by G. K. DeRosa
“He shouldn’t have been able to pinpoint you as a warlock,” said Cillian. “As powerful as he may be, you remember even Draven initially had doubts and bloodlines are his specialty.”
My brows knitted. “So how did he figure it out?”
“Luxora’s been infiltrating each of the houses,” said Ryder. “Maybe Malaki’s her guy. Either she or Nicodemus could have let him in on the secret.”
“Ryder’s right. It’s what makes the most sense.”
“So now what?” I asked.
“Garrix is stalling.” He loosed a frustrated breath. “If you’re brought in, Draven will be forced to perform the spell which will confirm Malaki’s claims. And from there, it’s anyone’s guess.”
“Great…” I muttered.
Cillian squeezed my shoulder and gave me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Luna, we won’t let the covens have you either.”
“Damn right, we won’t,” echoed Ryder.
“I’m sorry to put a damper on your day off, Luna, but I wanted you to be aware.”
“Believe me, you didn’t. At least this will give me something new to freak out about.”
“That’s my girl.” Ryder shot me a playful smile and smacked me on the shoulder. A little harder than he probably meant to. I winced before shrugging it off with a half-smile.
“Try to enjoy the rest of your day off,” said Cillian as he ushered us toward the door. “I’ll keep you updated if I hear anything from your father.”
“Okay, thanks.” I trudged out to the foyer and down the steps with a dark shadow trailing me. I finally slowed down so Ryder could sidle up beside me.
“Are you okay, mini minx?”
“Just peachy.”
He smirked, displaying that irritatingly cute dimple in his cheek. “Want to go sweat it out in the training room? I hear there’s a punching bag with your name on it.”
Images of a sweaty Ryder made my insides clench. “Nope. I want to enjoy my day off for once.”
“Suit yourself.”
There had been something I’d wanted to ask him since his return to the academy but hadn’t had the nerve. “Actually, I was thinking of going for a stroll outside so I guess I could walk with you and escort you back to your new place.”
His eyes widened, a flash of something unreadable crossing his profound irises. “Yeah, for sure.”
The crunch of snow beneath our boots filled the comfortable silence while I gathered the nerve to ask my question. The small stone cabin came to view, and I steeled my gut. “Ryder, when you were with Luxora all those months, she never came after me. And then that day that she finally attacked the academy, you said ‘this wasn’t the deal.’ What did that mean?”
He paused mid-stride, his gaze flicking to mine, before he continued toward the cabin.
I hurried behind him. Grabbing the back of his jacket, I yanked him to a stop. “You said you wanted to be friends, Ryder. Friends tell each other things like this.”
He let out a grunt through clenched teeth. “Of course you’d find a way to turn this friend thing around on me.”
I smirked.
He started to walk slowly, and I trailed beside him. His jaw ticked, and I could practically see the gears grinding in his head as he considered what to tell me. I hoped it would be the truth.
“I don’t like talking about that time, Luna. So I’ll tell you what you want to know, but I don’t want to discuss it again, okay?”
“Okay.”
“When I lost myself, I somehow ended up in the Underworld. It wasn’t long before Luxora found me. Word of my resurgence had spread, and she was more than thrilled to have me back in her flock.” He paused to run a hand through his hair, tugging at the ends. “Even with the demon in charge, I couldn’t let her hurt you. Who knows? Maybe somehow you even managed to win him over. So when she asked me to join in her fight against daddy dearest, I agreed with one condition. She had to leave you alone.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. So much of what he said made my heart hurt.
“She agreed, but she was lying of course. I didn’t fully trust her, so I kept an eye on her and you.”
“So it was you that day in D.C. and in my dorm the night I returned to the academy?”
His head dipped ever so slightly.
“What happened the day of the attack at Darkhen?”
