“Braison!” Cooper yelled. “Braison, we’re gonna have words.”
Chapter Fourteen
Tegan
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Braison’s voice was soft and quiet as he spun me around the dance floor like we were royals. Everything about his appearance screamed confidence, but his palms were sweaty and his fingers trembled. “Are you sure it’s gonna work?”
I scoffed. “Did you see her face when we walked in?”
His pale face went white, making his red freckles stand out. He stared at me with wide emerald-green eyes. “What? No. I thought you said not to look at her at all.”
I smiled and subtly turned us around so the object of his desire couldn’t see his face. “I did say that. And excellent execution. It’s driving her nuts. But she came to play in that Catwoman costume.”
He gasped. “She’s dressed as Catwoman?” He did this fancy little doorstep and twirled us around in several circles.
“Dude,” I groaned through my smile.
When he stopped with his back to her, his cheeks were flushed and his eyes twinkled. “Batman is my favorite.”
“Then follow my lead, Hangman.”
I threw my head back and laughed, making sure to put on a good show. It was more difficult than I expected to be at a dance with a boy who wasn’t my soulmate. Cooper and the rest of my Coven may have been too shocked to notice Tenn’s reaction, but I saw it...and it was dangerous. Emersyn had expertly given him the subtle clue that he was losing his shit—I owed her for it. He’d disappeared and hadn’t shown his face again. Except he couldn’t hide from me. I felt the pulse of his magic in the air, the tingle of his raw, wild power radiating through the crowd. His energy was electric. But even without all that, I knew he was nearby from the burning in my chest.
I glanced over Braison’s shoulder at the dark corner Tenn hid in. We’d only been dancing for a few songs, but I’d already looked to my soulmate at least two dozen times. I tried not to yet kept failing miserably. If Braison hadn’t been holding on to me when we walked in, I might’ve run straight to Tennessee. Seeing him back on his feet and out of the infirmary filled me with happiness and peace. Seeing him back in all black, strapped with weapons and wearing vampire fangs filled me with some weird kind of excitement I didn’t know how to handle. I felt his eyes on me, and it made my heart flutter.
Something moved out of the corner of my eye. When I looked, I spotted Henley lurking in the shadows. My pulse quickened. Her eyes were blood-red, so I knew my good friend wasn’t in control. She moved through the crowd unseen. Her gaze flickered back and forth between me and Tennessee. Then she looked at me straight on and grinned. My eyes widened. But then she was gone, like she’d never been there at all.
The band on my arm sent a warm blast of energy into my skin. I shivered then refocused my gaze on Braison. If that shadow demon wanted to toy with us...then I was ready to play.
Chapter Fifteen
Emersyn
My sister’s plan was absolutely ridiculous. Reckless. Dangerous. I had no idea what she was thinking. No one was handling it calmly. I wished she hadn’t warned me at all, because then I wouldn’t have been waiting with my stomach in knots for something else to happen. This was definitely still phase A—shock and awe. I knew my sister enough to know phase B would be even worse.
Cooper hadn’t had time to cool off about her revealing costume, so all of his anger grew with each new guy she danced with. Braison had had the first few, but when he walked off to get a drink, the wolves descended. One by one she danced with what seemed like every male student in attendance. Only the ones in our crew stayed away. For two hours, we watched my sister bat her long eyelashes at any guy who came near.
The thing that worried me the most was Tennessee. The energy pouring out of him was downright volatile. He was the caged tiger at the zoo ready and waiting for his chance to rip everyone apart. He’d come over and hang with us for a few minutes, then return to his dark corner to pace…and probably hex every guy she danced with. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but I didn’t want to be in the same room as him with that much fire in his eyes.
Cooper wasn’t much better, although for entirely different reasons. Every time he got up to storm onto the dance floor, Easton or Royce held him back. Deacon bounced around, mingling with everyone. It didn’t bother me. Not at all. Not. One. Bit. He could dance and flirt with whomever he wanted, as long as it wasn’t me. I wasn’t even allowed to date him if I did want to, so there was no point in dancing with him. And I didn’t want to date him. I really didn’t. At all.
