by G. K. DeRosa
“No,” Ryder muttered against my lips.
“What?”
The turmoil raging in his dark irises slapped me out of my lust-filled haze. He grabbed my wrists and rolled me off him. “I can’t do this.” He raked a hand through his disheveled hair and loosed a breath.
“Why not?” I whined. Man, her voice was annoying.
“There was a reason I ended this months ago, Vena.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but this isn’t right. I just don’t feel the same way about you.”
It was like a bucket of ice over the head. I was so sure they were dating or at least having sex—all the times I’d seen them flirting. How could I have been so wrong?
Embarrassment swirled with satisfaction, as confusion above all, reigned over me. I leapt off the bed and ran.
“I’m sorry, Vena.”
Ryder’s words fell away in the distance as I sprinted down the dark hallway. I didn’t stop until I reached the janitor’s closet. Leaning against the thick timber, I inhaled deeply to slow my erratic heartbeats. It took me a second to get over the brutal rebuff and for the ridiculous happiness to sink in.
Ryder had refused to sleep with her—not me. My little heart jumped for joy at the implications. But before I completely lost control, I talked myself off the ledge. Just because he didn’t have sex with her doesn’t mean it had anything to do with you.
Stupid logical brain.
I slid down to the floor next to my body and really looked at myself for the first time. It was the most surreal experience ever.
Chapter 12
I had to tell someone about the skinwalking. The mix of excitement and guilt filling my chest for the past two days was becoming too much to bear. I couldn’t tell Ryder, obviously. I dug the heels of my palms into my eyes, pushing away the steamy images that flashed by. Thank the stars nothing had happened. I’d been stupid, stupid, stupid. I couldn’t believe I’d actually considered throwing myself at him like that.
I wished I could blame the dark magic brewing inside me or the gut-wrenching guilt over Ash that pushed me over the edge, but deep down I feared none of that was true.
“Rough night?” Drake slid into the seat beside me at our table in the banquet hall. I still couldn’t believe I was part of The Eight as we were now called. My throat tightened, emotion clogging my esophagus at my random thought—we were back to Seven now without Ash.
“Yeah, something like that,” I muttered as I slurped up the last sip of my iced coffee.
He cocked a brow. “Are you cancelling our training session today?”
“No!” Like I’d miss the chance to practice on our unipegs together. The big race was coming up soon, and I was dead set on beating the almighty Fae prince this time around. Plus it would be a nice distraction from all the gloom and doom of late. Ash’s funeral was set for tomorrow, and I needed something to keep my mind occupied.
“Because if you’re not up to it…” His lips curved into a wry grin.
“It sounds to me like you’re the one that wants to back out. Don’t tell me you and Apollo are scared of a little friendly competition?”
He grunted. “Will you even be able to mount Zeus without my brother, Elrian’s help?”
“Very funny, ice prince.” I shot to my feet and slapped my hands on my hips. “I’ve been doing fine with Zeus lately, thank you very much.”
“Okay, I just wanted to be sure.” He slowly rose and followed me out of the hall as the eyes of at least half a dozen girls followed us out.
“It must be nice to be revered around here.” I quirked my brow at the group of pixies excitedly whispering as we passed.
“Being famous, or being a royal for that matter, isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” He shrugged as we headed outside toward the stables. “Sometimes I wish I could melt into the background like some ordinary creature. I have duties and responsibilities that go far beyond my training here at Darkhen. Once I’m finished at the academy, I’ll have to return to Winter Court to serve at my brother’s side. I’ll be forced to wed the princess of the Spring Court, and the rest of my life will be pretty much mapped out for me.”
The crunch of snow beneath my boots was the only sound interrupting his monologue. It wasn’t often Drake opened up, but whenever he did, I realized how little I really knew about him. To me, he was the Fae prince, a spoiled and powerful royal with the perfect life. “I’m sorry.”
He chuckled, lifting his gaze from the snowy ground. “Don’t be sorry. I was only answering your question. It’s simply a fact of my life.”
