“But Kyan protected me from Senica and I haven’t even seen him around lately.”
“Maybe to earn your trust so he could get you alone that night,” Zyacus said. “Kyan also wants you. I heard him say off-limits, though the reason why I originally thought could be way wrong.”
I puzzled over this. It sounded logical. “Well, what have I done to anyone that they would want revenge? Especially Kyan, he’s from Collweya. We didn’t know each other until weeks ago.”
Zyacus shrugged and snarled his top lip. “Maybe it’s revenge for something your parents did.”
When I thought about that, he could be right. Both of them had killed countless people during the war. Maybe someone still harbored hard feelings. “But he said two, maybe three,” I mused. “What if they planned on killing you, me, and Aric. The royal children.”
“That would make three of us,” Zyacus said and then looked down at our joined hands. “Maybe they got word Aric is gone and that’s why they said ‘maybe three’. But if they were going to succeed, you would have seen my death, and I won’t let them take you.”
A single snowflake landed on my nose. I looked up at the gray sky. I didn’t think we’d get any of the white fluff here.
“It’s freezing out here.” He tugged me close and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Let’s go to the barn to watch for this contact of theirs. We’ll have a good view out of the top window.”
Stealthily, we snuck into the horse barn and climbed up to the upper level where there were horse blankets and bales of straw. Zyacus threw a few blankets down for us and peeked out the window. “If I see Kyan going to meet them I might cut his head off.”
“If it’s him, I’ll help you,” I said, and I meant it. If he was the betrayer planning my death and the attack on the academy, I wouldn’t hesitate.
Sitting in the window, I squealed as he pushed my hair aside and nuzzled his nose into my neck and his tongue trailed up my sensitive skin to my ear where he nipped my lobe.
I shoved him lightly. “You are trouble, Zyacus. We’re supposed to be on the lookout.”
He chuckled and sat opposite of me, our knees touching.
“So, Jennika. What’s the history? I’ve waited long enough to ask. I was hoping you’d have told me on your own volition by now.”
He sighed. “Do we need to talk about her?”
“You have to tell me what there is between you two. She tried to kick my ass in front of everyone, and literally burst into flames when she first saw us together.”
Looking outside, he grew quiet. Then he groaned. “Her father and… mine want us to be married within two years of graduating from the academy. She wants us to be married. ‘It’s a strong match politically’ my father said.”
I felt like someone punched me in the gut. “What?” I balked. “Are you betrothed to her?”
Shaking his head, he looked me in the eyes. “I told my father I would choose my own wife and he is giving me that choice, so no, I’m not betrothed nor do I want to marry her.” He waved a hand at me. “Obviously or I wouldn’t be here with you.”
“Have you kissed her?”
He only hesitated for a moment. “Yes.”
Oh, now I really hated her. “Have you done—other things with her?”
“Define ‘other things’.”
I shot him a warning look. “Zyacus,” I said, trying not to sound upset. If he had been intimate with her, and she believed they’d be married then she had every right to be angry.
He chuckled and moved closer, wrapping me in his arms. “I’m playing with you. No, we’ve only ever kissed and even that was before we started here. I’m saving other things for someone else, someone I truly love.”
That spoke volumes about the kind of man he was. He wasn’t flippant about his affections like I wrongly assumed. I dropped the conversation about her and while waiting for the blood drinkers to come back, I reached for a blanket to warm my numb fingers. I spotted a figure in the trees. “There,” I whispered. No features were discernible at this distance but it was someone with an all-black Delhoon uniform.
Zyacus stood and immediately went for the ladder. I hustled down after him and we darted into the woods. When we drew closer to where we’d seen the person, we slowed and I drew my boot dagger. A branch snapped and we moved toward the sound but after searching for several minutes, we found no one. “Do you think they saw us? And appearus spelled away from here?”
Zyacus turned in a slow circle. “It’s hard to say but whoever they are, they’re gone now. Or very well-hidden.”
Other than my own breathing, the animals in the trees above were the only sounds I heard. “We need to talk to my grandparents and tell them what we heard the vampires say.”
“And when our parents arrive tomorrow we’re going to the meeting.”
“Are you worried about what our parents will think about—you and me?” I sure was.
“I have a hunch it was my father who gave that order to separate us, although he’ll blame it on the fight, it was probably because I sent Jennika home. He still has hopes I’ll want to marry her. And…” he trailed off.
“And what?”
“Of course he likes your parents now as allies but he still harbors some resentments. Your mother did pretend to want to marry him as a ruse to bring down my kingdom.” He paused waiting to see my reaction. I knew the stories, so I stood stone-faced. “Your father assassinated my uncle… My father told me, after you and I danced at your party, and on other occasions—that you were probably like your mother and I should stay away.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. These
