Wintertide Read online

  Suddenly the door burst open and Sebastian came running in, followed closely by Calex.

  “What the fuck Jaxon?” Sebastian demanded as he pulled her from my arms. “You were supposed to teach her, not knock her out.” He stared at her face and ran a hand gently down her cheek as Calex hovered, watching anxiously. “I don’t care who your father is, you will end up in solitary for this.”

  “I didn’t do it,” I snapped out and they both looked away from her at me.

  “What do you mean?” Sebastian asked. Calex studied me curiously and I was sure he was watching for any hint I might not be telling the truth. After all, who was better prepared to spot a sin other than the son of the devil?

  “She did,” I said simply.

  “What?” he asked again.

  “She did, professor. I didn’t make any of this.”

  “Don’t lie, what did you do to her?”

  Before I could speak, Calex interrupted, “Professor, as much as I hate to side with this piece of shit, he’s telling the truth.” He narrowed his eyes on mine and I was certain he could feel my guilt. While I didn’t make the ice, I certainly had contributed to it and for that I felt bad.

  Sebastian shot his gaze to Calex, accepting at last that I spoke the truth. “You,” he said to Calex. “I have seen you do something to help her when she gets out of control. Help her,” he demanded.

  “I don’t know what I do,” he frowned. “It just, sort of, happens.”

  “Well get your ass down here and at least try. Her breathing is growing more shallow and even I can only hold onto her lifeline for so long,” he pleaded.

  Calex dropped to his knees next to them, his wings covering her from my view, so I stood and shifted to the side. I didn’t know how I felt about this girl anymore, but I didn’t wish her any harm, even if she so blatantly lost control of her magic. My mind raced with the stories of ice taking over a person, but I couldn’t recall how it had been fixed, simply that if you didn’t control it, it could freeze someone like this.

  The tip of his wing nestled on her thigh, needing the contact, and I knew the connection everyone had thought they saw in the cafeteria was very real indeed. His large hand covered her chest, his size making her look even smaller than she already was and he spread his fingers out, covering as much of her as he could. His other hand stroked her hair, running down the light tresses as he watched her, searching for what to do.

  Slowly, I noticed the ice on her skin had begun to melt away, falling in little trickles to the floor beneath them. Sebastian looked at Calex, astonished, and I swore there was gratitude there as well. I guessed the gratitude was more so his ass wasn’t canned by my father, for allowing not only two students to be alone together, but also not supervising his little pet project.

  Finally, Calex pulled his hand back and looked up at the professor, “There’s nothing more I can do,” he said gruffly.

  We all watched her as she lay in his lap, wordlessly hoping that she would come around. At last she sucked in a breath and her eyes blinked open as she looked between us. We let out a collective breath that none of us had realized we had been holding as Sebastian slowly helped her sit up.

  Everyone watched her expectantly. It looked like the little ice sorceress had some explaining to do.

  Chapter Eleven

  Slowly I opened my eyes and found myself staring into three sets of sexy, expectant eyes. I let out a soft groan as Sebastian helped me sit up and fought back the wave of dizziness that washed over me.

  “Why does everything hurt and why am I laying on the floor?” I looked between them for an answer as I tried to recall what happened. My head felt fuzzy and I knew there was something I was missing but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure it out. Damn, I was sick of waking up like this. “Did you put me out again?” I glared at Sebastian.

  Calex laughed in his sexy way that just made every part of my body feel like it was engulfed in flames, while Sebastian looked at me horrified. “No! I wouldn’t do that again without warning you, Eva - Evangeline. I was hoping you could tell us what happened,” I noticed how quickly he had schooled his voice to sound like a professor to a student. Oddly enough, I found it extremely sexy.

  Jaxon hovered over me along with the other two, though he stood a bit further back. When I met his gaze, his worried expression quickly turned from concern to unattached interest. It was the switch in him that had my memory come flooding back. The anger I felt that he would judge me without knowing me. The way my power had exploded inside me and felt like it would make me burst at any moment.

  It had been like every single emotion that was building since before I was even stuck in this prison had come out and I knew I had almost destroyed everything around me, including myself. I was grateful that my body shut itself down before I could cause any harm to anyone. Even the dickhead Jaxon.

  I felt nothing but shame that I had lost control, yet again. My parents might have sent me here for the wrong reasons, but maybe it was for the best. I needed to get control of this before something worse happened. Suddenly, a deep sense of tiredness washed over me, like nothing I had ever felt before. For the first time in my life I had expended so much energy that it had depleted me.

  “I’m so sorry, Jaxon. I didn’t mean to do any of that,” I looked up at him with regret, my eyes still heavy with exhaustion. “I have no clue what came over me. I’ve just been so angry lately, at my parents, at being here, at myself. I couldn’t stop it.” A tear trickled down my cheek and rolled off my chin to join the rest of the water on the floor.

  As it hit the water, I realized I was sitting in a large puddle of water and my clothes were soaked all the way through. Just fucking great, all I needed was to look like a drowned rat in front of three sexy guys. Not to mention, they could probably see right through my shirt.

  Wait, three sexy guys? Either my hormones were all over the place from losing so much control of my magic lately, or this school was overflowing with hot men.

  “It was my fault,” Jaxon said with a nonchalant shrug. Calex and Sebastian glared at him and he held his hands up in a placating manner. “Look, I may have said the wrong thing when I walked in the room. You know I can be an asshole sometimes. How was I supposed to know that she was on the brink of exploding?”

  Calex growled at him, there was no other explanation for the deep grumble that emanated from his chest and instead of finding it weird or off putting, my thoughts went immediately to how arousing it was. He started to stand but I grabbed his hand, hoping it would stop him from attacking Jaxon because he looked ready to kill.