“I had a feeling Luxora was up to something. She’d been holed up in her private chambers with the oracle for hours the day before. Then that morning she sent me on some bogus expedition to Aquatica. It just felt wrong, so I hung back and trailed her instead. She slipped away from me at some point, and it took me longer than I’d hoped to find her. And then you saw the rest…”
Even with his demon in charge, he’d chosen me over his half-sister and nearly gotten killed in the process.
“That was the day I knew you were still worth saving.” I kept my gaze fixed forward, as did Ryder.
“Thank you for believing in me even when I didn’t.” The raspy edge to his voice constricted my heart.
A million words sat perched at the tip of my tongue, but I was too chicken to say them, to unearth all the pain again. After the beating it had just taken from Drake, it couldn’t handle much more.
“Always,” I finally muttered. It was only one word, but it conveyed the truth more than a dozen others. Even if Ryder and I could never be together, I knew he’d always be there for me as I would be for him.
“Well, this is me.” He pointed at the quaint gray stone building a few yards away from the barn. Finally stopping in front of the door, he flashed me a smile. “You want to come in? It’s not much to look at, but there’s a warm fire.”
My heart flip-flopped, but I pressed my hand against my chest to calm it down. “Not today, Ryder. Maybe some other time.”
He nodded, his lips pressing together. He opened the door, but then spun back over his shoulder. “I’ll be here, Luna… whenever.”
I drew in a breath compelling my body to walk away. Twirling around, I headed back toward the track that circled the school. I needed to walk off this nervous energy ASAP. The chilly breeze cooled my heated cheeks and finally slowed my racing heart.
A few laps around the academy, and I’d be as good as new.
Chapter 10
A week went by with no word from the Coven Council, and I felt like my feet were dangling over a precipice. At any moment a strong gust of wind would come, and I’d go hurtling over the edge.
I flipped a yellowing page of the old tome Garrix had given me, focusing on the swirly black lettering. The crackle of the decaying parchment was loud against the library’s silent background. The books my father had gifted me were strictly forbidden ones at Darkhen Academy. The spells and enchantments enclosed within the antique texts were dark magic, the kind prohibited in our curriculum. But according to Garrix, if I planned on defeating Luxora I couldn’t be picky.
He’d insisted that as a warlock, I had to harness my dark side or I’d be missing out on a butt-load of power. Power I needed if I had any hopes of surviving against the dark lord or the Coven Council.
So here I sat, studying a spell to flay someone’s skin off without the help of a blade. Bleh. The next page was no better: how to rip out a witch’s magic from their spine. Maybe I’d had enough for today.
Slamming the massive book shut, I heaved it into my backpack. As I wound through the endless rows of bookshelves, my thoughts turned to the enchantments I’d been studying. Would I ever really be able to flay someone? Nausea crept up my throat at the idea. As much as I hated Luxora, I wasn’t even sure she deserved such a gruesome death.
I turned the corner, and a frosty breeze wafted over my skin. Lifting my gaze, I came face to face with the ice prince.
“Luna…”
“Hey.” I chewed on my lower lip, dipping my eyes to the floor. We’d had minimal contact in the past week thanks to my constant avoidance. I’d even managed to convince Ryder training with my dad
was more beneficial just to get out of my one-on-one sessions with Drake. And as for training, I’d paired up with Raine spouting off some nonsense on focusing on my witch magic. Somehow she’d agreed to it.
I doubted Ryder bought it, but he’d relented nonetheless. Everyone on the team knew what was going on with Drake’s betrothal and though my instructor had the good sense not to ask me about it, it was clear he knew.
“How are you doing?” Drake finally asked when the lingering silence became uncomfortable.
“Hanging in. The covens haven’t forced me to take their warlock test yet so that’s something.” The whole team had been brought up to speed on my latest drama. Sometimes I wondered if they thought I was more trouble than I was worth. Sometimes I did.
“That’s good.” He fiddled with the strap on his backpack, a nervous twitch so very unlike the cool prince. His gaze locked onto mine, and his jaw tightened. “I miss you.”
