood at least a head taller than the others, but I had faith in my guys, even Zayne. He wasn’t Bo, but his brother’s blood ran through his veins. They might not be as brawny, but they each had the heart of a lion. I titled my head and couldn’t hide a teasing smile. “I thought you’d be back cleaning up in the kitchen.”
“Normally, I would have, but this is more important. The professors have volunteered to perform that task they will join us shortly.”
“Volunteered?” Lucien mused.
Anton gave him a small frown, but then turned attention to us.
Dr. Greenwood sat on a bench at full attention, his gaze never faltering from Xavier. If Xavier even stubbed his toe, he’d be on him like a chicken hawk on a chicken.
“Before we start the spell,” Anton said.
Lucien interrupted. “We?”
Armond’s eyes darkened. “These are dark times, Lucien. I will be with you when we go up against Ryker and Cormac.”
We looked at each other. No one said a word, but we all knew. Some of us might not come back alive, but there was no going back.
Anton walked over to Xavier, whose grim face had turned pale. “I think you all need to warm up by doing a job around the arena.” He clasped Xavier’s shoulder. “You may walk.”
Xavier’s answer was to pull back his upper lip. He was definitely not going to take an easy, and I hoped he didn’t collapse onto all fours. Dr. Greenwood would never let him out of the infirmary.
Mina stood by Xavier and the determined look in her eye, she wouldn’t let him fall. Just like Poppy, she would die protecting him.
I swallowed back my trepidation and hoped history wouldn’t repeat itself.
Chapter 17
I led my team on the run around the arena at a leisurely pace and was surprised that Anton joined us in this task. He’d shed his cloak and had on black work out clothes. No one passed me and I suspected it was because I was the leader, not the fastest.
I avoided looking at the spot where Lucien and I had been last night, knowing it would distract me and I would blush ten shades of red.
After the second pass around, I broke out in a full run, pumping my
legs and my arms as fast as they would go.
“I never thought you’d let us stretch our legs.” Lucien whisked next to me and then, in a burst of fury, he was gone. His hair flying behind him and his legs out striding my own. One by one the guys surged past me, all except for Xavier. He kept at a steady pace with Mina, who never left his side.
I halted after the fifth pass, catching my breath. The Defenders surrounded me.
The corner of Montae’s mouth turned up into a grin. “Tired, leader?”
“Maybe,” I panted. “I have to admit I’ve been amiss in my workouts this past summer.”
“That wasn’t wise,” Anton said grimly. “But it can’t be helped now.” He motioned toward our weapons that we had laid neatly on the ground before we warmed up. “Let’s see how you all fair with your weapons.”
Lucien and Montae picked up their swords.
Montae examined his and then flashed a challenging grin at Lucien. “Care to spare, prince?”
“I’ve been waiting for this, old man.” He headed out to the middle of the field with Montae trailing him close behind hind.
I held my breath, hoping Lucien could defeat him, but Montae was taller, more muscular, and a had been a warrior longer than Lucien.
The two opponents slowly stalked each other, sizing each other up, hunting for weaknesses. The light glistened off their swords, and I held to shield my eyes from the morning sun. In the blink of a second, the flash of cold steel pierced the morning rays. Lucien lunged first, putting Montae on the defensive. Steel clanked against steel, sending a spray of blue sparks falling onto the manicure grass.
Montae hadn’t been beaten yet. He broke away, spinning and crouching low in one fluid motion, demonstrating his prowess with a sword. He blocked Lucien’s attack and quickly turned the tables on Lucien, forcing him to back up. Beads of sweat trickled down Lucien’s temples and onto the collar of his shirt. He met each of Montae’s punishing thrashes and determination flared in his eyes, but the muscles in his arm bulged and he was breathing hard.
SWASHHHH
In a final quick movement, Montae knocked the sword out of Lucien’s hand and it flew into the air, and then embedded deep in the ground.
