Blackwood: The Dynasty Series Book One

by Marian Gray

  I shrugged. “With all these tests coming up, and my spot on the team being somewhat fragile, I’ve been studying regularly once more. I don’t want to be kicked off the team over grades.”

  “I don’t blame you. Speaking of which, did you catch today’s story in the Emporium?”

  I shook my head. The articles caused me more grief than enjoyment.

  “Well,” Sara continued, “apparently someone at the Boston Sons has loose lips and Elijah Harlow’s signing bonus amount was leaked.”

  “How much did he get?” Eddie turned to her.

  “Five million.”

  Eddie shrugged. “That seems about normal for a professional athlete, no?

  “Arcs,” Sara clarified. “The current exchange is one to four.”

  Eddie’s forehead lifted so high, his glasses climbed up to his eyebrows. “You mean he has twenty million dollars just sitting in the bank now?”

  Sara nodded. “Makes me wish I would’ve tried out for the holmgang team. From what the paper says, some large investors are rolling in and buying out teams.”

  “What did Ryan Rosewall get? I bet he didn’t get nearly as much as Elijah Harlow. I know the two are supposed to be buddies and all, but it must be difficult constantly being the bridesmaid and never the bride.”

  “They didn’t discuss his earnings, but supposedly he’s seeing some mystery girl.”

  “Ryan’s actually quite good. At least from what I’ve seen in practice. The two are pretty evenly matched when we run drills. I was very surprised the first time I was able to compare them side by side. I don’t understand why Eli gets more attention and praise.”

  Eddie tapped the side of his head. “It’s because of what’s up here. You still haven’t seen them play, have you?” He asked with an accusatory tone.

  “When would I have time for that?” My arms spread wide, emphasizing all the papers and textbooks at my feet. “We had midterms two weeks ago, and now it feels like I have a test every week until finals. I’m buried in classwork and holmgang prep.”

  “Well, seeing an actual game of a sport you’re supposed to play should be at the top of your list for holmgang prep.” Eddie shook his head. “I bet Harlow hasn’t said anything to you about it, because he assumes you would do something so rudimentary on your own.”

  “Once again, I understand the necessity for it, but when do I have time for it? I mean, I get the basics of the game. It’s a big duel.”

  Eddie’s lips flattened into a line of disappointment. “How about this winter break? We both live in Roanoke. Let’s meet up and have a viewing party. There’s always a big game over the holiday.”

  “That, actually sounds wonderful.” A lightness blew through my body at the idea of rest and relaxation. “And I’d like for you to meet James. He’s been my best friend since I was three, and I bet he would be ecstatic to meet you. He was quite jealous when he found out I got into Ivory. In hindsight, it is a bit unfair that I went and he didn’t. He’s always been very passionate and obsessed about magic.”

  “You know another wizard in Roanoke? I always thought my family and I were the only ones. That’s why I had to say something to you when I saw you at the tram station.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know what he’d be classified as. He doesn’t have any wizards or witches in his family, yet he knows a lot about magic.”

  “We call those mundies.” Sara teased me.

  My shoulders lifted high and fell in a defensive shrug. “I guess. You’ll know what I mean when you meet him.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  I tossed my training clothes into the hamper. The fibers were damp, moistened with sweat. I closed the oak wardrobe door and leaned my back against the wooden shell. Every muscle in my body was numb. My mind spun from exhaustion. Anxiety and stress overflowed. Finals approached at a rapid speed, and the holmgang season launched after the winter break.

  I had slaved over memorizing and learning the class material, but there was a small voice that lingered in the back of my mind, insisting that I should do more and needed to do more. The black book of spells Elijah had provided was hard pressed into my memory. But perhaps another round or two focusing on power manipulation would benefit me. I shook my head, trying to banish the thoughts. But when I shut my eyes, snapshots of herbs and their properties flickered through my mind.

  Counting out futures and determining celestial personalities were second nature. I desired to be on the tram, heading home for the holidays. And at the same time, I didn’t want any of this to stop. I didn’t want to return to my mundi life.

