I stared at her. “Good. Glad to hear that your work is mutually beneficial.”
She flashed a bright smile at me, something that had traces of Penny Lane in it before she turned and marched away. Well, that was fascinating. I put down my napkin and stood. I didn’t notice the mage until he collided into me, splashing my immaculate blazer with his tomato soup.
I looked down at it then up at him. “It looks like blood. I think your blazer should match.” I grabbed his lapel and hauled him with me to Darkside, a flash of red sky and the scent of Sulphur and ash before we were once more in Dayside, in the student gym. I threw him across the floor and stalked after him, tossing my blazer across the room and rolling up my sleeves as I walked.
He scrambled to his feet and began to weave a beautiful spell of defense with a multi-pronged attack. I walked through it, ignoring the burning in my bones before I punched his face, feeling his bones splinter beneath my force.
I should slow down. I should go to Darkside and fight an older mage who could have a sliver of a chance against me. I should also not mind watching Penny Lane climb onto Zach’s lap during a horror movie.
I smiled as he kneed me then I jerked his arm up and back squeezing the bones of his wrist until they creaked from the pressure. Blood. Magic. Spells that burned and bit, my fists pounding and pounding until someone dragged me off the prone body.
“Drake, it’s too much.”
Zach. I spun around on him and crouched, growling with my teeth bared. He smelled of her. He threw something at me that exploded and knocked me back twenty feet. I rolled to my feet and ran towards him, barely noticing the gaps in my clothing that were now ash, floating through the air. My fist hit his face, opposite where she hit him. I didn’t crack through his glamour or the shield he’d erected. He slammed his palm against my chest and then tried to get out of range, but I held onto him, gripping his face and wrist until the device erupted spreading fingers of poison out from my chest and over my body.
It was a manacle, a net of tiny black strands made of spidersilk, the strongest threads in nature, plus magic. I laughed as the threads stretched me backwards, my body arcing like I was going to snap in two.
“Do you need a hand?” Ian’s voice was mellow, amused. It helped bring me back a little bit.
I grinned at him, his body upside down where I was stretched. “I’m fine.”
“I wasn’t talking to you.” He stared at me for a moment and I came back to myself a little bit more.
I twisted my head to see Zach stagger over to the body on the floor. I inhaled and blinked the green haze out of my eyes. I closed my eyes and relaxed into the embrace of the metal web. I suddenly flexed, curling in on myself and the strands snapped, leaving me on the gym floor. I rolled up and stalked towards Zach, but Ian stepped in front of me holding up his hands.
“Move!” I glared at him.
“Are you in control?” His eyes showed gold, but a mellow gold without a spark, a challenge.
“My control isn’t your concern.”
“Drake, the fight is over. If you need to hurt someone, I’d be happy to oblige you.”
I grabbed his shirt and pulled his face to within an inch of mine. Gold came to life in his eyes while we glared at each other. “I. Am. Going. To. Save. The. Idiot.” I threw him back away from me. “Now, move.”
He rolled his eyes and stepped to the side with an elegant gesture that Penny would have liked. He was styling himself after her. I should rip him apart. Later. I rushed to the mage’s side, sliding to my knees before I touched his forehead, sending a spark of green through him. He was a mess. I’d broken him very well. Someone should have stopped me sooner. I glared up at Zach, but his glare was as fierce as mine. His face was pretty hideous as well.
“Have you notified the healers?” I asked.
He shook his head. “You should take him to the hospital. Quickly.”
I turned and nodded at the mages who stood along the edges, sober and completely silent. “Bring the car around.” I threw my keys at Pete who caught them with easy practice. He’d been the body on the floor a few times. How many times? This was the first one this year.
I swore under my breath as I rubbed my hand over my face, suddenly tired. I was the Chemistry Captain. I was above this mindless destruction. I caught Ian’s eyes and he raised an eyebrow as he sauntered towards me. “I’ll help you carry him.”
