16. Dimples are Dangerous #2
“You see Chris’s hand behind his back? It’s been there the entire fight, building magic in preparation of summoning a fire fairy, a level three spell, which David hasn’t learned yet.
” Sure enough, the crowd goes crazy. He slams his ax down at Chris’s head but is deflected by an incoming swing from the fire fairy’s blinding entrance.
“Oh shit.” Zest has me clapping. Serves David right for sleeping with Chris’s woman. He can do much better than her. Plus, his fairy is too damn adorable as it blows flames at David, knocking him unconscious. Yep, this match is over.
“Our victor is decided,” the mechanical voice chimes in.
“Chris of House Fire remains ranked at three thousand seventeen and gains twenty House points. David of House Earth now ranks at three thousand one-hundred and twenty-two. Losing one-hundred ranking points as well as twenty House points.” Half the crowd boos and the other cheers.
Those aligned with David grab him quickly once the barrier vanishes. Chris and everyone else disperses, voicing how they’re uploading the video to Rebirth’s website, not before passing by me and returning their loathsome glares. Right, I forgot how everyone hates me. I turn and walk away.
“Where are you heading?” Dimples asks extremely close behind me.
“Class,” I respond. I want to get back to hacking for information on my next lecturer. But my thoughts revert to Mr. Smells Edible as he inches closer beside me.
“Would you mind an escort? I have time to kill.” With a side eye, I catch his infectious grin.
“No harm if you say no,” he tacks on. My pace slows to a halt, and I face him, scanning his full body, not sure if he is trustworthy, or if an agenda hides behind his chivalrous notion.
“How about I make it enticing?” His contagious smile grows, nudging one of my own into existence while raising a curious brow.
“Heading to your next class, you can ask me anything.” Something dark glints over his features, and damn-it to hell, I’m inclined to say yes.
“What if you lie.”
“I’ll answer truthfully, fay’s honor.” He draws an imaginary ‘x’ over his heart. I squint, considering my options. On one hand, I could obtain more information, and on the other, he could be a stalker with other intentions.
Preparing to respond, a slender, yet elegant hand lands on his shoulder. Pristine and well-kept. Why am I paying so much attention? The word, ‘MINE,’ is painted on her nails. Each finger contains one letter.
“Horus, sweetheart, I’ve been searching all over for you,” she announces in a seductive tone, stepping into view and stealing his attention. Frost blue eyes, full make-up, perfectly tanned skin, and one hell of a body. I create distance between us, and he adjusts back to me.
“Sofia, what do you want?” he asks, keeping his focus but nudging her hand off his shoulder.
She plays it off by gripping his chin and forcing his head her way. “You promised we’d have some…” she pauses with a grin. “Alone time.” Then she gives an unnecessarily flirtatious chuckle. My God. She can’t be serious. “But here I find you with…her.”
I scoff, picking up Sofia’s underlying judgment.
“Sofia,” Horus warns. “I offered to train you. Not whatever you’re implying.” Since meeting him, not once has his expression become bland the way it is now.
“Don’t get me wrong, she’s cute for someone like her, but you promised.” She places a hand over his chest, ensuring I read the letters over her nails.
“What do you think, Kyra, should I join her?” Horus asks as I rule him out for pulling this trick.
“Let’s see?” I study how her pleasant features have become more appalled at his request. “Well, she seems like a Captivating…Unyielding…Nubile…Temptress…of an individual. So why not.” Shrugging my shoulders, I leave them behind.
I smile hearing Sofia’s praise for a well-deserved complement. If she only knew.
I’m back stalking the halls with the school’s map directing me, noticing more whispers as I pass the other students. Yet I’m enjoying my moment of peace, until a rainforest scent causes my head to lift.
“If you’re heading to that class.” Horus points at my screen. “It starts at one, and you’re going the opposite way. We’re in the Green Wing heading to Red. You’re looking for the White Wing.” His dimples get deeper as I glance his way.
“Why do you care? I thought you had a thing with Sofia.” Continuing my walk despite heading the wrong way, I plan to wait for him to leave then turn around.
“You said she’s captivating, which means charming. I prefer not to be charmed into doing things.” He folds his arms as if that makes any sense.
“Uh-huh.” I fight the urge not to smile.
He extends a hand. “Horus, but my friends call me Russ, and you’ve asked your first question. Shall we proceed?” Noticing I haven’t taken his hand, he continues smirking, then points towards the correct direction.
