Tuck leapt up onto the fountain and stood over the crowd gathered around him. I could see Patty Pinch Face and her followers practically salivating as he smiled and winked at them.
Ophelia tapped my arm. “Isn’t that your boyfriend over there surrounded by a mob of girls?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I growled. But he was indeed surrounded by them all. His tousled auburn locks stood out against the gray sky, and drops of water from the fountain gathered in his hair and across his gray shirt. When he reached back and cupped his hand in the top tier of the fountain and splashed his flock of followers, a wide smile spread across his face.
An obnoxious giggle stood out louder than the rest. When I looked closer, Patty’s large blond curly hair was a beacon in the crowd. Her pink sweater covered a bright white button-down shirt and a short pink plaid skirt. If only I had the power to make people step on Legos while barefoot for the rest of their lives! Because Patty Pinch Face with her overly preppy outfit and her loud cackle would be my first victim. I curled my hands into fists at my sides.
“Well, if I spent days fighting for some guy’s life, he better not be standing there flirting with another bimbo the next day.” Ophelia shifted from one foot to the other. “Want me to get rid of her?”
She took a step toward the fountain, but I reached out and pulled her back to my side. “You can’t just go around killing people because you don’t like what they’re doing.” As much as I wanted to let her go and punish Patty for hitting on Tuck, I knew I couldn’t. Though it was tempting.
Ophelia shrugged from under my grasp. “I’m not going to kill her. I’m not a monster, you know? I was just going to, I don’t know, soak her with water or send a few bees to sting her so she’d have to leave.”
Nova chuckled and nodded. “I wouldn’t mind seeing that.”
Just as I was about to let her loose, Tucker held his hand up and shot three fireballs into the air that exploded into the shape of a T. The girls around him clapped and giggled. He flipped off the side of the fountain, then sucked in a deep breath and blew fire from between his lips. Heat warmed my face, and students all around the courtyard stopped and stared at him.
Ophelia leaned in closer to me. “Your boy is a bit of a show-off.”
“He usually isn’t.” Something was wrong with Tuck. I knew him, and this was not him. Tuck liked to keep a low profile, do his job and get out. Jumping around throwing fireballs was not him at all. I marched up Tucker and the girls surrounding him. “Tuck?”
He reached into the fountain once more and splashed water over his face and hair, then laughed as Patty swatted at his arm playfully. When he turned to look at me, his eyes were as black as night. The smile dropped from his face. “Zinnia.”
I stepped in closer to him, and I could feel his body heat pouring off of him. His warm woodsy scent invaded my nose, and I sucked in a deep breath. “Are you okay?”
He ran his hand over his face, then stared down at me. His eyes shifted from black to honey. He looked around at the crowd and down at himself. “Am I okay? Um, yeah.” He shook his head. “I think so.”
I lowered my voice. “Then what are you doing?”
His brow furrowed. “I was just, having some fun?”
Patty pushed in on his other side and wrapped her hand through his arm. “Yeah, we were just having fun.” She waved me away. “Run along.”
“Isn’t there like an Izod or polo convention you need to be getting to?” Nova tilted her head with attitude. “So maybe you should run along.”
Patty’s eyes locked on Ophelia, and she pursed her lips. “Who are you?”
“None of your business,” Ophelia snapped back then turned toward me. “I’m going to class. I’ll catch you later.”
Before she could step away, Patty squeaked. “Oh my god, I know who you are. So, the rumors are true. Zinnia has brought a traitor into our school. Go figure.”
Tucker’s fingers slid into my hand. No one else noticed, and for a moment I couldn’t believe he would do it around so many people. When I looked up into those honey eyes, he smiled down at me and whispered, “Can we get out of here now?”
I squeezed his hand and tugged him closer to me. “You’re soaking wet.”
Steam rose up from his body, and his hair fell back into place as though he’d never dumped water on it. The dark water spots on his shirt disappeared, and within seconds he was completely dry. “There, can we go now?”
