He extended his hand. “May I see your schedule?”
Without hesitation, I handed it over. For some reason, they always wanted to see my schedule even though I was in their class. I’d always wondered what my other classes mattered, as long as I was in this one.
He raised an eyebrow at me. “This is a pretty heavy schedule.”
“I know, but I’m up for the challenge.” I glanced down at my schedule. Are you going to give that back?
“Very good.” He turned from me and cleared his throat, drawing the class’s attention to the front of the the room. “Everyone, this is Zinnia Heart. Please be welcoming to her.”
I froze in place and glanced around the room, bitting my bottom lip nervously. “Hi.” I waved to the class.
Mr. Robb held my schedule up for a second. “Lots of fine classes here, AP classes. There are some students who will be with you in a couple of them.” He smacked the paper against his palm. “Well, I’m sure you’ll make lots of friends here who—”
“Oh, I have a friend here already. Her name’s Elle. She goes here. I’ve known her since we were kids.” I paused. Word vomit much? “I don’t know why I just told you that.”
He gave me a warm smile. “Well, that is good. For now, I have one seat available over next to Tucker.” He glanced toward him, and my heart nearly stopped. “Tucker, please raise your hand.”
He didn’t move. Nova reached forward and slapped him across the back of the head. His hand shot up. “Sorry.”
Mr. Robb motioned me forward. “Please take your seat.”
I snagged my schedule and made my way to sit next to Tucker. My heart thundered in my ears with each step I took. “Hi again.”
A sly smile spread across his lips. “This seems to be a thing between you and me.”
There was a thing between us? I arched my eyebrow at him. “Oh, do tell.”
“We meet up in the strangest places, and now we’re thrust together in class.” He leaned back in his chair casually, with one arm draped over the back of it.
I glanced over his shoulder and stared at Nova. I didn’t mean to, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the night before. We hadn’t formally met, but I felt like I knew more about her than most people. She was ever so still and silent, just staring out the window. Yet I pictured her with purple sparks flying from her fingertips. Now she sat with gloves covering her hands all the way to the tips of her elbows. Her white-blond hair was piled high on top of her head in a messy bun. Every time a breeze came through the window, a look of utter relief passed over her face. When she turned to look at me, she waved ever so slightly and turned back.
“I seem to be running into a lot of people from last night,” I said. “It’s interesting.”
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “The party was crazy.”
Was he lying? Did he just glance away when he said that?
“I meant after the party.” I hedged, waiting for him to show some kind of reaction, some sign that he knew what I was talking about.
Tuck turned and met my gaze. “What are you talking about?”
I hesitated, about to accuse him of knowing about the fight, about me almost killing Ophelia. But I would sound like a raving lunatic. You have wings of fire, your friends are all super powerful and I—yes I—almost killed someone last night. Yes, that’d sound completely sane.
I bit my lip. “Nothing. Never mind.”
At the front of the room, Mr. Rob snapped his fingers. “Turn to page one hundred and eighty in your books.”
I pulled my book from my backpack and dropped it to the table and opened the page. Maybe I was going crazy. Maybe Elle had told me the truth and I’d had some kind of bad reaction to food. But if that was the truth, why did I feel so different today? I didn’t feel sick or sluggish; I felt alive, powerful and stronger than I’d ever been before.
Tucker tossed a note onto my book. It sat folded into a perfect square staring up at me. I snatched it up before anyone could see and quickly unfolded it under my desk. It read, Let me drive you home…we’ll talk.
What could he possibly have to talk to me about? I scribbled back, I already have a ride home, thanks. I wanted to spend more time with him, but I couldn’t. Not until I figured out what was going on with Tucker’s crew and most of all with me. If Tucker wouldn’t give me answers, then maybe one of the others would. I folded the paper and tossed it on to his desk.
He unfolded it and tilted his head to the side, a smirk playing on his lips. He quickly scribbled across the notebook paper and threw it back. So you don’t want to know about last night?
