Darkblood Academy: Book Three: Demons Page 10

  For the first time, he reacted. The muscles in his back twitched beneath the bright orange jumpsuit as the shimmery orb fell over him. Spinning toward me, his dark brows furrowed as his impossibly black irises raked over me.

  “No,” he growled.

  The anger in his voice was like a massive punch to the gut. “What?” I muttered.

  “You can’t be here.” He shook his head, his wrists manacled in front of him by some mystical magic-dampening spell.

  “How did you know it was me?” I could hear the tremble in my gruff voice, and it only heightened my hysteria.

  He kept his gaze trained to the floor, his words clipped. “Your magic. I could feel it when you summoned the cloak over us.” His head whipped back and forth. “You never should’ve come, Luna.”

  His words tightened my throat, the boulder-sized pit in my stomach doubling in size. I sucked in a breath and forced the words out. “I didn’t come here to break you out or do something stupid like that. I only came to tell you not to give up hope. We’re working on getting you out of here. Drake and I are going to talk to King Elrian, and Cillian’s been speaking with the director of the SIA. It’s all going to be okay. We’ll get you back to the academy, I promise.”

  He grunted. “You’re wasting your breath with the king.”

  I ignored him and pressed on. “And I wanted to thank you for saving me from Luxora… again.”

  He turned away from me, facing the wall once more. “I deserve to be in here. This is the safest place for me now.” His words were so quiet I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I’d heard them.

  “That’s not true, Ryder.”

  He spun at me, the inner demon darkening his features and his irises pure luminescent yellow. “It is!” He dragged his bound hands over his unruly hair. “Even with these on, I can feel my demon clawing to the surface. He wants to get out, and he will. I’ve completely lost control, and I don’t know that I’ll ever get it back.” I inched toward him, and he staggered backward. “Stay back, Luna.”

  “Please, Ryder. It’s my fault you lost control. You warned me repeatedly, and I didn’t listen. I pushed and pushed and then when we slept together…” My voice broke, and I choked back a sob. Swallowing down the unwanted emotion, I willed myself to continue. “It was me. My darkness brought it out of you. I’m so sorry.”

  His wild brows slammed together, the pulsating yellow in his irises vanishing. “You think your tiny percentage of demon did this to me? Because we slept together?”

  My head jerked up and down as I gnawed on my lower lip.

  “You couldn’t be more wrong.” A storm of emotions brewed below the pitch surface of his irises, but I couldn’t disentangle the jumble of feelings.

  My eyes searched his. “Then what was it?”

  He slowly shook his head, casting his gaze to the floor once again.

  “It was me. I know it. You can’t even look me in the eyes and lie.”

  “Luna, go home.” His voice was a raspy shadow of its old self. “You have to forget about me, forget about it all. I’m going to spend the rest of my life behind these glass walls, and it’s where I belong. Don’t waste your time trying to save me. It’s too late. I’m lost.”

  My breath hitched, and hot tears pricked my eyes. I blinked rapidly to keep them from spilling over. “I won’t, Ryder. Not after everything you’ve done for me. Not ever. I don’t care if you don’t love me anymore or if you ever did. But I do love you, and I owe you this.”

  “Luna, please…” His voice cracked as his dark gaze met mine. His hand reached up as if to touch my face, but the mystical restraints tugged it back down. “Forget about me. You need to focus on Luxora. She won’t stop until she has you and confirms what her oracle foresaw is true. Tell Cillian to go to my father. He’s the only hope you have in defeating her.”

  I glanced up at him, tears welling in my eyes. “And you still say you’re not worth saving? Then why help me?”

  “Because I owe you too. And like my father, I always keep my word when it comes to deals.”

  I inched closer, and there was nowhere for Ryder to go. His back hit the glass wall, and he loosed a breath. I felt a tiny twang from the black cord wrapped around my heart—the one that belonged to him. It was the first time I’d felt anything significant for months.

  His head dipped so his gaze was fixed on the ground once more. “Don’t, Luna. I’m not worth it. There’s no hope for us—there is no you and me, and there never will be again.”

