Delayed Admission

by Heather Renee

  Making up an excuse, I left Gemma’s room and headed back to mine, letting her know I’d be in for the rest of the night. She was used to me preferring to spend my evenings studying, so I almost felt guilty when she didn’t question me, but I was too intrigued to worry about it for long.

  After I was dressed in my signature black pants and a grey hoodie, I brushed my hair and pulled it back into a small ponytail. It had grown a couple of inches since I’d arrived, and I was able to once again pull it back from my face. If Enzo wanted me to go for stealthy, then my hair needed to be out of my face.

  A knock sounded at my door, and I took my time going to open it. Even though I was eager to know what he had planned, he didn’t need to know that.

  “Oh, hey,” I said when I walked out of my room to join him in the hall.

  “Ready?” he asked, and I noticed he was also wearing a hoodie, along with dark jeans that fit his lean legs just right to draw my attention.

  “Yep. Let’s go.”

  His hand wrapped around mine as he pulled me down the hallway, moving faster than normal. “Are you in a hurry?” I asked with a slight laugh.

  “Sorta. Actually, hold on.”

  I didn’t bother to object. I knew what “hold on” meant. Within the next second, we were outside of his room, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I didn’t experience any nausea. I was finally getting the hang of teleporting with him, and my stomach no longer revolted against me every time he did it.

  “Did you forget something? I thought we were going somewhere for training.” When he told me to dress discreetly, hanging out in his room hadn’t crossed my mind as a possibility.

  He didn’t answer, just opened his door and pulled me inside before closing it behind us, then led me into his dining area where a table for two was set with a candle lit in the middle. On each side of the candle were covered dinner plates and wine glasses filled with red liquid that looked like elven wine.

  “What’s all of this? I thought we were training.” I was so confused. Had I read the email wrong? No, it couldn’t be that. Enzo was dressed similarly to me.

  “We’ve never had an actual date. I thought we could tonight.”

  A laugh built within me, but I managed to hold myself together. “And the dark clothes?”

  “They should come in handy for part, but they were also just to throw you off. I thought you might tell me no if I asked you outright.” Enzo oozed confidence with almost everything he did, but gone was the cocky guy I first met. In his place was another who was showing his true feelings, maybe even for the first time.

  “Really?” I asked surprised.

  “I guess. When you pointed out that you didn’t know anything about me, it got me thinking. Now, we’re on a date.”

  “I see. Well, let’s get to it then. Whatever you’ve ordered smells amazing.”

  When I moved to pull my chair out, he beat me to it, offering me a smile when I narrowed my eyes at him. Something told me he was up to more than just wanting a date from me, and I wasn’t ready to let my guard down just yet.

  Before he stepped away, he lifted the lid to my plate and moved it to the opposite side of the table after doing the same with his.

  Thick cuts of meat drizzled in a green sauce with the brightest-colored veggies I’d ever seen covered the plate. My inhale was deep, and I savored every smell that permeated the air around me.

  Without waiting for him, I dug in eagerly. The green sauce was something with avocado and lime that made my tongue tingle with delicious flavors. Groans probably too inappropriate for a technical first date left my mouth as I continued to eat everything on my plate.

  Glancing over at Enzo, I realized I was probably being rude. We were supposed to be on our first official date, and I’d paid more attention to my food than him.

  “Why aren’t you eating?” I asked.

  His eyes heated, but another emotion flashed within them I couldn’t quite read. “I’m rather enjoying watching you indulge. I take it you like the meal?”

  Covering a yawn, I nodded. “Probably the best I’ve ever had. What’s in this sauce?”

  A food coma was going to hit me hard if I didn’t slow down on eating.

  “Eh. Just a few secret ingredients. Try the wine.” He pushed a glass into my hand.

  Smelling it first, it seemed sweeter than the wine I’d had the previous weekend with my friends, but it still seemed tantalizing in my current state.

