Tilting my head up, I stared at him. “That is not all of your men. Where are the rest heading?”
“They should have reached the academy by now and will assist Cade with protecting the academy.”
He keeps his word and protects what he claims is his. I’m impressed. If he can keep himself alive on this journey, I will be more impressed.
I stood up. “We can continue. I just needed a few minutes to rest.”
His eyes swept over me. “You are tired.”
He stepped a bit closer and leaned down to peer into my face. His intense regard made me pull away from him.
I shrugged. “That isn’t usually me. I’ll be fine.”
My skin is soft like porcelain, but I don’t break easily. He doesn’t know me, and he’s concerned. That’s nice.
Zane waved his hand and he and I were in Stooberg. He turned to me and smiled. It was a devious smile.
“What are we doing here?” My heart slammed against my rib cage and I was almost panting. I teased Cosima about Zarin, but I was not prepared to see Luc.
What is the likelihood that Luc was home? Who am I kidding where else would he be?
I felt a hand on my shoulder. Every muscle in my body quivered. I could smell his scent and I inhaled before turning around to face my boyfriend. I had been avoiding him even though I said I wasn’t.
Sharing my emotions was worse than dying. It left me empty and feeling uneasy, but I trust him. We are on a mission. I do not have time to break down over seeing my boyfriend.
“Luc, how are you doing?” My voice came out soft and seductive. It does that when I’m nervous.
“I’ve been trying to find you. You’ve been hiding from me,” said Luc.
“It’s not like that. I have been so busy. Cosima and I went to the academy.”
“You past by here and didn’t stop to speak to me.”
My shoulders slumped. “You are looking at this all wrong.”
He shook his head. “I know you’re scared. I’m scared too, but we face our feelings together. Stop hiding from me. You don’t get to tell me you love me, then hide from me.”
“Wow. She told you she loved you. How did you get her to admit that?” asked Zane.
Luc place his arm around me. “She doesn’t like to connect emotionally with other people. It’s a process to open her up, but like a shell opening up, the pearl is worth it.”
Turning away from him, I cleared my throat. I could feel the heat traveling up my ears and knew my face would be as bright as a tomato soon.
Luc was right, but I didn’t like being discussed in front of people like I am not here. I am not mad at Luc, but I hate it when he does that. It should be a crime how well he knows me. I know him too, which is why I am not super shocked that he is standing here now.
“We are heading to the Realm of Dreams.”
Luc smiled. “I know. Who do you think has been shadowing Ivy the entire time?”
I glared at Zane. “I didn’t know you were involved. He made it seem like he knew firsthand where Ivy was.”
Zane smiled. “Come on, love birds. You can explain to him why you’ve been hiding from him, after we get Ivy.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I can’t wait until we get there, and she sees you.”
Zane waved his hand and we were in the Realm of Dreams. It was colder than on Earth. Night had fallen and the tree branches swayed in the wind causing shadows in the nearby trees. The ground was still wet, and the mud clung to my shoes. It was drizzling outside, and the patter of rain on the leaves sounded like a soundtrack for tranquility. The mosquitoes were little savages as they flew around us, and I swiped at them with my hand.
“Flesh eaters.” I grabbed my arm. Rubbing my hand on it, I felt the tender spot that was starting to swell. Pulling my sleeves further down my arm. I kept walking.
“You want me to slay them for you baby,” said Luc.
Shaking my head, I looked up ahead and frowned when Zane slowed his pace. He was looking at the run-down hut ahead of us. I was ready to get this trip over and head back to the academy, so that I could check on Cosima.
The house had a teal roof and what was left of the roof was falling apart. It looked like a strong wind would make the hut collapse to the ground. There wasn’t a door. Six large wooden planks of wood were scattered out front, so I assumed that was the door at one point. I didn’t see any windows, so I was not sure how we were going to get inside unless we jump up and climb on the roof. Raising my eyebrows, I stared at Zane.
I pointed at the ugly hut. “Why are we here?”
