“Well, I’m—” Relieved. Glad. “Mad at you,” I cried, hiccuping. Yeah, way to sell it, Kenna. “You didn’t tell me who he was. The vampire king’s son? Really? I trusted you!” Stupid me for trusting a vampire. And now I was hurt. More hurt than I realized.
“I’m sorry, Kenna,” I heard Kade say through my gasping breaths. “He wanted to do things differently with you. He wanted to test how you’d react to him, and find out how much you knew before—”
“Test?” I choked out, stumbling across the room to the bathroom. “He wanted to test me? What the crap, Kade?” I jammed on the light and cranked on the sink faucet, hoping the sound would keep Malcolm from eavesdropping.
“Kenna,” he said calmly, too calmly. “You can chew me out all you want later. First, I need to know that you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” I growled. “Is Lochlan with you?”
“No. Kenna, listen to me. I need to know without a shadow of doubt that you’re being well taken care of. Tell me if—”
“Kade,” I interrupted, panic raising my voice. “Where. Is. He? Did the bullets—? Did he not . . .” Fates, I couldn’t say it. Then it would feel real, and I wasn’t ready. Could never be ready. Despite the loathing and rage I felt toward him, if Lochlan D’angelo was dead . . .
“He’s alive, little Kenna. Loch’s alive.”
I sagged against the wall, covering my mouth to keep the sobs at bay. While fresh tears squeezed from my eyes, I didn’t immediately register the somberness of his voice. Something was wrong. I could feel it in my bones. My hand fell. “Kade?” I said, my voice trembling and small. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Silence.
I gripped the phone tightly, fighting off a sudden wave of vertigo.
“He . . .” Kade began haltingly. “He still has a bullet inside him.”
Oh fates.
“W-what does that mean? It’s almost been two days since he got shot. Why isn’t it out? Where is he? Why—?”
“He never left Rosewood, Kenna. His brothers won’t let him travel. Not with the bullet . . .” He paused.
“The bullet what, Kade? Don’t you dare keep me in the dark, or so help me, the next time I see you—”
“It’s in his heart, okay?” Kade’s voice rose passionately.
A numb chill spread through my limbs, freezing my tongue. I tried to speak but couldn’t. My knees buckled and I slid to the floor.
“The other bullets were removed, but he didn’t want to take a risk with this one. Not until . . .” Kade fell silent again, but not before I heard the catch in his voice.
Reaching down, I pinched my thigh extra hard and whispered, “Until what?”
His pent-up sigh pierced my chest.
“Please tell me. I need to know.”
Kade carefully cleared his throat. “Until you’re safe. He needed to know that you were unharmed and well taken care of first. Because he needs to be perfectly calm while the bullet is being removed. One slip-up and . . .” He didn’t finish, but he didn’t have to.
A ringing silence filled my ears. Everything in me went cold. It was like the walls surrounding me fell away, leaving me to flounder in pitch black nothing. The hole inside me swelled, threatening to consume me completely. I clutched at my chest as it tightened painfully.
“Kenna? Are you okay? Kenna, answer me!”
“I . . . I can’t breathe.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“Stop. Just . . .” I inhaled a ragged breath and the pain lessened, but not the panic building with each passing second. “I need you to do something for me, Kade. I need you to go back. Go back to Lochlan and get that bullet out now.”
He released a weary sigh. “Believe me, I want to do that more than anything. But now that he knows where you are, he explicitly ordered me not to return without you.”
“What?” I hissed, fisting my free hand. “Well, I’m countering his order. Tell him I won’t step foot outside this school until I’m certain that bullet has been removed.”
Kade chuckled weakly, a sound that I had missed hearing. “You have no idea how perfect you are for him. I wish you two could have met under different circumstances.”
I swallowed hard, uncertain if I agreed with him. Lochlan and I had chemistry, no doubt about it, but there were so many things that drove a wedge between us. I didn’t think it was possible for us to overcome them all, or if I even wanted to try. Still, I couldn’t bear the thought of that bullet killing him. Couldn’t stand the thought of him in agony all this time while he waited to hear of my well-being.
