“How is it that you know this, but Kane saw fit not to tell me this shit?” I grind my teeth together, trying not to project my anger. I imagine if I can feel them, they can feel me.
“No idea, but knowing Kane, he didn’t want to burden you with anything else when you’re already processing so much. Plus, if the bond is as strong as I’ve read about, you’re about to feel either super loved, or super suffocated.”
I groan at her words. “Awesome, just what I wanted.”
“This does mean your secret is going to come out though. Are you ready for that? A lot of people are going to be pissed off.”
“I asked about that. Z and Kane seem to think I’m fine from the Fae and Mer folk.”
“I meant the Vampires. A lot of people lost people in the Uprising, and a lot of Vampires joined the ranks of The Council because they weren’t happy about the power the originals held.”
“I know. I guess I’m just leaving that problem for future me. Right now, I have enough to deal with.”
“Good idea. I mean, the trials aren’t exactly a cake walk.”
“Wow, you are full of good news today aren’t you?” I tease her and swipe some cake, before getting up and putting on the coffee pot.
“I have a ton of books on this if you want to read up?” She offers and I smile.
“Why exactly do you have a ton of books on this?”
“I like history. The oracles died out eons ago, but it’s my bloodline. A lot of people in my family are gifted with foresight when their powers emerge, but none have been powerful enough to be ranked an oracle.”
“I had no idea.” I pour the cups of coffee and hand her one before sitting again.
“It’s not something I talk about normally. It’s a bit taboo, you see. The oracles were all Fae, but my great, great, great and more grandma shacked up with a werewolf. She kept the pregnancy a secret until no one could do anything about it. She handed over her child to the wolf pack to keep him safe, and the rest of it, as they say, is history. Though what’s coming for you, that’s the real whirlwind.”
Chapter Ten
Eden
I have no idea how they built a jetty to the middle of the lake so quickly; Fae magic I imagine, but attached to the jetty is a huge wooden boat, full of peoples’ stuff. Students and teachers alike have each been delighting in throwing their crap into the boat, while the smells of food trucks, coffee, and hot chocolate waft through the air around me. When Ruby told me tonight was a thing, I didn’t quite realize it was such a big deal. Which is why I refused to let her dress me up and instead wore my trusty ripped black jeans, a black tank, hoodie, and leather jacket with my Dr. Martens and beanie. It’s too fucking cold out here to do anything else, and yet I watch from my spot in a tree as girls squeal as they run past in heels, short skirts, and God knows what else, but wearing way too little for the temperature.
“Fancy finding you here, little one.” I look down to Cam whose face breaks out in the warmest smile when I look down to him.
“It’s nice and quiet up here. No people.” I tell him and he laughs.
“I should’ve known. You going to come down here and keep me company?” He smiles up at me and holds out his arms to catch me.
“Since you asked so nicely,” I laugh and slide off the branch, falling into his arms which catch me. “You actually caught me!”
“I’ll always catch you.” He says, his voice soft and deep. I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him.
“Thank you, Cam.” I whisper and he lets me down. “Thank you for the other day too. Things got so insane I didn’t get chance to say.”
“You don’t need to thank me. But you can come here and let me keep you warm. I can feel how cold you are from here.” He says and pulls me to his side, his arm dropping on my shoulders and pulling me along with him; his shifter heat making me warm and cosy despite the icy chill and the snow that threatens to fall.
“How are you doing with this whole bond thing?” I ask him, knowing that Shifter magic is different to mine. Shifters don’t tap in like I do. It’s a part of their DNA, a little like the Fae and the Mer.
“I’m good. It makes me happy knowing where to find you and that you’re safe. It may have amplified my protectiveness for you, but I won’t apologize for that. It’s heightened everything. I can feel your power, even though you’re constantly fighting it to keep it suppressed. It makes my bear feel pretty invincible, I’ll tell you. I’ve had to walk away from more than a few idiot freshman this week. No offence.” He squeezes me, looking down at me, and I can’t help the pull I feel toward him.
