Tyler started stripping out of his clothes, placing them into a backpack. “I’ll carry you guys there?” he offered and my mouth parted.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said.
“I owe you one.” He shrugged, pulling off his clothes and stuffing them into the bag before passing it to Tory.
I barely had a second to react to Tyler standing butt naked before us as he sprang forward and his body morphed into a beautiful silver Pegasus. He flexed his wings, arching his brows in a way which was so un-horsey that it made me laugh.
“Hey- did you hear that?” a voice called from beyond the trees. “Fresh meat!” A stampede of feet headed our way and I gasped. Tory and I hurried to climb onto him but something latched around my legs and my stomach lurched. I was yanked backwards, tumbling through the undergrowth with a shout of anger.
Tyler whinnied loudly, rearing up and Tory clambered onto his back, desperately holding onto his mane.
I kicked out at the vines binding my legs as I was dumped unceremoniously on the path before a group of older students in dark robes and creepy white masks.
“Prepare to suffer!” crowed the girl at the head of the group.
The sound of cantering hooves filled my ears and Tyler leapt over me with a furious neigh, his head bowed low as he aimed his shining horn at the seniors.
They scattered around him and started casting vines to try and snare him in a web. I severed the vines around my ankles with a blast of fire, scrambling upright as Tyler leapt into the air with two powerful wing beats.
“Darcy!” Tory yelled, thumping Tyler in the neck to get his attention.
One of the seniors turned toward me and I cast an air shield around myself just in time as more vines shot my way. Tyler wheeled around, his head grazing the canopy and sending a smattering of orange tipped leaves and a cloud of glitter tumbling down over the seniors. He swept toward me and Tory leaned down, holding out her hand.
I caught it with a whoop of triumph, forcing air beneath my feet so I was propelled up behind her. My thighs clamped around Tyler’s belly as he broke through the canopy and the seniors started laughing as we flew to safety.
I was once again sailing away from harm on the back of a Pegasus and I grinned widely, clutching onto Tory’s waist as we soared over The Wailing Wood towards Earth Cave. Anyone who thought the Pegasus Order were weak was absolutely deluded. Being beautiful certainly didn’t make them any less badass.
Tyler swooped toward the rocky ground below, circling down to land outside Earth Cave where students were filing inside for the lesson, eyeing us curiously.
I spotted Kylie trudging up from the wood, covered from head to toe in mud alongside a few other freshmen behind her. Her hair was in full snake mode, her eyes two raging slits. Tory and I started laughing and Tyler neighed, trotting on the spot to show his amusement. She shot a glare our way and the snakes on her head hissed at us before she stalked into the cave, a stream of curses leaving her lips as she went.
I slid off of Tyler’s back and Tory passed him his backpack as he changed into his Fae form, leaving nothing to the imagination as he stood stark naked before us. He grinned broadly, taking his bag and starting to dress.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Yeah seriously, if you ever need a favour just let us know,” Tory said as Tyler buckled up his belt.
“Well…there is something you could do for me actually.” He pushed a hand into his blonde-tipped hair.
“Anything,” I said with a shrug.
“Your friend Sofia…she’s cute. Reckon you could, you know, big me up to her bit? Maybe you could mention how I soared in like a hero and saved your asses?” He eyed us hopefully, his soft brown eyes glittering.
“Oh, well she’s seeing-” I started, about to tell him about Diego but Tory elbowed me in the ribs.
“Of course we will,” Tory said brightly and Tyler beamed, his skin actually seeming to shine for a moment.
“I’ll catch you up.” He nodded to the cave as he continued to dress and we headed inside.
I linked my arm with Tory’s, leaning in close. “Why did you say that? Diego and her…”
“Diego and her what? He’s had plenty of time to define the relationship.”
“I guess that’s true…maybe letting him know he’s got competition will make him ask her out officially.”
Tory nodded. “Exactly. It’s win-win for Sofia. She can take her pick.”
I grinned conspiratorially at her. “Well we’d better let her know at dinner then while Diego’s around.”
