by G. K. DeRosa
“That’s crazy.” She shook her head, taking another bite of ice cream before snapping the lid back on. “And you haven’t heard anything from Ryder?”
“Nope.” A sharp pang jabbed at my heart. I’d even gone to check with Cillian earlier that day, but he’d said it had been radio silence since his departure. He assured me not to worry, but I couldn’t help it. I hated how much I cared for the demon jerk.
Cinder glanced up at the clock on the wall, and a smile lit up her face. “You know what you need?”
“An exorcism?” To get the demon off my mind and out of my heart.
She laughed. “No. A fun night out to forget about all the other stuff going on.” She dragged me off the bed and twirled me around in a circle. “Lucky for you I happen to know of a little get together going on tonight.”
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.” I curled my arms around my cozy sweatshirt. I was pretty ready to call it a night.
“It’s just a couple dragons. They have a bonfire going at the edge of campus—a small party with s’mores and alcohol.”
My eyebrows rose, nearly touching my hairline at the mention of the Fae forest. Though she hadn’t said the actual words, it was their omission that struck a nerve. Even though we were only banned from the woods on the full moon, after what happened last time I wasn’t sure I was ready to brave the creepy shadows yet.
Three quick knocks on our door drew my attention away from my dark musings. Cinder darted to the entryway with a mischievous look. Alissa and Maxi peeked their heads in a second later.
“You girls aren’t ready yet?” Maxi whined.
Cinder shot me a come-on-let’s-go look. “I’m still working on her.”
“I don’t know, you guys.” I tugged on my tattered sweatshirt. “I’m practically in my pajamas.”
“So hurry up and put some clothes on,” said Alissa.
“Or just put your coat on over that,” suggested Cinder. “No one’s going to see what’s underneath anyway.”
Maxi readjusted the bag hanging from her shoulder, and the tinkle of glass clanging together caught my attention. “I have a beer with your name on it—it’s a human kind and everything.” She threw me a sneaky smile. “Besides, you’ve been hanging out with The Seven non-stop. Are you officially ditching team dragon or what?”
“No, of course not.” I couldn’t tell them what was going on. Spilling to Cinder was bad enough. The others would kill me if they knew I’d leaked the big secret of The Seven. “Okay, okay, I’ll come.”
Three girly squeals echoed across our room as I darted into the bathroom to freshen up. Maybe Cinder was right. A fun night out was exactly what I needed to get my mind away from the doom and gloom.
Without the light of the full moon, the Fae forest was even creepier than I remembered. Gargantuan evergreens loomed over us, their thick branches reaching out from the shadowy depths. My breaths rasped out a haggard pattern as I followed the girls along the path. Cinder assured me I wouldn’t be poisoned if I brushed by a tree again—that had only been due to the magical effects of the full moon, but I still kept my distance from the green monsters.
The tinkling sounds of giddy chatter and boisterous laughter ahead quickened my pace. The path opened up into a small clearing where thirty or forty of our dorm mates huddled around a roaring bonfire.
“Made it!” Cinder grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the center of the party. Two metal kegs sat on a table to the right of the bonfire, and Cinder led us straight toward them. She handed me a cup and began to fill hers with the frosty amber liquid.
“This isn’t some sort of magical dragon beer is it?”
She shook her head. “It’s made here in Azar and it’s called malta, but it’s pretty much the same as your human beer. No strange side effects, I promise.”
I sniffed the tawny beverage, and the scent of orange blossoms and hops wafted up my nose. “It smells good.”
“Just drink it,” said Alissa, pouring herself a big cup. “If you don’t like it, I’ll give you the human stuff.”
Maxi held her beverage up to the three of us and clinked it against ours. “Cheers, girls! To another awesome semester at Darkblood Academy.”
I took a sip, and the bubbly liquid slid down my throat. “Yum.” It was slightly sweeter than beer and more effervescent. Tipping the cup back, I processed Maxi’s words. The semester was almost over. With everything else going on, I’d completely lost track of the days. That meant final exams were coming up soon. Anxiety gurgled in my belly, and I swallowed it down with another gulp of malta.