  A slap in the face would’ve hurt less. I reeled back, all the air in my lungs evaporating so that I was left suffocating on pain.

  “Go!” he hissed. “Before I alert the guards.”

  I spun around before the waterfall of tears inundated his cell.

  “Go!”

  I ran out of the glass enclosure as despair seized my heart. Dozens of cracks rippled over the surface of my failing organ as I sprinted down the labyrinth of corridors.

  Tears streamed down my cheeks, meeting curious looks from fellow security guards as I ran. My protective bubble must have dropped at some point during my frazzled escape, but I didn’t care.

  My heart was broken, and there was no one left to collect the shattered pieces.

  Getting through the day was all I could hope for. Then tomorrow Drake and I would be off to Wintersbee Palace, and surely that would take my mind off my broken heart. Regardless of how badly Ryder had hurt me, I wouldn’t let him rot in prison. I’d still do my best to get him out like I’d promised.

  Scarlett glanced over at me from across the row. I’d refused to speak after we left the detention center, my heart too fragile. We’d just made it back in time for Professor Arcana’s Myths and Mythology class so I’d been able to put off the inevitable. Telling her what happened would make it real, and I wasn’t ready for that. Plus, only Cinder really knew the extent of my forbidden relationship with our instructor. Scarlett always teased me about Ryder, but I’d never confirmed or denied. After today, I probably didn’t have to anymore.

  “You okay?” she whispered.

  I kept my eyes glued to the textbook on my desk. “No.” I sighed and flipped through a few pages, the professor’s words muddled in the distance. “But I guess I’m going to have to be.”

  “Good. Because I need to know what happened in there. I know you and Ryder have a special connection, but he’s part of the team, and I know what it’s like to screw up. Everyone deserves a second chance.”

  The ring of crimson around her dark irises pulsated. It was so easy for me to forget my roommate was a vampire. She was always so in control, but I guessed it hadn’t always been that way.

  “Were you ever locked up for something your demon did?”

  She shook her head. “I should’ve been though. My sire, Carmen Rosa, is very influential, and she’s the only reason I’m here instead of at an SIA detention center like Ryder.”

  I chewed on my lip wanting to ask for more details, but was that appropriate? ‘How many people did you kill?’ didn’t sound like a proper topic of conversation during class.

  The bell rang, signaling the end of the period and my final class of the day. I quickly gathered my belongings, anxious to get back to my room to pack for tomorrow’s trip.

  “See you back at the dorm later,” said Scarlett as she trudged down the row. I made a mental note to ask her more about what happened when she was first turned next time we were in private.

  As I shoved my textbook into my backpack, I thought about my dark demon side. I’d been so worried about the tiny traces of demon blood from my warlock heritage, but it was nothing compared to what Ryder and Scarlett had to battle on a daily basis.

  Professor Arcana waved as I passed his desk, and I pushed the dark thoughts aside, doing my best to return his smile. “Have a good weekend, Ms. Hallows.”

  “Thanks, Professor, you too.”

  He followed behind me as I headed to the door. “May I give you a piece of advice—for your week
end getaway to the royal palace?”

  My brows knitted. “Sure…” How did he know?

  He pushed his spectacles further up his long nose and leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Never let those Fae royals see you squirm. They value strength and shrewdness above all else. You’ll do well to show them exactly how capable you are, half-blood or not.”

  “Thanks. I’ll definitely try to do that.”

  He smiled, his wrinkled lips stretching over his yellowing teeth, and escorted me to the door. “Toodles!”

  The chaotic rush of students spilling through the hallway was a sharp comparison to the quiet classroom. It was Friday afternoon, and everyone seemed as anxious as I was for the weekend to begin.

  The slap of dainty footsteps approaching made me whirl around. Cinder towered over a group of pixies, squeezing her way between them to get to me. “How’d it go?” she asked, panting by the time she reached me.

  “Epic failure,” I grumbled.

  “You didn’t get in to see him?”