  Turning, I wrapped a white bath towel around my naked torso and proceeded to the showers. I looked forward to a long soak in the Roman style back. My arms ached and back muscles seared from use.

  As my feet pattered down the winding hallways, the air thickened. A strong scent of chamomile and lavender filled my nose as I rounded the last corner. My lungs sucked down a deep breath, filling with the calming aroma.

  Just as I stepped over the threshold, my legs came to a full stop. Peering through the steam veil, I spotted a body within the bath. The water was hazy with an opaque swirl. I couldn't distinguish whether the person was male or female, and a white marble column blocked their face.

  But only holmgang players were allowed in the shower room. “Hello?” I took a few more steps into the room.

  A blonde head poked out from the column’s cover. A small smirk printed across his lips. His eyebrows lifted. “Blackwood—what a surprise. Feel free to join me. I don’t mind.”

  I hugged the towel around my naked body even tighter. “I didn’t put any drops in.”

  Elijah’s eyes returned to a paperback book held open by his right hand. “Neither did I, but I promise not to look while you get in.” He shifted over, forcing the milky water to ripple. His attention remained fixed to the pages of his book.

  I padded to the bath’s edge. The towel dropped to my feet in a cloth puddle. I slipped a foot into the water. The wetness soothed my skin and gripped my body like a warm blanket. As I eased deeper in the shallow pool my eyes roved over the muscles, lines, and divots of Eli's body that traced their way down into the milky bath.

  “You can look up now.” I sat across from him. The water cut off just above my breasts, but I still felt exposed. Our naked bodies lingered feet from each other.

  A small current ran down the length of the bath as Eli faced me. His hair sat atop his head in a messy knot. Small circles traced around his eyes, and a listless look hung on his face. I wasn’t the only one suffering from the end of the year.

  “What are you reading?”

  “The Hobbit.” He shut the front flap of the book. Drops of liquid ran across the cover without soaking into the binding or pages. “It was one of my favorites as a kid. Whenever I’m stressed, I read it for a bit of escape. It’s not nearly as enthralling as when I was young, but nostalgia can be quite intoxicating.”

  “I’ve never been much of reader.” I shrugged. “It’s not that I don’t enjoying reading, but it’s hard to pick something that I’ll like.”

  “My dad traveled a lot while I was growing up. When he was home, he would read to me every night. When I grew older, we shared book recommendations. My grandma was a writer, and she passed down the interest.”

  “It sounds like something out of fairytale or movie—that small, wholesome bond that every child wants with their parent.” My hand pushed through the water, releasing strong lavender scents. “My mother constantly worked in order to support us. The small amount of time we spent together was used for chores and fixing up the house.”

  “Why would your mother have to work so hard to support you two? Did the inheritance all pass to your great uncle?”

  A harsh air escaped my mouth. “My mother—” I didn’t know how to phrase it. “She hates the community and anything that has to do with magic.”

  His two arms stretched out along the edge as he leaned back. “That’s not an uncommon
trait in flups. The unusual part is that she turned down the money. It can be exchanged for dollars.” He offered me a soft smile. “Speaking of your mother, when I read that first article about you—I never thought that you were a failure. I remember feeling pity. There was so much you were cheated out of, and it was obvious the newspaper would try to take even more. But you’re not this spoiled, stuck-up rich brat they’re trying to make you out to be. You’re a normal woman thrust into abnormal circumstances.”

  I took an easy breath. “Sometimes I’m amazed at how well you see me.”

  His eyes softened. “I thought the same thing when we stood in the bookstore, and you said you didn’t know who I was.” He shook his head. “This is going to sound ridiculous—well, maybe not to you—but throughout this entire journey, I’ve never abandoned myself. They wrote me into the role of the great, super-confident leader in holmgang, but deep down I’m still that boy. The one who pretends to have duels in his bedroom with pictures of famous players tacked upon the walls. So, when you told me you didn’t know who I was, it was as though you saw me and not the commercial face.”

