One of his arms wrapped around my lower back and his other rested against the academy wall. For the most part, we hadn’t been completely alone together since he’d first kissed me.
When pounding on the door started, he pulled away. “Damn it,” he murmured against my lips. “They’ll get it open. Come on.”
We took off running toward the cover of trees where no one would likely find us. This felt a lot like running from the pranks Legacy, Taz, and I pulled but even better. We crouched down behind a bush and I had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing as the two cooks stepped out. Their white aprons were stained, and with hands on their hips, they looked around.
“Damn kids,” one said, shaking his head.
The other waved a hand. “Oh well, it’s cold, let’s go back inside.”
When the door shut behind them Zyacus and I laughed out loud. He stood first and held a hand out to me. I took it and we walked further into the trees. “That was fun,” Zyacus said. “I’ve never done that before.”
“Never done what?” I asked. There were many times I’d run from teachers. Throwing snakes in the teachers’ lounge was just one.
“Skipped class. I think you may be a bad influence, princess.”
I shoved my shoulder into his side. “I think I’ll be good for you actually, Zyacus. I can’t believe you’ve never even skipped a class.” Then I remembered those days he missed and I’d worried it was because his not-girlfriend told him to stay away from me. “If that’s true, where were you for three days earlier in the year?”
“I went home for my sister’s birthday.” He smiled, his eyes lingering on mine. “I’m glad you missed me.” Even if I’d pretended then that I didn’t care he was gone, I did.
Zyacus stilled and pulled me to a halt. Voices. “Someone else is out here,” he whispered.
We crept toward whoever they were and I spotted the high wrought iron fence. I hadn’t realized we were so close to the edge of the property. Peering from around a massive tree trunk and veiled by other surrounding shrubberies we spied. Outside the barrier were five people, and when I saw the red eyes of one, my whole body tensed.
Zyacus looked at me, squeezing my hand.
“I thought that little asshole said he could get us in.” The male who’d spoken shoved a hand through his long black hair.
“Not now,” a crimson eyed female said. “We’re negotiating and choosing the day. If yesterday proved anything it’s that they’re prepared and we need help getting in.”
“What does he want in exchange for free reign on blood? I can’t wait to taste all those magical children.”
An older male, darker and scarier than the others, voice cut in. “You’re forgetting that many of these children are skilled warriors. When we go in, it will be with a force, and you’ll grab a blood-bag or two and go. As for what our contact wants,” the male chuckled. “Revenge. There are two, possibly three people here he wants us to kill. Although Senica has claimed one already.”
The hair on my neck stood. Who could they be talking about? Who would want revenge? And I had a sick feeling that I was the one who Senica had claimed. I still hadn’t told Zyacus about the note he sent, mostly because I didn’t want him to try to hurt Kyan. I didn’t think he had anything to do with this.
“Senica would be more useful if he knew the spell to get us through these wards.”
“If they’re trained warriors, let’s go for the youngest ones.”
The youngest ones?! Skin warming with rage, I wanted to fly over that fence and kill them all. Zyacus and I could probably do it. And Kyan had said Senica wouldn’t be a problem anymore, obviously he lied. Had I been fooled about his story of being innocent too? Was he just as bloodthirsty as these people? My ring said otherwise but could it have been wrong?
“We left Collweya with the promise of easy blood,” a male said, sounding vexed. “It hasn’t been easy. We only get to pick a few off here and there.”
“We’ll get it eventually. And we’ve already waited here for twenty-two minutes and the patrol will be here in three, we need to go,” the female said. And just like that they ran off in a blur of motion.
Both Zyacus and I looked around for whoever their contact might be but I saw no one. “I bet it’s Kyan,” Zyacus said angrily as we started walking again. If the patrol was coming we didn’t want them to see us either.
“Couldn’t he take his own revenge?”
Finding my hand, Zyacus interlaced our fingers. “Notice how they said they wanted certain people killed. And you’re likely one of them. Why else would he and Senica lure you out to that party? And we know Senica wants you.”
“But Kyan protected me from Senica and I haven’t even seen him around lately.”
“Maybe to earn your trust so he could get you alone that night,” Zyacus said. “Kyan also wants you. I heard him say off-limits, though the reason why I originally thought could be way wrong.”
I puzzled over this. It sounded logical. “Well, what have I done to anyone that they would want revenge? Especially Kyan, he’s from Collweya. We didn’t know each other until weeks ago.”
Zyacus shrugged and snarled his top lip. “Maybe it’s revenge for something your parents did.”
When I thought about that, he could be right. Both of them had killed countless people during the war. Maybe someone still harbored hard feelings. “But he said two, maybe three,” I mused. “What if they planned on killing you, me, and Aric. The royal children.”
“That would make three of us,” Zyacus said and then looked down at our joined hands. “Maybe they got word Aric is gone and that’s why they said ‘maybe three’. But if they were going to succeed, you would have seen my death, and I won’t let them take you.”
A single snowflake landed on my nose. I looked up at the gray sky. I didn’t think we’d get any of the white fluff here.
“It’s freezing out here.” He tugged me close and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Let’s go to the barn to watch for this contact of theirs. We’ll have a good view out of the top window.”
Stealthily, we snuck into the horse barn and climbed up to the upper level where there were horse blankets and bales of straw. Zyacus threw a few blankets down for us and peeked out the window. “If I see Kyan going to meet them I might cut his head off.”
“If it’s him, I’ll help you,” I said, and I meant it. If he was the betrayer planning my death and the attack on the academy, I wouldn’t hesitate.
Sitting in the window, I squealed as he pushed my hair aside and nuzzled his nose into my neck and his tongue trailed up my sensitive skin to my ear where he nipped my lobe.
I shoved him lightly. “You are trouble, Zyacus. We’re supposed to be on the lookout.”
He chuckled and sat opposite of me, our knees touching.
“So, Jennika. What’s the history? I’ve waited long enough to ask. I was hoping you’d have told me on your own volition by now.”
He sighed. “Do we need to talk about her?”
“You have to tell me what there is between you two. She tried to kick my ass in front of everyone, and literally burst into flames when she first saw us together.”