Cursed Hearts (A Crossroads Novel)

by Light

  “I’m sure it’s been cleaned up by now.”

  “Yeah, of course,” he hurried to say. “The library’s fine. Do you want to meet there, or should I meet you outside your class?”

  “I’ll meet you there.”

  “Alright,” he grinned. “Just don’t stand me up or I might cry.” Christian planted one on her cheek and then darted off before he could regret it. Ariahna was left sitting there, stunned.

  ***

  Rome stepped out of the Dean’s office with a new weight on his shoulders. CPS had been called on Henry thanks to the scene he’d made at La Lune. Despite everything that man had done to him, Rome didn’t want him to go to jail. He just wanted him to be rehabilitated. He wanted him to stop drinking and find something worth living for again. Apparently they’d already started an investigation into his home life, and somehow, they knew about his scars. The only good news he’d gotten was that the female counselor, Ms. Crane, was helping to handle his case instead of Mr. Richmond. But that had only left him thinking about Christian. In his mind, what was being done to him was far worse than anything Henry had ever done. Christian wasn’t just some random kid anymore, either. He was his brother, his own flesh and blood. He was going to find a way to protect him, whether he wanted his help or not.

  Rome walked up to Kaleb’s door, frowning when he heard the soft sound of moaning. He knew he shouldn’t be jealous, but that didn’t change the fact that he was. “Kaleb?” he said, knocking timidly on the door. “Are you in there?” Of course he’s in there, you idiot, he thought. The door jerked barely open and he was actually trying to crane his neck to look inside. He didn’t need to see in, he could smell Christian all over him. “I’ve been looking for you,” Rome said. “Why weren’t you in class?”

  “Hm, wasn’t I in class?” Kaleb said thoughtfully. “Maybe you just didn’t notice me there. It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  “What is that supposed to mean? I notice you.” Kaleb had an indignant look on his face. “Are you mad at me or something?”

  “Not in the slightest. I’m just a little busy right now, so if you don’t mind, perhaps we can talk later? Thanks for stopping by.”

  “Hey,” Rome said, slapping his palm against the closing door. “I don’t know what your problem with me is all of a sudden, but I’m getting kind of tired of you closing doors in my face. If you must know, I’ve been looking for you for a while. You’re never in your room, and when you are—”

  He clenched his jaw angrily.

  “I came here because I thought you might be hungry, but clearly you’ve got that covered. I guess I wasn’t so hard to replace after all.”

  “Isn’t that my line?” Kaleb said with a harsh smile. “You know, I don’t really have the time or energy for this conversation right now. And honestly, soon enough it won’t matter. I’m leaving.”

  “The hell you are,” he growled, shoving into his room and slamming the door closed. Christian was sitting on the edge of Kaleb’s mattress, staring thoughtfully at the hardwood. It was as if he thought he wouldn’t be seen if he just stayed very, very still. “You give me some big speech about not leaving you here to deal with this shit alone, and then you think you’re going to just take off? Where do you think you’re even going to go? And how am I supposed to help you if you just fucking run away, or keep avoiding me?”

  “I think I’m going to go,” Christian whispered.

  “Sit,” Rome hissed.

  Christian obeyed instantaneously.

  “You’re the one who kissed me. You don’t get to be all—whatever the hell this is.” Rome bit the inside of his cheek, hard. He hadn’t actually intended to say that in front of Christian.

  “Jeez, you’re more protective over him than Aria,” he mumbled.

  “Shut up,” Rome barked. “I don’t need your god-damn opinions right now. Seriously, what is your problem? Do you have some little brother, sibling rivalry complex or something? Or is taking everything I have just more of a pastime?”

  “Uh, neither?” he shrugged.

  “You know, I care about you, but damn if you don’t get under my skin. Just get out of here, and don’t forget about tonight.”

  Rome turned, watching Christian as he left. Maybe they wouldn’t fight after all, he thought. He was clearly the dominant one between the two of them. Tomorrow would be a better time to talk about the counselor as well. It was Rome’s hope that he might actually open up to him then.

