29. Brax
BRAX
I’m quite sure she thinks I don’t know that she snuck out last night after she blasted everyone with her wicked tongue and banished the fools tripping over themselves for her. I’m not dumb and I can hear everything, including the creak of a door and her boots on the hardwood floor. I considered telling the others but decided that, if she wanted to sneak out, it was her prerogative. As long as she came back, that’s all that mattered. Otherwise, I’d go hunting.
Just like I did when she didn’t come back to class yesterday, but she doesn’t need to know that.
I’m quickly realizing that’s my obsession; hunting her, capturing her, rescuing her when she’s a damsel in distress. But she’s far from a woman in need. She’s the alluring, wicked evil thrumming through my veins, unknowing of what creeps in my thoughts.
It’s impossible to deny it to myself anymore, not after last night. The memory repeats in my thoughts as I watch her sway her ass in front of us. She thought it would be cute to try and sneak out this morning too, but Zane, Creed, and Eldon were at their wits end, desperate to get back into her good graces and they were ready.
I held back, though. Watching. Waiting.
Last night was revolutionary for me. The list of what I like about her quickly outweighs what I hate. Suddenly, my anger feels predatory, desperate, and almost sinister when I think of all the things I want to do to her.
Swiping a hand over my mouth, I slow my pace, putting a little more distance between me and the group so I can think and appreciate her.
I like that she pushed back last night.
I like that she didn’t give a fuck that we were twisted up with worry over where she was or what had happened.
I like that she put herself first.
I like that she isn’t so doe-eyed over the others that she relented to appease them.
I like that she was on the verge of delirium.
I like seeing her a little unhinged, even if I still don’t know why. That’s going to change.
But most of all, I like that she pushes me.
My hates are the issue, and she’s going to hear all about it when we finally have a good talk—a talk that is definitely coming, whether she likes it or not. The others are going to pepper her with questions all day but I’m going to bide my time and learn everything there is to know for when she least expects it.
I keep my permanent frown in place and my gaze on her ass as we move down the academy halls. When we reach Professor Fitch’s classroom, he’s waiting outside for us.
“We’re going to have a lake trial today,” he announces, his voice gruff and sharp. “Everyone head to the locker rooms and change into your wetsuits. I’ll meet you down by the lake.” He shoulders through the crowd of students without another word, only offering a partial smile to his daughter before continuing through the masses.
Confusion and surprise seems to be on everyone’s tongue as murmurs rise.
“What’s this about?” Zane asks, leading the way toward the locker room.
I shrug.
“They seem to be upping the game preparations. In a little over a week we’ve had the Gauntlet, the swords from Figgins, and now this,” I state as Raven slips past us with Leila to head to the girls’ locker room.
“Are they worried?” Eldon asks, pulling my gaze from the sweet flare of Raven’s hips. I bite back my irritation, acting unfazed.
“They’re definitely trying to speed up our learning. For what though, I don’t know.” I press my thumb to the tip of the clothing hook, waiting for the wetsuit to present itself before I start to change.
“Maybe they should focus on our actual magical abilities then,” Creed mutters, hanging his blazer up, and I nod in agreement. It’s clear we’re being left in the dark about a lot and the method behind their madness is yet to be revealed.
Nothing more is said on the topic as we finish changing and head back outside. Two seconds later and Raven is strolling out with Leila at her side. My cock is going to be prominent through the wet suit any second. I can’t hide my reaction to her in this fucking thing.
That’s another thing to add to my hate list.
We tail behind them like before, heading down the walkway to meet Fitch at the water. Excitement starts to buzz through the air when everyone sees the two-man watercrafts littering the shore.
“I’m going to call out names in twos and that will be your pairings. You’ll share a watercraft to search for the coin linked to each of the wet suits you’re wearing. Speed isn’t the main priority today. It’s all about following your instincts, listening to the connection and following it. The nets on the back of the jets will help you. Any questions?” He casts his gaze over everyone but no one raises their hand so he proceeds to call out the pairs. “Genie and Finn. Leila and Eldon. Creed and Zane. Brax and Raven.”
