by G. K. DeRosa
“Well, you got a good hit on Raine, and she didn’t take it so well.”
Jumbled thoughts clamored around in my mind. Fire red hair, those evil eyes searing into me, then nothingness.
“That psycho whacked me on the head!” I cried.
He tried to suppress a chuckle, but his dark eyes sparkled like the brightest stars on a pitch night. “Yeah, I’m going to have to talk to her about that. We don’t allow head hits without the appropriate gear.”
“Ya think?”
He inched closer, and my breath hitched—the intense throbbing momentarily forgotten. I held my breath as he brushed a lock of hair behind my ear, my skin tingling at his touch. His dark brows knitted, and he frowned as he examined the massive bump on my temple. “The good news is, the healer doesn’t think you have a concussion. She should be back in a second to fix you right up. She wanted to make sure you were awake first.”
“Great,” I mumbled.
“You should be proud of yourself, Luna. You did good out there. Raine’s a tough opponent and getting a hit in on her is a pretty big accomplishment on your first day.”
I snorted. “Then why do I feel like road kill?”
“Because you’re human—or mostly anyway. You gotta remember all of these students have an edge on you. They’re going to be stronger, faster, and heal more quickly than you but don’t let that discourage you. On the contrary, use it to make you tougher.”
“So that was supposed to be some sort of a lesson?” I arched a brow and winced, regretting it immediately.
He patted me on the shoulder and rose. “Take it for what you will. I’m going to let the healer know you’re awake. We don’t want you missing your next class.”
Seriously?
He disappeared from the room leaving me to my messy thoughts. It was only my first day of classes, and I’d already landed in the supes’ version of an infirmary. Also I was fairly certain I was now on Raine’s bad side—a place Cinder warned me was not somewhere I wanted to be. And I’d caught the attention of The Seven. This did not bode well.
A half an hour later, I was sitting next to Cinder in the front row of Spellcraft. The bump on my forehead was completely gone; too bad the healer couldn’t wipe away the memories of it too. Raine and Aeria sat a few rows behind us, and I’d been the lucky recipient of their dark glares when I’d walked into the class. Fortunately, Cinder had flagged me down with a big smile and an empty seat beside her.
I could still feel their hatred boring into the back of my head like heat-seeking missiles.
After an excruciating two hours of staring cross-eyed at the smart board filled with spells in languages I didn’t understand, Professor Arcana finally dismissed the class. Unlike the jerk Ryder, the wizened old warlock had taken it easy on me and hadn’t called on me once. Thank the stars.
The professor lifted a wrinkly finger as the students began to file out of the classroom. “Ms. Hallows, I’d like a word with you before you go.”
“Okay, sure.”
Cinder nudged me with her elbow. “I’ll meet you outside so we can walk to lunch together, and you can tell me more about what happened.”
I nodded and packed my tablet and new spellbook into my backpack. Two tall shadows loomed over me, and the hair on the back of my nape prickled. Lifting my gaze, I met a pair of familiar icy lilac eyes. Beside the Fae prince stood another one of The Seven, but I couldn’t remember his name. He was tall like Drake, but whereas the faery was finely muscled, this guy was beefy with wide shoulders and bulging pecs.
My mouth went completely dry. What was it with all these supes being so dang gorgeous? And where were my beautiful genes?
“Well done today, human.” The prince’s piercing gaze roamed over me, and I resisted the urge to squirm.
“Yeah,” added the dark-haired guy. “Raine’s been crying about it all day.” He chuckled.
“Um, thanks.” I zipped up my backpack and threw it over my shoulder. “I’d probably still be crying if I hadn’t gone to the healer.”
“Yes, that is a shame about you being so fragile and human and all.” Drake’s nose twitched as if he’d smelled rotting garbage. “Maybe next time Ryder will let you wear some padding.” His lips twisted into a sardonic grin as he brushed his hair behind his pointy ear.
“It’s not that bad,” I snapped. Something about the prince’s snottiness just rubbed me the wrong way. “Humanity has its perks too—like you know, having actual feelings.” I spun around and marched up to the professor’s desk.
