I hid the smile pulling at my mouth by taking another bite. “I haven’t forgotten. And I suppose since this is a ‘we’ thing I should tell you what happened yesterday on our way back from Henalae.”
That typical arrogant, gorgeous half-smile he always seemed to have, faded bit by bit as I told about my encounter with the blood drinkers. Until it was apparent he was furious. Even his bright blue eyes seemed to darken like storm clouds. And for once he didn’t have anything to say. His jaw was clenched and he stared out the windows where I noticed black clouds forming. Odd.
“Why are you so angry?” I finally asked.
His eyes flicked to mine. “I think you’re right about that hunting party.” He pushed up from the table and stalked toward the exit.
I scrambled to my feet and jumped over the table to grab him before he could get away. “My grandparents specifically said not to tell anyone. Not even you so you can’t go gallivanting off to put together a hunting party.”
A sly smile. “Your parents will be informed so should mine.”
I released his shirt. “They will be but not by us.”
“Perhaps your parents don’t discuss the affairs within your kingdom with you but mine do.” His voice took on a regal tone I’d only heard him use a few times. “I will rule much sooner than you. My father is not magic-born; he will not live hundreds of years. I am training to be King of Hesstia now and a king would not sit back and let a threat like this fester.”
I let my anger simmer before I spoke. He was correct that my parents didn’t speak to me about Delhoon affairs unless it was necessary and that wasn’t often. Apparently his father trusted him more than mine. “I’m asking you to keep this quiet.”
“Like I asked you to keep Aric’s secret? He’s my best friend. My family.”
“I only told her when she thought he was a vampire and the former seemed like a better option.”
Zyacus locked eyes with me and stepped so close I could smell his wonderful scent. “I won’t say a word if you tell me what it is that you’re hiding about Aric.”
Heat slowly rose into my cheeks. The door flew open and several students clamored in. “Not here.”
Chapter 23
My heart felt like it might seize up or explode at the rapid pace it thundered at. I still debated on what to say, how to tell him. Debated on whether I trusted him enough to know my secret. Zyacus led me to his room and said to the boy in there, “Get out.”
He obeyed, keeping his eyes averted as he hurried. Zyacus waved a hand and a chair appeared, knocking me on the back of the legs so I fell into it. I let out a huff of air. “Some warning would have been nice.”
He ignored me and plopped onto his bed. Putting his hands behind his head he laid down like someone should be feeding him grapes and pouring wine into his mouth. How can his lying in bed even be pompous?
“Now about Aric. Keep in mind if I knew something about Legacy, how much would you want to know? You love her like I love my cousin.”
He had a point and I couldn’t believe I was about to reveal my curse of premonitions to the Prince of Hesstia. “Sometimes,” the word stumbled out of my mouth. “When my skin comes into contact with another. I get a vision.”
“Your gift,” he said.
“Yes.” I nodded. “But I call it a curse.”
His perfect calm broke. “Why?”
“I see how they will die.”
Eyes shooting wide, he sat up and leaned forward resting his forearms on his thighs. “You saw Aric’s death?”
“Sort of.”
Then he shook his head as if just realizing something. “Have you seen how I will die?”
“No,” I said softly, nearly breathless. “I only see a person’s death if it will be soon.”
His throat bobbed and he sat erect. “Aric will die soon then?”
I thought back to the vision; of what I knew. Small details, but nothing definitive. Nausea rose like a gust of wind in my gut. “Maybe. I don’t know.” I shot to my feet, and began to pace. “In the vision you were there, as was I. Aric was running from what I assumed were blood drinkers. They were just shadows in the trees and it looked like we were going to be fighting them. But you pulled me away before I could see more. I didn’t see Aric actually die. I almost thought I might be viewing my own death because I’ve never been in a premonition before. I thought he might be the one to kill me but I don’t think that now.”
Getting to his feet, Zyacus rubbed the back of his neck. “Damn.”
We stood in silence for a moment. I stared out the window and watched the rain pelt against the glass. A leaf stuck to it then inched down. Lightning tore across the black clouds in the distance. My memory slid back to the attack, to when Freya screamed while being torn into. To when I chopped the thing’s head off.
“If we kill the filthy vampires outside the walls and get rid of any inside, it won’t happen right? We can change the outcome. Stop the attack.”
Tears welled in my eyes when I looked at him. “I’ve tried,” my voice wavered. “I’ve tried to stop it before and I’ve never been successful.”
Firm hands wrapped around my arms and he looked me in the face. “I will not sit by and allow this to happen.”
“Just me telling you could play a