Drake swung the stable doors open and a wave of warmth wafted over me, along with the pungent odors of unipeg manure and hay. Before we reached our steeds I stopped him. “If you had the choice to give it all up and become a lesser Fae would you do it?”
The line between his brows deepened as he regarded me. “Not a chance.”
I laughed, shaking my head. Snobby royal.
“Go mount up, and I’ll meet you outside in five.”
I rushed over to Zeus’s stall, hoping my irritable unipeg would be in a good mood today. Not wanting to take any chances, I pulled the elaria fruit from my pocket and offered it to him before beginning to tack him up. His big nostrils flared, and he whinnied as soon as he saw the bright pink fruit. “Let’s do this, buddy.”
Five—or maybe more like ten minutes later, Drake and I soared above the treetops, our unipegs happily flapping their brightly colored wings. There was definitely some sort of rivalry going on between the two males as they sought to outshine each other in virtually every skill we practiced.
After an hour of training in the mid-air arena, a deep chill had set into my bones despite Drake’s spell to ward off the worst of the frosty winds.
“I think I’m going to have to call it a day,” I said, my teeth chattering.
He threw me a sidelong glance. “Weak.”
“I’m sorry, but we don’t all have ice running through our veins.”
“That’s a pity for you.” He patted Apollo on the neck and gave the command to descend.
Zeus followed behind him without me uttering a word.
We walked the two unipegs around the arena in a comfortable silence so they could cool off before returning to their stalls. I twirled my fingers through Zeus’s soft mane as we circled. The sun’s setting rays illuminated the alabaster snow, blanketing the ground in a beautiful pink hue.
Drake eyed me from across the way, his lilac irises shimmering. “You know, your power has gotten much stronger in the past few weeks. I can feel it now whenever you’re near.”
“Really?”
He nodded, chewing on his lower lip. “I think I’ve also figured out who your father is.”
My eyes widened, and my fingers tightened around Zeus’s reins.
“You won’t be able to hide it from the others for much longer. Magic signatures are pretty specific. Now that I know which warlock line you’re descended from, and coupled with your surprising acceptance to Darkhen and the way Cillian and Ryder dote on you, it wasn’t difficult to put the pieces together.”
“So enlighten me, oh wise one.”
“You’re Garrix’s daughter, the supreme warlock of the Coven Council. I couldn’t understand Elrian’s interest in meeting you until now. It’s because you’re her half-sister—Kimmie-Jayne, the TV actress my brother was so enamored with.”
My heart stopped for a fraction of a second before it started up again. Not many Azarian’s new K.J. was Garrix’s daughter. They all knew her as the human TV actress and the president’s illegitimate child.
“Elrian let me in on the president’s little secret awhile ago. I was sworn to silence obviously, but he felt it was important for someone else to know in case anything ever happened to him.”
That sneaky Fae king. He really did know how to play the political game.
“It all makes sense now—your powers, why you were chosen for the team, all of it.”
“You’re not going to tel
l anyone, are you?” I hated how small my voice sounded.
He shook his head. “It’s not my place to, but after what happened the other day at Madison Square Garden, I think the team deserves to know.”
“I had no idea he was going to be there. None of us did, I swear.”
He lowered his gaze, threading his fingers through the reins. “Maybe not, but I still don’t like keeping this from the others.”
“Neither do I.” I loosed a breath. “There’s something else you should know about my powers…” His piercing eyes flickered up to meet mine. “I kind of discovered I have a new one.”
“What’s that?”
“You have to swear you won’t tell anyone yet.”
He frowned, deep creases lining his forehead. “Luna…”
“I’ll tell everyone soon, I promise. I have to wrap my head around it first. Ryder and Cillian don’t even know yet.”
Now he really looked interested.
“So when Garrix removed my mark, he definitely unblocked something. I felt it that day, but I couldn’t quite pinpoint it. Then after everything that happened with Ash, it was like a dam burst free. Anyway—I can skinwalk, exactly like him.”