  “So do you have anything to say to all of that, or what?” he asked.

  Kaleb crossed his arms, knitting his eyebrows together in annoyance as he stared Rome down. “Thanks for scaring my meal away.”

  “That’s all you’ve got to say for yourself?”

  “You’d like me to say more?” Kaleb said with a dangerous edge to his voice. “Try this, then. You don’t get a say in what I do if you can’t even be bothered to own up to how you feel. I’m done with being toyed with, strung along, and left out to wither in the sun. I’ve had about enough of it in my life. And now that I’ve finally gotten away from all that, the last thing I need is someone else who’s going to screw me over and use me as he sees fit. In summary, fuck off.”

  “I’m not… using you,” Rome said. “This is just—no man’s land to me. Can’t you understand that?”

  “You know what the saddest part might be?” Kaleb said. “You don’t even realize what you’re doing. You’re telling me you’re afraid, but not uninterested, thus keeping me in a state of perpetual hope. Meanwhile, you’re off gallivanting around with your would-be girlfriend and expecting me to be waiting in the wings. You’ve made it clear that I’m not yours, and that you’re only mildly interested in being mine, and yet you’re chasing prospects out of my room like you have a fucking right to be jealous.”

  “…You’re right,” he said, sitting down on the edge of Kaleb’s bed and expelling the air from his lungs. He hunched over, rubbing a palm over his mouth. Why did I have to fall for two people?

  “If you’re patient,” Rome breathed, “this might work out. Because I’m telling you right now, I am… interested. But if you leave, then I think we’re both going to be left wondering, what if?” He dropped his eyes to the floor, visually tracing the lines in the wood. “Are you still hungry?”

  “No,” he answered, “I’m annoyed. And I’m tired of your cryptic reassurances. You keep saying wait, be patient. What am I waiting for, a maybe? Let’s be honest, you want that perfect little redheaded bitch. And if I let myself take you at your word, I’m going to be waiting forever for a maybe that will never come.”

  Rome bit back a growl at the word, bitch. “I see you as pack,” he whispered. “Is it bad that I want both? That I want to be with her, and I want the chance to see what this even is?”

  Kaleb stalked over to the bed, shoving Rome back against the mattress and crawling onto his lap. “I can show you what it is,” he said. He locked eyes with him, staring at him challengingly. “Would you even stop me if I tried to take it all the way? It seems like you just like being able to pretend that you don’t want it.” Rome looked shell-shocked, and Kaleb smirked at that beautiful expression on his face. “It’s becoming more and more apparent to me,” he breathed, “that if I want this, I just have to take it.” He slid his hands over Rome’s torso, lifting his shirt with the tips of his fingers to reveal tanned, touchable skin. His lips fell to his abdomen, trailing erotic kisses languidly down his stomach as he slipped to the floor on his knees. He teased at Rome’s hip bone with blunt teeth, drawing a sharp hiss from him. “You know,” Kaleb whispered with a smile, “I think I am feeling a little hungry.” Quicker than a snake, he sunk his fangs into the sensitive skin of Rome’s hip, teasing a vein free of its rich, red delicacy as Rome pressed up against his mouth.

  “Fuck,” Rome breathed. It hurt in that amazing, blissful way only Kaleb could induce. There was just something about him that filled him with excitement, with fear. Maybe it was the cool fingers gliding down
his stomach and falling over the fabric of his pants. Or maybe it was the way he was working at the button on his slacks. “Kaleb,” he whispered. His voice was practically a moan. That only made him bite down harder. It was in that moment that Rome realized just how submissive he was being, how submissive he always was when it came to him.

  “We can’t do this.” Rome forced himself to sit up, gently guiding Kaleb’s mouth away from his skin. He was looking down into blue eyes filled with anger, and pain. “Just not yet,” he whispered. “The time isn’t right. But I promise, it’s more than a maybe that you’re waiting for. And I promise that if you’re willing to share, then this will happen. I’ll even bind myself to you, if that’s what you really want. If you’re patient with me, then I swear that soon, you won’t have to be alone any longer.”

