The Roses Academy- the Entire Collection

by Tara Brown

  “I’m pretty sure he’s too old for you. Besides, isn’t what he is, making you want him?”

  “Yes, which is why I need space from every one of you.”

  “Space,” he muttered as he gradually got up off the chair, walked to my bedside, and knelt on the floor in front of me. He was a big boy. Kneeling, he was still taller than I was, sitting on the bed.

  His lips parted in a seductive grin. I wanted to look away from his lips. I wanted to move away from him, but his scent was intoxicating. He was by far the worst, where my little problem was concerned. Even Marcus couldn’t make my breath get lost in my throat the way he did.

  He leaned in, peering into my eyes. I got lost in the darkness of his.

  He brushed his lips against mine. The electrifying kiss was exactly as I remembered it. Perfect.

  He pulled back. “Giving you space will be a problem for me, Hanna Hyde.” And then he was gone.

  The bracelet glowed like it was nearing the point of ignition.

  I thought about what Roland had said. My mother’s power was gone the moment she fell in love, true love. True love’s kiss and a declaration. I decided to take the time at the Roses Academy to rid my heart of everything. As long as it was empty, I might find clarity in my feelings. Then I too could find my true love’s kiss and be rid of it altogether.

  I went to bed annoyed and a bit sad.

  Training started the next morning, full throttle.

  Lorri taught us about the possible types of things we would run into. We studied lore on creatures thought extinct and how to defeat them, just in case they weren’t. We learned the history of the Roses Academy and about the great divide that was currently going on.

  The days passed quickly. My brain was fuller than it had ever been. Giselle was the surprise student. She was a star at it all. Her combat skills came fast and furious, and her natural interest in the knowledge part of it made it easy for her to remember.

  I, on the other hand, was distracted at every turn. Sam smiled at me and I stopped hearing everything Lorri spoke about. Aleks walked past and I thought of nothing but the smell of him. Marcus texted and I imagined him pulling me in for a kiss.

  I was exhausted from the dreams I had every night. The bracelet was fiery, glowing red even when I was alone at night.

  The only saving grace was that my bracelet stopped my emotions from being projected onto everyone else in the room. The guys who had heard the siren’s call were affected, but in a calmer way.

  The fighting ring was the easiest for me. One hit to the face and I became a psycho. The old me, the Hyde beast, was inside, lurking. She claimed me and I controlled her, and even though I never changed and ripped my clothes off, I was as strong as she had ever been.

  Even Lucas and Ben together couldn’t bring me down.

  Ari couldn’t move fast enough to knock me out. When we fought I accidently shot Ari across the room before she had a chance to push me. For me, the only real threat was Lorri. She was able to get me down every time and she could whisper, making the Hyde monster part of me go easy on her.

  Apart from that, I learned to control my strengths and anger. I was surprised the monster side of me was easier to control than the siren. The ring also stopped the call of the siren. I spent so much energy on sparring that I exhausted all of the internal chaos.

  The distance between me and Marcus gave me a lot of clarity. My feelings for him faded to nothing. I didn’t love him. It was a fact, and being away from him proved it. I’d kept to myself mostly, spending most nights alone with my book about sirens, or with Giselle watching movies.

  “Hanna, in the ring.”

  My head came up from my daydream to Lorri smirking at me. I stood, making sure my hands were taped up properly as I climbed over the railings and dropped into the huge wrestling pit they called the ring.

  “Lucas and Ari, you guys inside.”

  I gulped. I hadn’t gone against a couple before. Each would feel territorial and protective of their lover. I glanced up at Sam. He sat on the edge of his seat. He looked upset. He sort of always did.

  I eyed up my opponents and prepared.

  Lucas jumped down, shaking the mat slightly. He was huge. Ari was small and thin but never to be underestimated. Her hands were deadly and she moved with speed and strength.

  It would take one hit to ignite my fury so I had to let them get close enough for that. I kept my back to the wall as Lucas rounded toward me.