“What happens if you don’t pass the exams?” I asked the girls.
“You don’t get to move up with the rest of the class,” answered Alissa. She and Maxi had been here for a year so I assumed they’d already passed a good number of exams.
“Are they hard?”
“As hard as the class, I guess,” answered Maxi.
They’d been dragon shifters all their lives so honing their skills had come naturally. Unlike mine.
Cinder wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed. “You’ll be fine, Luna.”
“Besides Cillian and Ryder love you,” added Maxi. “They’d never let you flunk out of the academy. You’re their special little human pet.” She smirked.
“Hey, I thought that was you.” Ash appeared from behind the kegs, his lips twisted into a pout. “Where are Raine and Aeria?”
“Ha!” exclaimed Alissa. “Like those two would be caught dead at a dragon party.”
“Excuse us for a minute.” Ash wrapped his fingers around my forearm and tugged me away from the girls. “You know you’re not supposed to be out alone.”
“I’m not alone. I’m surrounded by thirty-some dragon shifters, and no one’s tried to kill me for three whole days now.”
He shook his head. “It’s not the same. None of them are trained like we are. I don’t like it.”
I gave him my best smile. “But you’re here now, and I’m safe with you, right?”
His green eyes sparkled and though he tried to fight it, his lips curved into a grin. “Stick with me like glue, Luna, girl. You got it?”
“Got it,” I hissed. “Now can we go back to the party?” I glanced over my shoulder to find Maxi, Alissa and Cinder’s eyes locked on us.
“All right, but don’t make me regret this.”
I glanced down at his empty hands and led him back toward the kegs. “Looks like you could use a drink. Then maybe you won’t be so grumpy.”
The next hour passed quickly in a blur of malta and a game similar to the human beer pong—only the cups floated in mid-air and you had to use magic to sink the small white ball into the cups. As the time ticked by, I convinced myself this was a great way to hone my magical skills.
And I was getting pretty awesome at it.
“Nice!” shouted Ash as my ball sank into the last malta-filled cup. He picked me up and spun me in a circle.
When he released me, I downed its contents and threw my hands up in victory. That was the third dragon team we’d beaten. I wasn’t sure what it was, but my magic came to me more easily when I was around one of The Seven. The sweet, smoky smell always surrounded them, and it was almost like I could siphon its power and use it for myself.
Two male dragon-shifters I recognized from my Flying and Shifting class sauntered over. “You two up for another match?” said the dark-haired one.
I scanned the crowd around the bonfire, searching for Cinder. I hadn’t really spent much time with her, and it had been the whole reason for coming out tonight. “Maybe next time,” I said. “I gotta find my friend.”
I turned to Ash as I rose to my tiptoes to search the mass of students. “Have you seen her?”
“Nope. I was too busy kicking those guys’ asses. You’re getting pretty good by the way.”
“Thanks.” I weaved my way through the crowd, and Ash trailed behind me. “Practicing with Drake has actually been better than expected.”<
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He snorted. “Prince Drake helping anyone is monumental. You must have really impressed him.”
A slight blush heated my cheeks. “He’s only doing it because the professors are making him.”
“Nah. Drake doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to.” He chuckled. “Unless he’s doing it just to spite Raine.”
I stopped as we reached the outer edge of the crowd and spun back to face him. “What’s going on with the two of them?”
“I think they’re hooking up again. From what Triston and Raf said they’ve been on and off again for a while now.”
A twinge of jealousy bubbled up in my gut, but I squashed it down. I didn’t have feelings for the ice prince so why would it matter to me? Those two were meant for each other.
Ash rubbed at the back of his neck, his gaze flitting around. “Speaking of hooking up, are you going to the end of the semester dance?”
My head snapped back, completely thrown off by his question. “I hadn’t really thought about it, honestly. Until about an hour ago, I’d completely forgotten the end of the semester was practically here.”
His gaze lingered over my face, an uncharacteristic shyness lighting up his emerald eyes. Oh no… was he trying to ask me to the dance?