We are meeting my men here,” said Zane. He walked ahead of us. When he reached the hut, he jumped up and grabbed the roof and pulled himself on it. A second later, he disappeared inside the hut.
“He needs to work on his people skills.” I looked at Luc.
“He’s not the only one.” Luc glanced at me then walked up ahead, following Zane and approaching the hut.
Well Luc is upset.
Running, I caught up with Luc. “I’m sorry. I guess I just freaked out. I’m not use to this open stuff. I felt naked.”
He turned around. “You definitely aren’t naked. I’m not going to hurt you. I realize that I will have to remind you every day for the rest of our lives.”
My eyes started to water. I sniffed and wiped my eyes. All at once he was wrapping me in his arms. He bent his head and kissed me. My hands wrapped around his neck.
“I will strive to live every moment so that you never regret loving me.” I rubbed my knuckles against his cheek. He purred softly in his throat and leaned into my hand. I had missed him. I felt like someone had tossed my heart inside a blender and shredded it. I needed him, whether I liked it or not.
I stared deep into Luc’s eyes, as I caressed his cheek. “I could never regret loving you. You are my life, for now and always.”
“Luc, I don’t want to be away from you again. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.”
He pulled away from me. “You didn’t have to do it. When you get scared, you need to speak to me. I am not going anywhere.”
I sniffed. “You can’t promise that, and neither can I. Our lives belong to Valcrum.”
Luc clutched his arrows that were at his back. “Death can’t keep us apart. You have dedicated your life to Valcrum and so have I, so in this life, and even in the next, it will always be you and I.”
My tears were blinding me. Luc had reduced me to a snotty, sniveling girl, who was openly weeping outside. I wiped my face and tried to get myself together.
Zane appeared out of thin air with twenty witches and warlock. “We tried to remain quiet to give you two privacy, but we have company fast approaching,” said Zane.
I felt my face go hot. Pulling my hair in a ponytail, I looked at Luc. He pulled out his arrows readying himself for battle. The warlocks formed a circle around Zane protecting him. The witches spilt up. Some took to the trees. The others stayed on the ground.
“Who is approaching us?” I looked through the trees. I didn’t see anything, but I could feel the ground shake. Whoever was coming may have an army.
Zane narrowed his eyes. “I think its Nathaniel Higgins. He was searching for Ivy.”
Luc tilted his head and looked at Zane. “She isn’t the most powerful student or anything. I don’t understand why he would focus on her or leave Earth to get his hands on her.”
“She isn’t the most powerful, but she’s more powerful than he knows. He is focused on her because he wants his hands on me,” said Zane.
If Ivy was more powerful than Nathaniel knows, then why her? My curiosity is leaping at this puzzle. I can’t wait to meet her.
“Why would she come here, knowing that he wanted to capture or kill her? Was she dense?” I snapped.
“If he has her, he will kill her,” said Zane.
“I still don’t see how your coming would stop that?”
“He thinks if he has her, he can trade her for me.”
<
br /> I shook my head. “He can’t think that. That’s ridiculous. You wouldn’t do that.” I opened my mouth then shut it. The look in Zane’s eyes was all the confirmation I needed. He was willing to die for her. Too bad his life doesn’t belong to him.
Zane lifted his nose in the air. Tree branches crunched nearby. He snapped his fingers and disappeared.
I turned around and looked at the warlocks. “Go after him. Now.”
They shook their heads. “He commanded that we stay here.”
“What will his father do to you when he is killed?” Glaring at the men, I had my hands on my hips. I didn’t know these men, but it seemed like they weren’t using common sense.
Five of the warlocks ran after him. The other five stayed with Luc and me. I rolled my eyes at them. “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
A girl came running through the trees and skidded to a halt. Her glasses were at the bridge of her nose and she looked like a nerd. Her long red hair was blowing in the wind. Her cream shirt was torn, and the lower half was stained with blood. Her purple multicolored skirt hung to her knee, and she had on flat shoes.