  As he leapt at me, Ari darted to the other side. I tried to maneuver left, but Lucas jumped back, knocking me down. I tried to jump over him but his teeth came down on my thigh. I screamed as the teeth bit down into my skin. Ari was there as the surge filled me. I shoved Ari hard before her hands could make contact, her scream causing Lucas to clamp down harder.

  I shrieked as I grabbed the wolf’s face, making him whimper. Ari was back, diving at me with her hands out. I ducked, trying to get the wolf from my leg.

  The end was coming. They were beating me. I’d ducked out of Ari’s reach but she was back. I grabbed the wolf’s face hard, his teeth dragging along my thigh, and threw him across the mats. Ari dove at me and pushed, just as I ripped the bracelet off. It turned white as it dropped. Before it hit the mat, I saw Sam throw Ari across the huge room.

  Dorian attacked the wolf. Even Ben, in wolf form, was attacking his brother.

  I knew what I had done was wrong as my eyes threatened to slip behind my lids. All I could do was lie and watch.

  Chapter 28

  Siren sucker punch

  It was chaos as I unleashed my siren. Ari pushed me and I almost passed out but managed to fight it, scared of what was unfolding before me.

  Ben, Dorian, Sam, and Don each flew to my rescue. Ari was knocked out completely as Sam tossed her out of the mats.

  Lorri jumped down into the pit as Ben’s teeth went for his brother’s throat.

  “STOP!” she shouted. She grabbed the bracelet and tied it around my wrist. It instantly flashed bright red again.

  Lorri turned, laughing like a mad woman, her teeth had grown into shark teeth. “Next person who moves dies,” she seethed. Clearly, a shark-like blood lust had filled her body, turning her eyes completely black.

  Aleks neared Lorri, holding his hands out. “Lorri!”

  She snapped her face toward him. It was a full heartbeat before she got herself under control and let the blood lust go.

  Sam came to where I continued to pretend to be passed out. “Someone better check on Ari.” He gripped tightly and lifted me into the air.

  Lucas lay naked on the mats, screaming in pain. His leg was visibly broken.

  Everything in me hurt. I wanted to scream and cry and run away, but I had to stay silent so they wouldn’t kill me right there.

  Ben leaned over him. “Dude, I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened.”

  Don nodded. “It was like I had to save her.”

  Aleks looked at Sam. “Get Hanna to her room. She’ll need someone there when she wakes up.”

  Aleks walked from the ring and to where Ari lay unconscious. Her legs both looked broken. Dorian stood in front of him, menacingly. “Give her to me.”

  As Sam carried me away I let myself pass out, the way my body desperately wanted to.

  I woke with a gasp.

  I shot up out of bed and grabbed for the waste paper basket, emptying my stomach into it. I heaved for a moment and sat up.

  “Water?”

  Sam sat in the chair across the room.

  “Oh my God, you just saw that.”

  “Well, if it makes you feel better, I got sick after Ari did that to me last time too. I think she’s getting stronger.”

  I lay back down on the bed and shivered. “That was horrid. What happened?”

  “What do you remember?”

  “Not much. It’s hazy. I know I pulled my bracelet off.” I checked my wrist, seeing the brightly glowing bracelet was there again.

  “Yeah, you did. It was n
uts. Ben and Don and I were defending you. Dorian grabbed Lucas and broke his leg—it was nuts.” He looked embarrassed. “Even I couldn’t fight it. It was so strong. I’ve never experienced it like that before. I think I threw Ari across the room.”

  “Is everyone all right?”

  “Yeah. We all heal fast.”

  A tear slipped down my cheek. “Oh my God.”

  Sam sat next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “It wasn’t your fault. It was survival. Every one of us uses what we have to survive.”

  “No, that was wrong.” I lay back on my bed and wished I could fall asleep again. The vomit smell was too overwhelming.

  “You stink.”

  “I know. I feel as bad as I smell.”

  “We can fix that.” He got off the bed and lifted me up, carrying me to our bathroom.

  “No.” I struggled to get down.

  “Relax, I’m not going to hurt you.” He put me down and turned on the shower.

  I leaned against the bathroom door, scared of where this was going but even more scared of the fact I liked him, a lot. His impact on me was disabling.