“None taken, and I’m sorry that you’re burdened with all this. Not that I know exactly what this entails yet,” I hint, rolling my eyes at him.
“No need to be sorry, Eden. And as for the rest, be patient. I trust Kane, and if you paid more attention to the bond you feel, you would too.”
“Is that the same for Creed and Ziniyah?” Curiosity picks at me. I know that he and Kane have been friends for a lifetime, and I know that’s not the case with those two.
“With them, it’s a little different, but I can feel their intentions through the bond, and neither of them wants to hurt you. If anything, it’s the opposite, so for now, yes, we can trust them.” He reassures me. “Enough of this for tonight, have you had a s’more yet?”
I shake my head and he grins at me. He picks me up and flings me onto his back and starts barreling across the field between us and everyone else. I wrap myself around him and hold on tight, laughing at the ridiculousness of it.
***
I wake up, my head pounding and my eyes feeling stuck together. What the fuck? I manage to open my eyes and look around at the unusual room. It’s all dark blues and greys. Where the hell am I?
I hear the sound of the shower as I get to my senses and sit up quickly, clutching my head as I do.
“Stupid Eden.” I sigh, and then notice my clothes hanging over the back of a chair with the exception of the tank and panties I see I thankfully have on.
“Please let this be Creed’s room.” I murmur to myself. The water shuts off, and a very wet, towel clad Ziniyah smiles at me from the bathroom door as he dries his hair.
“Morning, sunshine. Enjoy yourself last night?” He whistles to himself as he walks into what I assume is his closet.
“I don’t really remember much after Cam found you guys, and you dared me to drink the elixir you were drinking.” I groan. “We didn’t?” I ask when he reappears in nothing more than sweatpants and he laughs.
“I slept on the sofa. Don’t worry, cutie.” He winks at me and I swear to God my insides combust. What is with the guys at this school looking like that? He pulls on a black tee which does nothing to hide the definition of his muscles at all.
“How did I end up here?” I ask and he laughs again as he leans on the door jamb.
“Well, since I was the only one who could walk straight last night after the party, I made the decision that you’d be safer here with me than alone all the way across campus.”
“Oh, well, thank you. You didn’t have to do that.” I blush, faint memories coming back to me.
“Oh, I know. You told me that last night, right before you kissed me.”
“Kill me now. I’m sorry.” I grumble and fling myself back down onto the bed.
“Oh don’t be, I’m not. You want some breakfast? Cafeteria is closed today after last night.” he walks to the drapes and opens them, making me wince as he chuckles at my pain.
“Stupid fucking elixir,” I grumble and throw the comforter off of me, stalking into the bathroom and locking the door to escape the sunlight.
“Coffee?” Ziniyah yells through the locked door.
“Yes please!” I say as loud as my grumbling head will allow. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and wish I hadn’t. My hair looks like a bird nested in it, and my eyeliner has created the worst panda eyes I’ve ever seen. I do what I can with my fingers to tame my hair and wash
my face, then steal some of this toothpaste to rid myself of the cotton feeling in my mouth before making my way back into his room, where I slip into yesterday’s clothes. Awful as it is, it won’t be long till I’m back in my dorm and I can shower.
I enter the main room, and I’m taken back by all the glass, looking out across Black Water lake. I thought my room had a lot of glass, but it’s nothing compared to this.
“Beautiful isn’t it?” He hands me the steaming mug of coffee and I can’t help the groan as it passes my lips.
“Thank you, and yes, it is.”
“I know we decided not to discuss it last night, but this bond…” he starts and I try not to react.
“What about it?” I take another sip and take a seat on the floor by the windows, staring out at the peaceful waters.
“Well, how much do you know about Mer people?”
“Not much,” I shrug. “Beyond their wanting my family and friends dead during the Uprising.”
He scrubs his hand down his face before taking a sip from his own mug.