A muffled cry rang out in the distance, dispelling the awkward moment. My head spun in its general direction as an icy chill skimmed up my spine. “What was that?”
Ash’s pupils elongated, his irises glowing. “That was Cinder,” he growled. “Stay here!” He sniffed the air and took off through the thick copse of pines. I raced behind him, pushing myself to keep up with his long strides.
“Wait up, Ash!” I panted.
“Go back!” he shouted over his shoulder.
But I couldn’t. Not when my best friend could be in danger. Ash became nothing more than a shadow weaving between the trees, but his heavy footfalls left deep boot prints to follow in the blanket of snow.
Another scream ripped through the silence, and my heart leapt to my throat. That was definitely Cinder. I slowed as a growl reverberated through the pines ahead and tiptoed the remaining distance. Craning my neck around a thick trunk, all the air squeezed out of my lungs.
A dagger-like claw was pressed against Cinder’s neck, a towering beast holding her captive against his monstrous chest. Two alabaster horns snaked from his massive head, glistening beneath the sliver of a moon above. Blood-red orbs flickered toward me for a moment before returning to its prey. A few yards in front of them stood a snarling, partially-shifted Ash.
Talons replaced my friend’s fingers, and a long barbed tail twitched behind him. His face had elongated into an olive green snout, and razor sharp fangs filled his gaping maw.
“Don’t even think about it, shifter,” hissed the demon. “If you change, I’ll slit her throat.”
“Not if I burn you to a crisp first.” Ash’s gruff voice was barely human.
“And risk hurting this pretty little thing?”
“I won’t, trust me.” He stalked closer.
The demon ran his finger across Cinder’s throat, and a thin line of blood trailed behind his sharp claw. She screamed and thrashed against him to no avail.
“Stop!” I shrieked, darting out from my hiding place.
Ash froze, his emerald irises bouncing back and forth between his cousin and me. “Dammit, Luna. I told you to stay back there.”
The monster’s eyes locked on mine, and the symbol on my chest pulsed red-hot and angry. I slapped my hand over the puckered skin as if somehow that would help.
“I was hoping you’d come out to play, half-blood.”
I took a step closer, steeling my nerves. “Let her go. I know you’re here for me.”
“No, Luna,” Cinder whimpered.
“You’re not leaving with either of them,” snarled Ash.
“Very brave words for a young dragon.” His hand shot out, and a slick black substance burst out. Ash leapt out of the way, but the dark goo darted after him wrapping itself around his legs. He skidded across the snow and smacked into a thick trunk as the oily substance climbed up his body.
“What are you doing to him?” I yelled.
The demon huffed, and dark smoke shot out of his nostrils. “I was sent for the human, but if I kill a few others along the way, the dark lord will only be that much more pleased.”
Cinder began to cough as the smoke filled the air. She choked and spluttered, her hands desperately reaching for her throat, but the monster held them down. The dense smoke poured out of his mouth and nose clouding the air until Cinder went limp in his arms.
“Please, stop!”
He released his hold, and she crumpled to the ground. “As you wish.” An evil smile showcased a row of gleaming fangs. “Come with me, human, and your other shifter friend won’t suffer the same fate.”
Ash whipped his head back and forth as he tried to push himself off the ground. “Don’t do it, Luna.”
I stepped closer, my breath stuck in my throat. If Cinder died, I’d never forgive myself. She was my best friend—pretty much the only one I’d ever had.
“That’s right, little one, come right this way.” He crooked a clawed finger at me.
“If you killed her, I’m not going anywhere with you,” I spat.
He glanced down at my friend’s drooping form. “She’s still alive for now.”
“I need to confirm that.”
He motioned to Cinder with his palm up. “Come see for yourself.”
“Don’t, Luna!” Ash wriggled on the floor but whatever the monster spewed had him trapped. It climbed further up his body with every squirm.
I knelt down beside Cinder and released the breath I’d been holding once I saw the gentle rise and fall of her chest. She was still alive.
