I glanced over my shoulder in time to see her push him ever so slightly and hiss, “What are you doing?”
I didn’t hang back and listen to what they had to say. Lover’s quarrels weren’t my thing. By the time I made it over to the punch bowl, Tucker was hot on my heels. If I wasn’t so worried about the hex, this might’ve been a fun night. The music was amazing, and the twinkle lights in the canopy of fall leaves and fluttering pixie made it seem even more magical.
Beside the punch bowl were three girls. One stood in the middle with her hands behind her head. She wore a classic princess dress complete with off-the-shoulder straps and big poofy bottom, “Come on, guys this isn’t funny.”
The one on her right, a shorter plump girl with her hair pulled into a tight bun at the base of her neck, pointed at the white dress and gave an evil grin. “Make it pink.”
Boom! The dress flashed to a hot pink.
Then the girl on her left, one who wore a princess dress but with a shorter skirt, laughed. “Make it blue.”
“Guys, this isn’t Disney. Give it a rest.” The girl in the center pointed to herself and closed her eyes. “Make it what I want it to be.”
The dress turned from a cute baby blue to a Queen of Hearts red with black lace embellishments all over it. The other two hunched over into fits of laughter. The shorter one held her stomach. “That’s badass. Okay, you win.”
That right there was how magic school should be, fun messing around with our gifts. Not spending every day fighting against an evil king who wanted to take over all supernaturals. Part of me hated how selfish that sounded, and the other part of me knew it was what I was born for. If I wasn’t so troubled by everything else, I might’ve enjoyed my first magical ball.
Once I made it to the punch bowl, Tuck came up beside me. “Can we talk?”
I picked up a cup and ladled some fruit punch into it. “Hi, Tuck. How are you? You look nice. Oh, you like my dress? Why, thank you.”
“Come on, Zin. We have to be serious.” He reached out to touch my arm, but I shot him a warning look and he dropped his hand.
“I know we do.” I motioned to the beautiful atmosphere. “But we agreed, go to the dance then be serious. You need a break, and so do I. Hexes be damn!” I took a sip and fought not to spit the too sweet drink out on the floor. I pressed my hand to my mouth, then put the drink down on the table.
“Look, I don’t. I just don’t…” He stabbed his hands through those wild auburn locks, and in that moment, I remembered what they felt like under my touch. The muscle in his jaw ticked as he ground his teeth together.
I searched his warm honey eyes for what he was trying to say. “You don’t what?”
“I don’t remember saying anything, okay? I don’t even remember asking Patty to the dance. I’m worried. The last thing I remember is you hitting me. Nice swing by the way. But before that, there’s nothing.” He looked out over the other couples on the dance floor. “You have to know I want to be out there with you…and only you. But this thing inside of me, I have to get it out…now.”
“Oh god, Tuck. I didn’t know it was that bad.” I wanted to reach out and run my hand over his cheek, to soothe away the worry around his lips and eyes.
He leaned in closer to me. “Zinnia, I think I’m losing my mind.” He pressed his hands to his temples. “I keep hearing this voice and this chant in my head over and over again. It’s all I hear. I get no peace from it, even in my sleep.”
“No.” I shook my head. “You’re not going crazy. It has to be the hex Alataris put on you.”
The music switched again, this time a dance song that was deafening. I could feel the bass beating against my chest. Ophelia stormed off the dance floor with Cross following close behind her. Patty spun in a circle, surrounded by her followers, when her eyes stopped on Tuck and me.
Tuck ran his finger down my forearm, leaving a trail of heat across my skin. “Can we go somewhere and talk? I just want a minute alone with you.”
Patty began stomping over to us, and I turned back toward Tuck. “Okay, let’s go.”
That cocky half-smile spread across his face, and he grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hallway closest to us. I gathered the bottom of my dress and ran at his side. The hallways were dim and empty. My boots echoed off the old stone floors with each step I took. I felt like we were two celebrities running from the paparazzi.
“Tuckerrrr!” Patty’s voice carried down the hallway.