“Okay, so obviously there’s that, but there’s so much more. The Mer have existed as long as the Fae. While the Fae have always had the power of the land, my people originally lived underwater, only coming to the surface when needed. The pollution over the years drove us from permanently living under the water and because of this, my people tend to have a strong dislike for any land dwellers, be it supe or human. Our power draws from the moon, rather than the sun like the Fae, and while we come to the academy, we have access to a form of our powers from birth, which is why there are rarely any problems from the Mer when they age up. My power is as much a part of me as my eyes. I wield it without thought. The Mer dislike for Vampires and Shifters comes from your origins more than anything. You were not born of magic, you were cursed, but somehow the curse backfired, and the original bloodlines who were cursed became the strongest of us all, creating even more hatred.”
“Which led to the Uprising,” I muse.
“Exactly. This is the main reason why I should be the one training you first. Kane is too close to you; Cam and Creed are too close, but they’re also only just learning to meld with their power source. I have complete control of mine.”
“Don’t let them hear you say that,” I snort. “But I guess that makes some sense.” I reach down into my power base and open the door to the vault I keep my magic locked in, reaching out to feel the bond. I gasp as I feel Ziniyah. He believes every word he said, but underneath that I feel the beast inside him, the sheathed power, ready at a second’s notice. Goose bumps prickle my skin as his bond reaches back to me.
“Your power is breathtaking,” he murmurs as he slides down the wall and sits next to me. His hand reaches out to mine and I don’t stop him, the bond seeming to settle and yet amplify when we touch.
“My father is going to lose his freaking mind when he finds out about all this.” He sighs, pushing his long dark tresses back. “He wasn’t for the Uprising, but he definitely wasn’t against it. My mother… she wouldn’t dare speak against him, no matter her opinions. While he will have no choice but to accept it, since the honor of being bound to the Chosen one is something all supes have chased for centuries, he won’t necessarily be happy about it either.” I feel the conflict in him through our bond, managing to hang onto it without letting my power escape fully.
“My little sister is going to love you though. Her favorite Watchbox show has a character that reminds me a little of you.” He smiles softly and I feel the warmth and love he has for his sister; it projects through the bond between us, unlike the cold feeling when he spoke about his parents.
“I look forward to meeting her,” I nudge his shoulder with mine and finish my coffee. “Right, I should be heading back.” I say and push to my feet. He follows suit and crowds me. I look up into his stormy gray eyes, his dark hair forming a curtain as he puts his forehead to mine. Closing my eyes, I feel peace like I’ve not felt in forever as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me close, tucking me into the crook of his neck. I breathe him in, a mix of saltwater and smoke, and just distinctly him.
“I know I’ve only known you a few days, but I feel like you’ve been a part of me my entire life,” he breathes, so close to my ear a shiver runs down my spine. He pulls back and kisses me gently on my forehead. “Let me grab a jacket and I’ll run you back.”
“You don’t have to do that.” I tell him as he lets me go and disappears into his room.
“Oh, I know, but this way I don’t have to let go of you just yet.”
Chapter Eleven
Creed
“Aurora, come on.”
“No, Gus. I’ve had enough of you telling me what to do. Father wants me to do this, so I have to.”
“You don’t understand,” I groan, having been pleading with my sister for what feels like an eon.
“I understand completely. You think your new girlfriend is the Chosen one, but I’ve been training for this my entire life. Do I owe Eden? Yes. Did she totally kick ass and save my life? No doubt. But I haven’t come into my powers yet. You have no idea what I will become. I can already do more than most Vampires at this age. Mom wanted this for me as much as Dad does, and I will not disappoint her.” She huffs as she packs her satchel with the books she needs for the day.
“She isn’t here, Aurora. You will die if you do this. I can’t lose you too.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Gus. Maybe you need to talk your girlfriend out of it instead. She might actually listen to you.”