“You see,” the creature hissed, “perfectly fine. Now it’s time for us to go.” His hairy hand closed around my shoulder, his claws digging into my flesh as he yanked me to my feet.
I squeezed my eyes shut, wincing from the pain as I found my footing. The demon dragged me a few yards as Ash’s shouts grew more distant with every wobbly step.
A sharp screech tore through the air, and a dark shadow whizzed by. The hold on my arm released, and I tumbled face first into soft snow.
Oof! The fall smacked all the air from my lungs and stars danced across my vision. Blinking rapidly to refocus, I pushed myself off the ground as another howl rang out.
A few yards away, a dark figure pinned the demon to the ground, thick, corded arms pummeling into the creature. The smash of bone against flesh echoed through the quiet forest, sending goose bumps rippling over my skin. Smack. Smack. Smack.
Ryder?
I crept closer, my boots sinking into the soft snow. The moonbeams leaking through the thick canopy of trees highlighted the broad shoulders and tapered waist of the man I’d recognize anywhere. Dark swirling tattoos snaked out from beneath his collar and shirtsleeves. The inky black practically glowed beneath the moonlight, coming to life on his skin.
The pounding of flesh drowned out the roar of my own heartbeats as I neared. Dark crimson splotches stained the pure snow. The demon lay motionless, eyes swollen shut, beneath Ryder’s muscled thighs but still his fists relentlessly thrashed its dark flesh.
“Ryder?” My hand reached out for him, but I froze as he spun around. An ominous growl vibrated the air between us.
An unearthly citrine eclipsed his irises, his dark pupils a bottomless abyss of fury. His face was his own, and yet it wasn’t. The darkness consuming his features distorted his appearance until I could barely recognize him.
“Ryder?” My breath hitched, but I somehow managed to squash the tremor building in my throat.
“Luna…” he rasped.
“Be careful,” shouted Ash from a few yards back, still immobilized by the creature’s black goop.
I steeled my nerves and shook my head as I extended my hand to him. Ryder would never hurt me. I believed it with every ounce of my being
. His jaw softened, and the darkness twisting his features slid back beneath the surface. He pushed himself off the ground and accepted my hand. Icy fingers wrapped around mine, sending a chill straight up my veins.
Ryder tugged me into his arms, his chest heaving beneath mine. His heart jackhammered against my body, the erratic thrum so violent I could feel it through my thick coat.
He ran his hand through my hair and pressed my head into his firm chest. His musky scent enveloped me, cocooning me in safety. “You’re okay,” he muttered.
“I’m okay.” I glanced up at him and the blinding yellow had receded, leaving only the dark onyx pools I’d come to love. I wished I could read the truth behind those stormy irises, the turbulent emotions that lingered just below the surface.
“Uh, guys, I could use a little help here.” Ash’s voice tore me away from the spell of his dark gaze.
With a grunt, Ryder released me and stomped over to Ash, and I ran to check on Cinder. Her breaths were shallow, but her eyelids fluttered when I spoke. “You’re okay, Cinder. We’re going to get you back, safe and sound.”
Ryder somehow extricated Ash from the web of black goo and hauled Cinder into his arms. As the guys turned back toward the path, I scanned the white snow, marred by bloody splotches and my heart stopped.
“The demon’s gone!”
Chapter 23
The radiant glow of Cillian’s healing power bathed our entire dorm room in soothing warmth. The angel’s big frame hunched over Cinder’s still body, the heavenly light swirling around her. Even from a distance, its calming effect seeped into my skin, quelling some of the panic from earlier.
I stood by the foot of her bed with Ryder and Ash on either side of me. No one spoke as we waited with baited breaths. After a few more agonizing minutes, Cinder’s eyelids fluttered. Slowly, her eyes opened, the golden hue dimmer than they’d been an hour ago when we’d been celebrating around the bonfire.
I’d been so stupid to put her life at risk. To put all their lives at risk.
I clenched my teeth as my best friend glanced up at me. “I’m so sorry, Cinder. It was all my fault you were attacked.”