Within the Crystal

by Kat Blak

  I can feel moisture gathering in the corner of my eye. I force myself not to blink as I don't want the tear to fall and ruin this moment between Nunu and I. It's just so beautiful and loving. Wrapping my arms and legs tightly around him, desperate to keep him as close to me as possible. There is not a section of my skin that isn't touching his. I can feel our power moving like liquid between us. It’s his deep thrusting movements and our combined power tingling over my skin that has my core clenching and my release building, as he swells inside of me. His mouth swallows my scream that erupts when he thrusts deep one final time and fills me with hot cum, as I drench him with my own. His power bursts out of him, just as his cum did, popping all the twinkling fairy lights around us, and from what I can hear a few street lights too. Fucking hell, he has some power.

  We lay in each other's arms panting, trying to calm our racing hearts. He slips out of me as he rests to the side, but still makes sure his skin is flush to mine. I have never had my power mix with someone else's like that. Not only was it soothing, it was also electrifying. As if I want to take a nap and run a marathon at the same time. The tranquility of lying here with Nunu is beautiful, but I have to address the elephant on the roof. Excuse the pun, but I need to know how he feels about his magic because I can feel my heart and soul getting more and more invested in this guy and I don’t think I could take it if he leaves.

  “So, what are your plans now that you have these epic powers?”

  “I don't know,” he sighs. “I'm just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe.”

  “Don't worry, we can make our way together. Just remember, I'm here to show you the path,” I say as he rolls onto his back. I take the opportunity to place my head on his shoulder and listen to the beat of his heart.

  “Are you ever going to tell us what you saw when you read our fortunes?” he responds wishfully.

  “One day I shall, when everything I need to do has been completed. I promise you that when it happens I will say, I saw this already. Then you shall know.” I know it’s not the answer he, or any of the guys, want to hear, but it's the way it has to be. Thankfully, Nunu seems to appreciate that and despite the little sigh I hear him try to disguise, he lets the issue go. I settle further into his chest running my fingers in light patterns over his skin. I could really get used to this.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  After spending the night in Nunu’s arms under the stars, we get up and get ready for uni. At least I'm not the one doing the walk of shame this morning. We seem to be at ease with each other's presence, both of us working together seamlessly. While I'm in the shower, he is making us cups of coffee, and while he takes a shower, I'm getting dressed and ready for the day. It’s amazing how easy it is being with Nunu and I won’t deny that I have the biggest smile ever on my face from the minute I wake up in his arms.

  It's a nice, peaceful walk to the university, with us holding hands and sipping from our travel cups, but that all changes when we reach the gates. Just as we walk through them a car drives pasts and stops next to us. The person inside slowly opens their window and a head pops out once it’s fully open. My stomach drops, and I let go of Nunu’s hand like it’s on fire, whilst taking two steps away from him.

  “Is that really the best conduct to be having on school property, Alex? Did I just witness you holding hands with a student?” Andrews spits at me.

  “No, not at all. We were just walking close as Nunu was showing me a video on his phone, we most definitely were not holding hands.” I snap back while Nunu waves his phone towards Andrew as if trying to make a point.

  “I will bring this up with the Dean,” he shouts before driving off.

  “Come on,” I say to Nunu as he seems frozen to the spot. Once he shakes himself out of his stupor we begin to start walking towards the main building again. Keeping our heads down we rush the last few steps to the university. Once inside we head in separate directions without even a wave goodbye.

  Another long lecture of teaching is made even harder by having Barbie throw out her usual shit towards me. In fact, you would think by now a bully like her would come up with better words to use other than slut and bitch. They are so old school, it's pathetic. But once again Cal just sits there with a cocksure smirk on his face. I watch as the guys try to get him to do something, like put her on a leash or something, but he just ignored them all. I can feel the mounting pressure between the guys and I hate the fact that I seem to be the cause. Tek and Nunu are sick of Cal’s shit, and Jasp is not sure which side to be on. It's dividing them and will soon break them if something doesn't give. I just hope that something is Cal and not me. The guys now feel like a part of me, and I am a part of them. I hate the idea that I could lose them, in fact it makes me feel sick. Watching them all leave the lecture hall, no longer jibing and joking, just looking sad, breaks my heart.

  Packing up my notes, I also leave but go via the side door like normal. Today is chocolate cake day in the canteen again, so I make my way down there. What better way to make myself feel better than to eat my bodyweight in cake. I just hope I don't bump into Andrew on my way down, things with him are getting stranger and stranger. I keep catching him watching me out of the corner of my eyes, but when I go to look at him he disappears. Something is definitely going on there. Something that I may have to look at when I've finished dealing with the shit on my already overflowing plate. The sloth in me just wants to crawl into bed and never leave. But lucky for me, I think sarcastically, I have Taz, who has made it her personal mission to keep me on track with the promise of pain if I slack off. Knowing her, she will run images through my mind on a loop of the guys having sex with different girls like Barbie. That’s more than enough motivation to make them mine.

