Night Shade Academy

by Kelly Carrero

  He was really worried about me.

  “I’m okay,” I said, trying to brush off what just happened.

  He cupped my face in his hand and swept his thumb across my cheek before pulling away. “You were covered in fire. I hardly call that okay.”

  “I’m fine. Really,” I said. “I didn’t even burn.”

  He cocked his head toward my chest. “Well, your clothes did.”

  Eyes wide, panic overtook me as I snapped my gaze down, relief quickly following when I realized all my girly bits were still covered, and it wasn’t as bad as I initially feared. My jacket was singed beyond repair, and the first thought I had was how glad I was I hadn’t worn and ruined my unicorn pyjamas. Good ones were hard to find.

  “Let’s take a break for a few,” he said, his gaze still hovering over me in that overly concerned way.

  I headed over to my bag and grabbed my bottle, taking a sip as I joined Hunter, who sat on a wooden bench.

  “What happened out there?” Hunter asked. “Did you mean to throw the fireball back at me?”

  Playing with the lid of the bottle, I said, “No. And I’m sorry.”

  “I know you didn’t mean to hurt me, but we need to figure out what your triggers are, so I need more details.”

  “The fireball I hurled at you was just a reaction. I didn’t mean it. It just came out.” I twisted around to face him. “But what the hell were you thinking, throwing that fireball at me in the first place? Because I’m pretty sure you have complete control over what you can do.”

  “I do and that was why I wanted to see what would happen if I threw it back at you.”

  I snorted. “You didn’t throw it back at me. You sent a freaking fire tornado at me.”

  He raised a brow. “And you stopped it then decided to let it engulf you like any normal, sane person would.”

  If it were any other supernatural, I would’ve thought he was accusing me of being crazy. But there wasn’t an ounce of sarcasm in his tone. I shrugged. “It felt warm. And damn, I’ve been cold lately, so it felt really good.”

  “Interesting.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Turning toward me, his knee brushed against mine, causing that fire to ignite inside of me. “I don’t know…” He tipped his head back and glanced up, a scowl forming on his face. “What did you just do?”

  I pulled my leg away from his. “Nothing. I didn’t…”

  He gently took hold of my chin and tipped it up toward the sky, and that’s when I saw it. Sparks of amber glowed on the leaves of the tree above.

  This was new.

  He released his hold on me, the fire above dimming with his movement.

  I frowned, trying to work out what was happening. “Are you making the fire?”

  He slowly shook his head. “I have a theory.” He shuffled closer to me. “Keep looking above.” His hand closed over mine that were wrapped around the bottle. The fire grew, spreading down the small twigs.

  Then he leaned closer until his lips brushed against my neck, sending a shiver of desire through me, and the fire spread down the branches, growing in size.

  He pulled away, the fire instantly diminishing and returning to a soft glow. “I make you do that.”

  “Why on earth would you have that kind of power over me?”

  “Because you like me.”

  19

  Me liking Hunter wasn’t a big revelation. But the fact I was setting things on fire whenever he was close was a big revelation. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

  “Well, it sure looks that way to me.” He swept my hair away from my face, running his fingers down my neck and over my collarbone. Sure enough, the burning embers above grew then shrank the moment he removed his hand. When he moved to the other end of the seat, they fizzled out.

  “This is not good—and a little embarrassing.” There was no use denying it. I liked the guy. And if I wanted any chance of having another boyfriend, whether it be Hunter or any other male, then I needed to learn to control myself.

  “Actually, it’s kind of perfect.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  He slid down the seat toward me. “Because now we have another thing we can use to practice with.”

  “And humiliate me in the process,” I muttered.

  “Nope. You’re not going to feel humiliated or ashamed. This is good.”

  “Maybe for you.”

  He shook his head, as his gaze dropped to my lips. “No, because now you have all the motivation you need, so I can do more than just look at you.”

  I sucked in a sharp breath, and oh my lords, I was positive my face had flushed the brightest shade of red, and I was too afraid to look up because I was sure the whole sky was burning. Because I hadn’t just imagined what he said… “Is this some kind of unattainable promise you’re waving in front of me to get me to run faster—so to speak?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think you’d be crazy to fall for a girl who could wipe your existence off the face of this earth. And that it makes more sense to use my attraction as a tool for an unattainable goal.”

  His lips closed over mine so fast I barely saw him coming, but when he kissed me, my whole world lit on fire. But soon, he pulled away and slid as far away from me as he could. “Would I risk that if your feelings were just a tool?”

  Needing to get away from him, I stood and paced until the trees were no longer burning, and goosebumps spread across the parts of my skin exposed to the elements from my burned jacket.

  I swallowed hard, trying to get my shit together and figure out what all this meant. Why was I finding it so hard to believe this guy would actually be into me? He was a Dark, after all, but then so was I. Maybe it was the fact he’d been brought in to teach me that I had a problem with, because I sure as hell didn’t have a problem when we’d been training before I knew what I was, and also when he’d kissed me that first time to control the fire from killing bitch-face.

  Drawing my brows together, I halted and turned around to face Hunter. “Why were you able to calm me in the gym that day? Yet now, your touch makes me torch everything around us?”