Infuriating guy. Hadn’t I just asked him? Was he dangling it like a carrot in front of me just to get me to go with him? I pressed my lips together and sucked in a deep breath through my nose. You said nothing happened. I threw it on to his desk.
It only took him a moment to answer and then the paper was sitting in front of me once more. There were only two little words written in the middle of the page.
I lied.
Chapter 6
Tucker
I lied? Way to build trust, Tuck. Great idea. Just great. I sat in my car waiting for Zinnia to come out the back door leading to the school parking lot. Back in Cindelore while I was in training, they’d never prepared me to deal with the things I felt right now. It was like I couldn’t think straight; everything revolved around her. She was my center now, and I couldn’t tell her or anyone else. If anyone ever found out, I’d be kicked out of the Knight Guard, and I had to make sure she was safe. How could they have known to prepare me for a soulmate? They didn’t exist outside of our own species…until now.
My mind raced with ways of protecting her; she needed my help to survive what was to come. Yet I questioned myself. Was I thinking with a clear head, or was I thinking with the soul that came alive the moment I saw her? For so long, I’d been dead to the world, a trained guardian forced into a life I didn’t want but was grateful for. Without this mark on my neck, I would never have met her. Even now I took a risk being alone with her. I’d asked Ashryn, another knight of our crew, to follow us, along with Tabitha, the Witch Queen of Elements. The rest of the crew I sent back to Hexia, the last free witch kingdom. Each night, the queens returned there to be protected from the Evil King Alataris while they slept.
When the school door swung open and I saw those long dark locks of hair blowing in the wind, my pulse began to race. I started the engine, and the car purred to life. I eased it into drive and pulled up beside her on the sidewalk. She wouldn’t know who was inside just yet. The windows were tinted so black no one could see in the the Audi TT Coupe. It sat low to the ground and hugged curves the way I did when I flew. She cupped her hands around her eyes, trying to get a better look into the driver’s seat.
I pressed the window button to let it slide down. When she stepped back with raise eyebrows and wide sapphire eyes, I smiled. “Get in.”
“Is this normally how you pick up other girls?” She crossed her arms and didn’t budge one bit.
I shrugged. “What other girls?”
A hint of pink tinged her cheeks, and my phoenix senses let me hear her heart speed up. Good to know I’m not the only one with that problem. She put her hands on the window frame and leaned in. Her sweet peach scent drifted into the car and surrounded me. I wanted to reach out and play with the ends of hair that fell into her face. When she gave me a dazzling smile, I nearly did it.
“The other girls you will maybe see later.”
Was that jealousy in her voice? I dared not hope. I made a show of looking around the interior of my car. “I don’t see any other girls here. Do you?”
She shook her head. “Are you always this smooth?”
“Depends.”
“On?” She glanced around at the other students making their way out to the car-filled parking lot.
“On whether or not you’re getting in the car.” I put the slightest pressure on the gas pedal, and the engine revved.
She
rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
When she walked around the car, my eyes were drawn to the way her hips rolled with each of her steps as though she glided rather than walked. The wind blew her hair in different directions, and Zinnia tugged at the sleeves of her black mesh shirt. Without a word, she pulled the door open and slid into the front seat.
As soon as she was settled, she motioned to the steering wheel. “Now that you’ve got me, what do you plan to do with me?”
Instantly, my mind pictured all the things I wanted to do with her, my hands on her skin, my lips pressed against hers… Picture after picture assailed me. But it would never happen and definitely wasn’t something I’d say to her. “Whatever you want.”
She bit that full bottom lip, fighting a smile. She glanced away from me and pulled her seatbelt over her shoulder and clicked it into place. “Drive.”
Chapter 7
Zinnia
Tuck put the car in gear and steered it out of the parking lot. The engine rumbled beneath me. When he pressed the gas petal the car surged forward, and I sank deeper into the seat. We pulled out onto to the street and drifted along with traffic. I couldn’t believe I was sitting alone with Tucker Brand. There were so many other girls in school who had crushes on him, yet he chose to hang out with me. Why? I didn’t know, but I had so many questions for him and wasn’t sure where to begin. Before I knew it, we were driving down roads where the houses grew further apart and the woods lined each side of the road.