  Chapter 37

  The distant sound of snarling echoed through the trees on the warm wind. It was drawing Ariahna to them like a beacon guiding a ship home. She tore across the loose dirt, pulling up roots and disturbing plants as she followed their scents. The moon was full above her, tinged red and nearly vibrating in the sky with unrestrained energy. She hadn’t seen a night like this in—she’d never seen a night like this. It almost seemed like the world had known what was coming tonight, that the moon had dressed itself up and floated a little closer to the earth to enjoy the show.

  She burst through a line of dense bushes at the base of a hill, stopping to stare when she spotted them fighting at its crest. Rome had his jowls clamped around the fur of Christian’s neck. She’d missed it. She hadn’t been here to see him change, or to make sure neither of them got hurt. It seemed like the fight was over as Rome let go, standing above him tall and triumphant and snorting down at Christian where he lay respectfully on the ground.

  They were beautiful, she thought.

  Unlike Rome, who was a solid black, Christian’s coat was a reddish brown, and he had a white underbelly and face. Even as Rome turned to walk away, he seemed defiant as he stumbled to his feet, staring at his back. And there was a certain playfulness in his stride as he raced him down the hill.

  Aria retreated back into the safety of the trees, trying to stay hidden as she observed their interactions. Rome stopped in his tracks, one paw slightly raised as he tipped his nose up and scented at the air. He let loose a hauntingly beautiful howl, and she crouched low to the ground, hiding herself within the shrubbery. He was calling for her, but she wasn’t going to answer.

  A growling at her back startled her to her legs, and Aria whirled around to face the unknown wolf in a defensive stance. She was silvery gray, and everything from her posture to the showing of teeth indicated that she wanted to fight. Aria flattened her ears against her head, growling warningly at her in reply as she backed out of the tree line and into the open. She felt Christian and Rome’s presence as they moved in to flank her. The other wolf was hedging towards her, appearing less aggressive now that she wasn’t alone, but still obviously interested in a confrontation.

  Christian stepped in front of her protectively, acting as a barrier between her and the outsider. He looked brave and heroic for all of thirty seconds before Rome growled and nipped at him, nudging him out of the way with his shoulder. She was left facing down an unknown enemy, knowing and dreading what was about to happen. They were about to prove themselves.

  The other female started circling her, trying to box her in. They were surrounded by limitless open ground, though. She wasn’t going to let it chase her into a corner. She wasn’t going to back down or retreat. A flash of fur came soaring towards her as the larger female pounced, trying to take her down to the ground. Aria rolled her body into the movement, using her momentum against her and ending up on top. She had her pinned down with two strong legs and she was snapping at her silvery coat when her opponent kicked her off. Claws slashed into her side as the other wolf came at her viciously. Ariahna yelped before wriggling free and rounding off to face her again. She was panting, crouched to strike as she watched her attacker with wary eyes. She’d been on the defensive the whole time, and now she was ready to take the fight to her. She just had to wait for her moment.

  The solitary wolf jumped at her again, flying like a streak of silver in the tainted moonlight. Ariahna sprung up at the last moment, catching her in the air and sending them both tumbling to the ground. They wrestled and fought. The other was much stronger than her, but Aria had a fiery determination on her side. She got in a few good scratches to her face and shoulders before the stranger latched her teeth around the thick of her neck. Aria froze, her mind telling her to do one thing while her wolf insisted the other. If she didn’t submit, she could kill her. If nothing else, she could be seriously hurt. She knew what she had to do, but her wolf refused. It would not admit defeat to this opponent. It was rebelling inside of her, insisting that it was stronger, that she was stronger. They were so much more powerful than this silver stranger who had appeared from out of the unforgiving night. And when she realized it, when she let herself believe it, the motives of her and her wolf became as one.