  As soon as the first taste hit my lips, a zap of energy ran through me. “Wow, that’s some powerful stuff.”

  He drank his own drink, seeming to relax considerably. “I’m glad you like it. After we finish eating, I want to take you somewhere.”

  Ah, this was where the dark clothes came in.

  “I’m going to guess somewhere we’re not supposed to be?” I grinned.

  “It wouldn’t be memorable otherwise.” He returned my smile and started in on his own food.

  Once we were both done, we left his dorm and walked downstairs instead of teleporting like he normally preferred to do. When we finally made it outside, he zapped us to the tallest peak within Shadow Veil’s shield. Bliss filled me as my eyes moved across the landscape before us.

  The academy was further off in the distance, and I didn’t even realize we could get this far from it. The shifter forest was between us and the school, stretching for miles I didn’t know existed.

  “We’re going to have to come here more often,” I insisted with awe ringing in my voice.

  Warm arms wrapped around me as Enzo’s lips pressed against my neck. He mumbled something, but I missed it, already lost in the beauty around us and his body pressing against mine.

  This was so much better than the training session I assumed he had planned. I only needed to figure out how to turn more of our tutor times into moments like this one.

  Chapter 16

  The rest of November flew by as I settled into a new normal. Monday through Thursday were spent focused on studying and training. Then on Fridays, I still had school, but it continued to be mostly spent with my friends. The weekends were typically spent with Enzo, without the stress of tutoring hanging over us.

  The most exciting part about the last month was Headmaster Stone said if I passed my finals with Cs or better, then I could end my tutoring sessions and continue on as a normal second-year student.

  I had taken to the course work with no problems over the last several months. The only things I still struggled with were my advanced elven abilities and remembering when it was best to utilize which race within me.

  Enzo assured me the latter would come with time, but neither he nor Headmaster Stone could be certain I would ever be able to fully embrace my elven side. We still didn’t know how much dragon was within me, because there still hadn’t been any clues as to who my birth parents were.

  When the time arrived for finals, Enzo and Gemma both helped me with my studies, and I ended up getting only one C and the rest were Bs. We had celebrated as a group with lots of elven wine.

  Second term break was upon us, and we weren’t back in school until after the New Year. While all of my friends were heading home to see their families, I was still stuck at Shadow Veil Academy.

  “I’m sorry, Raegan. We have been fighting Malina for weeks, but we can’t break the connection she has formed with you. To be honest, we’re barely keeping her contained any longer,” Headmaster Stone said in our latest meeting.

  We’d begun meeting weekly. They’d taken blood, hair, saliva, and even magic samples in attempts to locate my parents, but it was as if they didn’t exist. Whoever had taken me went to great lengths to guarantee there would be no way to link me back to my family.

  “I was really hoping to go to New Orleans with Jules, but I understand. She said she would come here, and Enzo will be around as well,” I replied.

  “Just know I’m really proud of how far you’ve come. The supernatural life suits you, and it’s nice to see you settled in.
You haven’t had any problems, right?”

  Hesitation took over as I thought about the only “problem” I’d had outside of Malina.

  Lyssa.

  She still attempted to screw with me on occasion, but she’d finally started seeing someone new, and it gave me hope that she’d officially be done with her games after break.

  “Nah, just the usual teenage drama. Nothing to be concerned with,” I said with a smile.

  “Very well. I’ll see you next week, then.”

  While leaving his office, I glanced back at him and noticed the deep creases in his forehead that hadn’t been there when I’d first arrived at the academy back in August. Malina was taking a toll on everyone.

  Enzo met me downstairs just outside the entrance to Magic Hall. “Everything okay?”

  “Yep. Same old, same old. No news on any fronts.” I tried to keep the disappointment out of my voice but failed.

  “I’m sorry, Rae.” He gave my hand a squeeze.

  “It’s whatever. As much as I have enjoyed my time here, I’m getting a little stir crazy, so it would have been nice to be able to leave during break, but maybe next time.”