Fuck yeah. It seems today is my lucky day. To be partnered with her after all of the revelations I’ve had, there’s no escaping it.
Once he’s reached the end of his list, he waves for everyone to find their own watercraft.
Raven glances back at me with a nervous glint in her eye and I smirk. “After you, Shadow.”
Her eyes narrow and I’m not sure if it’s at the nickname or the fact that she’s paired with me. Either way, I like it.
We reach the closest one and she tosses a glare over her shoulder at me. “I’m driving.”
“Okay,” I murmur, and she gives me a suspicious look. I’m assuming she was waiting for me to argue with her, but sitting at the back sounds good to me.
I push the watercraft out into the water and hold it still as she climbs on. She mumbles her thanks, likely hating that she feels obligated to say it, and I swing my leg over the back of the seat and settle in behind her. I make a conscious effort to not sit flush against her. She doesn’t need to know how affected I am by our close proximity.
A few people take off on their jets and Eldon makes Leila scream as he goes full throttle while Raven’s eyebrows pinch in confusion.
“What do we do now?”
“Blast it. We may as well have a little fun while we figure out where it’s trying to lead us.”
Without another word, she hits the throttle, forcing me to grab on to her waist before I fall in the water. I feel her body tighten at my touch as the wind whips around us, but she doesn’t tell me to move. The faster we go, the more distance we cover and I feel the tension inside her slowly ebbing.
Eventually, she slows, lifting one hand to her chest and I stretch out to grab the handlebar.
“What’s wrong?”
“I feel something,” she mutters, nibbling her bottom lip. “This way,” she breathes, taking off again, and this time I keep my hand rested beside hers. “Could you pass me a net please?” she asks as she comes to a stop again. I reach behind me to grab one for her.
It almost feels odd, being civil with one another. Who knew?
She makes a conscious effort not to touch my hand when she takes it from me and slowly starts to swish it in the water to our left, getting deeper and deeper into the water until I’m sure she’s going to fall in.
I grab her waist and she startles. “I’ve got you.”
She rubs her lips together, considering my words for a moment before she nods and leans further into the crystal blue water. “I’ve got it,” she says with a gasp, bolting up straight in her seat with a hand-sized coin in her net. The pleased expression on her face surprises me.
I unclip the small box at the back of the watercraft, taking it from her and storing it away. Now it’s my turn to figure it out. Reaching for the handlebar again instead of her waist, Raven stops me before I get all the way, grasping my hand with a frown.
“What happened to your knuckles? Why are they busted up?”
Fuck.
“Don’t worry about it.”
Her frown deepens. “I can’t help it. What happened?” she insists, meeting my gaze this time as her hand remains on mine. I shrug. “Wait…” she breathes, her eyes widening to saucers as she gapes at me. “I remember Zane saying something about you speaking with Sebastian yesterday to find out where I was. Does this have something to do with that?”
I raise my shoulders dismissively. “He deserved it.”
Raven’s jaw goes slack. I can’t tell if she’s mad or thankful. “I’m sorry,” she finally murmurs, making me frown this time.
“What for?”
“Not being able to heal it.”
“I wouldn’t let you anyway. I like the sting, the bite of pain, and I relish in the damage I did to that fucker’s face.”
Her smile grows at my words, adding another thing to my like list. I’m so screwed.
Deciding to push my luck, I quirk a brow at her. “Since we’re sharing, are you going to tell me about yesterday?”
Her hand quickly drops from mine and she faces forward in her seat once more. “No.”
“Why’s that?” I ask with a smirk, crowding her as I place both hands on the handlebars without actually touching her.
“It’s not for anyone else to worry about.” Hmm. That’s not what I was expecting.
“Well, we both know I don’t worry about shit so why don’t you enlighten me?” I retort, and she peers over her shoulder at me, wavering slightly before she shakes her head. Inching closer, I bring my mouth to her ear. “How about you don’t push me away and I don’t push you away,” I breathe, and she shivers.
“Fuck that, you’re full of shit,” she rasps, and I pull her back against me so she’s flush against my chest, the press of my cock nestling between her ass cheeks.
“Try again.”
