Paxton continues to stare at me, his eyes trailing over my face. “Are you okay, Serena?”
A familiar presence wrapping his arms around me before I can reply. “It’s fine, Serena.” He squeezes me lightly before releasing me, a grin pulling on his lips. “On the bright side, at least we know you like me. And, apparently, Declan.”
He waggles his eyebrows, and I groan. “That is not a bright side, Dane.”
Dane shrugs and pulls out an empty seat for me, then begins to fill my plate with waffles. As I take my seat, the other two share a look, and they shrug as well before digging into their own towers.
As I bite into a waffle, it takes a great deal of effort to chew as memories from the previous day continue to haunt me. God, I acted like a freaking nymphomaniac. I groan, and Lore flutters down next to me while Keaira curls around my legs, purring.
“So glad you two could finally show up. Where were you?” I ask, not bothering to hide my annoyance, and they both look away.
Lore replies, “We were in the library trying to figure out if there were any texts linking to the Trials or the treasures, and by the time we got back, you were pretty out of it.”
They brush their heads against my arm, and I can feel their remorse, which only spikes my own, and I shake my head. “I’m sorry. I just wish you could have helped.”
“There was nothing we could have done, Mistress. Plus, I tried to shut off our connection as you have been feeling quite lusty lately,” she eyes Dane before turning back to my reddened face. “So, I just thought you two were having relations. I should have known better.”
I don’t say a word as the thought of how much canoodling I’d been wanting to do flows through me, and Dane chuckles beside me before digging into his waffles.
We continue to eat in silence, and I wish I could erase my afternoon and night away, but I know from experience that nothing can erase the memories that haunt you. No matter how much you try, no matter the spell, or the amount of alcohol.
Paxton rises from his chair first and grabs everyone’s empty plates to stack them in the washer. His deeply troubled eyes lift to meet mine, and I look away, unsure of what to say other than I’m sorry.
“Pax? If he calls, can you tell him to call me? Or at least let me know he’s okay?” I ask, and Paxton nods with a small smile. “And tell him that he better have a good excuse for running off and leaving me alone in his bed.”
He walks toward me and gives me a headlock-type of hug. “I’ll tell him, Serena. You have nothing to worry about. Other than me kicking your butt in class today.”
He jokes and the others tease him as they head up to get changed, but a niggling feeling in the back of my mind gives me pause.
“There’s no fixing it, Serena.”
Declan isn’t the type of guy to up and leave. But he did. And that worries me. More than I care to admit.
Chapter 16
I pace along the floor of my room, my anger growing with each tick of the clock.
“Two fucking weeks, Lore. He’s been gone for two weeks, and he hasn’t bothered to call or text,” I growl, roughly buttoning up my jeans. “He should be here. He should be helping us prepare and telling me that leather isn’t an acceptance trial outfit.”
I straighten my jacket and slip on my Dr. Martens. Today is the day. The day I’ll compete against other teams for the trident, and the day I’ll betray my friends.
I have a feeling the others will be prepped with light armor and whatever other specialist equipment they need, so I know I won’t stand out as over-prepared—except for the giant monstrosity that is Keaira.
In two weeks, she’s grown to the size of a miniature horse. But thankfully, her shifting abilities aren’t just limited to staffs, and she is able to shrink her size to make living with her a little more bearable—in some ways. But she is strong. And she’ll keep growing so long as I do.
I glance down at the weapons on my bed and pick up a knife, tucking it into my boot, then slide another down the back of my jeans and a smaller pocket knife down the front.
Keaira laughs, her tail swishing behind her. “I don’t think you’re going to need all of those. You have me.”
I shrug and glance at the remaining blades, but the shrill sound of my phone sends an avalanche fit for the Alps into my stomach. When I pick it up, I almost drop it again when I see the caller ID. Immediately, my mouth is dry, and my hands are trembling.
Clenching my jaw, I press answer, and hold it to my face.
“Why haven’t you called, Serena? You know how important today is, and you have missed five consecutive check-ins.” I remain silent, focusing on my breathing, and he continues, “Are you prepared for today?”
“Yes, sir,” I reply quietly, and he tsks.
“Good, because if you aren’t, I will have you replaced, Serena.” My hand instinctively moves to the knife at my back, knowing what he really means. “And those four boys of yours might get caught in the crossfire.” he hisses out, but his anger dissolves into chuckles at the gasp that pulls from my lips.
“Make no mistake, Serena. I won’t hesitate to kill them if things go wrong today. Though, I must say I’m impressed by the company you keep. A prince and a paladin, no less? They may come in useful, so I do hope you won’t disappoint me.”
“What do you want me to do?” I ask in a whisper.
“As soon as you win, head to the woods,” he says gleefully.