  Enzo had eased my cabin fever each week as best he could. He continued to teleport us to every corner of the shield, showing me all of the places I would have never found on my own. The only area we hadn’t been back to was the hidden elven room in the library.

  Each time I had tried to go back, there were too many other students around, but I was determined to venture back there during break when everything would be less crowded around the school.

  “I’m going to go say goodbye to Gemma. I’ll catch up with you later.” Giving him a quick kiss, I stepped away to head toward the hybrid dorms. Except, before I could get too far, he called my name.

  When I twisted back around, his eyes were on me, swirling with a deeper brown I’d come to associate with stress when it came to him. “Be careful, okay?”

  Blowing him a kiss, I made my promise to be cautious. Sometimes, he was more overprotective than a parent. Outside of Malina, who hadn’t really been a direct problem for me since Enzo gifted me with the necklace, there really was no reason to be concerned.

  Arriving outside of Gemma’s door, my chest got tight as I knocked. We hadn’t been apart all that much since I arrived, and I didn’t realize how much I was going to miss her until that moment.

  “Hey,” she greeted me with a huge grin on her face. “Come to see me off?”

  “You know it. I couldn’t let you leave without one last chance to remind you of the things you shouldn’t do when we’re apart.”

  She laughed. “Yeah? And what’s that?”

  “Well, for starters, don’t try any more magical enhancements on yourself. It almost killed you last time.”

  “You mean you almost killed me last time?” She rolled her eyes.

  It was never a good idea to think about enlarging body parts when practicing magic. Part of casting spells was simply about pure intention. Gemma and I had learned that lesson the hard way when she accidentally made her boobs increase to at least ten sizes bigger than they already were. We ended up needing Enzo to reverse the damage we had both done after I tried to fix it on my own.

  “Shush. Those are just details. Also, don’t forget to bring me something from home,” I added.

  Gemma was from North Carolina, and I had never explored the east coast, but as soon as I figured out a way off the school grounds, we had plans to fly into New Orleans, then take a road trip all the way to her coven.

  “I’m going to miss you, Biatch,” she said as she hugged me. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay for two weeks here without me?”

  “Enzo will be around, and I’ll be working with the headmaster on some other stuff. I’m sure I’ll figure out a way to survive without you somehow.”

  “Not likely, but I hope you do. I’d hate to have to bring you back to life just to kick your ass for letting something stupid happen. Also, speaking of Enzo, are you sure it’s a good idea to have so much alone time with him?”

  A sigh escaped my lips. I knew what she was referring to, and I understood her concerns, but Enzo hadn’t pushed me for anything more than what I had been ready for, and I wasn’t worried about it. We’d had the sex talk, and he knew I was a virgin.

  I wasn’t saving myself for marriage or anything. I just hadn’t met a guy I was serious enough about to want to deal with all the things that went along with sex. Enzo could possibly be that guy one day, but over the next two weeks was not going to be that time.

  “Yes, Mom. I’m going to be fine. You have fun, but not too much fun, and hurry back to me.”

  “I’ll be back by end of month. We can bring in the New Year together,” she offered, and I gladly accepted.

  Hugging her once more, I said my goodbyes and left her room. She still had a bit of packing to do, and the van taking everyone to the airport and bus stations was leaving soon.

  After going back to my room, I ordered myself a warm brownie with vanilla ice cream drizzled in hot fudge. Nothing better than eating my feelings before preparing for almost two weeks without my bestie.

  I had lied when I told Gemma I would be okay without her. Five days into the break, I was ready to kill Enzo and the council, poke their eyes out and feed them to the birds. Maybe I’d even sacrifice their bodies to the gargoyles who watched me in hopes they’d stop creeping me the hell out.

  Pacing back and forth near the outside entrance to the commissary where I was supposed to have met Enzo, I decided I was giving him two more minutes before I ditched his ass.