The sound of footsteps behind me made me want to turn around to see Drake’s reaction, but I forced myself to still. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Plus I doubted the ice prince had any feelings anyway.
Once the classroom door closed behind them, the tension seeped out of my shoulders.
“How’s your first day going, Ms. Hallows?” Professor Arcana’s voice drew me from my inner thoughts.
“Not spectacular.”
His gray eyes twinkled, and he twisted the end of his long, graying beard. “Stick with it, and you’ll see things will get easier.”
“Thanks.” I didn’t think I really had a choice. I had to be here as part of the president’s—my father’s—mandate about half-bloods.
“You have your spellbook?” he asked.
“Yup.” I motioned to my backpack.
“I’d like you to start practicing during your spare time. You’ve got quite a bit to catch up on. We’ll start slow, but I may pair you with one of the advanced students in the coming weeks for some private tutoring.”
I gulped. “Okay.”
He lowered his voice, leaning in. “I know your father well, Ms. Hallows. And there isn’t one of his children that I’ve encountered that hasn’t been incredibly gifted.” He paused, his watery eyes skimming over me. “It’s only a matter of time.”
He meant for it to sound encouraging, but it only made the massive pit in my stomach double in size. Being Garrix’s daughter was the only reason I’d been invited to this elite school, but what if they were all wrong and I didn’t have what it takes?
Chapter 9
Just one more class, and I would officially survive day one at Darkhen. Luckily, lunch had gone by without a hitch—no fights, insults or threatening voices. I still hadn’t told Cinder about that, and I wasn’t sure if I ever would. It could’ve just been my overactive imagination freaking out. And with all the stress I’d been under, it totally made sense, right?
As Cinder and I walked down the hall to Flying and Shifting 101, a dark-haired demon bad boy caught my eye. He stood in the doorway of the teacher’s lounge with his arm against the door, trapping a woman beneath him. The brunette Barbie batted her sooty lashes at him, a huge smile spreading her bright red lips.
A twinge of jealousy flared in my chest, and it was all I could do to choke it down before it swallowed me whole. What the heck was that about? I wanted to smack myself. Just because I’d been in love with his persona on a TV show didn’t mean I’d like the real man. And Ryder probably flirted with all the girls anyway. Plus he was totally off limits. Still, I couldn’t help but gawk at the gorgeous pair blatantly flirting.
“Luna, you’re staring again,” Cinder whispered.
I whipped my head toward her, shaking it out. “No, I wasn’t.”
She giggled. “It’s okay, I get it. He’s totally hot. But I haven’t told you about rule number two at Darkhen: Never fall for the gorgeous, completely unattainable and off limits instructors.”
“Got it.” But somehow my raging hormones refused to listen. “So who is that with him—just out of curiosity?”
“Right.” She shook her head. “That’s Ms. Mikalson. She’s the Demons and Fiends instructor. We’ll probably have her next semester.” Cinder lowered her voice as we neared. “She’s a succubus—besides Ryder, she’s the only other Underworlder on staff.”
“Wait…what? Isn’t a succubus a sex demon or something?” Nausea crawled up my throa
t.
“Yup, pretty much. They seduce men into sex and rip out their powers while they’re at their most vulnerable.” Her lips tipped into a wry grin. “Seems pretty cool to me.”
I had to repress the urge to gag as visions of her and Ryder swam across my mind. Oh bleh!
We scurried by them, and I was surprised when Cinder led us past the classroom I thought we were going to. “Wasn’t that it?”
“Today we’re outside. The location of the class varies depending on what we’re working on.”
Goose bumps crawled all over my flesh at the idea of being outside in these frigid temps. “I don’t even know why I’m in this class. I can’t fly or shift. What’s the point?”
A grin split her pink lips. “Everyone flies at Darkblood Academy.” She winked before tugging me down the stairs. “You’ll see.”
After trudging across campus through the deep snow for what felt like forever, a large stone building came to view beneath the towering pines. The thatched roof seemed in no way capable of protecting whatever lived in there from the harsh climate. I pulled my crappy, fraying coat tighter around myself. Great, I was going to freeze for the entire class period.
