“Where were you, yesterday,” he demanded without preamble.
There it was. She froze, hiding a smirk. He’d seen her with Professor Nolen and was jealous.
Typical.
Hailey squared her shoulders and lifted her chin as she looked back over her shoulder. “I beg your pardon, but I am sure I don't understand you.”
“You missed tea.”
“You missed your training session,” she replied, looking pointedly at his pristine workout kit.
“You always have tea.”
Is it wrong to be enjoying brushing him off like this? She shrugged. “I was otherwise occupied.”
“What were you doing?” Cassius came down the steps with the slow, precise, deliberate movements that made him such a force to be reckoned with in the arena.
Hailey summoned all her royal training and reserve, channeling it into an outraged hauteur that, if it burned, it was because of the excessive chill in her voice. "I fail to see what business of it is yours. We are no longer a couple—at your behest, may I remind you—and therefore, I am no longer obligated to inform you of my whereabouts.”
There, now, that was a speech her namesake great-grandmother Queen Hailey would have been proud of. There was something about priggish Victorian outrage that was so very satisfying, or at least it would have been if Cassius had had the decency to be intimidated by it. Instead, he kept coming until they were toe-to-toe, and he loomed over her.
Her heart twitched in a spasm of pain at the memory of the way she used to love how tall he was and how safe and cherished she felt when she melted against his towering frame. Even now, it took a supreme burst of willpower not to lean into him, or at the very least deliberately inhale to catch a whiff of his scent.
Instead, she breathed shallowly and held her ground.
“Hailey,” he said, lowering his voice. “We really need to talk. I mean, in private, and you need to hear me out.”
She placed a hand on his chest and pushed him back. The feel of the tight muscles under his shirt almost made her lose her composure. Still, she frowned at him, refusing to submit.
“We have nothing to talk about, Cassius.”
“It’s about Libby. There is something you should know.”
“Ugh,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Did you have to say her name? I know all I need to know about Libby, thank you very much.”
Instead of replying, he took her by the arm and pulled her away from the staircase and to the hallway.
“What are you doing? Let go of me,” Hailey said, her face flushed with embarrassment. It seemed that he was the only person on campus bold enough to treat her as less than their future queen. It was a side effect of being best friends since childhood…and lovers since freshman year at the University.
Ignoring her protests, he pulled her along down hallway and pushed open the door to one of the janitor’s closets. In the darkness, he let go of her and took in a deep breath.
She hated the dark, and so, she lit a flame above her hand and released it into the air. Dim light filled the room and illuminated Cassius’ face as he ran his hands through his hair.
He pressed her against the wall, and their eyes locked. “Will you stop being so stubborn and listen to me? Can I have that one courtesy after all we’ve been through?”
She licked her lips without realizing it as her eyes rested on his. Her heart hurt to keep the cold façade she’d crafted up around him. “What is it, Cassius? Spit it out.”
“You need to listen to me. Enough of this ignoring each other and pretending we’re not in love.”
“Whoa,” she said, her eyes widening. “What’s this love nonsense? You don’t love me. You’re with Libby, remember?”
He let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m not.”
“Then why didn’t you call me all summer? Is Libby that amazing in bed that she kept you from even reaching out to me?”
The hurt in her voice was impossible to hide. With his hands on her, she almost pictured him kissing her like he used to. Now, she just wanted to be free from him and his betrayal.
He raked his hand through his short purple hair. His jaw clenched as he fixed his amber-colored eyes on her, “Stop. You know I love you. I can explain what happened this summer.”
“There is no need to explain. Its fine,” she lied, calming herself. “Really, it is.”
“But, there is. You don’t understand.”
Hailey frowned back at him. “Cassius, I truly wish you the best of luck. I hope you figure out what you’re doing and leave me out of it. I don’t have time for this wishy-washy bull shit. Excuse my language.”
His shoulders slumped as he looked at her. For a moment, she believed him. That look of longing and adoration he’d used to bestow on her had returned and it left her extremely confused.
“If you don’t have anything to say, I should be going.” Her heart cried out for him, but she was done being a doormat.
“Wait,” he said, holding onto her hand as she tried to slip away. He pressed his chest to hers and lowered his forehead against hers.
Her mind became a fog as she breathed in his scent and felt the warmth of his body against hers. Memories of falling asleep and waking up locked in his arms returned and she willed them away. To no effect. Those memories were stubborn, and with him right there, teasing her, she was a slave to them.
“She did something to me.”
Those words surprised her. Hailey looked up at him. He cupped her face in both hands and peered into her eyes.
“I’m telling the truth. Just listen to me. Libby did something to me. I just don’t know what.”
Dumbstruck, she swallowed. Nothing in his eyes told her he was being deceitful, and she knew him better than anyone on campus.
He was telling the truth.
There was something different about the time he broke up with her and that moment. Something eerie.