All the air whooshed right out of my lungs.
“I know I have no right to say that. And in retrospect, I realize how stupid it was of me to suggest the courtesan option. That’s what makes you so different from all the other girls, Luna. Anyone else would’ve leapt at the chance to live in the royal courts and remain by the prince’s side. But not you…” He smirked. “That’s probably why I am so enthralled by you, why I was so desperate to keep you in my life in some form or another.”
I sighed, clasping my fingers together. “I can’t, Drake, not like that.”
He stepped closer, his icy lavender scent swirling around me. “I know. It was completely unfair of me to ask. But you know us royals, we’re used to getting our way.”
A rueful smile cracked my lips. “Bratty royals.”
“You asked me once if I’d ever give it up, give up being a prince to lead a normal life and I’d answered with an unequivocal no. When Elrian told me I had to leave the academy and wed Miranda right away, I considered it. For you. You were the only reason I’ve ever come close to throwing it all away.” He pinched his thumb and index finger together. “I was this close, Luna. If I’d been certain of your feelings for me, I probably would’ve done it too.”
My brows knitted as I regarded him. “My feelings?”
“Don’t look so surprised, Luna. I may not seem like I’m paying attention, but it’s all part of my master plan.” A sly grin pulled at his lips. “I don’t doubt you care about me, but now that Ryder’s back…” His words fell away.
“You know Ryder and I can never be together.”
A rueful smile crossed his lips, a twinge of sadness darkening his light irises. “Exactly, Luna. You didn’t say you didn’t love him anymore or that you didn’t want to be with him. You said you can’t be together. And I know you—you’re fierce and determined. If there’s a way around your forced separation, you’ll find it.”
I shook my head, not wanting to believe his words, not wanting to give myself hope.
“And Ryder, well… he may tell you one thing but the way he looks at you conveys another story. You’ll find your way back to each other one way or another. And that, truthfully, is why I didn’t give up my throne for you.”
A punch in the gut would’ve hurt less. My mouth hung open as I stared at the prince. He didn’t look angry or resentful, only a twinge of sadness marred his handsome face. Then the emotion was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
“I’m glad you didn’t give up your throne for me, Drake. You’ll make a great king one day, and I wouldn’t have wanted to rob the Fae of that privilege. You’re right, I cared—no, I care about you a lot. I probably would’ve fallen in love with you given more time. But my sister told me something the last time I saw her: your duty will always come first. She lived through it with your brother, and I see it clearly now. You and I just weren’t meant to be. But I’ll always care about you, Prince Drake Wintersbee. You’ve taught me so much in my time here at Darkhen, and when you leave, I’ll miss you like crazy.” My legs propelled me forward, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“I never thought I’d say it, but I’m going to miss you more than breathing,” he whispered against my ear.
Hot tears pricked my eyes, but I blinked rapidly to keep them from spilling over. He backed up a step and released me, sweeping his thumb over the one tear that had escaped. “I’m not leaving yet, human. You can save those tears for my going away party at the end of the semester. I expect you to throw me quite an elaborate affair.”
I chuckled. “Of course, Your Highness. Whatever you desire.”
My phone buzzed, tearing us away from the sweet moment. I scanned the screen and muttered a curse.
“What’s the matter?” Drake’s brows arched.
“I’ve been summoned to appear in front of the Coven Council this afternoon.”
Cillian and Ryder took turns pacing in front of the towering black marble building in the center of Maginaria, their frantic paths weaving between the four massive columns of the Coven Council’s headquarters.
Garrix was already inside making a last ditch effort to change his colleagues’ minds. I wasn’t holding my breath. We’d all known it was only a matter of time.
“How can they force her to submit for this blood test?” Ryder growled.
“She’s the daughter of a warlock, nephew. She’s bound by the rules governing the Coven Council.”
“She’s also a human.”