Tory giggled softly. “She’s gonna freak.”
“Do you think she likes him too?” I glanced over my shoulder, but Tyler still wasn’t following us.
“Who knows? Tyler’s hot. Did you see those abs?”
I nodded, biting my lip to hold back my laughter. “He’d be a solid eight without those frosted tips. He looks like a nineties boyband member.”
“I hope you’re not talking about me,” Seth’s voice made my heart nearly stop.
I looked up, finding him standing at the end of the tunnel. Caleb stepped up beside him and they both started smiling. Like actually smiling.
Before I answered, Seth broke into song, “You are...my fire, the one...desire, believe...when I say, I want it that waaay.”
Caleb picked up the Backstreet Boys classic on cue. “Tell me why!”
“Ain’t nothing but a heart ache,” Seth sang, clicking his fingers.
“Tell me why!” Caleb started dancing.
“Ain’t nothing but a mistake.”
“Tell me why!”
“I never wanna hear you say.” Seth looked to Caleb and they both belted out the last line together with their hands on their hearts. “I want it that waaaay.”
“Oh my god, puke,” Tory said and I blew out a laugh. “If you keep singing at us I’ll throat punch you like I did to Max.”
Caleb shot to her side in a blur of motion, slinging his arm around her shoulders. “Ohh what beautiful poetry you weave for me, sweetheart. Gets me so hard.”
She ducked out of his hold and we both glared at him in a perfectly symmetrical back off stare. I knew Tory was into him, but she wouldn’t let it be seen in public. Besides, I couldn't really blame her when I looked at that roguish smile and set of stacked muscles. I wasn't really one to judge considering my own fanged crush either...
As we drew closer to Seth, he moved to my side while Caleb kept to Tory’s. I felt like we were being penned in and it made my heart tick a little faster.
“Can I have a word, babe?” Seth whispered to me, surprisingly not touching me yet.
“No,” I said instantly.
He looked to Caleb and nodded. My heart lurched as Caleb picked Tory up, tossing her over his shoulder and sprinting away into the cave system, her scream calling back to us. My mouth fell open and Seth grinned at me, catching my hand as I went to run after her.
He twirled me around like we were dancing, pulling me into his chest and locking his arm around my waist. “Don’t worry about her, you know as well as I do those two have been hooking up. She’s gonna be more than fine.”
“Good for her. I’d like to be fine too, so if you could just get your grubby paws off of me that would be swell.” I pushed him and he released me. I backed up a step, then two, surprised when he didn’t grab me again. I went to walk away, but his eyes softened and he gave me a heart-melting expression that made me pause.
“What is that look for?” I asked uncertainly, unable to help myself. Damn puppy dog face.
“I just wanna talk to you for one minute. If you don’t like what I have to say, you can walk away and never talk to me again.”
“I like the sound of that second part,” I mused and his eyes grew wider. His hair was long and shiny around his shoulders and I frowned as I realised he wasn’t scratching. “How’s your fleas?”
“All gone,” he said brightly. “Prestos ordered in the best flea dip in Solaria. My
entire pack is clean.” His face fell as he mentioned his pack and a low whine left his throat.
My throat tightened as I recalled the glassy eyes of his pack member Ashanti on the battlefield.
“I’m sorry about your friend,” I said gently. No one had deserved to die that day. And I could see how much it was hurting him, asshole or not.
“Yeah…” He cleared his throat, glancing away.
I sighed. “One minute?”
“One minute.” He turned to me, smiling again as he stepped forward, drawing back his muscular shoulders.
I raised my brows, waiting for him to start and spotted Tyler heading past us, nodding to me as he went.
When we were alone again, I eyed the sharp lines of Seth’s handsome face and he took a measured breath, preparing for whatever he was about to say. “I have a proposal for you.”
“I’m not really looking to get married right now,” I taunted and he grinned demonically.
“Not that kind of proposal. Although, now you mention it…” He smirked and I rolled my eyes.
“Thirty seconds are gone already.”