“I’m aware it starts at one, Horus.”
“Again, my friend’s call me Russ. You don’t have to be so formal.”
“So, you’ve mentioned.” I peer at him with an unserious expression.
“We can work on that,” he murmurs loud enough for me to hear. My eyes roll at his sureness, and we backtrack towards the White Wing.
It goes without saying that I’m clit blocking other females. Though it’s not my fault. They attempt to approach until their spiteful gaze lands on me. To my surprise, he offers them no attention, which is the only reason he is still escorting me.
Breaking our silence, I ask, “Can you elaborate on how you’ve heard of me?” I can’t afford to get lost every day using this mid-accurate map, so I take mental notes of the directions as we walk.
His throat clears as he gestures right with a nod, taking us down a pristine white marbled hall, leading to a massive door at the end.
“I’m sure you’re aware others have discussed you in private.
” Easing closer, he nearly touches his shoulder with mine.
I receive a full whiff of his scent, and my stomach hums. Never have I visited the rainforest, but from descriptions, if it smells anything like this, ship me there now.
“Based on their input, my interest was piqued. More or less,” he finishes, and we draw near the hallway’s end.
“What kind of input?”
“You, being a human, failing the Awakening, lying about having magic, sleeping with a few students, killing a gloom–” cough “being amazingly–” cough “beautiful–” cough. As if I didn’t catch that. “Getting eaten by a dragon. You know, the list goes on.” He turns away from me, wearing a high smile.
It’s like he stated; I’m not surprised others have conjured bullshit about me. What is surprising is the amount of lies and how fast that fire has spread. It’s insane.
We push through the massive doors, and a blinding light greets us. The sun sits high without a single cloud in attendance. I think back to Marcel’s class when there were too many to count. Once I adjust from being in artificial lighting, I pause, taking in the scenery.
Open fields with freshly cut grass and timbers spread everywhere. House Earth fays cast magic, growing more trees and taking the liberty to spell words, using newly blossomed branches. Others create sculptures, using rocks as their medium, reminding me of art class.
“Beautiful?” Horus nudges me, and I can’t make out if he is referring to our scenery or me. Sly bastard.
“It is,” I say, earning him another side eye.
He points to the right, and I gasp. “If you look there, you’ll see where House Fire hangs in between lectures.” Students try to burn clumps of sand into crystals. Just beyond them is a whole ass beach. Water wielding fays ride waves on jet skis created from the liquid element.
I’m left speechless with my mouth parted. He points upwards, further adding to my astonishment. Sure as shit, air wielding fays sit upon small tornados, watching those below, acting like royalty. If I’m honest, I can’t be mad.
“Before you ask, those in House Life and Death are normally sparring one another around this time. So, they’re not out here. This is a hangout spot between classes in case you’re interested,” he explains, regarding me with that damn smirk. Why the hell is he so chipper?
“Hold on, that’s not on my schedule.” I retrieve my phone just to make sure.
“No, it is not. Consider this our recreational time.” He shrugs.
“I’m sure it’ll be the complete opposite, but sure. Wait, you’re part of House Life, why aren’t you sparring?” Pocketing my phone, I fold my arms and lean back against the door.
“I recently returned from a mission. I’m taking the day off, hence killing time.”
“Interesting. Another question, what’s your ranking?” If he wants to be friends, I need to know–for research purposes of course.
“Getting personal, are we?” Horus leans in, engulfing me with his intoxicating fragrance. My lungs fill with the blend of exotic fruit and freshly dewed rainforest, earthier now that he is this close. Delicious in every aspect and equally dangerous.
I reach a hand for his chest, wanting to nudge him back a few inches, keeping my movements slow and giving him time to object. But he only watches my hand, lifting one side of his lips into a damning smirk, like he welcomes my touch.
My palm lands just over his heart, above the emblem, and my thighs clench.
The firmness of his muscles push back, and ever so slightly, my nails dig a little deeper.
He does this mix between a hum and deep moan, sending thrills over my fingers, and I retract, biting my lip and averting my eyes with blushed cheeks. Asshole .
“You said I can ask any question and you’ll answer truthfully. If you can’t hold to your own rules, there’s nothing else for us to talk about…Horus.”
He laughs in a song-like cadence then turns away from me. “Touché.” Looking out into the field, he concedes, “My ranking, as it stands, is one thousand one-hundred and one.”