  “Oh no, I did. That part went through without a hitch. It was Ryder…”

  My bestie flung her arm over my shoulder and squeezed as my throat tightened. “Come on, let’s go back to your room and you can tell me all about it. And I can help you pack for the Winter Court. We’ll have to make a quick stop at my dorm to pick up a few outfits.”

  As miserable as I felt, I couldn’t help the smile that crossed my face. “You know I’d be totally lost without you, right?”

  She shrugged. “I’m sure you’d manage somehow, but there’s nowhere I’d rather be than by your side. You’re my best friend, Luna.”

  “And kind of your sister-in-law.” I laughed and pulled her into a side hug as we walked down the crowded corridor. “I love you, Cin. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me since arriving at Darkhen.”

  “Same! My life was pretty boring before you showed up.”

  Boring? More like safe. I’d gotten the poor girl into heaps of trouble, but she’d stuck with me through it all. Maybe Ryder had been right, and it was time for me to move on. After I convinced King Elrian to release him from prison and secured Cillian’s position as headmaster I’d force myself to focus on the good things in my life. Like my best friend.

  Chapter 15

  “I still don’t understand why I couldn’t portal us straight into the palace.” I hugged my arms tighter around my middle as my teeth chattered. The fancy gilded carriage flew across the snowy fields without horses or unipegs to lead it—just faery magic. As beautiful as the landscape was, after an hour in the chilly compartment, I was ready for a hot bath and a roaring fire.

  “Don’t be so weak, human. Besides, allowing you to portal us in would set a dangerous precedent.” Drake actually moved to my side of the carriage and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, tugging me into his side. He wore a long, regal fur coat, and I wondered how many cute woodland creatures had to die to make it. I snuggled into it anyway because the fur felt like a warm fuzzy bear against my frozen cheek.

  “What do you mean a dangerous precedent?”

  “Strangers are not permitted to portal into Winter Court as they please. With our power combined, I don’t doubt we could get by the wards, but that would show weakness. And the last thing my brother needs is to show the cunning Fae lords and ladies a shred of frailty.” His shoulders lifted to his ears. “Besides, it’s all about the pageantry of court.”

  I glanced out the window at the entourage of carriages and guards on unipegs surrounding us.

  “Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of the prince returning home.” A smirk pulled at his lips as he adjusted the golden clasp on the furry collar around his neck.

  My stomach plummeted as we rounded a bend of towering evergreens and the palace came into view. I darted to the window and swept back the plush curtain to stick my head out. A column of gigantic trees led to an enormous castle I only imagined existed in fairytales. Purple and blue lights illuminated the ice palace, the pink sky of dusk providing the perfect backdrop. Soaring turrets rose high into the air made entirely of snow and ice. I expected the ice castle to be gorgeous—I’d seen it on TV, but what I didn’t expect was the horde of Fae amassed along the tree-lined entranceway to the estate. “Flippin’ faeries, what are all those people doing here? Is that how it is every time you come home?”

  A light blush crept over Drake’s pale cheeks. “It is when there’s a ball planned for the evening.”

  My jaw dropped, and I glared at the prince. “A ball? Are you freakin’ kidding me? I thought our little trip was supposed to stay under the radar.”

  “Believe me, I didn’t ask for this.” He crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. “Elrian was supposed to talk my mother out of it, but by the looks of it, he failed.”

  “So your mother planned a ball for your return home?”

  He nodded. “Event planning is her greatest joy.” He rolled his eyes and huffed. “Any opportunity to show off our family’s wealth and power.”

  The carriage slowed as we drove between the masses that lined the pathway leading up to the castle. Hundreds of Fae cried and shouted in excitement as we passed. Most chanted Drake’s name, doe-eyed girls swooning at the sight of the prince.

  Oh, brother.

  “What are these people going to think when I step out of the carriage with you?” I clearly remembered what had happened to my half-sister when she’d shown up as Prince Elrian’s intended. It had not been pretty.

  He dismissed me with a wave. “It’ll be fine. You’re a friend from the academy, and we’ll make sure to explain it as such to the media.”