“Okay so...don’t say no to this immediately, but I want you to come and meet me tonight-”
“No,” I cut over him. “No way.”
He bobbed on his heels, reaching toward me like he longed to touch me but I jerked backwards so he couldn’t. A frustrated growl left his throat and he pushed his roaming hand into his hair instead. “You’re making this really hard on me, babe.”
“I really don’t care,” I said with a shrug.
His eyes darkened. “Look, I’m giving you a choice in this before I have to force it. Don’t underestimate me being an Alpha. It runs right through to my damn soul and you’re in my pack. I have to initiate you. There isn’t a way out of it, alright? If you keep making me wait, do you know what’s gonna happen?”
“No…” I said, my heart thumping out of rhythm.
“I’ll lose control. I’ll put you in line whether you want me to or not. And it won’t be the cuddly nice way.”
“But I don’t want to be a part of your pack,” I said in horror. And I certainly didn’t want to be forced into it.
“I know, I know. But we gotta jump through the hoops. First, I’ll initiate you, then I’ll work out the details to make sure I can kick you out and we can all go back to normal.”
I frowned, considering his words. If he really was going to flip on me one of these days and force me into his pack, I didn’t have much choice.
“What do I have to do exactly?” I narrowed my eyes and he gave me that hungry look which made fear flicker inside me.
“Meet me alone after dinner.”
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.” I folded my arms and he gritted his teeth.
“Darcy,” he snarled. “You’re not getting the message here.”
“I’m getting it loud and clear. I don’t trust you, Seth Capella. Do you really think I’d be stupid enough to meet you alone after what you did to me?”
His brows drew together and he pulled his Atlas from his pocket. “I thought you’d say that, so…” He lifted the Atlas, tapping something on it then mine pinged in response to whatever he’d sent.
I went to take it out but he shifted forward, taking hold of my wrist with a serious look. “That email is for your eyes only. I’m desperate here, that’s why I’m doing this. It will show you how serious I am about this. I don’t want to hurt you. But if you refuse to meet me tonight, it will only be another day or two before I lose control.” His grip on my arm tightened and my breathing quickened from the intensity of his tone. “That message is ammo against me. I’m trusting you not to use it. But if I screw with you tonight in any way, you’ve got it as a back up, okay babe?”
I nodded, falling still as his hand slid into my hair, fear dripping down my spine as I called on my magic, preparing to throw him off. He moved forward in a flash, pressing his lips to my forehead before darting away into class. The heated mark of his kiss turned cold as I swivelled around, staring after him and wondering what the hell he’d just sent me.
***
I sat in The Orb with my friends and a large group of the A.S.S at dinner time. I still hadn’t looked at the email Seth had sent, not having had a moment alone to do so since classes had finished.
Diego and Sofia sat opposite us and Tory gave me a pointed look before resting her elbows on the table. “So, guess who we bumped into today, Sofia?”
“I dunno, the Heirs?” she said with a frown.
“Nope, Tyler Corbin. He swooped in and saved us from a bunch of Earth seniors who were about to go mega Hell Week on us.” Tory beamed and Sofia nodded, seeming confused as to why Tory was telling her this.
“That’s nice of him,” she said with a smile.
“And he mentioned something that might interest you,” I said with a grin.
“What?” Diego questioned before she could, frowning as he looked between us.
“He has a crush on Sofia,” I whispered, glancing across the room to where Tyler was sitting with some of the Pegasus crowd.
“Liar!” Sofia squeaked, her cheeks flushing pink.
“Nope, it’s totally true,” Tory promised.
Diego looked over his shoulder, his eyes not-so-subtly narrowing on Tyler. “That pendejo?” he muttered. “I don’t trust him.”
“Well I do,” I said brightly and Diego looked to me, his lips pursing. I sensed Tory holding back a laugh beside me and felt one bubbling in my own throat. Well if Diego wasn’t going to define things with Sofia, why shouldn’t she have other options?
“You should go over there,” Tory said in encouragement.
Geraldine shifted closer, clearly having been listening in and I spotted Angelica smiling over at Sofia without blinking.