I nodded and held my breath while I created the energy support beneath the mage, muttering the words in Darksider that would thicken a thin layer of oxygen particles beneath him. Ian had his fingers beneath the mage’s shoulders guiding him while I walked slowly across the gym towards the doors where Pete would be bringing my car at any moment.
“You’re terrifying,” Ian said mildly.
I nodded.
“Zach’s still keeping his distance.”
“He smells like her.”
“Ah. And she’s your hoard.”
I growled slightly before I shook my head. “Talk about something else.”
“Something else? I heard a rumor that Penny is taking kissing classes so that she can kiss you properly.”
“How is that something else?”
“The idea of kissing her…”
“No. The idea of kissing her is aggravating since I haven’t ever done it and as far as I can tell, it might never happen. She gets so overwhelmed with my animal magnetism that she faints if I get too close to her. It’s the most irritating quality she has.”
“That would be frustrating. Also enticing.” He laughed low and rich. “That’s some defense mechanism. Do you think it’s a spell or just a psychological reaction?”
We walked out of the gym doors that two mages held open for us, nodding at me soberly as I passed. Both of them had been the body on the stretcher. Why would they follow me after I ripped them apart like a monster? Because I was Drake Huntsman, heir of the most powerful family in Dayside.
I rode beside the kid in my backseat, my hands feeding energy into him while Pete drove us down the hills to the hospital. The school had healers, but my victims required special care. I’d had a wing filled with the special equipment I required in the Fairmont Hospital.
It took hours to get the venom out of his system, more hours to repair the bones, then the nerves, the skin, until he was once more a functional creature who would be a little more careful around me.
I stood up and stretched while he watched. He’d been conscious for hours, quietly watching me put him back together. He had the look on his face, the one that said he would follow my command to the end of the earth. To the burning lands and beyond. Ian used to have that expression on his face. And then I’d taken him to the edge and let him fall off.
Everything wrong with Ian’s life was my responsibility, my fault. Half of the reason I’d arranged Zach and Viney’s alliance had to do with defeating Wit and setting Ian free. Zach could be terrifying, not like me, but equally destructive in his way. Wit, however, hadn’t shown any interest in challenging Viney. Witley had a great deal of control, and focus. She didn’t want Zachary but me. Perhaps she wanted Teddy as well. Then she’d have the full set.
I looked up and saw the doctor standing in the doorway, from his relaxed position he’d been there for some time.
I flashed him a smile. I should clean up, freshen my glamour, that sort of thing. “Doctor, can I help you?”
The rules were very strict: no using magic to heal humans. I could only help him by giving very generous funding.
“Are you going to check on your project cases?”
My phone rang. I held up a finger and pulled it out. Penny Lane. Her picture was a beady-eyed, russet-furred, extremely charming weasel. I took a deep breath before I answered.
“Drake Huntsman’s exceptionally handsome body double speaking. What can I do for you?”
She laughed and said, “Can you ask your body original if he’s coming to my tea party Sunday? I need to arrange catering.”
“Four o’clock?”
“That’s tea time, right?”
“Hold on for a second while I check.” I held the phone away while the last vestiges of anger faded and the world was entirely without any tint of green. She’d asked me to come to her tea party.
“Drake? Are you there? You don’t actually have a body double, do you? Oh, that would be such a fabulous plot twist! He could be a changeling, or you were switched at birth!”
I laughed. It was easy to laugh for some reason. “I look far too much like my father to be a changeling. What can I bring? Pastries or sandwiches?”
“Do you have a specialty?”
“Hm. Other than gingerbread houses, not really but we’re trying to keep you from fainting.”
There was silence for a minute. “Drake, we’re not dating. You know that, right?”
If it kept her from fainting she could think whatever she liked. “Of course we aren’t. We have separate booths.”
“Right. Good. Zach was saying that the whole school thinks we’re dating.”
“Zach’s an idiot. As long as we don’t think so, what else matters?”