“Paulina!” Larissa hissed.
I frowned and looked over at the girls huddled off to my right. Paulina glared at the dance floor, with her arms crossed over her chest. Willow, Chutney, and Larissa stared at her with slack jaws and raised eyebrows.
“I don’t care! Look at her. If you go to a dance with one guy, you dance with said one guy, not the whole damn campus. Who does she think she is?” Paulina narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “The shoe fits, so Cinderella can wear it.”
Hold on. Is she jealous? I glanced back and forth between her and my sister—who was oblivious to the conversation as she danced with the captain of the football team. If Paulina was outraged, then it was on Braison’s behalf. That had to mean she was jealous. Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit. Tegan was right. I shouldn’t have been so surprised—my twin’s instincts were usually on point.
“Where’s Braison? Someone needs to make sure he’s not too upset,” Paulina snapped, then stormed out of sight.
Larissa sighed and shook her head. “Why do I feel like there’s a cat fight coming?”
“Get it, cat fight…because she’s Catwoman?” Chutney covered her mouth and giggled.
“Oh, look, Deacon’s out there.” Willow pointed behind me toward the dance floor.
“Good, maybe he’ll finally use his tricks and get her to stop this nonsense,” Cooper grumbled. His blond eyebrows were almost covering his eyes he scowled so hard.
Deacon? On the dance floor with Tegan? Oh no. This is phase B, isn’t it? She’d told me beforehand they were going to dance one dance. It was an act. I knew that. I really knew that. Tegan was madly in love with Tennessee. They were soulmates. This was part of their evil plan to bring two friends together. Why is my stomach in knots right now? It’s just a dance. Breathe.
I didn’t want to look, but I had to. When I spun in my seat, I spotted Tegan and Deacon standing in the middle of the dance floor under the massive disco ball. Tegan arched one black eyebrow and put her hands on her hips. Her silver armband sparkled. Deacon grinned and my stomach turned. I don’t like that look. Except they were just standing there.
But then the music changed from the latest Taylor Swift hit to an upbeat song with a steady, rhythmic bass and a sultry violin. It sounded like something played by an orchestra or in a ballroom dance competition—
I gasped. Oh no. Are they going to tango?
Deacon walked up to Tegan until there was maybe an inch between their noses. Their eyes locked for way too long. They circled each other like an animal about to pounce. Deacon reached out and tugged at her waist then backed away. Tegan followed him while spinning in tight circles. The strips of black lace she pretended were a skirt swirled around her hips, revealing a whole lot of skin. Those flower vines wrapped around her legs did nothing to conceal her body.
“What is— What the— Deacon. Dude. Why?” Cooper stumbled over his words.
“Deacon, no,” Royce mumbled under his breath.
Easton laughed. “Deacon, YES.”
Deacon slid forward and gripped her waist with one hand. She stopped with her chest flush against his and one hand on his shoulder. He took her other hand and raised their arms. It was formal, but it was not. He led her backwards a few feet, then picked her up by the waist and spun them in a circle. When her feet hit the ground, she threw her head back and arched her body as he dipped her. His hand slid down he
r leg then pulled her up by the knee.
My jaw dropped. My pulse kicked into overdrive. Heat rushed over my skin. I didn’t want to watch, but I couldn’t look away. The rest of the students moved off the dance floor and just stared at the two of them.
The music picked up tempo. Deacon and Tegan moved up and down the dance floor, spinning and kicking their legs. His hands were on her waist as he guided her through the song. She dropped to her knees in front of him. He stepped forward, grabbed her by the back of the neck and pulled her back up. With his hand still on her neck, he spun her around, then lowered his arm. She followed his move, throwing herself back and letting his hand on her neck support her. He raised her back up then grabbed a fistful of the black material on her hips and twirled her in quick circles.