  Arriving at the double doors leading to the cafeteria I can already smell the chocolate cake that I know is waiting for me. Opening the door, I expect the noise and energy of loads of students to hit me, but it doesn't. There are only a few people dotted around. I spot Jasp sitting at a table by himself, hunched over a plate of food and a book. Deciding the cake can wait I head over to him.

  When he doesn't lift his head up from the book that seems to be capturing his attention I ask, “You ok?” His head suddenly whips up at the sound of my voice, with a small grin etching his lips.

  “Good, thank you,” he responds, giving me a cheeky once over while closing his book. “I knew you would be coming for the chocolate cake, I normally head to the library to do some reading but wanted to spend some time with you instead. I got you a big slice.”

  I slide into the chair next to his, deciding I want to sit next to him and not have the table between us as a barrier. Jasp, is the least open one out of all the guys, he keeps his feelings and emotions close to his chest. I can never seem to get a read on him, his emotions are as closed as the book sitting on the table. I know that Mother Nature said I didn't have to have a sexual relationship with all of them to achieve the goal, but I know I'm sexually attracted to him. I just don't know if the feelings are reciprocated or not. At least even with Cal I know where I stand, but Jasp is my big unknown.

  Even just sitting here next to him, I want to touch him. Would he reject me if I were to put my hand on his knee? If I were to slide my hand down his arm, would he brush it off or would he shiver from the contact? Even looking into his eyes I can't see any changes there towards me. When Nunu and Tek see me their eyes light up, but with Jasp there’s no change.

  Taking the cake he’s offered, I fork a small bit off and raise it to my lips. I watch as his eyes follow the cake. Slowly parting my lips I place the fork into my mouth and release a small moan. The moan was completely unintentional. It's just that this cake tastes just as good as it did last time. At the same time I moan, I’m sure I see a flicker in his eyes. Wait, was that a flicker of emotion in his eyes, or did I imagine it? Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part. I need to put it to the test.

  Taking another bite of cake, I repeat the motion, but this
time keeping my eyes firmly locked on his. Again I release a moan when the chocolatey goodness reaches my taste buds. His eyes flash from charoite to plum. Wow, maybe I do affect him. I can feel a small smile raising the corners of my lips.

  “What are you smiling about?” he asks with a monotone voice. If I had not seen the change in his eyes I would have believed he wasn't interested in me.

  “Nothing,” I respond, but the smile on my face now could rival the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. He grunts back at me in response before reopening his book and going back to eating his food. I don't want to push things with him but being in this stalemate we seem to have found ourselves in is frustrating. I shimmy my ass along the wooden bench to get myself closer to him, if he doesn't move away I consider it a win. Holding my breath, I wait. He looks up at me, smiles, and then goes back to reading. I release my breath slowly in the hopes he doesn't hear it. Step one complete. Looking around the canteen I can see it has started to fill up. The noise in here has gone up an octave and I'm starting to feel more of the different energies.

  I didn't want to think about it before, but it would seem that by unlocking Nunu’s power, it gave my power a boost too. Not only can I feel more of the individual's energies, I can sometimes tell the difference between them too. For instance, I can feel that there is a person in the line who is getting extremely angry at having to wait. His energy comes across as black and sticky. Whereas, there is a couple sitting three rows behind me whose energy is coming across as pink and sweet. I would think that they are about to leave and have hot, sweaty sex very soon. Glancing back at Jasp, I can see he is still inside his book. I wish I could get a glimpse inside his head, then I would know what I'm working with. Turning my body to face him, I lean over and give him a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “Thank you for the chocolate cake,” I say, keeping my face close to his. I watch as he turns his face towards mine.

  “You are welcome, a-a-anything for you,” he stutters out. The need to kiss him is swirling in my stomach. But what would he do if I did, would he push me away, or would he open his mouth for me? While I'm having this inner debate, I keep glancing between his lips and eyes. I watch as his eyes do the same.

  The scene with Andrew this morning flashes in my mind, and it's like being hit with a bucket of cold water. I can't do this, not to Jasper. I wont hurt him like this, Andrew will drag his name through the mud if he caught us doing anything, Jasper has the biggest heart and is the most vulnerable of them all. This would make his shyness worse, possibly even cause him to leave the University. I can’t involve any of my boys in a scandal that could ruin their University experience and ultimately their future.

  Releasing a sigh, I lean back away from him.

  “I'm sorry, I have to go,” I murmured, more to myself than him. Grabbing my bag off the floor, I dash out of the room. My heart is in my throat at the disappointed look Jasp has on his face. He had wanted me to kiss him, I could see it, but instead I ran. I ran like a scared little sheep. I know this mission is bigger than this University, but I can't risk our place here. I won't do that to the guys or to my mom.

  I fall against the wall, just past the canteen door. The wall can support my weight till I'm able to think clearly again. Jasp had just been about to kiss me, or at least let me kiss him, and I had run. This is going to set us back, I can feel it in the lead weight that is currently weighing down my stomach. The disappointment I had seen in his eyes flashes behind my closed eyelids. Reaching up, I grab fistfulls of my own hair, I want to rip it out. The pain it will give me may match the pain I just caused Jasp.

