Chapter 2 #2
All the air in my lungs freezes, and I stop when I see him.
Kane. His silver hair is damp, drops of rain water dripping down the sharp angles of his perfect face and chiselled jawline.
His stormy, dark silver eyes search through the crowd, his chest heaving as two other shifters talk endlessly to him.
He doesn’t hear them. I run my eyes over his uniform, the black shirt sticking tightly to his body, indecently so.
My lips part on instinct as I run my eyes back up, and the world stops as our eyes lock.
It’s like looking into a cold, unfeeling storm, but the storm is home.
I remember him pushing me down last year when I approached him, and it’s the only reason I don’t go up to him now.
That would be too much attention, especially when he looks so angry.
I smile at him, and he scowls, turning his gaze away and focusing on one of his friends. I wish he were still looking at me.
I reluctantly turn away just as Parker finds me.
His face lights up and he comes closer, wrapping me into a tight hug.
He is the same height as me, making it so easy to hug him back.
He kisses the middle of my forehead with a loud smooch, and I laugh as we both pull back.
He cups my face and sighs. “I was so fucking worried about you, Miss Juni. I knew you’d get into this crazy academy, and then that bridge… how the fuck am I here too?”
To be used against me. Being my friend was your mistake. I can’t tell him any of that, though. “You clearly hid your amazing spell work from me.” I elbow him, and he laughs.
“No, be serious. I’m too pretty to fight in the war. What if I break a nail?” He is being serious. “Wait, do you think flirting with the enemy could earn me points?”
I chuckle. “They are Mindless…flirting won’t work. You will need to find a good shifter to bond with, and I’ll help you with spells. I won’t let you fail.” I mean it.
He hugs me again, and I breathe him in, trying hard not to cry.
It is my fault he is here, and this place is so dangerous.
Parker has no idea what he has walked into, and I can’t even risk telling him right now.
Parker shakes his head. “You always have my back, and I always have yours, Juni.” He smiles at me.
“This place is wicked, isn’t it?” He looks at the academy’s black walls and the archway around the doors that lead into the academy.
It is made of stone, and each brick displays a different shifter symbol.
At the top is a dragon symbol, shining in gold, a stark contrast to the black stone.
“It is,” I agree. The chatter from everyone is getting louder, and Parker wraps his arm around my shoulders to keep speaking to me.
I feel eyes burning into the side of my head, and I turn, looking at Kane.
He is leaning against the wall, his eyes fixed on Parker and me.
I quickly look away, trying not to overthink that look.
“My boyfriend is going to be really pissed that I’m not there, that I won’t be seeing him for months…
years. He’s definitely going to break up with me.
” Parker sighs. Parker has had eight boyfriends, and none of them last more than a few months.
This one is no different. “I’ll write to him and break up first.”
“It is really good to see you,” I whisper. I missed him.
“What do you mean? We see each other all the time. It’s not like you’ve been away from me for long. Just a few days.” He taps my nose like I’m being silly, but he doesn’t know. Has he been living the same year over and over? When the tarot cards reset, do they reset the entire year for everyone?
“No, I just mean…I…I’m glad you made it.” I clear my throat and quickly try to change the subject, but I don’t need to.
“Welcome to Bloodstone Academy and congratulations on being fast runners!” Our headmaster steps out of the arched doorway, just like last time, and he looks no different.
His long, ominous red cloak pools around his shoulders, with a matching dark red suit underneath.
All of his outfit is still the same color as blood, except for the Bloodstone marking like the one on my neck, embroidered in black on the cloak.
His red hair is shaved short but longer than I remember, and there is something about the young professor that still creeps me out.
His eyes flicker around the crowd, assessing, touching on me for a second before continuing on as he introduces himself.
His bonded comes out behind him, the fox curling its huge tail around his waist. He carries on with his practiced speech, the same as last year, as I search for Wini and don’t find her.
I listen in when Mentor Parker is done. The quicker I sign the binding scroll, the quicker I don’t have to hide that my powers work fine. I’ve already signed the scroll three times, and the academy knows. “We all work for the Umbral Authority, and we all want the same thing—the end of the war.”
“That dude is creepy. I hate that we have the same last name. Maybe I should start using my first name more often,” Parker whispers to me.
The Parker clan is huge, and it’s not uncommon for witches to use their last names instead of their first. “But Augustine is a mouthful.” He lowers his voice more.
“That’s what he said. Or she said, depends what you’re into. ”
I swallow a laugh, and he does too. Mentor Parker is still rambling on, and finally, he turns to go into the academy. I go to follow with the group, but Lock grabs my arm, roughly tugging me aside, and keeps me close to him, but not touching. “Aren’t you going to introduce us, Juniper?”