“Not fucking likely.” I grumble, the restraint of the magical bonding strangling me as I try to dissuade Aurora from the trials. While I might not be able to discuss what happened with Eden to her—to anyone other than the other bonded—I’m going to try my damnedest to save my little sister.
“This conversation is over, Gus. You’ve barely paid me any attention this year so far, so let’s not change the habit of a lifetime. You enjoy your day,” she says with a disinterested sigh.
“Aurora, come on. You just nearly died, and I swear, it took ten years off my life. Please, don’t enter the trials. I know what Father thinks, but he wants you to enter for himself. If you were successful, think of the power and status it would bring him.” I try to reason with her.
“Yes, and imagine what it would be like for the infamous Creed to have his little sister be more powerful than him. I love you, Gus, I do, but I’ve had enough of being Creed’s little sister. I want to be Aurora. I deserve that much.” She grabs her satchel from the counter and storms to the door of her room. “Now, get out. I don’t want to be late for class.”
“Please just think about this.” I plead.
“There’s nothing to think about. I already told father that if they ever happen, I would enter. And from all of this, I’m assuming they’re coming. So, I need to get to class and work my ass off to prepare. I don’t have time for this.” She sighs. “Everything Dad did during the Uprising was for this, Gus. He sacrificed so much, we all did. Mum… I can’t just throw that sacrifice away. There isn’t anything you can say that will change my mind. I have to do this. For him. For her. We lost too much already.”
“That’s exactly why you can’t do this, Aurora. We lost too much already. I don’t want to lose you too. Dad will break completely. You’re not going to survive this, and I’m not going to stop until I manage to make you see that.”
“Stop! Just stop. Just once it would be nice for you to believe in me. Have faith in me. Have faith that I know what the hell it is I’m doing.”
“But you’re not the chosen one, Aurora. Why can’t you see I’m trying to save you? From yourself as much as anything.”
“You know nothing, Gus.” She shouts before pushing me out the door before locking it and stalking away from me, anger radiating from her. That couldn’t have gone much worse if I’d planned it.
I’ve always known Aurora is stubborn as hell, but fuck, she could die. How does she not understand this?
I head back to my room and find Amberley stood at my door. Just what this morning needed.
“You’re up early,” she coos, twisting a strand of her blonde hair around her finger.
“What do you want, Amberley? I need to get ready for class.” I open the door, knowing she’ll follow me in. I grab a bottle of blood from the fridge since I skipped breakfast to speak to my sister, and neck it down while she watches.
“I’ve had enough of being ignored, Creed.” She moves into my space where I lean against the counter, so close I can feel her tits brush my chest. “Before that stupid red-headed bitch showed up, you and I, we were in a good place. We were on a path. But I’ve barely seen you since the year restarted and she popped up. I’ve had enough. We used to be a power to be reckoned with, Creed. Your anger, my determination. We could have everything we ever dreamed of. Your father gone, you in control the way I know you crave.” She runs a finger down my chest to my belt and bites her lip. Last year, I’d have lost myself in her. Just another distraction from my father. But now, with Eden, Amberley does nothing for me. I grab her wrist as she skims lower and move her out of my space.
“I’m not interested, Amberley. I never really was. You were a half-decent fuck and that was it. I can’t help it if you thought it was more than that, but I’m done.” Her eyes go wide as I tower over her, my voice low, barely concealing the rage that lives inside of me.
“You’ll regret this. So will that little siren of yours. Mark my words, Augustine Creed.”
“Whatever you say, Amberley. Now get the fuck out.” I turn my back to her and change out of the black t-shirt I have on into the white shirt and blazer, which just barely contain my shoulders. Since everything with Aurora and Eden, I’ve been training in every spare minute I have, and it’s showing. I grab my cell and send a message to Mrs. Hale that I need some new shirts and blazers before heading to class. This day can only get better. Right?
Chosen: A Paranormal Romance Academy Series (Black Water Academy Book 2) Page 7