I twisted around in the seat, looking at every street we passed. “This isn’t the way to my house.”
“You only said drive. You didn’t say where.” A smirk tugged at his lips.
The beige leather interior of the car only made his dark good looks more enticing. He returned his gaze back to the street before us. His hair was so dark it looked nearly black, but when the sun caught on it I could see the hint of auburn in it. Deep down, I felt Tuck had secrets he might not tell anyone, and it only made me want to know more about him.
“I didn’t realize I had to be so specific.”
“You should always tell me what you want.” He gave me a sideways glance, looking me up and down. “No matter what it is.”
Was he teasing me or flirting? If I was going to figure out what happened last night, then he was the only one who could give me answers. Elle seemed to not remember a single thing, but Tuck was in the middle of that fight. I swallowed down the nervous ball in my throat. “Then there is something I want from you, Tuck.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
“Last night, what happened?” I tilted my head to the side, studying his profile for any sign he knew what I was talking about. I folded my hands in my lap and began to wring my fingers together. I looked down at them, not wanting to see his face or reaction. Because what if I really was going crazy?
His fingers slipped over mine, stopping me from wringing my hands together. The heat from his skin seeped into my cold fingers. Every time he touched me, his body temperature felt incredibly hot, hotter than other people. His flaming wings sprouted into my memory, and I wondered if those wings had something to do with how warm he was.
He squeezed my hand before he pulled away and put his on the steering wheel. “What do you mean?”
“I mean today in class you said you lied about what happened to me last night, and I just want to know the truth. I’ve been feeling like I’ve been going crazy all day long, trying to piece together the familiar faces, what you are…” I peeked over at him, then sighed. “…What I am?”
He turned down a long winding road that would take us further into a wooded area, and I glanced out at the changing leaves. I leaned my head against the window, waiting for his answers, all the while knowing I’d never forget this moment—sitting with him, his wicked scent, the way the sun warmed my cheeks and how I felt so connected to him. After this, I wasn’t sure he’d want to be near me again.
“Zin—”
A blaring horn came from behind us, I looked up in time to see a huge black SUV coming straight at the car, about to t-bone the driver’s side.
I reached up and grabbed the bar over my head. “Look out!”
Tuck slammed on the brakes. The car slid to a stop, and the SUV missed the bumper by mere inches. Road gravel pinged against the exterior of the car.
My heart raced with panic. “What’s happening?!”
“Just hold on.” He threw the car into reverse, then slammed onto the brakes.
I looked over my shoulder and cursed. There were two cars blocking the road, a huge silver Jeep and behind that a black SUV identical to the one that’d just tried to run us off the road. “What the hell is going on, Tuck?”
I twisted around in the seat and saw two girls getting out of the Jeep. One was tall and willowy, with long sandy blond hair braided into different patterns around her head. Are her ears pointed? I pressed my fingers to my head. Not again. I was not going crazy again.
“Zinnia, I need you to listen to me.” Tuck put his hands on both sides of my face and drew his honey gaze to mine. “We can’t stay in the car, Zin. Do you hear me? We need to get out.”
My body trembled from head to toe. I’d gone all my life without a single incident, and now I’d had two in row. I nodded. “Okay.”
“If we stay here, I don’t know what they’ll do.” He dropped his hands from my face, then reached over and unbuckled my seatbelt.
It loosened off my shoulder, and I reached for the handle to get out. I scrambled out the door and watched Tuck step out of the driver’s side door so confident and ready. He didn’t even bat an eyelash at what was happening.
In front of me, the doors of the SUV opened in unison, and four cloaked figures leapt out. Their thick black jackets covered them from head toe. When I glanced back, the SUV behind us emptied as well.