  His confession struck me hard. “Do you pretend to be someone you’re not for the cameras?”

  “You don’t?” He shrugged his round shoulders. “Before Ivory, were you truly as studious as you are now? Were you as straight-laced and afraid to step out of line?”

  I scratched the back of my head. “Yes, I’ve changed, but I don’t think I did it for them in order to fit their narrative.”

  “No, you changed to oppose their narrative. But you changed nonetheless. Don’t take it as an insult. It’s something we all fall victim to. When they tout me as being this superhero and a young kid comes up wanting an autograph and picture, I don’t have it in me to be anything else but the image she’s created of me in her head.”

  I nodded. It made sense. “Have you always been yourself with me or does the superhero appear during our private lessons?”

  His full lips slid into a proud smile. “You’ve always had the real me.”

  “Well, then the young dreamer inside of you isn’t too far off from the great holmgang player.” My fingertips danced across the water’s surface, sweeping milky chamomile into the air. “Speaking of seeing people, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

  “Oh?” His head tilted.

  “The first day of practice, you stared at me in the showers. Why?”

  His face sprouted with surprise, but then relaxed into a confident smirk. “Because I like looking at you. I have since I first laid eyes on you at Brick Row.” His brazen attitude locked my tongue. “Why won’t you say it?”

  “Say what?” I looked up to meet his wanton eyes.

  “That you want more. I’ve been after you since day one, but you never gave me an in.” He leaned forward. His eyes bore into me like a hunter waiting to pounce on its prey.

  I drew in a heavy breath as my heart galloped in my chest. Disbelief weighed on my shoulders. I had accepted his advances as playful flirting not valid interest. That’s why I hid my yearning—I didn’t want to look like a fool, chasing someone who was merely toying with me. Or maybe my doubt stemmed deeper than that. Maybe I had trouble discerning his intentions, because I couldn’t fathom them as a real possibility—I was a disappointment, and he was a hero. “I do want more, Elijah.” Thrill barreled through me, desperate to have my desires realized.

  “Then come and take it.” He extended his hand out to me. Droplets spilled from his outstretched fingers.

  My breath stifled. I rose from the water, pulling the milky cover from my chest. My knees rattled as I crossed the old bath. For months I had dreamed of being this close and this exposed to Eli, and now that I had it, it frightened me.

  He took my hand in his and pulled me to him. The water swirled around our bodies, splashing against my back. My heart pounced into a hard beat as my legs split around his torso and my bare bottom sat atop his muscular thighs. My skin sparked from his touch. I wanted nothing more than to have his hands all over me.

  His lips met the tops of my hands before finding their way to my mouth. His kiss was needy and lustful. It took hold of me, and I melted.

  He sighed his satisfaction as his fingertips pressed into my hips and strong hands wrapped around the bone. His grasp was commanding, refusing a retreat should I try. But the idea was the furthest thing from my mind. My arms circled around his neck, pulling him closer.

  Our chests pressed together as our two bodies surged with a shared heat that grew feverish. His hardness brushed against my thigh, toying with my anticipation. I was nervous to sleep with him, but at the same time, I craved it more than anything else.

  His hands roamed over my naked body, forcing a light moan form my mouth. They drifted down until he found exactly what he was looking for. My hips dipped forward, sensitive and thirsty. His fingers exploited it. They rubbed and manipulated my pleasure to the highest of heights. Just when I thought I would crash down, he grabbed my legs and pushed me back.

  My body slipped into the water’s grasp, floating. His lips kissed and licked around my inner legs before returning to my mounting orgasm.

  I was lost to the world. Floating in the warm milk bath with Elijah’s head pressed between my thighs, I dissolved. It was in this delirious moment that I found true peace. My life faded away. Who we were no longer mattered.

  I glanced down to watch him, and my breath caught in my throat. Moans spurred from my lips as my fingers grasped his blonde strands to hang on for dear life. My legs shivered. A rush built in my pelvis. But he refused to release me from his hungry mouth.