“I thought you were drunk,” she said, quietly, her brows furrowing. The wheels in her head were turning. “But, you weren’t. You don’t drink.” Why didn’t she think of it sooner? Cassius never drank because of his obsession with being the perfect warrior, and the thought that alcohol would ruin his body.
Holy crap.
“That’s right,” he said.
Hailey reached up and grabbed his hands. Her heart continued to race, but this time, it was for a different reason.
A lightbulb went off in her head, and she felt as if she’d solved a mystery.
“Libby cursed you.”
“Or, she poisoned me,” he said, nodding. “I am not sure which one, but I never loved her and never would have left you without some sort of dark magic at play. It’s just been absolute hell. I keep having these nightmares, and sometimes I can’t tell what’s real and what’s not.”
Hailey’s face paled. What was Libby playing at? Whatever it was, it was way darker than they were allowed to conjure on campus.
“You really think I wouldn’t return home at least once during the summer? Or be so cruel to you? She had me under her spell, and I was defenseless against her every demand and desire.”
She covered her mouth with her hand and gasped. Her heart sunk into her belly. Just looking into his eyes told her he spoke the truth. Why hadn’t she figured it out sooner?
She took a step forward and placed a hand on his arm. “Tell me everything,” she said, narrowing her eyes as raged began to fill her veins.
“I will,” he said, and breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m just glad you believe me, Hailey. We have to stop her.”
“Oh,” she said. “We will. I have something I’ve been saving just for her.”
She did, and it would take everything within Hailey to not kill the girl.
13
With her duel against Melia quickly approaching, Hailey divided her time between training, studying, and spending secret evenings with Cassius.
If they wanted to get Libby back, they needed to be discreet about their plan.
/> “Admit it,” Hailey said, flipping through the pages of an old text book she’d found in the library about curses and spells. “You liked being in London.”
He made a face. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “Have you seen the place? It’s dark, dreary, and rains all of the time. I swear I wouldn’t go back if I had the choice.”
Shrugging, Hailey closed the book. There was nothing of note in there. “I wouldn’t mind seeing it. Just to say I had.”
“Trust me. It’s nothing special.”
“What kind of things did she have you do?”
He gave her a look. “Don’t ask me. Please.”
That bothered her, but she kept her mouth shut. She didn’t want to imagine what Libby made him do, but she could guess. It only made her angrier.
“Just help me find a way to stop her, and free me.”
She opened her phone and read a text from Professor Nolen. He wanted to see her first thing in the morning for their final training session.
Her stomach churned at the thought of entering the arena the next evening. Duels were done in private, with just the professors and judges in attendance. Everyone would be waiting to hear the results. The future queen against a battle worn champion. No, she was certain there’d be bets being taken on who would win.
She should have bet on Mel. At least, she’d make some extra money off of her defeat. Not that she needed it.
“Look,” Cassius said, summoning Hailey over to the spot on the floor where he had several black magic books open and sprawled out.
She left his desk chair and sat on the floor next to him.
The male dorms for warriors were significantly different from the Royal Suites. The fact that Cassius was a civilian, and classified as a peasant, meant that he was placed in the lowest of the dorms. The most…basic.
His room was the size of her closet, with just a single bed, a desk, and one thin window that looked out to the parking lot.
Still, as she sat next to him, she didn’t care. She was just happy to have her boyfriend back. Even if they did have to hide their relationship.
He held open a book and handed it to her. “See,” he said, pointing to a passage at the bottom. “I think this is the one she used on me.”
Hailey scanned the passage, reading how the particular potion could compel anyone to do anything the user wanted.
Libby was the user, and that made Cassius her slave, essentially.
Now, they had a possible cure.
Her face paled.
“Did you even read this?” Hailey asked him.
He gave her a look that answered her question. Lowering his eyes, he settled his back against his bed and sighed.
“I’m screwed,” he said.
Hailey shook her head, and straddled his lap with her legs on either side of him. She took his face into her hands and looked him in the eye.
“No, you’re not. We are going to defeat Libby, together. I promise you.”
“Well, you saw what the book said. I can’t reverse the curse unless the user releases me, I kill her, or I leave the realm of magic for good.”
“If it will free you…”
“You better not say it,” he said, cutting her off. His brows furrowed. “I am not leaving you behind. You’re going to be queen. That means you can’t leave the realm of magic with me.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’d rather be stuck here and Libby’s slave but with you in secret than without you.”
She wiped a tear just as quickly as it fell. A smile came to her lips and she kissed him full on the lips.
“There has to be another way. And, I will find it.”
He kissed her back, and picked her up, standing with her. With her bottom lip between his teeth, he licked her lip and placed her on his bed. Her body awakened and yearned for him. It had been so long since she’d kissed his lips or felt his touch. She’d do anything to not suffer without him ever again.
“How?” Cassius asked, ripping his shirt off. She’d missed marveling at his incredible physique, and ran her hand across his hard abs. He leaned down and kissed her again.