“Zach is an idiot. I didn’t date him. I only went because Viney wanted some moral support with her Oscar date. I don’t know why she needed it because they are so perfect together. Don’t you think?”
“Viney and Oscar? Yeah. They’re a good fit. They’ll have a good alliance. He’s the most talented crossover at Rosewood.”
“Crossover?”
“Mage who excels at Chemiss and Sophis. You can date Zach if you like. As you already mentioned, we’re not dating.” I gripped the phone tight, but my voice came out neutral.
“Oh. I know I can if I wanted to, but I’m not because I don’t. Also, I tried with Zach.”
“And Lars, and Barry, and Lester.”
“Yeah. I’m not dating anyone for a little while until I clear my head.”
“That sounds very logical. How many people are you inviting to your tea party so I know how many sandwiches to bring.”
“Oh. Just you.”
I smiled broadly at the kid on the bed who had been listening to this entire conversation with interest. “In that case, I’ll double the amount. I eat a lot more when I don’t have anyone watching me.”
“In that case, you’d better triple it.”
“Quadruple.”
She giggled. “Right. Are you going to be in the Chemiss tourney on Saturday?”
“That’s right.” I stared at the kid. Not really a kid. At least a junior. “Maybe we’ll have a guest in the tourney. I’ve found some fresh blood. Are you thinking of going?”
“Of course. I’m going to do the whole ninja mask thing so no one knows that I’m stalking you.”
“Good idea.” I’d have to tell her new Chem girls so they could follow her and keep her from ending up on a field with Ian rubbing her feet. “I’ll keep my knees aligned, just for you.”
She laughed. “It’s important to have a proper knee. I’ll let you go although I know how much you hate talking on the phone.”
“That’s very kind of you. I’m this close to sticking my head in a bucket of water, with the phone, just to put myself out of my misery.”
“That would be really sad. You have a good phone.”
“Thanks. I’ll let it know you said so. I’m looking forward to Sunday. And Tuesday. And Saturday. Not in that order.”
“Saturday?”
“You’re watching my tourney.”
“But you won’t know.”
“We can talk about it at the tea party. You can critique my limbs.”
“Your limbs are perfect.”
I held still for a moment. “That’s not much of a critique. You’ll have to work on it. I’ll see you in classes.”
“See ya.”
She hung up, but she waited until there was silence on the line for a good ten seconds first. I exhaled and put my phone away. I eyed the kid. “Do you want to start in Saturday’s tourney?”
His eyes got big and stunned. “Actually, no. I’m working with a group on a performance for the student show. Is there any way you could help with choreography?”
I stared at him. “By any chance, are you in the chess club?”
He nodded but had the grace to look ashamed for a moment.
I sighed heavily. “Of course you are. Now I get to help you with the choreography of the sample that you’re going to use to impress me enough to allow your number in the final show. Remind me not to lose my temper anymore.”
I patted his shoulder and left him in the capable hands of the doctor who would watch over him until his body was completely healed.
Chapter 29
Witch
I sewed a brand new tea party outfit, my green velvet heeled Mary-Janes coming late Saturday afternoon to match the swirling skirt and cinched-waist bodice. I had to take a break between the bodice and the skirt when the insistent Chem girl came to get me to show her how to make a truly excellent burn cream. She seemed more interested in healers than anything else. Naturally, I showed them how to make a really invigorating foot scrub. The Chem girl didn’t even frown, simply rolled her sleeves and followed my instructions perfectly, well, as perfectly as could be expected.
Drake.
Every time I saw him, he’d look at me and smile. It wasn’t just his lips curving or eyes crinkling, but it was like his whole body lit up and he looked at me for a second like there wasn’t anything more beautiful in the world. Of course I knew that it was all in my head, or worse, that he was doing it on purpose to set me up for an even greater crash, but if I was going to enjoy Drake, I may as well do it well.
“What?”