“Did I hear correctly?” Geraldine asked. “Do you have a suitor vying for your hand, Sofia?”
“I wouldn’t put it like that,” Sofia giggled, hiding her face in her hands.
“You must go to him! Your love awaits!” Geraldine said loud enough to draw attention from the Pegasus table and plenty of others.
Tyler glanced at Sofia hopefully then turned back to his friends who all started prodding and elbowing him.
“Oh my god,” I said excitedly as Tyler rose to his feet.
“What?” Sofia hissed, her eyes Bambi wide.
“He’s coming over,” I laughed, schooling my expression as Tyler arrived behind her and Diego’s hand curled tightly around his fork.
The entirety of the A.S.S fell quiet, looking at him expectantly.
“Hey Sofia,” Tyler said, clearing his throat, turning slightly red himself with so many eyes on him.
“Hi Tyler,” Sofia breathed as she turned around.
Geraldine was half out of her seat, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Tyler, totally absorbed in the moment.
“So um…there’s a fair on in Tucana on Sunday. I thought maybe…after my Earth Trial in the morning we could head over there…together?”
“Say yes,” Geraldine whispered as she cupped her mouth with her hand.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” Sofia said, smiling shyly as Tyler sucked on his lower lip and nodded.
“Well I’ll see you then, then.” He moved backwards as if to leave then swooped down and planted a kiss on her cheek. The Pegasus herd started slapping the table and neighing as he headed back to join them, leaving Sofia bright scarlet and grinning her head off. Diego looked ready to skewer Tyler with his fork, but Sofia looked so happy that I couldn’t feel too bad for him.
You should have asked her out then, Diego!
I sipped my orange juice, smiling as Tory started helping Sofia decide what to wear on Sunday. I sensed another online shopping delivery in the works and wondered if she might be forming an addiction.
“Well gravy on toast, this calls for a celebration!” Geraldine announced, jumping from her seat and heading off toward the spread of food and drinks on the other side of The Orb.
She returned a moment later with a huge pitcher of some bright pink cocktail, placing it down at the heart of the table and pouring out glasses for everyone.
“Hey, I know a drinking game we can play?” Diego offered, his mood taking a brighter turn. He looked to Sofia, nudging her hopefully.
She eyed the alcohol with a giggle. “I’m in.”
“Me too.” Tory picked up her glass.
Geraldine took a large swig of her own drink. “I must sadly decline. I’ll stick to one glass or my wild and wicked side will come out. And as it’s a Tuesday night, I’ll keep her locked up tight.”
“Boo, I want to meet her,” Tory complained.
I sighed with disappointment. “I really wanna play but Seth begged me to meet him tonight and apparently if I don’t he’s gonna go wolf crazy on me.”
“Nooo.” Tory leaned against me dramatically. “Don’t go.”
“I’ll come back,” I promised.
She leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Okay but be careful. Me and the Ass club will be on hand for back up. Oh and you have to tell me what’s in that email the second you open it.”
I hooked her little finger with mine. “Promise.” I rose from my seat. “I’ll catch you later guys.”
A chorus of goodbyes sounded from the Ass club and I waved as I headed away.
Part of me wanted to just stay here and open the email, but it didn’t seem right doing it in front of the whole A.S.S. Not that I owed Seth anything, but the way he’d acted earlier made me think it was a good idea to open it in private.
As I jogged away from The Orb, I headed along a winding path which passed through Fire Territory. It was a slightly longer route to Aer Tower but I’d be less likely to meet any Hell Week opportunists along the way. I breathed in the night air with a smile on my face, taking my time as I headed north through Fire Territory, then curving east to avoid The Wailing Wood.
It was still another hour until curfew began but the sun was long set, the path lit by burning torches. My Atlas pinged and I took it out, wondering if it was Seth shooting me a reminder about tonight.
Was I really going to meet up with him alone? I guessed that depended on whatever he’d sent me.
Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning: An Academy Bully Romance (Supernatural Bullies and Beasts) Page 10