“Ophelia, come on.” Nova wrapped her hand around O’s elbow and gave a gentle tug. “She’s not worth your time.”
Patty shoved her way between Nova and Ophelia. “Tell me something. What’s it like living a life where everyone hates you and your family?”
An evil grin spread over Ophelia’s face, and Patty withered under her gaze. O titled her head and met Patty’s gaze. “What was your last name again? Bowerguard was it?” Ophelia stepped up nose to nose with her. “Your family has a lot of money and likes to put it in places where it doesn’t belong. You think you’re spilling my secrets by telling people I’m Alataris’ daughter? News flash: everyone knows that already. But what they don’t know is what your daddy has been up to. Shall I share with the class, or will you be the one moving along?”
“Bitch.” Patty’s lips turned down, and her face pinched into a scowl.
Ophelia hauled her arm across her body and let it fly. The back of her hand cracked across Patty’s cheek, sending Patty straight onto her ass. Patty’s pale skin turned a bright angry red, and her eyes filled with unshed tears. Her flock of followers, the girl with an oversized forehead and the other with stringy faded blond hair, squatted down beside her and grabbed her arms to haul her up off the ground.
All around, other students covered their mouths, laughing. Some even started a low chant of “fight, fight, fight.”
Ophelia popped her hip and looked down her pert little nose at Patty. “Who’s the bitch witch now?”
I moved to go grab Ophelia when Tuck tugged me back to his side. I shook my head. “But Ophelia—”
“Can clearly handle herself.” He tugged my arm, and this time I let him take me.
Nova shooed me away. “Go ahead. I got this.” She grabbed O’s elbow and pulled her away from the crowd. “Let’s get to class, Rocky.”
“Who’s Rocky?” O wrinkled her nose at the name.
I didn’t want to see how the rest of that convo went. I just drifted along at Tuck’s side as he led me away. “How are you feeling?”
He dropped my hand and shoved his fingers into his pockets. “Better, thanks to you and Ophelia.”
The warmth from his touch seeped from my skin, and I wanted to reach out and take his hand back in mine, but I didn’t. We didn’t need any rumors swarming around us right now. Not when I just got him back. “I know, Ophelia of all people. It’s crazy. But Tuck, that wasn’t you out there. You’ve never acted like that before.”
“I was just having a little fun, you know. Blowing off some steam.” He shrugged and shoved open the door to the training center.
I arched my eyebrow at him. “Literally.”
The door closed behind us, and we were alone for the first time since we’d been on the island. The training room was what every high school gym I’d ever been to looked like, plus an array of swords, whips, knives, throwing stars, staffs and pretty much any weapon I could think of lining the walls. Blue mats covered the floors. At one side of the room ropes hung down from the ceiling, along with punching bags and dummies made to take a beating. The distinct smell of sweat and bleach stung my nose. Outside, the hallways bustled with activity, but in here the sound was muted by the doors. Sunlight shined in from the windows around the top half of the room. Tuck had yet to turn the florescent lights on, so the room was dimly lit and quiet, giving us a moment of peace…alone.
Tuck turned to face me. His eyes flashed from honey to black and back again. He took slow steps toward me. His gaze was laser-focused like a lion on the hunt and I was caught
in his sights. I swallowed and took a step back. My back pressed into the wall, and I had no place to go. My heart raced so fast I could hear my pulse racing. Every time his eyes flashed black, I didn’t know what to expect. Would the hex make itself known? Was it a side effect from the potion? It worried me to see him like that. But when the honey color shinned through, I knew he was with me. No hex would hold us back from each other. The future was uncertain, but I had this moment with him, alone. And I was going to take it.
He stalked toward me, looking delicious in that gray shirt and dark jeans. He brushed his auburn hair back from his face, and my eyes were locked on his plump lips.
Tuck reached out and took a lock of my hair between his thumb and pointer, and he wound it around his finger. His lips were a breath away from mine. “On the island when Alataris…” His eyes flashed black. “When he hexed me, I thought you’d be killed.”
