Darkblood Academy: Book Four: Prophecies Read online

  Darkblood Academy: Prophecies

  G.K. DeRosa

  Copyright © 2019 Mystic Rose Press

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  All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system known or hereafter invented, without written permission from the publisher, Mystic Rose Press.

  Print ISBN: 9781705505779

  Cover Designer: Sanja Gombar www.fantasybookcoverdesign.com

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  Published in 2019 by Mystic Rose Press

  Palm Beach, Florida

  www.gkderosa.com

  Created with Vellum

  To my mom who always told me to follow my dreams and makes it possible for me to write by being the best and most loving babysitter anyone could ask for!

  ~ G.K.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Epilogue

  Sneak Peek of Royally Hitched

  Also by G.K. DeRosa

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  I dipped my head back to stare up at the clear blue sky as a sultry breeze ran over my skin. Closing my eyes, the sun’s warm rays brushed my bare shoulders, and a huge smile spread my lips. The rushing water tickled my toes as pure bliss swirled through my insides.

  “If your smile gets any bigger, I’m afraid you’re going to split your lips.”

  My eyes opened to meet a pair of smiling lilac ones hovering over me. “Don’t ruin my fun, ice prince. You’ve been promising me a trip back to this magical meadow for months. It was about time you made good on it.”

  Drake stretched out beside me, his head leaning on his hand as he regarded me with a wry grin curving his lips. “Maybe I would’ve brought you sooner if I’d known what a good mood it would put you in.”

  I sat up and seared him with a narrowed glare. “Are you saying I haven’t been my wonderful, effable self lately?”

  He picked at a blade of grass, and the crease between his light brows deepened. “You have been a little tense since classes began.”

  More like since training began. I appreciated him not calling me out on it though. The two-week spring break had been glorious. Safely hidden in the clouds shrouding Skye Lair, I hadn’t thought about the dark lord escapee or my newly returned demon instructor. Drake had come to visit nearly daily, and we were in a good place in our new relationship.

  Then we returned to Darkhen last week, and things had gotten a little intense.

  Drake’s fingertips brushed my heated skin, the cool sensation sending goose bumps over my flesh. He watched me expectantly.

  “It’s been hard, Drake. I’m not going to lie. With everything going on with Luxora, I’ve been a little on edge. It was easy to forget about her and pretend she was still buried in the deepest corners of the Supernatural Investigation Agency’s detention center when we were on break, but now…”

  “Now that it’s all Cillian talks about, it’s hard to avoid.”

  “Right.”

  He sat up and inched closer, piercing me with those enigmatic eyes. “And what about having Ryder back?”

  My breath hitched, but I quickly schooled my expression to normal. If there was one thing I’d learned from the ice prince, it was how to slip on a blank mask when necessary. And right now, it was crucial. My feelings for Ryder had my insides twisted up like an angry tornado hell bent on destroying everything in its path.

  “Luna?”

  “Hmm?” I gave him my most innocent look, batting my lashes. The truth was I couldn’t answer his question. Having Ryder back was a confusing mess of emotions that I hadn’t quite been able to disentangle yet. Coupled with my blossoming feelings for Drake, my poor heart couldn’t take the pressure.

  “Is it weird having Ryder back?” He raised a brow and shot me a no-nonsense stare.

  “Of course it is,” I huffed. “You know my relationship with Ryder was pretty intense, and I thought it was completely behind me. But now, he’s here and it’s not.” I pivoted my body toward his and grabbed his hands. “I don’t want to lie to you, Drake. You’ve always been honest with me, and I owe you the same. My feelings for Ryder are uber complicated, but the fact that he’s back doesn’t mean I’m ready to throw in the towel on us.”

  A small smile graced his lips as he ran his thumb across my palm. “Good, because I’m not either. I can handle a little friendly competition.” He stared down at our intertwined hands for a moment before lifting his gaze to mine once more. “I didn’t think it would ever be possible, human, but you’ve gotten under my skin. I can barely block you out anymore, and the more startling thing is that I find myself not wanting to.”

  The lilac cord around my heart pulsated, the light throb quickening my pulse. He released my hand and cupped my cheek, the chilly pad of his thumb sweeping over my skin. I inched closer and brushed my lips against his, his frosty breath mingling between us. His hand moved to the back of my neck as he tilted my head to deepen the kiss.

  We made out for a while, the verdant grass warm underneath my heated skin. I lost track of time as I escaped into the icy feel of Drake’s kisses and his muscled body pressed against mine.

  “We should probably head back soon,” he murmured against my swollen lips.

  “No!” I tugged on his shirt, pulling him back down. Leaving our magical faery bubble meant the cold reality of the present. No pun intended. I had zero desire to traipse across the frozen tundra for half an hour until we reached the academy. “Let’s just stay a little longer.”

  “Fine, maybe a little.” He shifted above me, his lips contorting into a slightly pained expression. “But I’m going to need to jump into that lake to cool off before we go.”

