“Just a few minutes. She went to the dining hall to grab you something to eat.” He briefly touched my forehead with the back of his fingers. “You’re late for the next class but we’ve already sent a note to your professor explaining your absence.”
I set my feet on the floor and stood.
Vyce watched me. “Perhaps you should wait for Bindy.”
“I’m fine. I’ll meet her in the dining hall.”
With a quick wave of his hand, a glass floated over from a nearby table. “At least drink this, it’s sweetened cranberry juice. It should help you feel better.”
Bringing the lip of the glass to my nose, I sniffed. It smelled like cranberry and I drained it then set it on a nearby table. “Thanks Vyce. I’ll see you at dinner.”
When I was halfway to the dining hall, Bindy rounded a corner, with a tray of food floating beside her. Her stern eyes narrowed on me. “Didn’t they tell you to wait for me?”
“It was suggested but I’m fine.”
“What happened?” Bindy asked, handing me an apple from the tray.
I searched through my memories again, and found nothing after I’d pushed the door open to the bathroom.
She took my silence as an answer. “I try to keep an eye on you as much as possible but I also am not your shadow. You need space too, but when I peeked into your classroom and found you missing, I did a location spell. You were unconscious when I found you, no signs of harm and the Healer suggested you’d fainted due to not eating.” She looked me over. “Is there a reason you are skipping meals? You’re plenty thin, Visteal.”
“No, it’s nothing like that,” I said, rolling the apple in my hands. “I was running late this morning and didn’t have time to stop and eat.” But I couldn’t shake the feeling that my lack of memory and unconsciousness was due to something else. I kept that to myself in case I was mistaken. Concerning Bindy over nothing wasn’t what I wanted.
“Well, eat up and get to class. You’ve missed enough already.”
I chowed down a muffin and took the apple with me and as I turned to leave, Bindy said, “Do I need to be following you closer?”
The last thing I wanted was Bindy on my heels all day long. Everyone would notice and I wanted some privacy. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”
∞∞∞
Advanced Swords class came too quickly. I tried to keep busy talking and sparring with Lora. Today we chose our sparring partners and simply practiced. No competition. Anytime we had a break I kept my back toward Aric and Zyacus, hoping neither one would approach me to talk about Legacy.
As soon as class ended, Lora said she wanted to ask Madison a question and that she would catch up with me. I debated on staying but it looked like Aric and Zyacus were hanging around too so I bolted. Cowardly as it was, I didn’t know what to say to Aric. I felt bad for him and suspicious at once, two very conflicting emotions.
Chapter 18
I managed to avoid Aric for a whole other day before he practically mauled me on my way out to Advanced Swords. And by maul, I meant he came out of nowhere and slung an arm around the back of my neck.
Confused and alarmed I gave him a sideways look. “Um, hi Aric.” He’d literally never put an arm around me before so this was strange.
“Zyacus said you told Legacy about my curse then she broke up with me. So you need to help me fix this.”
I tugged out from under his grasp. “No, and that’s not why she broke up with you.” I only mentioned that part after she believed he was a vampire and she didn’t even consider that the mark might indeed be a death curse. I still wasn’t sure about either.
He sighed. “Then why?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Does she like someone else?”
Ugh, that was probably the best excuse I could think of. I couldn’t outright accuse him of being a blood sucking monster. It’s not like he’d admit it. “If I told you the truth it would only hurt you. Let her go.”
Taking a light hold of my arm, he stopped me and his expression grew solemn. “Please, I—I think—I love her. What can I do?”
Love? Oh no, why must this involve me? “I don’t know if you can,” I said truthfully. “I’m sorry.”
His bottom lip quivered for a moment and then he walked away. This was killing me. How could someone so sweet be a blood drinker? I needed to talk to Legacy.
Right before class started Zyacus and Aric stood beside each other chatting and both of them kept looking at Lora and me. “He said he loves her,” I told Lora groaning.
“Why did she break up with him?” Lora asked. “And will she be mad if I swoop in to mend his broken heart?” She laughed and I couldn’t help but smile.
“You’ll have to ask her,” I shrugged. “About why.”
“I did, and she said she wasn’t ‘feeling it’ anymore.” Lora’s eyes roamed over Aric like he was a juicy piece of meat she wanted a bite of. Then she looked at Zyacus much the same way. “And what’s with you and the other prince? Are you still in denial?”
“I’m not in denial about anything,” I crooned. “If he wanted me he’d come after me. That’s how Zyacus is. And I’m not sure I’d let him.” Although he was growing on me, the complications of that would be too much.
“I would.” Lora grinned and gave me a little shove. “You should. Even if it’s just for fun.” She watched him again. “I bet he’d be a lot of fun.”
“I’m the princess of Delhoon. I’m not allowed to be courted for fun.”
Lora frowned. “That’s stupid.”
Madison let out a loud whistle and drew