“You know how the coven works. They believe Azarian law overrides the human one.”
Ryder raked a hand through his hair, flashes of citrine consuming his irises. He was seconds away from demoning-out, and I couldn’t have that on my conscience.
“Ryder!” I grabbed his hands, forcing him to focus on me. “Take deep breaths. I can’t have you losing it right now, or I’ll send you home.”
His teeth ground together, but he nodded nonetheless. When Cillian had suggested he remain at the academy, he’d nearly bitten his uncle’s head off. Neither Cillian nor Ryder would be permitted to attend the meeting regardless so their presence here was moot either way.
I appreciated their support though. The two of them had been protecting me since the day I’d arrived at Darkhen Academy.
“What do you think will happen once they confirm I’m a warlock?” I whispered to Cillian.
He shrugged, worry emanating from his clear blue eyes. “I don’t know. I imagine they’ll want to learn more about you and your bloodline. They may even seek out your mother.”
“My mom?” My heart skipped a beat.
“With you being the first female warlock in recorded history, you can bet the council will do everything to determine your origins.”
“But my mother was human. There’s no way her blood had anything to do with my warlock-ness.”
“I assume they’ll want to be the ones to determine that.”
Garrix’s head popped out between the massive double doors leading into the council’s headquarters. “I did all I could, but even as the head of the council, I’ve been outvoted.” He loosed a frustrated grunt. “They’re ready to see you now.”
A low growl vibrated Ryder’s chest, his muscles quivering beneath his tight tee as he moved in front of me. “We should be going in there with her.”
“You know that’s out of the question,” Garrix responded, his cobalt eyes blazing. “I will be in there with my daughter and believe me, I’m the strongest ally she could have at the moment.”
Cillian’s hand wrapped around Ryder’s bicep, and he stepped back, allowing me to enter. “Good luck, Luna. We’ll be here waiting for you.”
I avoided meeting Ryder’s gaze, its weight already boring into the back of my head. I didn’t need his added tension right now; my own anxiety was already hemorrhaging through my veins.
I slipped through the doorway and followed my father into the council’s chambers.
Chapter 11
Four pairs of intense eyes stared down at me from a floating platform. A trickle of sweat dripped down my spine
as I tipped my head back to see the council members. I was sure I’d get a stiff neck by the end of the meeting.
“Enough with the theatrics, Malaki. Bring the dais down so that I don’t have to yell up at you to be heard.”
Malaki, the sorcerer I’d run into in Maginaria that fateful day, grinned. His thin lips twisted into a sinister smile. “Theatrics? I don’t know what you’re speaking of, Garrix. I merely find it beneficial to see more from a raised platform.”
The four council members sat behind a towering bench that reminded me of something you’d see on a court TV show, only ten times creepier. Even now that it rested on the floor, I still had to crane my neck up to see.
Besides Malaki, I recognized Draven, the friendly sorcerer who had determined my warlock status to begin with. His face was a blank mask, and I actually felt bad for the guy. He’d been lying to his council mates for months now. I hope he didn’t get in trouble for keeping my secret.
Two women sat on either side of the men, one with rose-gold hair that cascaded down her willowy frame and the other an older woman with close-cropped silvery hair, the same hue as Draven’s flowing beard.
The older woman pushed her glasses further up her beaklike nose, scrutinizing me through the maroon frames as I stood in the center of the tribunal. “As the second most senior member of the council, and in light of Garrix’s personal association with the girl, I will be presiding over this meeting.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, including my father who stood beside me.
“Before we get started,” he interrupted, “I’d like to say something, Serafine.”
“You’ve already had your chance, Garrix,” Malaki snarled. “Enough with the delays.”
“Serafine, please, if you’d only allow for one more objection to be raised.” He paused. “For Markus.”
The woman’s dark pencil-drawn brows twisted like angry caterpillars. “This is your last chance, Garrix.”
“Thank you.” He dipped his head into a slight bow.