“Come on, slow poke!” Cinder tugged me along, her long legs eating up the distance like nothing. Draeko, the dragon territory, was in the northernmost Azarian mountains. From what I’d heard, the temperature wasn’t that different from Winter Court so she was used to the bountiful snow. No wonder she bounced through it like a gazelle, while I felt like a bumbling elephant. It never snowed this much in the outskirts of the city.
When we finally reached the building, Cinder swung the thick wooden doors open, and a blast of sultry air washed over me. It warmed my frozen nose, immediately spreading across my cheeks as we crossed the threshold. Once my nostrils thawed out, the odor of hay and manure swirled all around me.
I’d been so excited by the warmth, I hadn’t even realized we were standing in the middle of a barn. At the far end, a group of students gathered around a middle-aged woman. When she saw us, she waved us over with a bright smile.
“Cinder, and you must be Luna,” she said, checking her tablet.
“That’s me.”
“Welcome to Flying and Shifting 101. I’m Mrs. Thornberry, and I’ll be your instructor for the semester.” Though she looked no more than mid-forties, long silver hair trailed down her back, nearly reaching her butt.
I searched her back for wings, but no unearthly appendages protruded from her shoulder blades. She must’ve been a shifter of some sort.
Behind her, icy lilac eyes caught my attention. Damn, why was Drake in all of my classes? The moment our gazes met, I averted mine to search through my backpack. No, I wasn’t avoiding him—I needed to find my tablet.
“As I was saying class, today you will be assigned to your unipeg.”
A wave of excited murmurs rolled through the other students.
“Our whats?” I whispered to Cinder.
She ticked her head toward the stalls on either side of us. I could just make out the wide rear end of a white horse; the front half of his body was behind the thick stone wall. From the sounds of it, he was happily munching on some grains and had zero interest in us.
“You mean the horses?” I hitched my thumb over my shoulder.
“They’re not horses. They’re unipegs,” she whispered. “Just wait, and you’ll see.”
“Ladies, hush now,” said Mrs. Thornberry as she handed us each a slip of paper. I glanced down at the name Zeus, and the number eight penned in swirly writing. “Once you receive your assigned animal, you may go introduce yourselves. Get acquainted, as you will be spending the next few years at Darkhen with your unipeg. They’re incredibly intelligent and loyal beasts, and it will behoove you to make nice. They can be quite temperamental and do require a firm hand.”
Cinder tugged on my arm, pulling me toward the stalls. “What number did you get?”
Oh, so that’s what that number was. “Eight. You?”
“I’m eleven. My unipeg’s name is Bella. I hope she’s sweet.”
“I got Zeus.”
Her eyes widened before she schooled her expression back to normal.
“What? Have you heard of him or something?”
“Um… nope. Just liked the name that’s all.” She quickened her pace toward the end of the row. Stopping in front of stall number eleven, Cinder leaned against the gate and clucked her tongue.
A dark gray horn popped out followed by the rest of the creature’s pearly white head. My eyes bulged out as I stared at the horn protruding from the horse’s forehead. “It’s a freakin’ unicorn!”
She laughed, patting the creature on the nose. “No, silly. It’s a unipeg.”
As if the animal had heard her, massive wings unfurled from its body, spreading to encompass the entire stall. She gave them a quick flap, revealing the feathery underside made up of a rainbow of colors.
“Flying unicorns!” The mythical creatures that had made an appearance on Hitched flashed through my mind’s eye. Kimmie-Jayne had been just as blown away as I was when the bachelors rode up to the mansion on them.
She rolled her eyes at me. “It’s a unipeg—a cross between a unicorn and Pegasus. That’s why it can fly.”
“It’s incredible.” I reached my hand out and slowly stroked the animal’s soft nose. She nuzzled against my palm and whinnied. “She seems nice.”
“Yeah, thank goodness. Ash told me some horror stories about—” She cut herself off, slapping her hand over her mouth.
“About what?”