  My eyes bulged. “The media?”

  “The paparazzi are so annoying. They can’t get enough of royal gossip.”

  Oh man, how did I get myself into this? I thanked the stars Cinder had forced me to pack a few of her fancy dresses. I so did not have Fae royal ball attire.

  “Relax,” Drake whispered as the carriage halted. “Everything will be fine.”

  A guard opened the small door, and the prince motioned for me to go first. Seriously? I threw him a glare, but he grabbed my hand and tugged me forward. Taking the guard’s white-gloved hand, I took a step off the carriage and was blinded by a sea of flashing lights. The click, click, click of cameras was almost louder than the muffled gasps from the crowd at my appearance.

  Thankfully, Drake didn’t leave me to suffer alone for long. As soon as the prince stepped from the carriage, all eyes and cameras were trained on him. A chorus of shouts ripped through the crowd:

  “Welcome home, Prince Drake!”

  “We love you, Your Highness!”

  “Long live Prince Drake!”

  Below the general fanfare, a few muffled questions of, “Who’s the girl?” reached my ears. Great, the rumors were already starting. I wondered if any of these Fae would recognize me from the big unipeg race last semester. Hopefully not.

  Two soldiers in pale blue uniforms escorted us up a never-ending frosty glass staircase. A whole troop of them closed in behind us. I took a step, and my boot slipped on the icy step sending my arms flailing out. Drake snaked his arm around my waist inches before I hit the floor.

  “Thanks,” I muttered as he helped me get my footing.

  Releasing my waist, he wrapped his fingers around my hand. “Just in case,” he whispered, grinning.

  I shot him a good eye roll, but only tightened my hold on his palm as we moved up the treacherous stairs. Trumpets sounded across the quiet forest, and my gaze shot up to the top of the glass staircase. Another dozen soldiers appeared, escorting a young man and an older woman wrapped in thick furs.

  The king and queen mother.

  The friendly Elrian I’d met last year at the unipeg race had vanished, replaced by the cold king looking down at me. His lilac irises were exact replicas of Drake’s, and it only intensified the creepiness factor. His long, fur coat was tinted a pale blue and riddled in gold medals.

  I waited until the last
possible moment to meet the queen’s eye. A few loose strands of her platinum hair blew in the breeze as she regarded me. A plush white fur coat covered her from chin to toe, and a sneer curled her pink lips as she scanned my Darkhen Academy uniform coat.

  Maybe I should’ve let Cinder lend me one of her fancy ones.

  When we reached the step before the top, Drake dipped into a bow and I did my best to curtsy. A slight smile tipped up the king’s lips as he watched me struggle.

  “Welcome to Winter Court, Ms. Hallows,” said the king. “I’d like to introduce you to my mother, the Queen Liandra.”

  The corners of her lips lifted, but it was more a sneer than a smile. “Welcome, human.” Her voice cut like ice, and it was clear I was far from welcome in her home. I suddenly wished we’d made this a quick day visit instead of an overnight one.

  “Come,” said Elrian, offering his white-gloved hand. “Let’s take this inside and away from prying eyes.”

  I nodded and released Drake’s hand to take his brother’s. Steeling my nerves, I thought back to Professor Arcana’s words of advice: never let them see you squirm. Lifting my chin and straightening my shoulders, I walked beside the king as he led the way into the palace.

  The moment the doors glided open, a wave of warm air coated my cheeks. Thank goodness for the magical faery heating system that kept the ice palace warm and toasty. I resisted the urge to groan in relief. Warmth rushed my veins, heating my frozen insides and thawing out my tongue.

  “Thanks so much for agreeing to meet with me, Your Highness.”

  He chuckled. “When we’re in private no need to be so formal. We’re practically family.”

  I scrunched my nose. I knew he and K.J. had a rather intense relationship, but I didn’t know how close they still were. I’d ended up texting her before we left today recounting the details of our little trip but still hadn’t heard back. She didn’t talk about it much, but I could tell this pregnancy was taking a toll on her.