She squirms against me for a moment before she finds her tongue. “The feel of your impressive dick isn’t going to make me spill.”
Fuck.
“Are you sure?” I push again and another shiver runs down her spine. “How about you tell me what happened yesterday, and I won’t tell the others how you snuck out.”
“What the fuck? Did you follow me?”
At least she’s not trying to deny it.
“No.”
“Swear it?”
“Swear on what, Shadow? You left, you came home, the rest is your business. Unless it involved Finn or some other fucker, then the gloves are off.”
“Of course it didn’t,” she grunts, sinking into my hold a little more, and I nuzzle my nose against her throat.
“Then tell me.”
I know I’m pushing—hard—but the second she wavered the first time, I couldn’t help myself. I know my chances are slim but I’ve always had a way with odds.
“When you guys concealed the mark when I got here, it didn’t remove the suppression that it represented. So, that’s what my parents forced on me yesterday.”
What. The. Fuck?
“Tell me everything,” I bite, my body vibrating at the fact she said forced. Much to my surprise, she does. She spills everything, about the seer and what her parents said, as well as the message she found when she went back last night, everything.
When she’s done, it’s like she’s zapped of energy, her body limp in my hold as I prop her up.
“So, to clarify, you’re being a bitch to be kind because you’re scared you can’t trust anyone, worried who might use you and why, but mostly petrified of the target that may be put on your head and those you care about?”
Slowly, she sits tall again, twisting in her seat to look at me properly. “Pretty much.”
If anyone understands that, it’s me. My parents died. The thought of being close to anyone ever again and feeling that loss or making someone else feel that way over me has driven me for as long as I can remember.
“You’re crazy. Do you know that?”
She snickers as she shakes her head. “I don’t know what the fuck I am.” Her admission kills me. I can feel her pain, but more than that, I can sense her confusion and loss.
I don’t even touch her this time and she nestles back against me, wiggling her ass slightly against my dick as she tilts her head to keep her eyes on me.
“Don’t look at me like that, Shadow.” I know exactly what she’s doing and I’m not a polite gentleman like Eldon who will honor her under any circumstance. I want to defile and take while bringing her to the greatest heights.
“Like what?”
“You’re playing a dangerous game. You won’t like it when I get my hands on you, Raven. What I’ll do to you,” I breathe, watching her eyelashes flutter as she shivers for a third time. I’m hanging by a thread and I’m ready for it to snap.
“You don’t want any of that,” she mumbles, her eyes narrowing at me. But the lust floating in her irises only grows more prominent.
Banding my arm around her, I splay my fingers out over her stomach, wishing the wetsuit wasn’t there. “What I don’t want is the way you get under my skin without even trying. What I don’t want is to admit how much you consume me. Actually, there are a lot of things that I fucking hate about you, Shadow,” I growl, unable to stop the dam now that it’s open. “I hate that you make me scared, terrified. I hate how fast you have me under your spell. I hate how quickly you’re trying to make me fall. I hate how much I want you.” My breaths are ragged, as are hers, and it spurs me on. “What I want is to chase you, claim you, take you. And I hate that too.”
Her pupils are blown as her tongue sweeps out to wet her lips and she waits for the other shoe to drop, but there is nothing else. That’s all of it. On the table for her whether she wants it or not. I’ve been holding it in for what feels like an eternity, but she started the eruption when she kissed me on Friday night.
If this is anyone’s fault, it’s hers.
“Fuck, Brax,” she whispers, searching my gaze. But I’m done.
“I warned you what would happen if you continued to look at me like that, Shadow.” My voice comes out darker than usual as I reach around her to grab the handlebars and start the jet up again.
Instead of clinging to the handlebars with me, her hands go to my thighs, her nails digging in as if to be sure that I’m real, that this is real. Rushing us to the shore, I make sure to get to the shallow waters before I cut off the power.
“Run.” I lean back, giving her space, but she twists to look at me in confusion.
“What?”
“Run.”
“But class,” she breathes, looking around us, but no one is here. Fuck class, fuck my coin, I couldn’t give a shit about anything else but her.
“Run, Raven. The hunt starts now.”