“Nothing. Some of them are just a little harder to manage than others.” She plastered on a smile, but even I could tell she was hiding something. “Come on, let’s go find Zeus.”
We followed the sound of furiously stomping hooves straight to the stall marked eight. A large black backside was pressed up against the gate, his long tail twitching agitatedly.
“Hey there, Zeus.” I forced a soothing lilt into my tone even though my heart pounded against my ribs. I was a city girl; I never grew up around farm animals—let alone a massive supernatural beast like this.
The unipeg swung his head around and snorted, his wide nostrils expelling a spray of snot in our direction. Cinder ducked in time, but my human reflexes were no match for the supernatural boogers. Ugh! They splattered all over my shirt, leaving a trail of greenish goo dripping down my cream turtleneck.
Of course Drake and his friend decided to walk by at that exact moment. His lip curled in disgust while the dark-haired guy from earlier suppressed a laugh as they surveyed the damage. “Tough break, human,” said Drake, “Zeus is a fiery fiend. Just hope you can manage him.”
Cinder shot the ice prince a narrowed glare. “Don’t listen to him, Luna. I’m sure you’ll be fine. He just has to get to know you.”
The dark-haired guy stepped forward, his brilliant blue eyes like the sky on a perfect summer day. He clucked at the animal, and Zeus cocked his head. “Easy, buddy. Come here and meet a new friend.”
“It’s no use, Raf,” snapped Drake. “There’s no way he’s going to let a human be his master.”
“Don’t be bitter. Just because you couldn’t tame the beast, doesn’t mean that no one can.”
I clapped my hand over my mouth to hide the huge smile on my face. I think Raf was my new favorite member of The Seven.
To my complete amazement, the ornery beast inched closer. After a few more soothing words, Zeus’s massive head appeared over the gate. His obsidian eyes darted back and forth to each of us. Raf extended his hand slowly until he reached the unipeg’s nose. Zeus sniffed him curiously before his ears lowered, and the whites of his eyes were no longer quite so wide.
“Good boy,” Rafael murmured and brushed his fingers over the unipeg’s muzzle. His palm lit up, bathing the space in a warm glow. Zeus whinnied and nuzzled into his hand.
“Hey, that’s not fair.” Drake crossed his arms over his chest. “You can’t use your so
othing angel power on him. Of course he’s going to like you.”
“Relax, Drake. I’m only trying to calm him so Luna can try.”
The Fae prince stomped off with a grunt, and I couldn’t help the smile that crept across my face. I turned to the unipeg whisperer. “Thanks. Raf, right?”
He nodded and released his hold on Zeus. “It’s Rafael, but Raf is fine too. Don’t let the prince get to you; I never do. He’s used to being the most interesting thing at Darkblood, but now that you’re here, he’s worried he’ll be replaced.”
“I’m sure my novelty will wear off soon. Especially if my powers never show up.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” He gave me a tight smile and followed in the direction Drake had gone.
Once he was out of earshot, I turned to Cinder. “He doesn’t seem that bad.”
Her lips puckered as they trailed by him. “No, he’s not. But he’s part angel, he can’t be a total dick all the time, right?”
We both laughed, and I stumbled back, hitting Zeus’s stall door. He let out a sharp neigh and thrust his head forward. My eyes widened as a pointy horn came straight for me.
“Tempor parem!”
A scream stuck in my throat as the foreign words rang out from across the barn, and my eyes snapped shut. The air thickened, the sweet, smoky smell of magic coating the atmosphere. Slowly, I peeked through cracked lids. Holy smokes! I was alive and hadn’t been gored by a wild unipeg.
Zeus’s obsidian horn had stopped about an inch from the bridge of my nose. I spun to the left and the right, suddenly realizing the entire room had gone silent. Cinder stood beside me, her face frozen in a panicked expression. The other students were sprawled around the barn, oblivious to what had happened but also completely immobile.
Drake appeared from behind the stall door next to Zeus’s, his lilac eyes pulsing a frosty silver. Beads of sweat lined his brow, and his typically pallid complexion was a few shades lighter. “You might want to get out of the way. I don’t know how much longer I can hold the spell.”