“I wasn’t. I’m here and you’re here. That’s all that matters now.” I reached up and brushed my hand over the side of his face. “Are you sure you’re okay? Your eyes, they’re changing.”
“What do you mean changing?” He held his breath and blew it out. “Ophelia said the hex would present itself in odd ways. Do you think that’s what it is?”
“I’m not sure.” The truth was it scared me to see those honey eyes disappear. What did it all mean? And who could we trust to tell? If Niche or Matteaus found out they’d lock him in a room somewhere and study him. I couldn’t be away from him not now, not again. Worry like I’d never known flooded my body and all I wanted was to wrap my arms around him and make sure he was okay. “But I’m scared.”
He pressed his other hand to the side of my neck and ran his thumb over my skin in a sensual rhythmic motion. I closed my eyes, reveling in the feel of his warm touch on my skin, his woodsy smell surrounding me and how close his body was to mine. It was only a few days ago that I thought I would never have this with him again. My hands fisted his shirt, and I found myself pulling him in closer to me.
“Zinnia.” He whispered my name like a prayer. “Thank you for saving my life.”
When I looked back up at him, his eyes shifted to a warm honey that melted me from the inside out. “You would’ve done it for me.”
He nodded and moved in closer. His lips pressed into mine, and an electric shock shot through my body. Every ounce of me sparked with life. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled his body against mine. The hard planes of his chest pressed into mine, and the warmth from him seeped into me. His lips opened, and I let my tongue dance with his. A low growl rumbled in his chest, and he grew impossibly warmer. I clutched him harder to me. I never wanted to let him go.
I pulled back for a second. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
His body was flush up against mine. “I promise.” He pressed his lips back to mine, and his minty flavor invaded my mouth once more. “Don’t put yourself in danger for me again, Zin.”
“I can’t promise that.” I kissed him. “I can’t be without you.”
He broke our kiss and let his forehead rest against mine. “I know exactly how you feel.” His chest heaved with each breath he took. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you since that night on the island.”
He reached down and unclipped the clasp on my bracelet, then reached down and pulled his hand free of the cuff he’d worn since the day I’d met him. Then he wound our fingers together and brought the back of my hand to his lips. It was the first time I’d seen his soulmate mark. In my heart I knew we were soulmates through and through. But to have him finally admit it was something I never thought he’d do, not until our fight with Alataris was over. His wrist pressed to mine, and our marks were finally touching. The endless infinity signs moved over my skin, and the pearl-like beads in each one glowed a shining white light. When they touched warmth spread through my chest. The kind of warmth that felt like coming home, like I’d finally found the one place I belonged. Excitement and happiness bloomed, and I couldn’t fight the smile on my face. He was mine and he finally admitted it.
After all this time waiting for him to say something, waiting to know for sure it was him, this was soul deep satisfying. In my gut I’d always known it was him, now we could finally admit it to each other. My heart soared and I felt like I could fly with his wings of fire. My body trembled and I wanted to be closer to him, to lay in a bed and wrap my arms around him for hours on end. I bit my bottom lip. “About time.”
He kissed the back of my hand. “You’re it for me, Zin. It’s always been you since the day we met.”
My smile broadened and I must’ve looked ridiculous. But I didn’t care. “Really?”
He nodded. “Really.” All too soon he put my bracelet back on and tugged his leather cuff back into place. “But no one is ready for this yet. If Niche finds out or anyone else, they would send me back to Cindalore, back to my home. And I can’t let that happen.”
I shook my head. He was right, it was forbidden for us to be together. The knights and queens couldn’t date at all for fear of it ruining our judgment. Once long ago when another set of knights and queens fought against Alataris they’d almost lost all of Evermore to him. One of the queens had fallen in love with her knight. Alataris exposed this weakness and used it against them, killing every one of them. He saved the couple for last so they could see what their love had done to their friends. Ever since then it’d been forbidden for a knight to love his queen. I wanted to believe Tuck and I were different. No, I knew we were.