He tugged me closer to him. “Go, go, go.” A giggle escaped my lips, and I ran faster. We turned the corner and came to a dead end. “Come on in here.”
Tucker pushed the double doors wide open and pulled me through. Then he grabbed a sword from the wall and shoved it through the door handles. He back away from the door with his breaths heaving.
Outside the door, I heard Patty’s voice, “Come on, I think they went this way.”
“The training room again.” I strolled around while catching my breath. Not a single light was on. I could only make out Tucker because of the moonlight streaming in from the windows at the top of the room.
Tucker turned around and pressed his finger across my lips. “Shh, don’t say a word.”
My shoulders shook with the effort to hold back my laughter. Once the footsteps trailed away, Tuck dropped his finger from my lips. “I can’t believe I got looped into going with her.”
I rolled my eyes. “Neither can I.”
“I mean, she’s the worst.” He shook his head. “I’m so sorry, Zin.”
“I know you are. I just hate seeing you with her. Once we figure this out no more Patty for you.” I knew it wasn’t Tuck. I knew it was the hex.
“I can relate.” He took a step toward me.
I took a small step back. “Oh, can you?” Excitement thrummed through me, and I wanted to jump into his arms or make him chase me.
He arched an eyebrow. “Have you seen yourself in that dress?”
“Yes?” I fluttered the soft burgundy material. Cool air brushed over my legs and arms.
“You’re stunning.” His eyes trailed down my body. “And the boots are perfect.”
Again, he was hunting me in the room, following each of my movements. I stepped, he stepped. Then my back was pressed against the wall at the far end of the room where not even the moonlight could touch us. He came so close his chest pressed into me and his warm woodsy sent clung to the air. Electricity crackled between us, and I felt breathless as he leaned in and let his lips hover just over my mouth.
“Help me figure this out. Help me stop whatever is happening. I couldn’t bear it if I hurt you.” He lifted his hand and pinched a lock of my hair, then toyed with it between his fingers. “And if I do…crack me across the face like you did before.”
“I didn’t mean to—”
“Shh, if you hit me, I probably deserved it.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine, and pleasure shot through my body like an explosion. I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. His hands ran down my sides, and I threw my leg around his hip, holding him in place. When his scorching touch pressed into my thigh, a moan escaped my chest. He tasted of minty freshness, and I couldn’t get enough of him. Heat came off of him in waves and sunk into me. I pulled him as close as he could get.
He broke our kiss. “Zinnia, I lo—” He stumbled back and pressed the heel of his hand to his eye. When he looked up, he swayed on his feet. “No, not again.”
I took a step toward him. “What is it?”
“No.” He held his hand out, stopping me. “Don’t come any closer.” He hunched over and pressed both his hands to the sides of his head. His mouth dropped open, and a pained bellow broke free of him. His body shook from head to toe, and he stumbled away from me until he held himself up on the other wall. With his back to me, he placed both hands on the wall in front of himself and took deep, calm breaths. Then finally, he straightened his stance and rolled his shoulders.
My heart hammered in my che
st, and my hands shook. “Tuck, are you okay?”
Bright white light exploded from his palms, and his swords were held firm in his hands. “Oh yeah, baby. I’m more than okay.”
His voice sounded so off, so wrong. Stomach fluttered with panic. “Look at me.”
“With pleasure.” He spun on his heels and titled his head down and met my gaze. His eyes were two swirling orbs of blackness. Wings of fire shot from his back and singed his shirt clean off his body. The phoenix tattoo on his neck glowed molten red, and Tuck’s head twitched to the side as though in pain.
“Tuck, you don’t want to do this.” I held my hand behind my back and summoned my blade. The cool grip appeared in the palm of my hand. I’d never been scared of him before but seeing him like this made me pity our enemies and worry for my safety.
His wings pumped, and Tuck hovered a few feet off the ground. “Don’t I? Destroy that which you hold as your dearest mate.” He held his sword high over his head and swooped down toward me, ready to take my head.