  A hard crash of euphoria charged through me. Every muscle twisted and turned in the water. I felt nothing and everything at once—a moment unlike anything I had ever experienced.

  Elijah pulled his head away and stood. His Greek god structure shined in the dim light as the milky water dripped from his skin. He scooped me from my shallow bliss, hoisting me in the air. His arms teemed with ripe muscle as he held me, kissing my neck. I hooked my ankles around his hips, not wanting to leave him. He pulled away, repositioning.

  And then he slid into me. My nails drew up his back as a slight pain built and then burst into pleasure. I hadn’t known what it would feel like, but it was surreal—unequivocal to any sensation I had experienced.

  His hot breath beat against my cheeks as he withdrew and thrust back in. He hit deep in my center, and I whimpered, but he matched my cry with one of his own. We traded gasps of pleasure as he rocked his hips against mine.

  My body sunk into his, gripping onto his hard exterior. We fit together so well—too well even. As though this is where we were fated to end up.

  “God, you feel so good.” He sighed into my neck. His body tightened, desperate for more of me.

  A familiar warmth grew inside of my pelvis again. But it wasn’t of my own design. He coaxed it out of me, driving me toward the edge once more where we would jump off together.

  I couldn’t stop moaning. My arousal was reaching its apex. His hips bucked harder against me, becoming ragged in rhythm. There would be no mercy given.

  I cried out as I tightened around him. Ecstasy whipped around my body. My head kicked back from the euphoric exertion.

  But he didn’t stop. Elijah kept going, pushing me through until he could go no longer. His hips jerked and deep sighs spilled from his mouth. They were hot and wet against my cheek.

  When he came down from his high, he kissed me and lowered us back into the water. He collapsed against the bath’s edge, drained. I leaned my head against his shoulder, lost in the experience. My toes were numb, and the aroma within the room had shifted from nurturing floral to a strong, pure rawness.

  “That was unlike anything I’ve ever done in my life,” I confessed, my voice low. Despite the glow of the moment, fear crept in. I didn’t want this to be a fling, but with him being who he was, I didn’t know if I could ask for much more.

  He closed his eyes. “Me too. I
’ve never felt this way about someone before.”

  I swallowed hard. His confession brought me false hope. “And so what happens to us now? Do we just continue on, pretending as though tonight never happened?”

  He sat up and looked at me. “Kim, it's you. You’re the only one I have eyes for. If you think you’re going to make it out of this bath as a single woman, you’re severely mistaken. I get what I want because I’m persistent, and I want you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The following week, finals came and went. Four weeks of studying had been crammed into four hours of testing. I was confident I had passed, but I wouldn’t receive final grades until two weeks into the break. It was a relief to be done.

  “Are you ready?” Eddie stood in my doorway.

  “I think so.” I zipped my suitcase. The venetian blinds on my window snapped closed. “I don’t know who wants us off campus more, the professors or the school.”

  “Yeah.” Eddie rubbed his backside. “My door literally hit me on the butt on my way out.”

  “Oh, that’s right.” My lip upturned into a frown. “I forgot your door’s enchanted. I’m so sorry. Did you ever put in for a change of room?” I stood and slung my bag on my back.

  “No, I decided it wasn’t worth.” He stood aside to let me out of the room. “It’s just my door, and as long as I’m nice to it, it’s usually pretty nice to me.”

  “I bet your bottom doesn’t agree.” I stuck the old brass key into my dorm room’s lock.

  He chuckled. “Doory just got antsy over it being the end of the year.”

  “Doory? You gave it a name?” We made our way down the freshmen dorm hall. The floorboards creaked beneath our feet, announcing our presence.

  “Of course, he’s all I had during finals.”

  “Sounds like you spent a little too much time alone studying.”

  “I know I did. It was miserable. I never want to spend another semester like that.” He pushed open the tall oak door, and the chill mountain air rushed to greet us. The ground glowed bright white from the fresh snow fall. “How was your week of study?”