I jumped to my feet before I could stop myself. I didn’t know what my body wanted me to do, but I was getting the hell out of here. I couldn’t watch anymore. It was just an act. They had no feelings or attraction for each other. They had soulmates who weren’t each other. I wasn’t threatened by my sister, despite her undeniable beauty.
Then what am I so upset about? I don’t even like Deacon. I don’t even want a soulmate. I don’t care what he does.
I just didn’t know why them dancing affected me so much when I didn’t even like him. I turned my back to their performance and practically ran for the door. No one noticed me, not with the show going on.
I don’t like him.
I don’t like him.
I do not like him.
Chapter Sixteen
Tegan
By the time the dance was over, I was breathing heavier than I did while fighting demons. I finally understood why dancers were in such good shape. Those two minutes were quite a workout. For a moment, I was so impressed with the fact that I actually did the tango successfully after only practicing a few times that I completely forgot about our evil plan. But then I saw a blonde flash as my sister ran out the front door of the gym. Shit. I’d told her the plan to avoid hurting her. Someone walked out the door right after her and paused on the threshold. They turned…and looked straight at me. Henley. She winked one red eye then slipped outside.
Emersyn, come back inside! I yelled with my mind. She didn’t need to be out there alone.
“Nicely done,” Deacon said, breathing about as heavy as I was.
“Right back at ya, city slicker.” I laughed. “That was so fun.”
He grinned and gave me a high five. “You’re a quick learner, High Priestess.”
“Who knew the Devil was a good teacher?”
All of a sudden, there was loud roaring. I jumped, ready to attack whatever demon was there, except I found only students. My eyes widened. The entire dance clapped and whistled. Warmth rushed to my cheeks. I looked at Deacon and found his face a little pink, too. I gave a little bow and wave then walked toward the edge. Sapien students high fived us as we passed through them on our way to the table our crew was using.
Paulina jumped out in front of us in her black pleather catsuit. She flailed her arms around and screamed, “What the hell was that?”
I bit down on my bottom lip to stop myself from smiling. I think it worked, I said into Deacon’s mind. I shrugged as nonchalantly as possible. “I think that was the tango?”
She stomped her foot. “Not that. I mean, what the hell is wrong with you?”
I pursed my lips. “That’s a loaded question. You’ll have to be more specific.”
Deacon laughed. He made no move to walk around me. He knew the plan.
“You go to a dance with a guy, you’re supposed to dance with him, not everyone else!” she snapped. “Have you even talked to him since you got here?”
I frowned, faking confusion. “We danced.”
“Two hours ago!” She put her hands on her hips. “Why did you bother with a date?”
By this point, the rest of our crew had gathered behind her. But I didn’t look at any of them. This was the moment we did this whole plan for. Braison, look alive my friend.
I cocked my head to the side. “Paulina, what exactly are you so mad about?”
She rolled her brown eyes. “Braison is a good guy, and you’re hurting him with this…this…dancing.”
“No, I’m not. Braison and I are just friends.” I smirked and stepped in closer. “I’m not allowed to date until my tits are saggy. Ain’t that right, Cooper?”
“Yes,” my brother growled.
“But—”
“But nothing,” I interrupted Paulina. “Tonight wasn’t a date, because I’m not allowed to date. But you can. So why didn’t you make your move on a great guy before I came along with my dancing? Or maybe you simply didn’t notice him.”
Paulina opened her mouth then shut it again. She stared at me with wide eyes.
“You notice him now, though, but I doubt you’re the only one, so you better act fast.” I grinned and took a step forward until we were shoulder to shoulder. “You’re welcome.”
Easton bent over at the hips and laughed so hard it was silent. He clapped his hands together. Lily, Larissa, Chutney, and Willow all gave me high fives as I walked past them toward the door.
Cooper, don’t kill Deacon. It was a ploy, I said into my brother’s mind.
I didn’t look behind me at him or anyone else. I knew Tennessee was there. I felt his eyes on me the moment I’d arrived at the dance. I knew I had to talk to him, to calm him down about that dance with Deacon. But that would have to wait because Emersyn hadn’t come back into the dance…and neither had Henley.
