Legacy tugged on my arm. “Let’s go. I’m tired.” But when I looked at her face I knew that was code for—sad and wanting to be alone.
I turned to Zyacus, and began feeling awkward. I wasn’t even sure why. Maybe because I didn’t want to say goodbye and that was out of the ordinary when it came to him. “Uh, have a good night, Prince. Nice to meet you Mateo.”
His much too pretty smile crinkled his eyes. “There’s an hour until the dorm curfew.”
I still felt like something was off. Why was he being so nice, so—wonderful? Before I could reply, I saw Aric approaching. Why would he want to talk to her in such a public place?
Legacy’s hand grabbed mine and she squeezed.
Aric stepped around a couple and then stopped right in front of us. “Legacy, can we talk, please?”
“Aric, where have you been?” Zyacus asked, gripping his shoulder. The sober expression was answer enough. “Oh, uh,” Zyacus looked at me. “Maybe we should let them talk.”
“No,” Legacy said, still clutching my hand. “I don’t want to talk right now, Aric. Maybe another day.”
“What happened?” he asked, looking so confused. “What did I do?”
Legacy just turned her head away. So Aric looked at me for answers, and with my blank stare, Zyacus cut a glare my way. “You told her, didn’t you?”
I swallowed. My telling Legacy about Aric’s supposed curse was not why she broke up with him. Zyacus jumped down to the bench Aric was on. “Let’s go, Aric. Come have fun with the boys and me.”
Without any more coaxing, Aric headed down the steps. Why did their breakup feel like my fault? And just when I thought maybe, maybe things might be different between Zyacus and me, this happened, and he blamed me for it.
Chapter 17
When the weekend break ended and classes resumed, I prepared myself for Zyacus to ask me about Aric during first class, and then for Aric to approach me during Advanced Swords. While I sat in front of the mirror braiding my hair, I rehearsed what I would say. Thinking I’d know exactly how the conversation would go.
Also while I was sitting before the mirror staring at myself, it hit me that these vampire blood drinkers could be anyone. Anyone in this academy, not just Aric. There could be several of them. The only thing I questioned about that was Finnick was the only death so far and if there were a lot of vampires, wouldn’t there be more students dying? How long could they go without blood?
When I arrived at my first class, Zyacus was already seated. When I sat down I could feel his gaze on me. I let out a slow, controlled breath and turned my head toward him. “Good morning, Prince.”
He sucked on what I assumed was a piece of candy and simply stared.
“What?” I demanded.
“Before I jump to a conclusion, why did Legacy break up with Aric?”
He already had jumped to a conclusion. I faced forward. “It’s not my business to tell.”
His blank face turned into a scowl. “You told her about his curse, didn’t you? After I asked you not to, and then she breaks up with a dying man? How cruel.”
That response was not what I’d rehearsed in my head, but if I refuted it he’d pester me to know why else. “He’s not dying,” I hissed. Though I knew from my vision he might be. If I had only seen everything I would know if Aric was indeed a monster or was going to die. If I was going to die. There were so many unknowns. It would have been better if I saw nothing at all.
I tapped my fingers on the table, finding it hard to focus as Professor Tessam lectured about the fact that many people are born with certain gifts. She then asked anyone to raise their hand if they felt comfortable sharing theirs or someone they knew.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Zyacus looking over at me periodically. I wondered what he would give to know of my gift.
A girl toward the back raised her hand. “I can communicate with animals and they to me. It’s different than with cats, not like spoken words. It’s more like they press upon me what they need and want.”
“That’s wonderful,” Tessam said. “I would love to know what my hawk is thinking from time to time, especially before he nips me.” The class laughed. “Anyone else?”
A boy at the table next to me tentatively lifted his arm.
“Yes, Castian?”
“I can see really far,” he said. “I can see the town from here.”
“The town is miles away,” Professor Tessam said in disbelief. “What a gift that is.”
Yes, what a gift. I wish mine was something like that.
“I bet the princess knows of a good one,” Zyacus said and leaned forward, resting his chin in his palm so casually like he didn’t just do it to piss me off.
I clenched my hands and looked around the class. I knew the fun Zyacus was too good to be true.
Tessam waited for a moment before saying, “She didn’t raise her hand.”
“Yes, actually, I do.” I sneered at the prince. “My mother’s magic has endless power. She never tires like the rest of us, but this is common knowledge. My father’s gift is being able to sense what others feel. Sometimes even their intentions.”
“What about you?” A girl from Collweya asked. “Don’t you have a gift?”
“No,” I lied.
When class ended and we emptied into the hallway, I grabbed Zyacus by the front of his shirt and pushed him into an empty alcove, then slammed him into the wall. “How dare you put me on the spot like that. Stop trying to figure out my gift. You have no idea how I have suffered because of it.” I almost broke into tears. No one had any idea how much I suffered.
His eyebrows furrowed for a moment. “I’m sorry.”
I released him and