“Stop deflecting, Kade. Will you return to him or not?”
“Depends. Can you actually leave the institute, or are you a prisoner?”
“I’m working on that part. I just . . . I haven’t decided what I want to do,” I admitted quietly, chewing on my lip when he didn’t respond right away.
“We need you, Kenna,” he said just as quietly, and I chewed harder, drawing blood.
I wanted to yell at him that this wasn’t fair, that the only thing vampires brought me was confusion and heartache. Helping them, being near them, was undoubtedly a death sentence. But I stuffed the feelings down, too drained and numb to argue right now. I released my lip. “How long do you have until the curse becomes permanent?”
I wasn’t sure if he’d answer. Out of the two, he was vastly more forthcoming than Lochlan, but this was a question requiring trust. I could easily share this conversation with Headmistress Mayweather and give the witches leverage over the vampires. But he did answer, and it shook me to my core.
“Two months.”
* * *
I felt for his heartbeat and finally found it beneath my fingertips.
But my relief became fear as it slowed to a faint whisper.
“Save yourself,” I desperately cried. “You have to live.”
He was in so much pain. The agony was tearing him apart.
I could feel it.
His pain became mine.
It grew, and grew, and grew.
Until there wasn’t a heartbeat. There wasn’t anything at all.
Except pain.
A whimper burst from me the second I awoke. I clutched at my chest as the dream lingered, along with the phantom pain I’d felt. His pain. It had been so real. Fates, was he really enduring that right now, all because he needed to know I was okay first?
But why? Why was Lochlan doing this? Was I really so important to him, or was it simply that he needed me to break the curse?
Two months. They only had two months until the human-looking part of them vanished completely. I still didn’t know how to process that news.
With a sigh, I fumbled to pick up my phone from the nightstand and check the time. Six o’clock. Ugh, too early. If Kade had listened to me and left for Rosewood after our conversation last night, then he should be there by now.
Wait. How would he get through the border checkpoint in his vampire form?
I rolled my eyes. Duh. With thrall. No wonder most people didn’t know about vampires.
I selected his number, needing a status update. The call didn’t go through though. I tried a few more times with no luck. Frowning, I tapped in Isla’s number, but nothing happened. What the crap?
My thumb hovered over the buttons as I debated calling Lochlan. Yes, I’d memorized his number because there was something seriously wrong with me. Seconds ticked by. Minutes. I couldn’t do it. Frustrated, I tossed the phone on the bed and flopped onto my pillow.
What if Kade didn’t get back in time? What if Lochlan stubbornly refused to have the bullet removed because Kade returned without me? What if they couldn’t get it out and . . . and he died?
A knock sounded at the door, startling me from my anxious thoughts. Why was I getting a six-thirty wakeup call?
Rolling out of bed, I padded to the door and opened it, not surprised to find Malcolm on the other side.
His gaze was penetrating, yet wary, as if he
didn’t trust me after yesterday’s escape attempt. Couldn’t blame him, really. “I trust you slept well?” he said, his deep voice gravelly with tiredness. I held in a wince, realizing I was the cause for his lack of sleep.
“Decent,” I replied with a shrug, although the night had been fitful, filled with disturbing dreams about death. Probably better than a night spent with Jordan and Mei, though.
“Headmistress Mayweather wanted you to have this,” he said, thrusting a silver tray toward me. I accepted it, assuming the covered plates contained breakfast judging by the delicious smells wafting from them. “And this,” he added, draping a set of clothes over my arm and depositing a toiletry bag, backpack, and black, low-heeled shoes just inside the door.
“What’s—?”
“If you wish to remain at Thornecrest Academy, you will attend classes,” he said, his tone brooking no argument. “We will depart for your first class in an hour, so please be ready by then.”
Not giving me a chance to speak, he swiveled and strode across Clarice’s office to stand by the double doors once again.
Uh . . .
