“Want to get some air?”
She nodded and Zak took her hand and led her toward the door. Their friends whooped and hollered, but Zak’s only response was a vulgar gesture before they slipped from the room.
“Don’t let them bother you.”
She finally laughed. “Did you forget who you’re talking to? A month ago, they were all terrified of me.”
Zak pulled her close. “I never was.” He leaned down to kiss her again and the knot in her stomach tightened. She couldn’t get enough of him. Couldn’t get close enough, but when his fingertips lifted the edge of her shirt she pulled back.
“Don’t worry, I won’t take advantage of you.”
She smirked against his lips. “As if you could.”
His warm hands traced over her bare back, eliciting further sensations that made her lose all sense of time.
True to his word, Zak made no further advances and it was he who finally broke their kiss. Breathless, he pressed his forehead against hers. “Weeks ago, you would have twisted my arm for that.”
“No. Weeks ago, I would have broken your arm for that. Maybe both.”
He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “No matter how shitty this world gets, I’ll never regret coming here. Not after meeting you.”
“Dad says all things happen for a reason.”
He smirked and pressed another long kiss to her lips. “Come on, let’s get back inside before their imaginations run wild.”
They celebrated for hours, teasing the new couple before returning to their merriment. She didn’t mind. It felt nice to belong, to be teased and picked on without them fearing her.
Zak kept one arm around her shoulder, and she wondered what her father would think of him.
“Where are you from?” she asked.
“Montana. And you?”
“Tennessee at the moment.”
“At the moment?”
“Dad likes to travel.”
“Well, when we get back it looks like I’m moving to Tennessee.”
“You'd do that? Leave your family?”
He shrugged. “I have three older brothers. And both of my parents are alive. I have to leave the nest sometime.”
She smiled. “We haven't been to Montana in a while. Dad likes it there. Why leave your family when I can simply bring mine along?”
Zak stiffened. “So I'll have to meet your dad.”
“You sound scared.”
“After dealing with you shouldn't I be? Any tips?”
She smirked. “Don't back down.”
The music stopped and many simply plopped down on the floor rather than return to their rooms. She lazed against Zak about to turn in for the night herself when the door crashed open.
Fire erupted from all sides and Vixin reached for a blade that wasn’t there. Zak tackled them both to the ground and shielded her from the shards of ice racing through the air. They struck the wood behind their heads, sinking deep.
Vixin raised her head in time to see Anton’s body fall limp. Blood pooled around him and then another fell. More blood. And then another.
Vixin’s cry of rage shattered the night and her magic erupted with it. Unfamiliar faces poured inside the room and Vixin let the greenery run wild, snaking around anyone who dared enter the room.
Zak lunged to her front, blocking an attack that had blood pouring from his forearm. She shattered the wooden floor, impaling his attackers before shoving them from the balcony. Vixin dove for a weapon they’d dropped and kicked another to Zak.
Vixin jumped through the broken doorway to assess their situation and her stomach dropped.
Everything was on fire. Everything they’d worked so hard to build, all their dreams falling. Fading.
A body slammed into hers and Vixin tumbled over the railing. Her magic flew out from the surrounding trees to slow her descent, but she still cried out upon hitting the ground. Pain radiated up her knees, but Vixin didn’t stop slashing.
Every last one. She’d kill every last one of them.
Vixin took a breath and launched herself into the fray. She didn’t care how many there were. Didn’t care what kind of magic they used. All she knew was duck, swing, pivot. A dance she’d been teaching herself since she was a child.
Vixin ducked behind a tree to escape a barrage of flames and took off into the woods. Let them follow her into her domain, where every living thing was a weapon at her disposal.
She pierced the heart of the first to catch up and then tore through the knee of the second. Vixin continued circling, searching. She’d left Zak on the platform. She needed to get back to—
Wind ripped at her clothes and Vixin spun, already tugging at her vines. They didn’t respond. She tugged again, but some invisible force kept them at bay. Real fear clawed its way through her body, choking her with its hold.
This was it. This was all she had.
Someone grabbed her wrist and ice shot through those surrounding her. Zak didn’t give them a passing glance as he raced through the woods, weaving in and out of trees.
He skidded to a sudden halt, threw open a door, and shoved her inside before jumping in after.
“Cover the door!”
“What are you doing?”
Zak grabbed her face with both hands, but she couldn’t see him in the dark. “Cover the door. Right now.”
Vixin fought past her tears and obeyed, lacing as much greenery over the door as she could. Over a hiding place she’d known nothing about.
“Why—”
Zak clamped a hand over her mouth and heavy footsteps sounded above. She didn’t dare to breath as they trotted back and forth, shouting orders.
A single voice screamed for help but was silenced before she could even think about assisting. She was out of energy anyway. If they found the door, that was it.
Vixin struggled to keep her breathing steady. Why? Why send so many after one little band of thieves and for what? A few weapons?
Zak