I turned to stare at Zach. How long had he been sitting beside me in the cafeteria while I stared at Drake where he sat in his little corner table? Who cared?
He slid in beside me and stole a sliver of beautifully blackened chicken off my plate. He had skills. My stab missed his hand by a mile.
“I hear you’re having a tea party on Sunday.”
I beamed at him and nodded. “I found pink green tea.”
He blinked his soft blue eyes at me. “Your life’s goals achieved. Are you going to the tourney tonight to watch Viney?”
I shook my head and stabbed another Zach hand, but again, he retracted, paw intact and that time, had an artichoke. “If you steal any more of my food, I’m going to stop giving you lollipops.”
His blue eyes widened innocently. “Stealing? I’m checking for poison. You should go watch Viney. I’m going. Oscar’s going. You should sit and tell him how awesome she is and how he should ask her out. You know, that thing you do all the time. Wear him down.”
I wrinkled my nose as I glanced past him to where Drake was sketching something in a pad with his lips pursed, forgetting all about his beautiful chicken artichoke linguine. I didn’t even try to stab Zach that time. If he ate my food, I’d make him get me more. Could I trust him not to slip something in my food on the way back? I sighed when I looked back and saw my empty and polished plate.
“It’s unethical to use magic against someone else’s dinner. That’s cruel and unusual.”
“Aren’t you going to get more?” He stood with me and smiled sweetly.
I pushed him back down. “No. Tourneys make me queasy. I’ll eat afterwards. No, I probably won’t.”
His smile vanished. “You’re really going?” There was something calculated in everything he said and did. There was also something wild, reckless and chaotic. He was a mixed bag.
“How can I possibly miss the chance to whisper sweet nothings in Oscar’s ear? I’m only going if I’m finished with my tea party outfit.”
He rolled his eyes. “By all means, can’t neglect the important things.”
I patted his cheek. “Unless they aren’t any fun.” I twirled away, swishing my skirt and sucking on my lollipop. I saw my Chem girl and gave her a little wave. She got up like I’d gestured her to come over, but I hadn’t.
I’d specifically only waved.
“Hi, Penny. Do you need something?” Her t-shirt was neon green with a dragon on it that cuddled a kitten and blew heart smoke rings.
“Yeah, I want to know where you get your amazing t-shirts. That one reminds me of Drake.”
She glanced down then over at him. “I guess.” She looked back at me and then gave me an uncertain smile. “I’ll walk with you to your room.”
“Sure.” I beamed at her and then smiled at the guy in front of me, handing him a lollipop while I swished my way out of the cafeteria. I hesitated at the door to glance over my shoulder. Drake was watching me. When he saw that he’d been caught he winked and raised his eyebrows just enough to make me blush. He was going to try and kiss me again. Tuesday. Would I let him?
“Penny, what’s with you and Zach?”
I glanced at Chem girl. “We’re roommates.”
“Right, but he’s not like that with Viney.”
“Viney’s faster with her fork than I am.”
“Yeah, but aren’t you and Drake…”
I stared at her face, the sternness at odds with her golden halo. I patted her head. “We’re just friends. Are you going to the tourney tonight?”
She nodded but seemed distracted. “I’m going to be in it.”
I leaned forward to study her. “Really? Why?”
She looked confused. “I’m good.”
“Nice! I can’t wait to see. What number are you?”
“Fourth.”
“Oh, so you’re one of the last ones? You are good then.”
She hesitated before she nodded. “I’ve been working hard.”
“That’s nice. What kind of hurters do you use?”
She looked down and muttered, “I just make some boring ones. I’m can’t buy ones as flashy as Viney or anything.”
“But you have skills. My mother always said that no one should have hurters more spectacular than their own skill level.”
She cleared her throat. “My mother says that flash is a waste of money.”
“My mother and your mother would have the best tea parties together, except my mother despises tea parties.”
Dread Delight: Rosewood Academy for Witches and Mages (Darkly Sweet Book 2) Page 27