  Ariahna tossed her head back as the teeth sunk harder into her neck, cutting into flesh. A fierce howl tore from her throat, the very sound saturated with magic. She felt her opponent quiver atop her as it flowed over her body. It was meant to sedate her, and she could feel its jaw loosening as its muscles began to relax. Aria tugged herself free from the other wolf’s grasp, distancing herself and watching the other shake its head as though trying to dispel the effect of her magic. It growled at her furiously, prepared to attack again, and it was then that Ariahna decided that this fight was officially over.

  She stomped her paw against the dirt, and a thunderous crack split through the air. A wide tree branch plummeted towards the ground, crushing her opponent under its weight as she whimpered in pain and squirmed to get free. Aria approached, head held high in triumph. She’d been victorious.

  The fight was over.

  She knelt unhurriedly and bit into the silver wolf’s neck, feeling her fight for a moment in defiance. Ariahna growled roughly around her skin, demanding obedience – demanding submission. The other finally conceded her loss, and she released her, huffing through her nose and turning to face their spectators. Rome had his head tilted, staring down at the still struggling silver wolf in confusion. Christian had adopted a very unassuming stance, with his ears flat against his skull and his tail tucked tightly beside his leg. He walked cautiously towards her, slowing when he was within a few feet and dropping down until his belly touched the soft grass. He crawled towards her with his nose pressed to the ground, making soft whining sounds as he approached. She flicked one ear back, staring down at him curiously. After several uncertain seconds, he lifted himself from the ground and licked placatingly at her muzzle. She bumped her nose underneath his chin, instructing him to stand. Rome had drifted closer in that time. He did not engage in those displays of submission. He had no reason to, as alpha male.

  Aria watched in disinterest as he helped the other wolf free herself from under the large branch. She seemed hostile still, and Aria spun to face her when she started threatening her again with the forward pointing of her ears, the raise of the hairs along her back, and the snarl slipping out from between sharp teeth. Ariahna raised her paw, holding it in the air as though prepared to crush her with another branch. Rome was the one who stepped between them this time. He was growling at her, and baring his teeth as he stepped into a stream of moonlight. It glistened along his dark fur, embracing him in a soft glow.

  Rome was not about to let Amber get away with whatever she was thinking. She was being defiant; he could see it in her eyes. It was one thing to disobey Aria a little after a fight, but it was a complete other to disregard his authority. Everything about him, including the thick rivulets of saliva dripping off his fangs, should have told her she didn’t want to fight him. But he could tell she felt cheated. He was trying to tell her that Aria had won, that she needed to submit. The fight had been fair.
/>
  Ariahna watched as the other wolf darted off into the night. Rome was still coiled, ready to strike when suddenly he bolted through the trees after her in a blur. She tried to chase them, but Christian nipped at her tail and tackled her to the ground playfully. If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought he was smiling. This wasn’t exactly submissive wolf behavior. Every time she got herself free he’d dart around her, chase her and pounce again. He certainly seemed happy with himself. After a good while of that Aria realized she wasn’t going to get to find Rome. Not unless she could get Christian to fall asleep. There was always the option of using magic, but if she hurt him, she’d never forgive herself. The problem was it had been her who’d passed out first. They’d slept together, keeping each other warm as the temperature dropped during the night.

  Morning light was just starting to filter through the trees as birds chirped in the wicked mess of branches above. When she woke, they were laying naked on the forest floor. Christian was draped over her side with his arm and leg thrown over her body. The last thing Ariahna wanted to do right now was wake him. She carefully tried to slip away, but every time she moved, he nuzzled his face back into her neck, curling his arm around her tighter.

  “Don’t,” he whimpered. He still wasn’t quite awake.

  She went stiff at the sound of his voice. Aria held her breath, waiting a few moments in silence and praying he’d fall back into unconsciousness. When she thought he might have been sleeping again, she made another attempt at sliding herself out from under him. He was obviously not that drowsy. When she tried a third time, he just chuckled into her skin and pulled her closer. “We need to find Rome,” she whispered finally.

  “He’ll be fine.”

  “Christian… let me up.”

  “Why?” he breathed.

  “Because I’m not comfortable being underneath you when neither of us is wearing any clothes,” she said delicately.