  A nervous laugh bubbled out as heat swarmed my cheeks. “Sorry about that.”

  He shook his head, and a devious smile replaced the grimace. “Don’t be. I’m fine with taking things slow. I know you’ve been through a lot lately and believe me, if sex was all I was interested in, I could easily have my fill.”

  I punched him in the shoulder and pushed him off laughing. “You are such a royal brat!”

  “And that’s exactly what you love about me.” He captured my lips once again and gently lowered me back down to the grass. The deep oranges and pinks of the setting sun blazed over his shoulder as I got lost in his spine-tingling kisses.

  “Luna, wake up!”

  Drake’s panicked voice forced my weary eyelids open, and I jolted up. “What?” I squinted as darkness surrounded us. It took me a second to recognize the beautiful meadow beneath the blanket of night.

  “It’s really late.” He grabbed my hand and jerked me to my feet as fear etched into his porcelain skin.

  My brows slammed together as I tried to shake off the sleepy haze. “Did we miss curfew or something?”

  He shook his head, his lips forming a grim line. “Luna, do yo
u ever pay attention to the signs plastered all around the academy?”

  Oh, no. Dread unfurled in my gut as I glanced up at the pitch sky. A brilliant full moon hung high, hundreds of twinkling stars dancing around its ethereal glow.

  Crapcicles! How did we end up in the middle of the Fae forest on a full moon again?

  I tightened my hold on his hand and twirled us toward the edge of the magical clearing. “Maybe we should just stay here over night?”

  “We can’t. It’s no safer here than out there.” He ticked his head to the snow blanketed forest ahead.

  “But it’s so much warmer,” I whined.

  He tugged me into a quick jog without another word. Thoughts of my first time getting stuck in the forest on a full moon raced at me at full speed: the freakish trolls, the werewolves, the vicious poisonous trees and Ryder. Ryder sucking the deadly toxin from my arm.

  “We have to hurry,” I spluttered, picking up the pace. As soon as we crossed the meadow’s mystical threshold, frosty air swept over my cheeks. Pulling my coat tighter around me, I followed Drake as he weaved his way through the treacherous trees. “Can’t we just put up a protective bubble?”

  “You know we can’t, Luna. Magic is fickle on a night like this. We could end up doing more harm than good.”

  We lapsed into an uneasy silence, the sound of our boots crunching through the snow our only companion. I hoped that being a winter faery would give Drake some sort of advantage in these winding woods. I’d been hopelessly lost last time, and if Ryder hadn’t found me… I cringed at the thought.

  Heavy footfalls echoed to our right, and I spun toward the sound, momentarily slowing our frantic pace. “What was that?” I whisper-hissed.

  “Doesn’t matter. Keep going.” He jerked me forward as my head swiveled over my shoulder.

  More footfalls. And now they were coming from the opposite side. Were they trolls? Were they trying to surround us?

  I pushed myself to a sprint as my heart jackhammered against my ribs. I couldn’t blame it, I’d want out of there too. We passed through a thick copse of evergreens that looked very familiar. Were we running in circles?

  The trees grew closer together, tightening the noose around us. Nothing but dense forest as far as I could see. Even standing on my tiptoes I couldn’t make out the soaring turrets of Darkhen Academy. We were so screwed.

  A sharp howl pierced the thick air and even Drake halted this time. His platinum head scanned the darkness, the brilliant moon turning his light hair into a glowing beacon in the night.

  He cursed, clenching his jaw. “Damn full moon.”

  “Damn Fae forest,” I echoed.

  Drake tightened his hold on my hand and swerved to the right, moving us in the opposite direction of the eerie howl. As we dashed through the trees, a dozen pairs of glowing orbs followed us. They pierced the darkness with their ethereal luminescence—some gold, some crimson and other unearthly dazzling hues.

  “Drake, they’re watching us,” I hissed as I dodged a looming branch. Its fingerlike limbs reached out to grab me as I darted by. Hell, no. Not again.

  “Just keep moving.”

  I didn’t know what they were waiting for and I had no idea who they were, but I was certain I didn’t want to find out. “Can’t we call the others?”

  “No.” His eyes swiveled to mine, and he huffed, obviously noticing my panicked expression. “Not unless we have no other option. Dragging them out on a full moon isn’t fair. This was our mistake, and we’ll deal with it.”

  I grunted as my boots sank into the ankle-deep snow with each frenzied step. I knew he was right, but it still sucked. Our friends might not be able to use their magic, but they could at least bring us some weapons.

  We reached a clearing, the strangulating mass of trees finally relenting. I bent over to catch my breath, bracing my hands against my thighs as I sucked in ragged gasps.

  “Luna, we can’t stop.” Drake crouched beside me, his lilac irises glowing brighter than a million suns. Whatever was going on in this forest was affecting him too.