“Parker, this is Hemlock Mercury,” I mutter. “Lock, this is Parker.”
“Oh, yes, the childhood friend. It’s good to meet you.” Lock holds out his hand, and Parker shakes it, his eyes drifting between us in confusion.
“It’s nice to meet you. Mercury clan?” Parker whistles. “Fancy.”
“Well, your friend will soon be part of my clan,” Lock proudly offers. “Now, my fiancée and I have matters to attend to.”
“Fiancée? Wow, you kept that one quiet, Juni.” Parker’s eyebrows raise so high I’m surprised they don’t leave the planet. You and me both, bestie.
“I suppose I did.” I cross my arms.
Lock grips my arm and tugs me forward. Parker smartly stays a few steps back, but I can feel his concern from here.
We walk through the corridors and into the main hall, where the headmaster starts explaining about the binding scrolls.
Once those are signed, he tells us about the leadership board and bonding.
I pretend to listen to all of it like it’s new, but I stare at the leaderboard.
I’ll easily get on top because I’m not a first-year, but I have to make sure Parker does too, or he will die at the bottom.
I’ve got three years’ worth of knowledge; it should be easy enough.
When he’s done, I turn around and come face to face with Lock’s mother.
She smiles and kisses her son’s cheek before waving her hand in the air at her side.
Winifred comes over, and I take in my friend.
Her long blonde hair is straight and windswept, her clothes damp and messy, but her face is all brightness and smiles.
She is the opposite of her brother. “Winifred, I would like to introduce you to your son’s fiancée.
I’m sure all of you are going to be good friends in the upcoming years.
I look forward to us all having family dinners and more talks in the future before the wedding. ”
Wini smiles at me. “Nice to meet you, Juniper.”
“Call me Juni. All my friends do,” I offer. Her returning smile is massive and warm, and much needed. I know Lock and his mother, Fasrah, are hyper-focused on me, so I’m careful with my next words. “It is lovely to meet you too, Mrs. Venus.”
“My son has told me everything about you and will continue to do so. We are close.” She looks at Lock. “A word, before I have to leave?”
“Of course, Mother,” Lock agrees and leans into me. “Don’t go far.”
I scowl at his back as he walks away and leaves me with his sister. “Well, it’s really nice to meet you. Goddess, you’re pretty. How did my brother end up with someone this pretty? And what do you see in my brother? Anyway, I won’t judge you for your poor taste. I’d like to be friends too.”
“I can judge you, though.” Parker slides up to my side. I search the crowd for Rue and frown when I don’t find her. Where is she? “He’s hot and rich, but I always thought you’d go for someone you loved.”
I can’t say I love Lock, not now, not ever. I change the subject, even damn well knowing Parker will bring it up again. “Parker, this is Winifred. Wini, this is my childhood friend Parker.”
“Nice to meet you!” Wini’s excited voice can make anyone smile, and I know she will get along with Parker.
Her eyes watch me for a second, and I realize I called her Wini.
Dammit. Thankfully, she doesn’t bring up my mistake.
The both of them begin talking about the academy, the bonding tomorrow, and I only listen in when I hear the word dragon.
“Yeah, they banned the dragons this year! They said that they’re too dangerous, nearly extinct, and they kill too many, so it’s just unsafe for them to bond to anyone.
They’re going to keep them in the castle for the bonding night, just in case. ”
My stomach drops, and I force myself not to respond in any way.
Parker laughs. “Who would want to bond with a dragon, anyway? They breathe fire, which means there is a high chance of getting burnt, and they’d be very dangerous, right?
You can’t stay hidden anywhere, and seems like a lot of fuss.
I want someone who shifts into something smaller and has fewer teeth. ”
“I like wolves,” Wini sighs.
I spot Lock coming back, and I lower my voice.
“Bonding night is dangerous. Run straight from your room and into the forest. Don’t stop, and watch out for spells.
You need to have a dagger, or a knife, or something sharp.
When you find a bloodstone and a shifter, cut your hand, and you will bond.
The doors will open at midnight tomorrow night, and you will be attacked by the upper years.
Run and watch your back. The castle listens and feels you, so make it clear you want a clear path to the forest. Alone. ”
Parker and Wini frown, both of them looking like they have a million more questions, but Lock is back. He places his hand on my back and leads me from the room, leaning down. “I can’t wait for our wedding. My mother was telling me all about it.”
“I’m looking forward to the future too.” I smile at Lock, but he doesn’t know I plan to bring down the academy long before there is a wedding. He will be dead long before it too.