“Who are you?” she asked. She glanced behind her and moved around us in a circle with her hands up. Stepping away from the warlocks she moved slowly past them, while taking fleeting glances behind her.
“Ms. Tussac, we mean you no harm. We’re here to help you,” said the warlocks. The men lifted their hands in the air to show her that they weren’t trying to attack her, but she still moved past them.
Zane appeared next to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “We came to rescue you. Nathaniel is after you.”
She frowned. “Zane, what are you doing here?”
She pushed his arm off her and he let her go.
“We don’t have much time. You are in danger. Nathaniel is after you,” said Zane.
“I know him, and his army of mutagens are right behind me. I have been fighting them for two hours now,” said Ivy. “I don’t know why they are after me.” She wrapped her long hair into a bun on top of her head.
“Nathaniel wants me.” Zane stood next to her. Zane looked pained and stepped away from Ivy to snap his fingers at his men. When the other five men came back to us, Zane glared at them.
“That doesn’t explain why he’s attacking me.” Ivy looked at the warlocks, but they averted their gaze and looked at Zane.
Ivy rushed to Zane and elbowed him in the side. “Talk.”
The warlocks balled their hands into fists, while others had their hands on their weapons. Zane shot them a look and shook his head. His men reluctantly stopped moving toward Ivy, but some still had their hands on their weapons.
Zane swallowed hard. “He wanted to use you to get to me.”
“He didn’t strike me as the stupid type. You are a prince, why would you give yourself up for anybody, except your father?”
“Zane is stupid. He came here to do just that, if Nathaniel had you. He wanted to ensure you weren’t killed.” I emphasized the killed part, and Ivy looked at me.
“What? You must be mistaken. We’ve only met one time, briefly,” said Ivy. She opened her mouth then closed it.
“Baby, you helped him,” said Luc.
“I’m just telling her the truth. She should know that she has the prince’s life in her hands.”
Nathaniel broke through the trees. He had twenty mutagens with him. He smiled when he saw Zane. It was the sort of secretive smile that made my stomach clench.
“Zane, come with me and she will live,” said Nathaniel.
Something wasn’t right. Nathaniel had been fighting her for an hour, but he hadn’t killed her. He was smart so if she lived it was because he wanted her to live.
Ivy snorted. “I will live anyway.”
“You have…” He looked at his watch.
I’m pretty good at reading people. It’s why I’m a winner at poker. It’s like taking candy from a baby. I have a gift for reading people and I am reading Nathaniel loud and clear. He is not bluffing.
“Oh, shut up.” Ivy snapped. She looked at Zane. “Get us out of here.”
Zane stared at her then his eyes dropped to the blood on her shirt, and then back to her face.
“I’m fine. Let’s go.” Ivy raised her eyebrows at Zane, then looked at the men around him. “We need to go.”
“She has seventy-two hours, before the poison claims her life. If you come with me now, I will tell you how to cure her,” said Nathaniel.
Zane lifted the edge of Ivy’s shirt. She had an open wound on her stomach that looked like a wound made from a dagger. Her flesh was open, and she had packed it with a piece of cloth. Zane waved his hand in a circle and the cloth fell to the ground. His sharp intake of breath sounded like a million rattlesnakes hissing.
That was not what was disturbing. Her entire stomach around the wound was teal in color.
“I’m fine. I can see a healer later, but it doesn’t hurt anymore. I don’t feel a thing.”
“I was too late. I’m sorry,” said Zane. He turned away from her and bit his lip.
Ivy frowned. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” She reached for Zane, but he stepped away from her.
Zane planed his fist in his mouth. “You have been poisoned.”
I looked at Luc. He shook his head.
I couldn’t let Zane give himself up to save Ivy. We would have to find another way, if possible, but I wasn’t going to let him give Nathaniel what he wanted. Why did he want Zane anyway?
Zane waved his hand and her shirt fell to cover her stomach. He looked at his men. “You know what to tell him.”