I shook my head “I don’t want that to happen either. We are better together. If they send you away—”
“Shh.” He pressed his finger over my lips. “So we keep it our secret for now.”
I wound my hand in his shirt and tugged him down for another kiss. His lips were firm and soft all at once, and I never wanted it to end. His hands wound in my hair, holding me in place.
I pulled away from him and met his warm gaze. “We keep it our secret.”
“In that case…” He leapt ten feet back and pulled a paper out of his back pocket. “I had your schedule changed to help you with your Magtrac exams. There’s no way you’ll be anything less than advanced once I’m through with you.”
I shrugged out of my backpack and let it drop to the floor. “You think so?” I summoned my blades to my hands. The blades themselves were half-moons in my hands, with half circle blades and straight hilt. On one side a phoenix was etched into the metal and on the other side the mark of the queens.
Tuck’s lips tilted up in that half-smile I loved. White light burst from the palms of his hands, and the tips of his swords slid out of each of his hands. The metal gleamed with phoenixes etched into each one. He wrapped his hands around the hilts and spun his swords at his sides. “Show me what you’ve got.”
I ran full speed at him. Adrenaline flooded my body, both from our kiss and from the prospect of training one on one with him. His eyes flashed to black, and his smile dropped from his face. He ran at me and held his swords high. He leapt up and brought them down over my head. I held my hands up and blocked his blow with my blades. It was like getting hit with a sledge hammer. I felt the hit vibrate down my blades, into my hand and burn the muscles in my arms.
I shoved his swords away. “Ouch.”
Tuck didn’t say a word. He spun on his heels and jabbed his sword forward, catching the tip of his blade on my shirt and putting a little tear in it.
I swung my arm down again, knocking his sword away. “Hey, I like this shirt.”
It already had rips in it and I wasn’t angry, but he was going too hard. With his other hand, he swung out and I bent backward. The blade missed my cheek by mere inches. “Tuck, stop!”
I ducked around him and came up behind him and kicked out the back of his knee.
He dropped down, sucking in deep breaths. “You’re better than I thought.”
“Um, thanks?” I held my blades at my sides, ready for his next move. I didn’t have to wai
t long. Tuck shot up from the ground and backflipped over my head and landed behind me. From the corner of my eye I saw him draw his sword back, about to jab it forward. I turned and stumbled away from him. “What’s wrong with you? Stabbing me in the back, seriously?”
Again, he said nothing. He moved like a machine set on kill mode. He stalked forward and swung out. I blocked one then the other. I planted my foot and booted him in the chest with the other. He skidded back but didn’t fall. He narrowed those black eyes at me and then stepped forward, poised to strike.
Was this his hex? His eye would turn black and he’d become more aggressive? My fighting skills consisted of flying by the seat of my pants to defend myself. Whereas Tuck had spent his entire life training to be a knight. The blades in my hands shook as I held them up. How would I defend myself against this? Shit, shit, shit. “Tucker Brand, stop!”
He staggered back and shook his head. “What happened?”
The training room door flew open and smacked into the walls with a bang. Nova was practically in tears she was laughing so hard. “I can’t believe you slapped her.”
Ophelia shrugged. “Someone had to.”
I kept my eye on Tuck. His breaths heaved in and out of his chest, and he stood there staring at the sword in his hand like he didn’t know how it got there. His eyes wavered from black to honey and back again. He pressed the heel of his hand to his eyes and shook his head.
Cross came in right after them. “Yeah, but next time maybe don’t make it so public. You could get expelled for that.”
“It might be worth it.” Nova dropped her bag on the floor next to mine and pulled her hair up.
I clutched my blades harder and waited for his next move. There was a difference between training and being attacked. Sweat soaked my body, my breath heaved, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.
Wicked Hex (The Royals: Witch Court Book 3) Page 11