  Hunter gazed up as a small branch fell from the tree, embers barely glowing in the burned out wood. “That I don’t know.” He stood and picked up the branch. “The first time I caught you by surprise. You had no time or inclination to realize it was going to happen. It was enough to pull your thoughts and emotions away from Reagan and onto me.”

  “So my emotions are tied to my power.”

  He held up the torched branch. “It looks like it.”

  I strode over to him, being careful to make sure I didn’t do anything stupid. “I guess we’re lucky you decided to train out here.” I held my hand up and formed a small orb of light, so I could get a better look at the branch, because there was always the possibility that someone had set me up, and I wasn’t some freak who couldn’t touch or be touched by the guy I had a crush on.

  No matter how much I tried to find a break or a clear cut in the branch that would offer another explanation besides my freakish curse, I couldn’t see anything. Just as I threw it onto the ground, loud cracks sounded from above. Branches rained down everywhere, as if there was a monumental storm blowing the trees to bits.

  “Go,” I yelled.

  Hunter grabbed my hand and snatched my bag up as we raced across the grass until we were back on the field, with nothing above us but the moon shining down. He released my hand and spun around to look at the carnage we’d fled, his mouth ajar in shock.

  Afraid of what I was going to see, I slowly turned around and realized what he was looking at. It wasn’t the trees in the distance or the mess of fallen branches below. It was the scorched trail of grass we’d just crossed, making a path to the trees. And it just so happened to stop right where we were standing, or more so where Hunter had stopped holding my hand.

  “They’re going to notice that,” I said, dread building inside of me. It wa
s one thing for Hunter to know I had a crush on him, but it was entirely something else for Bishop, Bethany, and any other person that was working on my case to know.

  “We’ll just tell them it was part of the training.” He handed me my bag.

  “You’re not going to tell them about—”

  “Whatever is happening between us is none of their business. A few burned trees and lawn is expected when we’re training someone like you.”

  Someone like me.

  My shoulders slumped, as a sigh escaped my mouth.

  “Hey,” he said, tilting his head down until his eyes were level with mine. “It’s up to you whether that’s a good thing or not. You have the ability to be the greatest power in this world.”

  “Or I could be the greatest downfall and wind up stuck in some supernatural prison with the original Shadow Walker.”

  “You could,” he agreed. “But the fact that you don’t want this power makes me believe that you won’t.”

  “I don’t,” I said, as if he needed my declaration. “I wish I could go back to being a Li—” I shook my head. “No, I don’t wish I could go back to being a Light because then I wouldn’t know the truth. And I wouldn’t have you and Nova. And maybe even Leila.” I frowned. “Not that I really know her. But she stuck up for me in class and again with Brody, which is a pretty good…” I released a loud breath. “I guess what I’m trying to say, and failing miserably, is that I’m glad I know the truth about the factions, and I’ve met some really nice people along the way.”

  “See,” he said. “An evil monster’s first thoughts wouldn’t be about friendships and truth. They’d be about world domination.”

  I laughed. “I’ll let you know if my thoughts ever go there.”

  “No, you won’t. I’d probably be dead, and you’d be well on your way to ruling the world.”

  Something Nova had said made me pause, wondering if her vision or whatever about us ruling the school was true, and if so was it in a good way, or had I turned into the most evil of them all? I made a mental note to ask her more about that.

  “I’m kidding,” he said, a worried expression on his face. “You know that, right?”

  I forced a smile. “Don’t worry, I’m not a snowflake.”

  He chuckled then his expression turned serious. “Will you be okay tonight?”

  “Yeah, of course. It’ll take a little more than me almost torching the estate to bring me down.”

  “Good.” Hunter ran his hand up and down my arm, in a comforting motion. When nothing around us ignited, he grinned. “Maybe it won’t take that long, after all.” He stepped back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He jogged off toward the side of the building to who knew where, to do who knew what.

  I made my way up to my apartment, expecting to find Kayla and Nova still hitting the books and trying to find information on what was happening to me, but when I opened the door, they were both sound asleep. Not even me slamming my bottle against the glass table made them stir.

  At least I didn’t have to explain why I wore partially burned clothing—and the humiliating reason behind it.

  I headed to my room, had a quick shower, and changed back into my unicorn pyjamas, calling it a night.

  The next few days went by without any hitches. We didn’t find any information we didn’t already know, and Hunter and I were careful not to touch each other for too long, or let our gazes connect in a way that lit my soul—and everything around me—on fire.

  I attended my classes, became closer with Leila, but still had issues finding common ground with the wolves. Other than those who were Leila’s friends, the other wolves wouldn’t even give me a chance.

  And that was where Hunter got the stupid idea I must attend a party with him.

  20

  Tugging the sleeves of my jacket farther down my hands, I eyed the wolves in the distance, near where I’d torched the trees, drinking and doing who knew what, while thinking the faculty didn’t know about their party. They knew.

  I rubbed my hands together, trying to calm my nerves. “Why are we doing this again?”

  “You need to blend in. Learn to become accepted. And what better way than when they’re all happy and drunk.”