  Since break started, every time we made plans, he was either late or didn’t show at all. We were supposed to have lunch before he had to go do something for the headmaster. Apparently, that wasn’t going to happen.

  Instead, Desmond appeared dressed in his signature cloak, a shade lighter than the headmaster’s. “Ms. Keyes?”

  “You can call me Raegan, you know?”

  “Right, Raegan. Are you busy?” he asked politely.

  “Not anymore. What did you need?” I asked, trying not to take my frustration out on him. It wasn’t Desmond’s fault my boyfriend was a jerk.

  Even though he was weird as hell, Desmond seemed to be strictly on the side of Team Stop Malina. The other three, Alexander, Bennett, and Fiona, were too hot and cold to really tell what outcome they wanted. I often wondered if they were secretly ready to feed me to Malina just to see what might happen.

  “I was hoping you’d come to the dungeon with me.” His face remained neutral as his words sunk in.

  He wanted me to go back to the place that got me into my current mess? Hell no.

  “I’d rather not be subject to that kind of darkness again, but thanks for offering.” I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm.

  “Raegan, I don’t have a choice. I need you to come with me.”

  Lowering my voice, I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t fucking touch me, Desmond. You might be stronger than me, but I’ll happily go down with a fight.”

  He didn’t bother to respond. Instead, he pulled his hand from his robe pocket and blew some sort of dust in my face before snapping his fingers.

  Before I knew it, reality slipped away from me and my last thought was wondering how many ways I could kill Enzo for not showing up to our lunch date.

  Awareness slowly came back to me. Slowly and painfully. I was laying on a bed, or at least I assumed I was from the soft surface I sensed beneath me. My head was pounding, and I didn’t dare open my eyes as nausea rolled through me.

  Feeling the blanket above me, my fingers traced over the nail polish Gemma had spilt on the edge of my comforter. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing where I was, then took my time trying to sit up. If I could do that without throwing up, then I’d attempt to open my eyes. Maybe.

  What the hell happened? I thought as my stomach revolted from the throbbing circling my body. Instinctively, I reached for my necklace. It had become
a bit of a habit of mine to rub on the stone when I was nervous or stressed.

  “What the fuck?” I said out loud, then opened my eyes and immediately regretted it.

  Running toward my bathroom, I emptied the contents of my stomach into the sink, not making it to the toilet in time. After I washed my mouth out and pushed the agony down that was rolling through my body, my eyes focused on the mirror.

  My skin was pasty, my hair was tangled, and there was a scratch on my forehead. Glancing again, I confirmed my necklace was no longer around my neck, and I could feel Malina banging at my mental door, wanting to get through to me.

  Much too slowly, I went back to my bed in hopes that maybe the chain simply broke and it was in the blankets. After I tore my bed apart and searched my floor, my heart sank. There was no necklace, and I was running out of time to keep Malina out.

  Closing my eyes, I thought about the last thing I remembered. I was supposed to meet Enzo for lunch, and I was furious because he hadn’t showed, but what did I do after that?

  I couldn’t remember, and I wasn’t sure what freaked me out more: the fact that I couldn’t remember or that I had no idea why I couldn’t remember.

  Raegan.

  Shit, shit, shit. Malina was back, and I was not ready for her.

  What do you want with me? I demanded as I sat down, trying to focus on pushing her out.

  Why can’t it be about what I can do for you, child? Have you thought about that? I’m not what you think I am. They’ve brainwashed you to believe I’m evil, but I only have the best intentions.

  I huffed. No way was I buying the bullshit she was throwing my way.

  So, you’re saying history is lying? You didn’t steal baby dragons and use their scales for practicing dark magic? Or the people you killed simply to gain more power? I didn’t need anyone to tell me you were evil, Malina. I sensed it the moment I opened the dungeon door.

  Opening that door was the greatest thing you’ve ever done, she snapped.

  Don’t make me ask again, Malina. What do you want?