“Does that mean you lost your last match? The rule lady deducted one-hundred points from David. I’m assuming everyone loses this many ranking points.”
“Very perceptive, Kyra.” He says my name like it’s pleasure rolling off his tongue. I don’t know how to feel about that. “Yes, I lost my last challenge. I’ll get her next week.”
“So, this was a House challenge then?”
“Correct again.” My brows clench in question of who. For the second time, his demeanor becomes serious. “Angie,” he answers, picking up my expression.
“What–When–How–Why?”
He chuckles. “Long story short, a friend of mine was stuck on an ice mountain with a dildo in his ass and needed the infirmary for a week. When I found him passed out, her name was written on the object. ‘Property of Angie.’ The rest is history.” He returns to looking over the other students.
It takes every God known to man and fay, not to explode into laughter. My insides are on fire trying to contain it. Slapping a hand over my mouth and blinking back the forming tears, I stutter, “T-that’s.”
Horus flashes a smile. “I know that shits fucked up. Once I returned, I offered her a challenge. Angie concealed what happened, only saying that it wasn’t her fault. But like I said, I’ll get her next week.”
After a few deep breaths, I force it down. “Dude, I think you should let this one go. Seriously.” I chuckle–it’s better than full on laughing .
“I suppose you’re right.” He shrugs. “Anyway, would you like to proceed on, or stay here and mingle?”
“Tempting, but I at least need to go to my next lecture. Then maybe come back. There’s so much of this Academy I have yet to see.” I proceed on and hear something about “tour guide,” and I’m willing to bet he flashes those sparkling teeth again.
It takes about fifteen minutes to get from the Green Wing, across the field, and over to the White Wing.
Horus points out everything from the Dean’s building to different Houses, and so forth.
This place is too damn big. There must be a better way of getting around, because walking is not it.
We approach another door as a group of students bursts through them.
“Girl yeah, that bitch thought she won. I’m forbidden from saying anything more, but the next time I see her, she’s dead,” Gina says before realizing I’m standing right here.
Paige, however, notices almost immediately, scowling between Horus and me. “Uhh Gina,” she says, pointing my way. “Russ, what are you doing with…her?” Paige questions.
I face Horus with my brows raised high. Not judging but kind of. He snorts, shaking his head in response to our nonverbal exchange, and Paige scoffs. The other two females tagging along with thing one and thing two begin whispering, asking Gina if I’m who she referred to.
“By the Gods, they’ve granted me a blessing. Look who it is, Little Miss I-need-help,” Gina mocks as her merry group of bitches snicker.
“You’ve gotten your tooth fixed,” I gibe, standing my ground. “It would be a shame for me to knock it out again.” Horus bursts out beside me, not masking his laughter at all.
“Funny bitch. Look everyone, the mortal has jokes,” she yells with sass. “Try that again and see what happens.”
“No one’s running. You’re the one talking.” I clench my fists. It’s time I get some practice with my magic. What better time than now.
Gina’s cheering squad urges her on, enticing her to challenge me for ranking points. “Don’t run and tell after I kick your ass.” She flicks a wrist, summoning the same vines from before.
“Ready when you are.” Taking up a fighting pose, I keep my expression blank. This could either go extremely right, or horribly wrong. But at least she can’t kill me.
Her friends step back along with Horus, and she skulks forward. “Official Rank–”
“Move!” That one-word shuts Gina up entirely, causing everyone behind her to stumble out of Ethan’s way as he knocks Gina to her knees.
The air around me becomes dry and heavy. His steps are evenly paced as he closes the distance. “You.” Ethan points at me. “You’re late, and I don’t tolerate tardiness.”
Gina springs to her feet, protesting his interruption to our match and how I deserve what’s coming. Yelling other obscenities causes Ethan to address her. “If it’s a challenge you’re after, perhaps you’d like a go at me.” Nothing in his tone remotely says that’s a good idea.
“Of course not. Why would I challenge my future–” Ethan is on her in an instant. Shit, he’s fast.
“By all means, finish your sentence.” His shadow swallows her whole, and my stare cuts to Horus. We both give a ‘WTF’ look then resume watching. This is the second time someone has put her in her place. Gina bows, and Ethan turns his back, prowling my way. “Let’s go,” he orders.
“I’m not going anywhere with–” He grabs my arm firmly with a hint of gentleness, flashing those golden red eyes. I’m caught in the moment of shock as he summons a sigil beneath us, and we both vanish.