  “Until they see me.”

  Hunter pulled on my elbow, stopping me from going any farther. “Then let them see you for who you are, not just what they know of you. You’d be surprised how likeable you are.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. He had that effect on me.

  Feeling the heat rise inside of me, I took a step away from him, knowing I must’ve looked like a weirdo to anyone else besides Hunter, but also not giving a shit what they thought. It was either that or let them see just how much Hunter affected me.

  I’d hoped we would’ve been able to slip in without being noticed, giving me a chance to slowly ease my way into the setting, pick out someone who didn’t look as if they wanted to rip my head off, and then put on my charm, but the moment I got within a certain distance, I seemed to set off their wolfdar. Their heads snapped our way, and silence enveloped the land—apart from the music, which was now deafening without anyone talking.

  “This is a private party,” some guy called out. “No freaks allowed.”

  Ignoring my need for space, Hunter stepped closer to me and whispered. “Ignore them.”

  Yeah, that was easier said than done. It was hard to ignore at least fifty wolves all staring at me, wishing I would set myself on fire.

  Respecting my space, Hunter stepped away then headed toward the fire pit.

  Seriously? The fire pit?

  Hunter was asking for trouble.

  Much to the dismay of every single person around us, we sat on a log, next to a couple of wolves who glared at us.

  “How’s it going, guys?” Hunter asked, trying to break the ice.

  “Good. Until you brought her here,” a lady wolf next to him said. “You know you’re always welcome here, but her…” She looked at me with disdain. She hated me, and she didn’t even know me. “You shouldn’t have brought her.” She took a sip of her drink, not taking her glowing amber eyes off me.

  I wanted to crawl inside of myself, but Hunter had other ideas. And if he was right, then I needed to do as he said. “Why not?” I asked, already knowing I was going to regret my question.

  “Why not?” She took another swig. “Because you are not natural. You can’t be trusted. You’re like a plague that is going to get us all killed.” She took another drink of beer. “If I had my way, I would’ve left this shit-hole the moment I heard about you.”

  “Right,” I said. “And are you a Seer or something?”

  She scoffed. “No. I’m a wolf, dumbass.”

  “So, then you can’t know what I’ll be if you don’t know who I am.”

  “We don’t need to know who you are,” the guy on the seat next to me said, a bottle of bourbon in his hand. “You’re not one of us, so I think we’re all still trying to figure out why you’re here.”

  I glanced at Hunter. It was because of him, but of course he wasn’t going to help me out. It was up to me to show them who I was. And as far as I could tell, it was completely pointless. They’d already made up their minds, and it was going to take a lot more than me popping in for a chat to make them trust me—or even like me, for that matter.

  “Now, are we done here?” the she-wolf said. “Because we’d all like to not have to watch our backs or call it an early night.”

  I rolled my eyes and stood. “We’re done.”

  Hunter grabbed my elbow and yanked me back down. “No, we’re not. Because while you all focus on what she is rather than who she is, you could very well be signing your own death certificate.”

  Their mouths dropped open then a second later they bared their fangs, as snarls ripped from their throats.

  Freaking wolves. No sense of humour.

  “Kidding,” Hunter said. “Zalia is not a monster.”

  “Tell that to Reagan.”

/>   “You almost killed the bitch,” another wolf said.

  “Only because she was trying to kill me,” I argued. “The bitch has major anger issues.”

  “That she does,” one of Leila’s male wolf friends said, taking a seat beside me. “Thought you could use a drink.” He handed a bottle of pre-mixed vodka to me and leaned in, whispering, “And another friend.”

  Smiling, I said, “Thanks.”

  “I don’t think giving a Shadow Walker alcohol is a good idea,” one of the other wolves said.

  “I have to agree,” Hunter said, making a grab for the bottle.

  I pulled it away from him and took a long sip. I desperately needed a drink if I was going to stay there with a bunch of wolves who wanted to make a meal of my insides.

  The night was going to be a long one.

  I ended up being a lightweight. I had never been a big drinker. Actually, I had barely ever finished a bottle because I always had to share it with Kayla. Plus, Lights were raised better than to get drunk. They preferred to get their highs by using stimulants of the magical kind.

  Moving onto my second bottle, I could feel the warmth spreading through my veins, and I realized just how much I enjoyed the sensation. It heated my otherwise freezing soul, which was kind of ironic, considering the fire burning inside of me.

  “Want another one?” Leila’s friend asked.

  I shook my head slowly, as I squinted my eyes at him. “I don’t even know your name,” I slurred, surprising myself.

  “I’m Thomas. The sane one of the wolf pack.”

  I held my hand out, which he graciously shook. “I’m Zalia, and this is Hunter.” I leaned back into Hunter.

  Hunter curled his arm around me, once again lighting the fire within my soul.

  A very dangerous fire.

  But almost as soon as he touched me, he pulled away.

  My face slumped, which didn’t go unnoticed by Thomas. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” I said, trying to come up with an explanation for my weirdness while my brain had gone to slush. “I guess I’m just a little cold.” That wasn’t a total lie.