I waved my hands and a fuchsia orb surrounded us.
Zane looked at me. “No, she will die. You can’t do this.” He tried to transport himself out of the protection orb.
Zane was a powerful prince, but he wasn’t as powerful as me. I am part of Zena’s tribe, so he didn’t stand a chance. I closed my eyes to his screams. I transported us back to the academy.
17
Arianna
I paced back and forth in my room, like a junkie feigning for another fix. I can’t believe Nicolo and Bethany were here. They know where Kyra and Trevor are, and it is killing me. Biting my lip, I glanced at the clock for the fourth time in the last three minutes. Sighing, I rushed to the door. The need to know where my niece and nephew were, was killing me.
I just need answers and I’m going to get them.
Slamming my door shut, I rushed through the crowded hallway. I knew there would be massive crowds at this time, which was why I chose now to go there. I saw Audrey walking my way, but I was sandwiched in between a group of prissy students and the two nerdy students who were trying their best to blend in with the tiles on the floor. Hunching my shoulders, I ducked and walked faster.
Audrey is a great friend, but she can’t keep a secret. She is loud and bold, and I need to do this. I don’t want Cade finding out that I am interrogating Nicolo and Bethanny.
Turning the corner, I sighed and stood up. My shoulders were a bit stiff. I felt and arm on my shoulder blade.
“I was beginning to think the demons had slayed you or you had been kidnapped into being a sex slave,” said Audrey. She hugged me and stepped back.
“I was in danger but not of being a sex slave. It’s a long story, but come to my room later and I’ll fill you in.” I turned around and headed down the hall.
Taking Audrey with me is not an option. If I promise to talk with her later that might get her off my back. I might not have to be rude to her.
“Why are you running down the hall? Are we under attack or something?” asked Audrey
Gritting my teeth, I kept my pace brisk. “I’m in a rush. I’ll call you later.”
She jerked me around to face her. “There is talk that Liam is gone and that he was injured in the fight. I know you and Cade are close and I want to know what’s going on.”
“Audrey, you need to stop listening to gossip. Liam is not here righ
t now.” I jerked my arms from her grasp.
She folded her arms across her chest. “I’m coming with you, so you can fill me in now.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “I need to do something. Alone.”
“Too bad. I’m worried about you and you have a habit of getting yourself almost killed when you are alone,” said Audrey.
Rolling my eyes, I counted to ten. “Fine. Come with me but shut up and don’t ask questions.” Turning on my heels I continued down the hallway until I reached the access to the hallway that led to the basement.
The hallway to the basement was empty. After I reached the room where Nicolo was being held, there were four guards posted at his door.
Dang. Why did I think it would be easy? For once I need something to be easy and smooth.
Sighing, I walked to the men. “I want to speak with Nicolo.”
The muscular man glanced at his partner then at me. “Nobody goes in or out, without Cade’s approval,” he said.
Audrey snorted. “I guess you don’t know she’s his girlfriend. Go get him, trust me, he will approve it.”
My mouth fell open and my ears felt hot. “Audrey.”
She shrugged. “It’s not as though the whole school doesn’t know you two are boyfriend and girlfriend. I’m sure they know it too.”
The guard on the right frowned. “I wasn’t aware that Cade had a girlfriend. He does not date students.”
That’s why I didn’t want to bring her. When she opens her big mouth, someone is always embarrassed.
“We are just friends.”
The guard winked at me. “I bet you are just friends. I could use a friend too,” he said. He blew me a kiss and made his pectoral muscles bounce twice.
Frowning, I balled my fist at my side. “It’s not like that.”
“James don’t hit on her. Wait until I have confirmed that she isn’t Cade’s girlfriend. You know how protective he gets over his girlfriends.”
“Larry you worry too much,” said James.
James pulled out his phone. “I have a girl here who said she’s your girlfriend. She wants to speak to Nicolo.” he frowned, glanced at his partner, opened his mouth, then closed it.
The Pact Between Angels and Witches Page 12
