“Rob, I love you,” I blurt out.
He blinks a few times, his lips parting.
I wait and wait and wait.
He says nothing.
“You don’t have to say it back,” I add, feeling like a fool. “I don’t expect you to. I just… I wanted you to know. My feelings. I wanted you to know my feelings.”
Robb drops my hand, takes a step back, and gives me a look that I can’t decipher at all.
Did I just screw everything up? I didn’t think there was a con to my telling him, but clearly, this—whatever this is—is a downside I didn’t foresee.
Before I can potentially ruin things further, something happens. We aren’t the only two in the room. A demon has teleported into the room and stands directly in front of Robb.
Instinctively, I step between them, holding out an arm to protect Robb. I’m sure he doesn’t care for that, but I’m not worried about that right now.
Before I can demand to know who the demon is and what he wants, the demon growls, showing off his pointed teeth. “When will the deed be done?” he utters in a voice that makes my skin crawl.
“Deed? What deed?” I glance over my shoulder at Robb. His face is white, so very pale, and he sways slightly on his feet.
“You do not need to concern yourself with this,” Robb says. His voice is tight.
My nostrils flare, and I set back my shoulders, eyeing the demon. “What deed? Who are you? What do you want from us?”
“Not from you. From him. Robb Aline.” The demon’s smile is—in a word—demonic. “Robb Aline is to kill a demon.”
It feels as if the floor has opened up, and I’m falling.
“Kill…” I repeat, mumbling the word.
“Not just any demon,” the hateful creatures continues, clearly delighting in this. “Ronath is to die by Robb’s hand.”
Robb.
Ronath.
My boyfriend is supposed to kill my dad.
How? Why?
I gape at the demon, who just continues to stare at Robb. Then, his gaze falls to the trunk. He snorts a laugh and disappears.
And all I can think about is how that demon just said that my boyfriend is to kill my dad.
Robb’s played me this entire time. I’m nothing but a fool, a means to an end, and to think I just confessed to him that I loved him.
No wonder he couldn’t say it back to me.
I swallow hard. “I’m sure you think you can explain, but I… I need to go.”
“You know who Ronath is,” Robb says slowly.
I whirl around to face him.
The shock on his features is genuine. His voice cracks as he says, “Ronath is your dad.”
“Yes.”
Robb nods slowly. "Well, you did say that your dad might want to kill me."
My slap is so hard that it stings my hand worse than a thousand bee stings.
“Don’t you dare come near me ever again, and if you even think about going after my dad…” I stalk closer to him and jab a finger at his chest. “I will handle you myself.”
Bellanore and Robb have their hands full between the bullies, the curse, her dad… You’ll definitely want to check out Year Two, available for preorder now!
The Moonstone Academy trilogy is part of my A Mayhem of Magic World Story universe which starts with my Bedlam in Bethlehem series. It’s so much fun to keep expanding this world!
Please consider leaving a review if you enjoyed Moonstone Academy Year One! I love to read my reviews. Thank you!
Until next book,
~Nicole
Other Books By Nicole Zoltack
Bedlam in Bethlehem series
Cops plus supernatural creatures
The Vampire Hunter Tribulations
Magical Hunters Academy trilogy
A school for paranormal teens to train to fight evil creatures
Blood Haven Academy trilogy
A paranormal retelling of Romeo and Juliet
Moonstone Academy trilogy
A half-werewolf, half demon and a cursed werewolf… What can go wrong?
Year One
Year Two - available for preorder
Year Three - available for preorder
Magical Prison trilogy
A fairy tries to free her twin from prison and save the world
Rebel, Supernatural Bounty Hunter trilogy
A human hunts supernaturals
Magic Incarnate Series
Magic + Faith + Teens
Heroes of Falledge trilogy
A superhero struggles to find love and save his town
Age of Dragons Series
A tale of lost magic and dragon riders
Once Upon a Darkened Night Series
Twisted Fairy Tales - the villains are now the heroes
The Queenmaker Series
YA Female King Arthur Retelling
The Winged Beast Chronicles
Dragons enslave humans.
Magical Awakening written as Nicole Beyer
Friends attempt to save a friend from a magical sickness
Beyond Boundaries
Can love cross class boundaries?
Masked Love
Starry Love
Standalones
Moonstruck
Gender-bent Cinderella set in NOLA
Dark Hunt
Vampires vs witches vs humans
Bloodlust
Epic fantasy with forbidden love
Not on Her Watch
A military romance
The Test of Time
Unpredictable time travel
Love Before Honor
Medieval knight. Regency lady. Magical Christmas.
Joy to the World
One lady. Two dukes, one an imposter
Christmas Kisses
Two gentlemen, only one Lady Anna’s mother approves of
Starving for Love
The Little Mermaid with a zombie twist
Guns and Fangs
A vampire huntress turns into that which she hates
About the Author
Nicole Zoltack is a USA Today bestselling author who loves to write romances. Of course. She did marry her first kiss, after all!
When she’s not writing about knights, superheroes, or witches, she enjoys spending time with her loving husband, three energetic young boys, and precious little girls. She enjoys riding horses (pretending they’re unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire dressed in garb. She’ll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV shows are The Witcher and Stranger Things.
Sign up for her newsletter to learn when her next book is released as well as excerpts, cover reveals, and giveaways!
For more information
www.NicoleZoltack.com
[email protected]
Acknowledgments
First and always, I have to thank my husband. I’m sure it can’t be easy being married to a writer, and I am so appreciative of all the support over the years. I love you, Todd! Thank you to my wonderful children for understanding that Mommy has work she has to do, but she still does and always will love you!
To some of the best writer friends a girl could ever have. You know who you are and I can’t wait until we can retreat again!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my wonderful street team. You keep me going, and I’m writing for you and for all of my fans. Thank you for all you do for me!
And finally, I want to acknowledge my readers. You are why I write. As long as you keep reading, I’ll keep writing. So please keep reading, all right?
Author’s Note
Hi, readers! I absolutely hate proofreading errors. My editor, proofreaders, and I try to find them all, but sometimes, a few will slip through. If you find any, please feel free to email at [email protected] or message me on FB with the errors. I’ll correct the file as soon as I can get to it!
Oh, and if you’d like, feel free to tell me anything else y
ou like—something about the stories, the characters, if there’s any story you would want me to tell?
Finally, if you would like to join my beta reader team or my ARC team, be sure to mention that too!
I’m off to write the next book!
~Nicole
Moonstone Academy: Year One: A Mayhem of Magic World Story Page 20