His fingers loosened their grip. “So we do nothing?” He didn’t sound angry but astonished, sad even.
“Nothing” didn’t feel like an option. It never did but then I ended up sad and heartbroken. But I realized it wouldn’t matter if I ignored it or tried to change it, I would be heartbroken regardless. So I should at least try. “No. We increase the protective enchantments, we get more guards, we keep an eye on Aric and we… try.”
Slowly, he caressed my cheek with the back of his hand, wiping away the few tears that fell. “What it must be like for you… to see these things.” His voice was tender and raw like I’d never heard it. Filled with emotion. Those walls he always had up were crumbling, and with wet lashes I looked into his beautiful icy-blue eyes. His gaze dropped to my lips and I was barely breathing. I wanted to lean in and push away. I wanted to run, to hide, yet I wondered what his lips against mine would feel like. I wanted him and I wanted to get away from him all at once. The emotions were like two dragons in a vicious battle for dominance, and the one my logical mind screamed at was losing.
I looked away first and that made him step back, breaking the trance. Practically running, he bolted for the door and threw it open. “You should go.”
The abrupt change in the atmosphere had me reeling. “Go?”
Short of breath, he nodded. “Yes, go. And don’t let anyone see you leaving the boys’ dorms.”
A blush warmed my cheeks. The rumors of me in Zyacus’s room would be horrid. Yet he was throwing me out after what I told him? After I trusted him with my secret. “You’re an asshole.” I shoved him on my way by and turned before he could close the door. “And if you tell a soul about my gift you’ll regret it.”
Taking my arm, he pulled me back into the room and slammed the door.
I jerked away from him. “Don’t touch me.”
He huffed. “I’m not trying to be an asshole, Visteal, I’m doing us both a favor. It doesn’t matter how I feel. You and I both know there can’t—shouldn’t be anything between us. For a lot of reasons. Being alone in my room was a mistake.”
I froze, blinking several times. I heard everything he said but one word stuck out more than anything. “You said my name.”
A small smile pulled at his lips. “Visteal,” he said again.
I hated that I loved the way it sounded on his lips. And I wanted him to say it again.
“I guess I lost the little game of ours, didn’t I?”
“I always knew you would.”
He laughed and this time, gently pulled the door open. “We can continue with a plan just—” those stunning eyes of his scanned his room, “not here. And I will never betray your secret. Never.”
To be sure no one saw us leaving the dorms, Zyacus took my hand whispered “appearus” and spelled us outside my grandparents’ offices. Zyacus wanted to have them set a meeting with both our parents to take on the vampire problem.
We quietly walked beside one another and then I knocked on the door. I couldn’t help the smile on my face despite the situation at hand. Zyacus said my name and sort of admitted he had feelings for me all at once.
Months ago, I couldn’t have foreseen this. I’d despised him yet we’d almost kissed twice now. It would be so much easier for us to go back to ignoring each other. And if Aric didn’t need our help we probably would. He was right, we couldn’t ever be anything more. Our parents wouldn’t agree to it. If things went bad between us, it wouldn’t bode well for our kingdoms but… what if it didn’t end? What if we explored…No no no no.
“Your smile is beautiful,” Zyacus said quietly, “you should do it more often.”
The door swung open and Madison stood on the other side. Her steely lavender eyes swept over Zyacus then me. “Yes?”
“Can we talk?” I asked.
She stepped aside and the prince and I walked in. The door clicked and she sat in her armchair and waved toward the couch. “Sit.” Fingers drumming on her armchair she waited for one of us to speak.
Sitting tall and with confidence, Zyacus gave her a quick nod. “Professor Magnevera, Visteal told me what happened and I think my parents should be informed of the threat.”
“They have been informed. As has King Faustus. It’s not a concern for students at this time.” Zyacus opened his mouth and she held up her hand, “Aside from you two and Prince Aric of course. There will be a meeting with the three kingdom’s rulers soon, when they can all gather. In the meantime, extra enchantments have been placed, guards have been added to patrol, and the professors are aware of what lurks outside our walls. We are safe. So unless you have additional information, you don’t need to worry.”
One look from Zyacus said he wanted me to tell what I saw with Aric. I felt it was time Madison knew as well. When I gave her the details, her expression didn’t give anything away. Zyacus brought up the bargain Aric’s mother made before he was born and with one curt nod Madison was on her feet.
“Perhaps it’s time Aric goes home,” Madison said. “For his own safety. There may not be anything we can do, he