I ducked down low barely dodging the edge of his swords. When I spun around to face him, he’d already landed and stood still as a statue facing me. “Tuck, please don’t.”
His eyes were fully black, and his face was a mask of cold indifference. His hand shot out and he connected with the center of my chest. My body flew back and smacked into the wall. As I slid down and found my footing, I sucked in deep gagging breaths. He sprinted forward swinging his sword so fast I lost track of it until it was pressed to the side of my neck. He leaned in, his voice was a deep growl, not the smooth one I was used to. “Don’t what.”
He drew his sword across the side of my neck, pain shot through my body as he took a deep slice of my skin. Warm liquid ran down my collar bone and across my chest. Tears of pain spilled from the side of my eyes and a coppery scent filled the air. Blood, my blood. If I didn’t stop him, he would kill me. I shot my foot forward as hard as I could connecting square with is crotch.
He hunched over and I smacked one of my blades into the sword he held at my throat. I spun to the side thinking I could get away when he dropped his sword and wrapped his hand round my neck and shoved me back against the wall.
“Destroy.” He squeezed his fingers even harder and I couldn’t catch a breath.
I choked out, “Stop, Tuck. Please.”
His eyes flashed honey for a mere second but in that second, he loosened his grip. I sucked in a breath, and his eyes turned black once more. “Stop with your witch craft. Tucker is gone and he’s never coming back.”
“He can and he will!” I swung my blade up and cut a gash in his forearm.
“No!” He swung me to the side like a rag doll then pulled his elbow back and launched me to the other side of the room.
My body smacked to the ground so hard I felt dizzy. Black dots swarmed my vision and I wanted nothing more than to curl in a ball and let him have me. But I didn’t. I crawled to my feet and faced off against him. I held my blades up the way the real Tuck taught me. Not this hexed villain. He tilted is head back laughing. “You think you’ll defeat me.” He held his arms out wide and every muscle in his body rippled and the wings on his back flared brighter.
I shook my head. “No, but I’ll make it damn painful for as long as I can.”
He spit on the floor. “I look forward to it.”
I waved him forward. “Bring it, bitch.”
Chapter 28
Nova
Grayson held me close and spun me in maddening circles. I threw my head back and laughed. My hair came out of the pins holding it up. “You’re making me dizzy.”
“Fabulous, isn’t it?” He slowed down just enough for me to get my bearings.
“I’m so glad we came together. I’m having a good time.” Over the past few weeks, I’d never felt happier. Sure, all five queens had risen, Alataris was going crazy and my world was turned upside down. But now I had real friends, people I could count on. Becoming a queen had made my family send me away. I’d been alone the whole time. Until Zinnia arrived, yes, it’d been turbulent, but she brought us closer together whether she realized it or not.
“As am I, love. But don’t go falling for me. I’m not the sort of vampire to bring a good little witch into my crazy world. And don’t even get me started on the curse over my family at the House of Shade. Complete nightmare.” He held his arm up and guided me to spin under it.
“Wait, what curse?”
“Nova!” Ophelia rushed onto the dance floor and grabbed my hand out of Grayson’s. She was trembling from head to toe, her skin was paler than normal and her eye were wide with worry. “Have you seen Zinnia?”
I peered over my shoulder. “No, why?”
Beckett ran up to Grayson’s other side. “Tucker is missing too.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that lot. They’re made for each other. I knew they’d work it out eventually.” Grayson shrugged and smiled.
Ophelia squeezed my hand so hard I could feel my fingers going numb. “That’s my point. They can’t be alone together, not now. Not until he’s better. If something happens…”
I pulled my fingers from hers and grabbed on to both of her shoulders. “Slow down, what do you mean?”
She wavered from head to toe, and her eyes darted around the whole courtyard. “I think I know what the hex is. I’ve seen my father use it only one other time before. I wasn’t sure, but I am now—”
“Hey, guys. Have any of you seen Tuck? One minute I was dancing with Zinnia and the next they were both gone.” Cross ran his hand over the back of his head. “It was so weird.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Shut up.” When I turned back to Ophelia, I shook her hard. “Spit it out. What’s happening?”