When it became clear he wasn’t going to answer my questions, I nudged the door shut and set the tray down on my bed. I mean, I was curious about the type of education witches received. Even yearned for it. I couldn’t help but wonder what my life would have been like if Aunt Tess had chosen to send me here years ago instead of dragging me across the country. Old resentment threatened to bubble up, but I didn’t have room for it right now. For the first time in my life, answers were flowing freely, almost more than I could process.
I decided something, then. For however long I remained here, forced or otherwise, I’d make the most of it by soaking up as much knowledge as I possibly could. If that meant attending classes, dealing with bully witches, and meeting mysterious elders, so be it. Whether I wanted it to be or not, my destiny was tied to the vampire’s curse, and being prepared was the only way I could secure my future.
And not die. That too.
Forty-five minutes later, I was fed, dressed, and nervous out of my mind.
I scrutinized my reflection in the room’s floor length mirror, remembering Jordan and Mei’s words from last night about my appearance. The red and black plaid skirt I wore was a little too loose, sitting low on my hips. At least the black tights and ribbed long-sleeved black shirt that I’d tucked in helped keep the skirt in place.
I’d opted not to wear the blazer, hoping I wasn’t breaking a dress code or something. I had only ever attended public schools. Who knew what kind of rules this place had—besides a really loud lights-out bell. I’d been provided with a few hair necessities, but no makeup, so the dark circles under my eyes were on full display.
Sighing, I turned away, knowing the only solution was to take better care of myself. Not that I didn’t want to. The scrambled eggs and bacon had smelled heavenly when I’d lifted the plate lids earlier. After years of burnt breakfasts, courtesy of my aunt’s lack of culinary skills, I should have scarfed the food down with gusto. Instead, I’d barely managed to choke down a piece of buttered toast.
I blamed it on Lochlan, on this extremely unhealthy bond we shared.
End it, my mind whispered. Free yourself.
Bile churned in my gut, threatening to upheave my meager breakfast. Clenching my teeth, I grabbed the rather heavy backpack and strode across the room to rip the door open. Better to endure Malcolm’s company than my own messed-up self.
What I found on the other side, though, froze me in my tracks.
Headmistress Mayweather was in her office—and she wasn’t alone.
Sitting in the chairs in front of her desk were Mei and Jordan. The moment I stepped from my room, their conversation halted and all eyes turned my way, including the crow’s. I blinked, my confusion over why I hadn’t heard them speaking overriding any embarrassment. A second later though, I had my answer. Clarice waved a hand, dispelling the sound-blocker spell. The air slightly shimmered around them, like a brief static blip on a screen.
The frown I’d seen on her face vanished as her gaze swept over me. “I’m so glad the clothes fit,” she said by way of greeting, a smile of undiluted pride crinkling the corners of her eyes. “Malcolm will escort you to your morning classes.” Jordan and Mei exchanged an unhappy look before fixing twin glares on me. Crap. This teacher’s pet thing wasn’t exactly going to help me blend in here.
I edged toward Malcolm who was still standing by the double doors. “Yeah, um, thanks for breakfast,” I quickly muttered, slipping my arms through the backpack’s straps. The girl’s gazes narrowed further. Fates. Wrong thing to say. “I’m just going to . . . go.”
“Have a good morning, Kenna,” Clarice called after me as I beelined for the exit. “I’ll meet up with you after lunch.”
Great. More special treatment.
The girls were obviously getting questioned about last night, and seeing me like this no doubt rubbed salt in the wound. Not that I felt sorry for them. My mouth was still a bit sore from where Jordan’s vine had dug into it. But I also understood their reservations toward me. I was an unknown, a possibly dangerous one. My time spent with vampires had taught me how disconcerting that was. It didn’t excuse their behavior though.
As soon as I exited the office, I breathed a bit easier. Malcolm went right, and I paid close attention to where we were going this time. Maybe if I learned my way around the place, I wouldn’t need a babysitter anymore. Although, calling a big brute like Malcolm a babysitter was laughable.
After several minutes of watching him pave a path through the busy hallways, I said to his back, “So, what are you?” Crap, that sounded weird. “I mean, what kind of witch—err—warlock are you?”