  I'm too busy berating myself that I don't hear the doors open and close again. I feel hands touching mine, releasing the hair from them. When I open my eyes, I see Jasper standing in front of me. There is no disappointment or sadness there, all I can see is determination. That sight alone is enough to make me forget all of my earlier reservations. So I lean in and kiss him. At first his body goes as still as a statue and his lips are rigid. I stay very still with our lips gently pressed together, I don't want to spook him. After a few seconds have passed I can feel him loosening up. His lips become softer and his body presses into mine. It's nice, but I want more. I need more. I turn us, so he is pressed to the wall and I’m flush up against him. I want to climb him like a tree, but due to our location I hold off.

  Instead, I run my tongue around the seal of his lips. When he gasps I slowly push my tongue into his mouth and lazily caress his tongue with my own. One second I can feel his body heat next to mine and in the next instant nothing. I’m dragged from the warmth of Jasp’s body and my back is slammed hard against the opposite wall.

  A band of pain circles my throat and cuts off my air supply. Shooting my eyes open, I think that the lack of oxygen to my brain must be making me see things. I see that it’s Cal who has me pinned to the wall by my throat. The slam of my back against the wall has my ears ringing. I can't seem to hear anything past the noise in my ears and there are dark spots in my eyes. I’m frantically clawing at Cal’s arm and darting my eyes around, looking desperately for help. While blinking my eyes furiously, I see Jasp is screaming at Cal. If Cal doesn't let up soon I'm going to pass out from lack of oxygen.

  Just as I feel my brain starting to shut down, I'm dropped unceremoniously to the floor. My head bangs off the back wall as my ass hits the floor. I scramble around trying to take gulps of air back into what feels like shriveled up lungs. I probably look like a fish out of water, cowering on the floor while frantically taking in much needed oxygen. But right now I don’t really give a shit how I look, self preservation has taken over. When I finally feel more compos mentis and no longer have spots blinding my vision, I look around. Cal seems to be standing a little away from me now, but not far enough away for my liking. I can see the pain, devastation and confusion at his actions shooting through his eyes. His face makes him look like he is on the verge of throwing up. His hands stretched out before me with his palms facing up, the shock causing them to tremor. I can see he wants to say something, but his lips are grasped tightly together forming a straight line. Stopping anything from passing them. To be honest, after his actions I don't think I want to hear anything he has to say. We have always verbally sparred, but I never expected him to touch me like that. Thinking about it makes my eyes go blurry with tears. I don't know if Cal and I will ever get back what we had after this. A small part of my brain screams that there must be a deeper explanation behind his actions, but right now I can no longer stand the sight of him. He hurt me physically and I never thought I would feel unsafe with any of the guys, but it’s the pain I feel knowing Cal was capable of hurting me that has my heart breaking.

  Looking away from him I finally take in the rest of my surroundings. Only then do I notice that at the end of the corridor stands Tek, with Jasper by his side. I don’t know whether it’s either a lack of oxygen induced hallucination or my brain is finally giving up, but I’m sure that Tek is standing there with a circle of black horns on top of his head, like a crown. His eyes are pitch black, not a single slither of white left and there seems to be gray and black smoke swirling around him. I may or may not be seeing black sharp claws at the ends of his fingers were nails used to be. Claws that look deadly.

  “Oh my God, Tek. You’re a Demon!” I manage to rasp out past my burning throat.

  Afterword

  To be Continued in Book Two

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank everyone who has helped take this book out of my mind and onto paper.

  Amanda, you keep me laughing with funny MEMES and pictures of sexy men. Cal is all yours!!

  Emma, my editor, you took the time to read over my story several times and reminded me it wasn't as shit as I thought it was.

  The ‘Skanky Rebels’ you girls keep me laughing like a loony in a crazy bin and pick me up when I’m down.

  To my Alpha readers for there continued support at my crazy typos and terrible grammar. Jennifer Wrig
ht Bishop for constantly referring my books in groups and to strangers, you make me feel truly loved!

  To you guys, my spanktastic readers, without you guys my dreams of being a writer would never have come true. Thank you for taking a chance on me and for continuing to take that chance with every book I write.

  About the Author

  Kat Blak is the multi-genre author of several books, including Ride with Danger, and co-writer of The Hidden Cure. Her stories cover a wide range of genres, especially reverse harem, paranormal and contemporary romance.

  Kat lives on a small farm in Wales, with her husband, kids and many animals. She hates to admit her strange obsession over Hallmark movies and love of cake. You can often find her daydreaming and mumbling to herself about all things supernatural and paranormal. She has many voices that are screaming at her to have their stories told, and thanks to her unhealthy addiction to buying covers, they will all get their books.

  When she isn’t busy writing, you can often find her walking the dogs or playing with her children. The one place you will never find her is in the kitchen as she is a terrible cook.

  If you want to gush to her about her books, you can reach out to her here:

  Also by Kat Blak

  Series

  Silver Moon Duology

  The Hidden Cure

  Looking for the Cure