  His warm fingers went to the hem of my shirt. I protested with my eyes, but his did something I didn’t expect. He gave me an honest and sweet smile. “I won’t hurt you, I swear.” He lifted my shirt off gently, revealing my sports bra.

  His fingers were back before I could reason with him. They touched down on my torso, sliding down my waist to my hips. He pulled my Lululemon yoga pants off. I stepped out of them.

  Then he stood up and pulled my ponytail out, shaking my hair free of the tight elastic. He pulled his shirt off, revealing muscles I hadn’t imagined. His shoulders were full and rounded. He unzipped his pants, dropping them to the bathroom floor, making me giggle at the yellow goldfish boxers.

  “Would you believe laundry day?”

  “You let me throw up in front of you and didn’t get too grossed out. I can let fishy undies go without judgment.”

  He held his hand up. “Wait.” He grabbed my toothbrush and pushed his own toothpaste onto it, passing it to me.

  I took it and shoved it in my mouth.

  He opened the glass door, stepping inside and taking my hand to pull me in as he closed the door. We stood under the warm water in our underwear. I was grateful I wore my sports bra with yoga underwear and not something sexy. It wasn’t any different than a bathing suit.

  I scrubbed my teeth brutally and turned my back to him to do my tongue. I bent over, spitting as close to the drain as possible.

  He laughed. “Hanna, your spit doesn’t gross me out.”

  “I know.” I stood up, facing him again, smiling a minty-fresh smile. “It bothers me. Seriously, someone could pee on me and I’d be pretty pissed, but if they spit on me—death.”

  He laughed harder, turning me around. The scent of my shampoo hit as his fingers dug into my scalp, scrubbing my hair for me. The smell of the mint lavender filled the steam. His strong fingers massaged my head, relaxing me.

  He tilted my head back into the water and gently rinsed my hair.

  The feel of his strong hands running along my scalp was relaxing. I saw him in a new light, not as sexy Sam, but kind Sam.

  When I was clean, I squeezed lavender shampoo into my hand, as much as I would use for my own long, thick hair.

  He eyed it skeptically. “Is that for me?”

  “Yeah.” I lifted it up to his head.

  “Overkill, Hanna.” He spoke nonchalantly as I pulled him under the stream of water and rinsed his head. “It’s going to take all night to get that off my hair.”

  “Well, hiding in here all night sounds like a good idea.” I scrubbed, my arms becoming fatigued from the effort. I was weak from the fight. I needed food.

  His hair was rinsed clean, making a puddle of suds under our feet.

  “I told you.” He gazed down, grinning as he grabbed the conditioner and poured out a small amount.

  “Is that for me?”

  “Yeah.”

  I reached out and squeezed the bottle a lot more.

  His eyes grew wide. “That’s a lot.”

  “Yeah, did you notice how much hair I have?”

  He smirked. “I did.” He put his hands up into my hair again, massaging my scalp.

  “This feels nice.” I closed my eyes, letting him pick my knots out and stroke my strands with the silky conditioner.

  “It does feel nice. It feels real. I haven’t felt this way in a long time.” He tilted my face up into his. I thought he meant to kiss me, but he put me back under the spray to rinse my head off. My face got covered in warm water, making me sputter slightly.

  I opened my eyes under the steady stream. He was grinning hard.

  As he finished rinsing my hair, I leaned in again to kiss him.

  “No, Hanna.”

  “Why?”

  He smirked. “I want you to see me, not feel me.”

  “You thought getting semi-naked in the shower and doing gentle, sweet, sensual things to each other was a great way for me to see you?” I had to admit it was working. Dark hair pasted against his face from the water, eyes so dark I could see myself in them, a devastatingly handsome face, and a genuine smile. His eyes truly showed care and concern for me. I wondered how he was able to stay calm and enjoy being around me. He didn’t seem affected by my charms. Not like he was in the ring.

  He raised an eyebrow, the epitome of boy next door. “Yes. I thought we could be girlfriends. You know, wash each other’s hair, maybe have a pillow fight. Later, I will braid your hair and you can tell me all your darkest secrets.”