As his kisses went from her lips to her neck, her heart raced and she closed her eyes.
She was sure he wasn’t even listening anymore as he shrugged her dress around her hips and squeeze her thighs.
“I know a guy,” she whispered as he kissed her inner thigh and sent her eyelids fluttering closed.
14
A smile was plastered to Hailey’s face as she walked to Professor Nolen’s office.
She was up bright and early, waking with the birds as they sang happily outside her window. The university was a ghost town that early. The Campus Green was empty. The halls were bare. The café’s hadn’t even opened their doors yet, and the sun hadn’t even risen.
She didn’t mind being summoned so early. The darkness didn’t bother her. She needed every extra minute she could get with the professor to prepare for her duel.
As she practically skipped through the halls, her smile widened and she bit the corner of her lips as she recalled the night before. It had been pure bliss. She just wished she could have stayed with Cassius until morning instead of sneaking out of his dorm just before dawn when Libby would come calling for him.
Ugh, if anything could dim her smile, it was the thought of Libby.
She grimaced with a sigh and shook her head. She shook off the thought of Libby, entirely. With the vial she’d received from Lady Tremaine, she was sure the professor would be able to help her and Cassius in their dilemma. She could do whatever she wanted with it. She had several ideas that brought a grin to her face.
Soon, Libby would no longer be a problem.
For anyone.
She knocked on the door, and waited for the professor to answer.
When he did, she smiled at him. It was awkward seeing him now that she and Cassius were back together. Sure, he was an attractive man. But, even if he did fancy her, her heart belonged to Cassius. She was quite sure it would always be that way.
He looked different that morning. A bit disheveled, which was unusual for him. He didn’t have on his glasses, and his office was a mess.
“What happened?” Hailey asked, peering inside. Her brows scrunched. “Is everything okay?”
When she looked back to him, he had a grimace that sent her blood cold. She then noticed that the air between them shimmered ever so slightly.
A gasp escaped her lips.
Before she could step away or say another word, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into his office. She screamed, but it was cut off by a chilly sensation that filled her entire body.
Oh, no. It’s not a door.
Terror washed over her at the realization that she’d just been pulled into a portal. Her body writhed and shook as the magic of the portal sucked her into oblivion. Still, Professor Nolen’s hand held onto hers as they ascended into darkness.
Panic set in and a series of screams filled her ears as they flew through time and space. Where they were going, she didn’t know. She feared the worst.
Time seemed to speed by and yet slow, and as she tried to gather her bearings, she lost track of it all.
Then, it was over, in a blink of an eye.
She fell to her knees onto a wet surface. The impact bruised her knee caps and the palms of her hands as they slapped down on the ground. Dizzy, her stomach lurched, and her eyes took a moment to register what she saw.
It was dark.
She was in a cave…and Professor Nolen was standing over her.
Shivering, she looked up at him with widened eyes. She didn’t like how he looked back at her. She also noticed how the cave didn’t have an exit, just a large hole in the ceiling that leaked water that puddled on the slick ground like a small brook. The air was stale, and there was very little light. She had no idea where they were or if anyone was around to hear her scream.
He’d grabbed her so tightly that her arm still throbbed with pain. She
had no idea where they were or if anyone was around to hear her scream. That didn’t stop her from trying.
“Help! I’m down here!”
He was smiling again, yet it was one that she’d never seen on his face. What really worried her was the look in his eyes.
He looked…mad.
Insane.
“Well, my dear Princess Hailey,” he said, clasping his hands before him. He snickered.
Her heart sank. This was a nightmare. Had to be.
“Welcome to the last day of your life.”
15
This wasn’t what she expected. Not at all. Hailey came to her feet and backed away from the professor.
“What do you mean?” Hailey asked. She looked around, desperate for an escape. “What’s going on here?”
He stepped forward, swirling his finger. She watched as the water on the ground started to rise to the motion of his finger. He whistled, and more collected from the walls and from the mouth of the cave until it formed one large orb that hovered between them. It spun in midair, and began to glow.
Hailey shuddered and held up her hands. What was she supposed to do? Was this even real?
She pinched herself, hard. Wincing at the pain, she convinced herself this wasn’t a dream, though she wished like hell it was.
“Come on, Hailey. Didn’t I teach you anything?”
She swallowed. “I don’t understand what’s going on here.”
He hung his head and sighed. “Very well.”
Then, he said a command and sent the orb of water blasting toward her.
Caught off guard, Hailey was struck with it and sucked inside. Her eyes widened as ice cold water surrounded her and filled her mouth. She was trapped in a bubble, without air, and exposed to the chill of frigid water that started to freeze. Through the blurry film of the orb, she caught a glimpse of the professor blowing cold air at it.
Her lungs screamed for air, and her skin tightened as the water grew colder and colder. She could hear nothing, and within seconds, she could see nothing.
He was right.
She was going to die.
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