Two immense lilac orbs gawked at me. “You’re kidding me.”
“Nope.”
“You actually did it? You tested it out?”
My head bobbed up and down. “And before you ask me, no, I won’t tell you whose body I took over.”
He raked his hand through his platinum hair, the short spikes standing on end. “Good gods, Luna, that’s monumental.”
“I know.”
I could almost see the gears cranking in his head as the lines across his forehead grew deeper. “The demon blood—you must have a high percentage.”
“I know…”
Both unipegs slowed as we approached the barn and dismounted. My boots sank into the soft snow when I landed. Drake had lapsed into a heavy silence, and I wished I could read his thoughts as we walked the steeds inside.
Once both animals were back in their stalls, Drake sauntered over, his brows still tightly knitted together. “This is going to be good, Luna. Maybe a little extra demon power is exactly what we need to take Luxora down.”
Before I could stop myself, my arms flew around Drake. Standing on my tiptoes I yanked him into a tight hug. His response was the exact opposite of what I’d expected and apparently, exactly what I needed. Something about skinwalking felt so wrong, but I’d loved it. On top of the Ash guilt, I couldn’t handle much more. “Thank you,” I whispered against his shoulder.
He made an odd choking sound as he released me. “You humans and your out of control emotions. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand it.”
I gave him my best eye roll as I backed off. “Of course you’d have to say something snarky to ruin the moment.”
He grinned and ushered me out of the barn. “Come on, let’s get you back to the dorms before nightfall. It’s a full moon tonight.”
I rushed ahead of him, practically sprinting for the dormitories. Of all the rules I’d broken at Darkblood, hanging out in the Fae forest on a full moon was one I would never repeat again.
Chapter 13
Cinder’s hand remained tightly clasped around mine during the entire funeral service. My eyes were swollen from crying for the past hour. Though Ash hadn’t been at the academy for long, he’d left a mark on a lot of students. Even the non-dragon ones. I wished I had the guts to go up there and talk about what my friend meant to me, but how could I?
How could I face his parents and admit he’d died because of me?
Only a handful of people knew the true story, his parents included. For everyone else, Ash died in a freak training accident.
When a familiar, hulking dark-haired dragon rose to the podium, I did a double take. Fenix? I shouldn’t have been surprised. He was the alpha of all the dragons in Azar and Ash’s cousin. Of course he’d come to the funeral of one of his own.
After his emotion-filled speech detailing sweet childhood memories of his younger cousin, I was a weepy, sniveling wreck once again. As Fenix descended the podium, his warm golden gaze caught mine. Though his lips barely curved into a smile, he gave me a reassuring nod as he passed. I swiveled my head around to look for Kimmie-Jayne, but I lost him in the crowd.
Cinder squeezed my hand and leaned her head against my shoulder. This was the first time in a long while that I’d sat with the dragon shifters. It felt right. They’d been my first real home at Darkhen. If Cinder hadn’t adopted me into their pride, I would’ve been hopelessly lost.
The rest of The Seven sat a few rows back with Ryder. I’d caught his gaze when I searched for my half-sister. I’d been avoiding him like the plague since that skinwalking incident, which was pretty tough considering my training schedule. I’d made up an excuse about needing a break and because of my meltdown he’d actually bought it. It wasn’t entirely a lie anyway.
When the funeral finally ended, Cinder and I fell in line with the rest of the dragons to head to the banquet hall. I kept my eyes open for K.J. and Fenix. They were the closest thing to family I had, and after a day like this, I needed to see them.
Maxi and Alissa walked beside us as our solemn procession headed toward the cafeteria. When we walked in, the hall had been transformed. Vibrant flowers were draped over the entire space, dangling from the wooden chandeliers and beautiful candle-lit centerpieces adorned the tables. A string quartet sat in the corner, their heavenly music filling the air.