  “You’re a dork.” I liked that he made me laugh. He didn’t try anything.

  The warmth of his body emanated toward mine. I caught his scent in the air and I reacted. The lust pulsed throughout me, driving me toward him.

  “Shall we towel off?”

  I pushed him against the wall of the shower, hearing a tile break behind him. “Let’s.” I smiled up at him through my lashes, huffing the scent of him and raking my fingers down his arms.

  “Easy, Hanna. Take a deep breath. Don’t let it rule you. Being a siren is all about magic, controlling what you conjure.”

  I fought his words, not just wanting him, but wanting to consume him and his essence. Horror shot through me as I realized the thoughts I was having. After a moment of holding my breath, I inhaled deeply. “Thanks.”

  “Better?” He turned the shower off.

  “Yeah. “Sorry.” I climbed out, feeling much better as I grabbed a fluffy towel and passed him the other one. “Why are you doing this? You could have just taken advantage of my lapse in self-control.”

  “I could have. But that’s not my way. I don't even like the fact that before you got this little trinket on, I acted like a psycho with you. It’s not who I am or how I was raised. Whenever you left Lydia’s I felt sick for how I’d treated you. I’ve avoided you the best I can.” He leaned in and kissed my forehead, although he backed away again quickly. “But now I don't want to avoid you. I want you to like me and know me. And also because I want you too much. More than I’ve ever wanted anything. That’s not healthy. I need to create boundaries for myself and for you. I don't want us to be some filthy thing you did when you were trying to get your siren’s call under control.”

  “So, you’re redefining our relationship to make it healthy?”

  “Clever, huh? You and I will be friends from now on.”

  I grinned. “I thought we were already friends.”

  “No.”

  “Well, goodnight, friend.” I needed to get away from him before I embarrassed myself further.

  I walked into my vomit-scented room and closed the door, quickly bringing me back to reality. I looked down at the puke bucket and exhaled deeply. I opened the window to the rain and cold night air and tossed the bucket out.

  I checked my cell phone, realizing it had been days since I’d spoken to Marcus. I wanted to call, but even my fingers
sensed my betrayal of him and left the phone where it was. He had taken the cure and still loved me. Being away from him had proven I didn’t love him, not even a little.

  I realized I needed to end it. I would deal with Marcus when I saw him, but Sam, Ben, Dorian, and Don, I could deal with right away.

  I picked the phone up and dialed a different number.

  “Hey. I have to ask a favor. I need you to get him to make something for me and have it at the house. I’ll send Aimee to pick it up,” I spoke softly, my heart bursting with regret. “I need the elixirs he made to cure the siren’s call. Please. If it’s not too much trouble.”

  “How many?” The voice on the other end of the line surprised me.

  “At least four. And tell Marcus he has to let Aimee know if Blake is the one she’s looking for, or I won’t ever speak to him again. Thanks.” I put the phone down and tried not to cry.

  Chapter 29

  Mine

  I waited at the front door for Aimee to return. I still couldn't believe she’d agreed to go for me, but the promise of Marcus playing nicely had sold her. Not to mention, she wanted me to control the siren as badly as I did. No one wanted another repeat of yesterday.

  She waved to me from my bedroom door. Confused, I strode across the room to her. “When did you get back?” I quickly took the purple sack.

  “Seriously?” Aimee rolled her eyes. “I wink in and out. I don’t use the front door. How does no one get that?”

  “Right, thanks.” I glanced down at the sack. “Did Marcus give you any answers?”

  “Yeah. It’s Blake. He has my sister. He’s the one who hurt Giselle. He’s the chemist.”

  “I’m sorry. If I can help let me know.” I turned and walked away.

  I took the sack to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. “Anyone want coffee?”

  Ben nodded. He’d stayed extra close lately. I made his coffee, dumping a vial in.

  “What do you want in it?”

  He winked. “Black. You’re all the sugar I need.”

  “Awesome.” I prayed the friggin’ cure worked on him. The cheesy lines were killing me.