  I forced my weary body to straighten as he dragged me toward the tree line. Stopping just short of the towering evergreens, Drake hissed out a curse. My heart stopped as I followed his line of sight.

  Four hooded figures materialized from the shadows, their luminescent eyes pulsating. Only the tips of their scaly noses emerged from beneath their dark cowls as they blocked our path. Ugh, trolls.

  “By order of Prince Drake Wintersbee of Winter Court, let us pass,” Drake snarled.

  One of the squat figures peeled away from the shadows, stepping closer. He raised his hands palm up, revealing gnarled leathery fingers. The creature tsked. “You have no power over us tonight, dear prince. The eve of the full moon belongs to us, the dark subjects you prefer hidden in the shadows.”

  “Still. Tomorrow, come daylight, you will face the full repercussions of assaulting a royal. Do you really want to risk that?”

  “It’s not you we’re interested in, Your Highness.” The scaly creature ticked his head at me. “It’s the half-blood we want.”

  Ice rippled across my veins. Why, oh why didn’t we bring any weapons?

  “She’s mine and falls under my protection.” Drake’s steely irises bored into the nasty troll. “Now let us pass or suffer the ire of your king.”

  “I think we’ll take our chances.”

  The leader lunged toward me, revealing rows of sharp crocodile teeth. Everything moved in slow motion. Drake pummeled into the troll’s side a second before he reached me, and I murmured the spell to summon my dagger.

  Instead of the heavy hilt I’d expected to coalesce in my palm, a ballpoint pen appeared. Motherfather! Another troll leapt at me, and I plunged the pen into its chest. It barely pierced the creature’s thick scaly skin. A measly trickle of dark blood oozed from the wound as he yanked the makeshift weapon out.

  An evil grin curled its olive green lips as clawed hands reached out for me. My muscles tensed only for an instant before my combat training kicked in at full force. I spun around, dodging his sharp talons and crouched down, delivering a blow to the troll’s knobby knees. He staggered back, falling into the deep snow as a second attacker advanced.

  Screw this. Reaching inward, I tugged on the black cord wrapped around my heart. I may have agreed with Drake about not bringing the rest of the team in on this, but no one said anything about our demon instructor. Despite everything that had happened between Ryder and I, he said he’d always be there for me when I needed him. And right now, I was desperate.

  From the corner of my eye, I caught Drake tussling with two of the trolls. He was holding his own too, despite the lack of weapons. Luckily, these beasts were slow.

  I threw an uppercut at the advancing troll, my knuckles cracking against his thick jaw. I bit back the scream that clawed up my throat and followed up with a roundhouse. Direct hit to the head. His hood fell back, revealing the wrinkled leathery bald head beneath.

  I cringed. Man, were these guys ugly.

  “Luna, watch out!”

  I ducked just in time as a troll soared over me, his clawed hands grasping at thin air. A sharp sting cut across my cheek as he flew over. Lifting my fingers to my face, they came away bloody. Fae bastard! The black pen buried in light snow caught my eye, and I crouched down to grab it. Before the troll got his legs out from under him, I plunged it into his back.

  The crunch of bones shattering sent goose bumps popping across my skin. Bleh. The nasty creature went still, his face buried in the deep snow. I spun around to find his companion, but before I took a step, a crusty hand wrapped around my calf and yanked me down.

  “Can’t you just stay dead?” I shouted as the troll dragged his body toward me. I kicked and squirmed but his wrinkled hand had me in a vice grip. With a strength I didn’t think possible for the stubby creature, he jerked my leg up and pulled me over his shoulder as he pushed himself off the snowy blanket. “Let go of me!”

  My
head bobbled against the ground as the troll lugged me upside down toward the dark tree line. My temples pounded with each hit of rocky earth below the soft cushion of frost. Son of a faerie! Drake’s eye caught mine over the shoulder of the troll he battled, and his face paled. He tried to get around his opponent, but the second one stepped in, halting the prince in his tracks.

  “Luna!” he cried out.

  Darkness seeped into the corners of my vision, the constant jostling of my head and pounding blood through my temples moments from dragging me into unconsciousness. With one last feeble attempt, I struggled against the troll’s freakishly solid hold.

  A dark blur sped by, and I groaned. Now I was seeing things. I was going to pass out in a second, wasn’t I?

  Instead, the hold around my ankles fell away and my cheeks slammed into the alabaster snow beneath me as I face-planted into the ground. The fall smacked all the air from my lungs, and I struggled to slurp up a breath. Stars dancing across my eyes, I willed them to focus on the tangle of bodies a few yards away.

  Ryder sat atop two trolls, his fists bashing in their faces. The crunch of bones breaking had bile creeping up my throat. I pushed myself off the ground and searched the clearing for Drake.

  A body strewn across the white nearly stole my breath away. I darted toward it, my manic heartbeats slowing when a hooded figure coalesced instead of the handsome prince I’d feared.