She swallowed hard and looked up at me with unshed tears in her eyes. “He’s going to kill her.”
It was like a bomb when off, and I stood frozen on the spot, not knowing what to say or do. Tuck and Zin were our leaders. They made decisions. I shook my head. No, I had to step up. I had to help my friends. “Grayson, go get Brax and start searching the shifter wing. Beckett, Cross, go to the vamps.” I cupped my hands around my mouth and called out for Serrina and Tabi. The moment they came over, I started talking. “You two need to check the library and release Kumi. She’ll know how to find Zinnia. O and I will check the gym and training room.”
Serrina looked from Ophelia to me and back again. “Why, what’s going on?”
“Tuck is going to kill Zinnia…Move now!” We scattered to the wind, hoping to get to them in time.
I stopped just outside the training room with Ophelia at my side. Inside, I could hear the clanging of metal on metal. Grayson sped to my side, and Brax was only a few feet behind him.
Gray shook his head. “No sign of them.”
Ophelia canted her head to the side. “How’d you get here so quick?”
“Vampire, love.” He looked at the double doors to the training room. “What’s happening?”
“They’re in there.” I planted one foot and kicked at the door with the other. It gave only a few inches, then popped back into place. “Something’s blocking it.”
“I got this.” Brax pressed his arm to my shoulder and moved me aside. His body grew impossibly bigger, and tiger strips covered his arms and neck. Huge tiger fangs hung down past his bottom lip. He took three steps back, then ran full force at the door, then leapt forward and threw his shoulder into it. The door shattered into pieces, sending wooden shards in all different directions.
Smoke billowed out the open door, and fire burned up the walls of the room and on pieces of the floor. Ophelia and I charged in after Brax. I choked back a cough and tried to see through the darkness around the room. “Zinnia?”
“Over here!” She fell into a coughing fit, and I tried to follow the sound of her voice.
The wind kicked up and blew me back five feet. Ophelia grabbed on my hand and pulled me to the ground. “Look out!”
I flattened myself a second
before Tuck swooped right over my head. His eyes were pitch black, and his lips were turned down into a scowl. His brows were drawn low over his eyes. Sweat and soot covered his face and hair. I didn’t think Tuck would ever lose the noble look I’d grown so used to him having, but this… this was the face of an avenging evil. “Destroy that which you hold as your dearest mate!”
Ophelia rolled to the side. “He’s crazed. We have to stop him before he does it.”
I rolled to the side and sprinted toward Zinnia. Tucker swooped down at me once more, and I slid down to the ground next to her. “We have to get you out of here.”
Zinnia clutched my hand and crouched even lower. Dust and dirt covered her from head to toe, and she held her blades tight in hands. The bottom half of her dress was ripped into tatters. Sweat ran down her face, and she scrambled even lower. Blood dripped from a nasty cut on her neck and bruises marred her skin as if someone had strangled her. “It’s not Tuck. I know it’s not. The hex has ahold of him.”
I nodded my head. “I know.”
Tucker landed just in front of us, his wings fully extended out to his sides. “Come out, come out wherever you are, my love.” His voice was deep, menacing, not his own.
A loud growl sounded a second before Brax jumped in front of Tuck, hauled his fist back and connected right with his jaw. Tuck flew backwards and landed flat on his back, then skidded across the floor. Grayson jumped up and landed with both feet on Tuck’s chest. “Sorry about this, mate.” He too hauled his fist back and started punching Tuck. “Just.” Hit. “Stay.” Whack. “Down.” Punch.
A fireball exploded out of Tuck’s chest, sending Grayson shooting like a rocket up toward the ceiling. He crashed into it then back down to the ground. Cinderblocks rained down on top of Grayson, pinning him to the floor. Tuck rose to his feet like a possessed doll and wiped the blood from his lip across the back of his arm. I pulled my gloves from my hands and let my magic gather on my fingertips.
Wicked Hex (The Royals: Witch Court Book 3) Page 15