Tuck called out to the girl with the braids in her hair. “Ashryn, are you ready?”
The girl with the sandy hair leapt onto the roof of the car, with a bow and arrow in hand. She seemed so calm, so cold. “Ready.”
A second girl who came out of the driver’s side pressed her body against the side of the car. Wild curls stuck out of her head in all directions, surrounding her smooth mocha skin in a halo of softness. She was shorter than Ashryn, but taller than me, with a slightly curvy body.
I glanced from them to Tuck and back again. “You know them?”
“Ashryn, the girl with the bow, has saved my ass more than once during the trials and after. Tabi can be trusted with your life.” He answered so quickly I couldn’t have heard him right. Trials? What trials? Everything was happening so fast. I just needed a minute to think.
But the men in front of us began to stalk forward. I sucked in a breath, and a sudden calm came over my body. I felt power surge from my chest all the way down to my fingertips. It pulsed in my veins, telling me things about each of these people. The men in front of us had some kind of power to create energy. It bounced off of them and into me. Electricity shot through me; it was delicious. My senses were on high alert. I turned sideways to watch what was happening both in front of me and behind.
“Stop.” Ashryn’s forest green eyes flashed wide as she drew the arrow across her bow and aimed it at the man closest to Tuck’s car. They all stopped just short of our cars.
Tucker turned and faced off against the men. “Gentlemen, can we help you?”
They all looked the same to me, wearing black robes that hid their faces so well it was impossible to make out individual features. The one closest to Tucker pointed at me and then to Tabitha, who stood leaning against the Jeep.
A light chuckle escaped my lips. They had to be out of their damn minds, thinking I would go with any of them. “Well, you can’t have us.”
Tuck arched his eyebrow and gave me his cocky grin. “Brave girl.” Then turned back toward the men. “What she said.”
Before I had time to react, a ball of blue magic shot toward my face. I flinched back, holding my
hands up to shield myself from it. Power tingled in the tips of my fingers. I didn’t feel any kind of hit; all I felt was a slight electric shock in my palm. When I looked down, there it was—that blue ball the man had hurdled at me. I waved it back and forth, and the ball stayed in my grasp. It moved with my every thought, and I flipped it to the back of my hand and let it run down my arm to my elbow. I could control this thing…the thing they’d meant to hurt me with. A wide grin broke out across my face, and I knew exactly where this ball of energy belonged. I narrowed my eyes at the SUV. With a flick of my wrist, I fired the sphere I’d just caught. It smacked into the back of the truck and sent the bumper shooting straight up into the air. A pillow of fire exploded from under the truck, and smoke poured out, rising up. The heat licked at my face, and I took a step back. The four men in front of us scattered in different directions.
I looked down at my palms, socked at what I’d just done. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!”
A volley of blue energy balls flew in our direction. Tuck threw his hands out in front of him, and flames shot from him, creating a wall of fire. Tiny explosions shone as they struck the wall, but none got through. “Zin, over here.”
I ran around the car and came to his side. “Who are they?”
“Witches loyal to Alataris.” Sweat beaded on his forehead, and every hit the fire wall took seemed to affect him. The muscle in his jaw flexed as he struggled to hold it in place.
“Witches? What do you mean, witches? Like the fly-on-a-broom, black-cats-and-cauldrons kind of witches?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Surely, there was no such thing as witches.
Tucker tiled his head to the side. “Broom no, cats maybe, and cauldrons only for the very special ones.”
Seriously? Behind me, Ashryn fired off arrow after arrow at the SUV blocking our retreat. The quills of her arrows jutted out from the black exterior, each one making a deep hole all aimed around the engine. Tabitha raised her hands over her head, and yellow ribbons of magic shot from her fingers and went straight into the ground. A crack spread about the truck, and the asphalt under it dropped six feet into the ground, taking the SUV with it. I took a step closer to Tuck…witches.
Wicked Witch (The Royals: Witch Court Book 1) Page 6