I walked across the gym as fast as I could without running. I didn’t want to alarm anyone, especially my Coven-mates. Emersyn had taken the potion from Larissa so she was safe from possession or mind control. And the Henley-demon hadn’t actually tried to hurt any of us. I threw the doors open and ran into the hallway. Except it was empty. I looked around, but all I saw were the athlete lockers and some garbage. The doors slammed shut behind me. Music pounded through the walls.
“Damn it.” I spun around, then jumped back. My pulse quickened.
Tennessee stood there staring at me without a sound. I pressed my hand to my chest and felt my heart go nuts. He’d been close enough all night that my glyph hadn’t stopped burning, so it was impossible to tell where he was.
I sighed and leaned against the lockers. “Tennessee.”
He arched one black eyebrow at me. “Oh good, you remember me.”
Goddess, are those fangs? Good God. I hadn’t gotten close enough to him all night to realize he’d dressed as a vampire. I hadn’t seen the fangs. I had the sudden urge to bare my throat and ask him to bite me.
I shook my head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Didn’t think to tell me,”—he stepped closer and whispered— “your soulmate, about your plan to dance with every guy in town? And where should I start with Deacon? I gathered by your little spat with Paulina that this was some game of yours, but how did you not think to tell me? You came to the infirmary several times a day this week. You knew I was going to be here. We talked about it this morning. How did you not tell me? How did I not cross your mind?”
“You don’t cross my mind. You live there,” I said.
The doors behind him flew open, and I jumped back. Cold air brushed over my face. I hadn’t realized Tennessee and I had moved so close together. Though I wasn’t surprised.
Deacon emerged from the fog of the dance with sharp eyes. His red devil horns glowed like neon lights in a bar window. He glanced left and right, then back to us. “Have you seen Emersyn?”
My stomach dropped. Emersyn! I cursed. Tennessee had distracted me from the reason I ran off in the first place. “She ran out here, but I don’t know where she went. Henley followed after her, though.”
Tennessee’s eyes sharpened. He gripped the hilt of his sword with the hand not in a sling. “Split up. Now.”
Chapter Seventeen
Tegan
I ran out the front doors
and raced toward the parking lot. If I knew my sister the way I thought I did, she’d gone for the car to leave. As soon as I rounded the corner, I spotted her long blonde hair flying around. A gust of wind blew over me. The sickening sweet scent of maple tickled my nose. Demon blood.
Emersyn.
When I got to her, I found her completely surrounded by demons. But to my surprise, she wasn’t panicked or screaming. She was fighting. I didn’t have a weapon—there was nowhere to hide it in my costume. I summoned a gust of wind and slammed it into the spider-like demons behind her. They shrieked and flew across the parking lot. Then I froze. Emersyn was actually engaging in combat on her own. I frowned and watched her. She had the white-hilted dagger our mother gave her in her right hand. Gray smoke billowed from her left hand. It swirled around the demons, blinding them. She sliced her weapon through anything that came near her, but she was outnumbered and this wasn’t her strong suit.
Little sparks flashed around her fingers, like she was trying to summon her strongest element, but nothing came. Why am I the only one who can create them? It’s not fair. I wiggled my fingers, and ten flames danced along my skin. I could’ve jumped in the fight. I was a decent fighter. But I felt the frustration in my sister’s aura. She needed a way to let it out. So I flicked my flames toward her. Use these, Em.
She gasped and looked over her shoulder at me with wide golden eyes. Then she grinned and reached out for the fire. I stood back and watched her lose control on these monsters. But I was ready to jump in if I had to. My magic simmered just below the surface.
Emersyn and her fire were a sight to see. She flung her arms around in elegant arcs, shooting flames at everything that moved. Within seconds, each of the dozen or so demons were engulfed in their own personal bonfire. I smiled and stepped forward to applaud her when something moved from within the flames. My stomach dropped. The demons were still alive. They shrieked and screamed in agony. The sounds of them being burned alive would haunt my nightmares forever.
The Broken Witch Page 7