He slowed just a little, the only sign that he’d heard me. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of stones. Red ones, like rubies.
Um . . .
When I remained silent, he glanced over his shoulder at me. “Fire Elemental. Crystals and stones enhance my power over the element.”
I blinked. “Oh. That’s . . . cool. So how many witch types are there?”
He faced forward again, his deep baritone easily carrying his words back to me. “Five main subsects, each representing a point in the Pentacle.” He flicked a backward glance at me again. “Some don’t recognize Syphons as being authentic witches though.”
I gaped at the back of his bald head for several moments before sputtering, “Then what do they think we are?”
Without turning around, he muttered, “Leeches.”
I nearly tripped over my own feet as my limbs went numb with shock. He had meant to shock me, I realized, when he didn’t slow. Did he think I was a leech?
No longer interested in questioning him, I lapsed into silence—which he seemed perfectly fine with. By now, the hallways were teaming with students. Most were teenagers, but some as young as ten were scattered throughout. I cast glances at them with renewed interest, expecting to see little displays of magic. No such luck.
Not surprisingly, I was garnering even more stares than yesterday. But unlike yesterday, unease prickled my skin at their probing looks. What if everyone here was like Jordan and Mei? No wonder I needed a hulking babysitter. Except, I was beginning to doubt how useful Malcolm would be if a confrontation arose. I had the sneaking suspicion he didn’t like me much.
Before my unease could morph into full-blown panic, he stopped at the entrance to what must be my first class. “History,” he said by way of explanation, waving me inside dismissively.
Okay, then.
I stepped into the room and immediately stiffened as several pairs of eyes swiveled my way. A few narrowed in confusion, turning in their seats to whisper to the person beside them. Lowering my head, I made for a seat in the far back corner. When I sat down and the whispers hadn’t ceased, my chest tightened miserably. There was no Isla here to welcome me into her world. No sidekick friends like Hailey and Peyton. No Kade or Reid with a friendly smil
e.
And there was definitely no Lochlan. The ever-growing pit inside me yawned wide, painfully reminding of how true that was.
6
LOCHLAN
Come, my love, you are mine.
To take pleasure in, for all time.
Your blood is the key, to unlock immortality.
A vial a day, keeps the aging away.
With my lethal touch, you are my slave.
Every command, you will obey.
Come, my love, you are mine.
To take pleasure in, for all time.
I struggled to reach the surface of consciousness where the spell’s pull couldn’t drown me. Her mocking laughter followed in my wake, echoing inside my skull. You’ll never escape me, she taunted in her lyrical voice. You’re mine. Always mine. Just when I began to fear the dream was real, I awoke with a start to an overcast new day.
Crippling pain immediately greeted me. But I embraced the realness, knowing it meant I wasn’t there. I was here, held hostage in my own bedroom. But at least it was by my insufferable, overprotective brothers.
It was the second morning of not knowing how McKenna fared. I keenly felt her absence, even with the constant pain, like a fist buried in my chest. The feeling gave me hope that she was still alive, though. Kade hadn’t answered my calls last night, so it was a wonder I’d managed to sleep at all. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I focused on Everett’s glaring face from across the room. Sighing, I shut my eyes again.
“Morning to you too,” Everett groused, letting me know that his patience had finally run out. I was surprised it had lasted this long, actually. “Just so you know, if you don’t let us remove the bullet today, I’m contacting Father. I’ve already let this nonsense continue for far too long. We’re wasting precious time and should already be back home with the Syphon in our possession by now.”
At the threat, I rolled my eyes under their lids, muttering, “Touch me and I’ll find somewhere else to hole up.” I knew I couldn’t get past him though. Not in my current condition.
My eyes slid open at the sound of his chair slamming against the wall. It dented the plaster as he shot upright and stormed over to the bed. Tension rippled through me at the determined glint in his pale green eyes. “Troy, would you like the honor of knocking him out, or should I?”
Curse Touched: A Paranormal Vampire Romance (A Touch of Vampire Book 2) Page 6