The four of us sank down at the end of one of the long tables as all the other guests filtered in. Cillian stood at the front and said a few comforting words and then trays of food appeared, covering the entire length of the tabletop.
“Funerals in Azar always have a ton of food,” said Cinder. She must have noticed my staring.
“I see that.” Unease rolled in my stomach, and I wasn’t sure I could actually eat anything. Even though it smelled delicious.
“There you are.” Kimmie-Jayne’s hand clasped my shoulder as she sat in the chair beside me.
“Hey.”
She pulled me into a hug before I could get anything else out. Though I hadn’t seen my half-sister in months, we’d talked almost once a week since my arrival at the academy. She was pretty much up to date with everything happening with the exception of the skinwalking. I really wanted to tell her, but now didn’t seem like the appropriate time.
“How are you doing, sweetie?”
“I’m hanging in. It’s been tough.” I wondered how much Cillian and Ryder had told her about my five-day meltdown. From the worried look on her face, I’d guess she knew all about it.
“I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to come sooner, especially after what happened with Ash.” She swept her long golden curls behind her shoulders and gave me a gentle smile.
“It’s okay. I’m sure you’re busy in Draeko being the alpha’s wife or whatever.” I hadn’t meant for it to come out so harshly, but finally seeing K.J. after all these months made me realize I was pissed. She’d appeared in my life and vanished just as quickly. Sure she kept in touch by phone, but would it have killed her to stop by once in six months?
“I truly am sorry. My excuses for not coming aren’t good enough. But I’d like to do my best to explain.” She squeezed my hand, her bright blue eyes shiny. “Maybe we can go somewhere quiet and talk?”
I flicked my wrist and a translucent blue bubble enveloped us, drowning out the surrounding noise.
Her expressive eyes widened as she lifted her fingers to press against the invisible barrier. “Wow, Luna. Your magic really has come a long way.”
I shrugged. “This is nothing. You should see me with a sword.”
She giggled, her delicate shoulders bouncing up and down. “Ryder keeps me up to date with your training too. He’s quite impressed by you. You’re all we talk about these days.” Her eyes sparkled, and a flush crept over my cheeks.
I cleared my throat to keep it from
coming out all high-pitched and awkward. “He’s a good instructor.”
“I bet he is.” She shot me a knowing smile, and I was sure I was as red as her lipstick. “Anyway, what I wanted to explain to you, and what I’ve been meaning to tell you for some time now is that I’m pregnant.”
My eyes widened as I searched for her non-existent belly.
“I’m only four months in, but it’s why I couldn’t come sooner. I had a rough start to the pregnancy, and the healers didn’t want me traveling. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I wanted to make sure everything was okay with the baby before spilling the news.”
My heart just about doubled in size. I didn’t think it was possible to feel this happy after the past hour of crying. “Congratulations, Kimmie-Jayne!” I wrapped my arms around my sister and squeezed. “Oops, I’m sorry, was that too hard?”
A big smile lit up her face. “No, I’m okay, Luna. This little baby is a tough one.”
“I’m so happy for you guys. Fenix must be thrilled, huh?”
She nodded. “He’s going to tell Cinder today. His parents and his twin, Flare, were the only ones that knew. Even his youngest sister, Ashlin, has been kept in the dark.”
“This is just the good news Cinder needs on a day like this.”
Her brilliant smile twisted into a grim line. “This is what you both need. I know what Ash did for you, Luna. He was a brave guy, and he was well aware of the risks he undertook to be on the team. You can’t blame yourself for what happened anymore, okay?”
I nodded. “I’m trying not to.”
“I’m so proud of you. Garrix too. He actually called to tell me what happened at Madison Square Garden. If you all hadn’t been there, things could have gone down much worse. If he’d been forced to use his powers in front of such a huge crowd, everything he’s fought for with the integration would’ve been lost.”
“I just don’t know if I’m strong enough, Kimmie-Jayne. Garrix’s powers are kind of intense.”