  Sure, Jaxon was an asshole, but I couldn’t say it was entirely his fault. I had overreacted to his simple comment, and though my explosion was something that was a long time coming, he still didn’t deserve it, or Calex’s anger. Calex settled back next to my side, gripping my hand in his as if it were his lifeline, but he never removed his eyes from Jaxon.

  Before my sexy dark angel could change his mind, Sebastian spoke up. “You’re right, Jaxon. It was my fault for not being here to introduce the two of you. I knew how volatile and unchecked her magic was. Your first encounter should not have been alone.”

  I looked around at the aftermath of my destruction, puddles of water filled the room as the ice and snow melted. Water dripped down the walls where the frost had covered them, it ran down the desks as well, a steady drip that reminded me of a leaky faucet.

  What surprised me the most were the tall pillars of ice that were still in the center of the room, slowly melting. I couldn’t believe how high they went and if the puddles on the floor were any indication, they had already melted a great deal. “I’ve never had this happen before. Never created so much,” I breathed out, astonished at what I had done. I sighed and tried to get up the rest of the way, I supposed I needed to get the buckets and start cleaning it up.

  Sebastian held me firm in his lap and Calex actually assisted him, “Where do you think you’re going?” Calex asked.
r />   “I need to get this mess cleaned up. I’m not trying to cause any problems,” I informed him, only to be held in place again.

  “Ice, you need to take it easy, you’re not cleaning this up. I have a guy that owes me a favor anyways, so I’ll make sure he cleans this up and keeps quiet,” Calex assured me with a wink. I wondered for a moment what favor I would owe him for taking care of my mess. “No one has to know, right?” he looked pointedly at Sebastian.

  “No, no one will know about this as long as we all keep quiet,” Sebastian agreed before turning to Jaxon. “I expect you will keep this from the headmaster, considering your part in it?”

  Jaxon rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t tell my father Jack shit,” he said before he started laughing uproariously at himself. I didn’t understand what was so funny and I glanced at Sebastian for clarification to see his lip twitching as he tried to not chuckle along with him.

  Calex leaned close to my ear, his voice low and seductive, though I was sure it was unintentional. “His father’s the headmaster of our lovely establishment, and his name is Jack,” a deep chuckle vibrated from him and sent shivers pulsing through my body. It made me want to pull those sexy full lips to mine and feel him like before.

  Sebastian cleared his throat, “Let’s get you back up and moving before anyone comes by. I have some herbs that will help you regain your strength so that you can make it back to your room unaided. Calex, go get the guy who will clean this up,” Sebastian started giving commands and I found myself wanting to feel his lips against mine also. “Jaxon, you are dismissed unless you have anything to add,” he looked at him for a response. When Jaxon shook his head he continued, “We will try this again tomorrow. With me here.”

  Jaxon nodded and left without a backward glance. Calex leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my temple before following him out, leaving me alone with Sebastian. My cheeks flushed and my heart raced as I realized I was still cradled in his lap. He reached into his pocket and pulled a small vial from his robe. He uncorked it and started to lift it to my lips.

  “What else do you have in those pockets?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood. Instead a blush creeped up my cheeks when I realized what I had asked. I had no clue why I was suddenly so damn wanton, but good grief the men in my life were hot as fuck lately.

  “I would love nothing more than to show you,” he grinned at me, heat in his eyes before again clearing his throat. “The taste is not pleasant, but it will help you quickly.” I opened my mouth and he tipped the liquid in. A burning sensation washed over my tongue and slid down my throat as I swallowed, making me shudder. I tried to hold back a cough, not wanting to seem ungrateful or weak in front of him, but still I coughed despite myself.

  He reached in his cloak again and pulled out a bottle, lifting it gently to my lips again to pour in my mouth. The cool liquid tasted like tea, and was refreshing after the burning caused by whatever it was in the first vial. It had a hint of mint with lemon and chamomile and took away the burning sensation quickly.

  “You certainly have a lot in those pockets,” I smirked as the potion worked its way through my body and I started to feel my energy come back.

  He laughed, “I have to be prepared for anything in this place. Do you think you can stand now?”

  I nodded as he shifted from beneath me and I took his outstretched hand. My legs were still a little wobbly as he pulled me up and they buckled beneath me as I tried to stand. As they buckled, I lost my footing and crashed into his hard chest, his warm and woodsy scent enveloping me. He wrapped his arm around my waist to steady me, and the heat I felt this time had nothing to do with the potion.

  Sebastian hesitated an inch from my lips, his breath brushing against my skin before he leaned down and delicately pressed his lips to mine. My heart ached, connected to his in a way that was completely and totally our own and I had a desperate need to feel more. I deepened the kiss and let my tongue slide over his bottom lip, the quiet groan that he let out sending a thrill through me. He pulled me closer, devouring me, no longer tender as our tongues danced together in rhythmic movements that sent sensations to my core.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my breasts against his chest, running my fingers through his long soft hair. Even this close contact wasn’t enough and I leaned against him more, looking for what my body instinctively needed. He slid his leg between mine and his hands cupped my ass, letting me grind my pussy against his thigh. The strange new friction gave me a pleasure I hadn’t realized before and he pulled my ass close, making me take more.

  His lips moved to my neck, sucking gently as he kissed up to my ear. “Eva,” he whispered as he pushed his leg into me hard causing me to tremble as heat passed over my mound.

  “Please, Sebastian, I need you,” I pleaded breathily, unsure of what my body ached for, or what I was even begging for, I simply knew I wanted it. He pushed me harder and faster against him, his breath coming out almost as desperate as mine as my desire peaked and my legs were unsteady again. I grasped at his back, my fingers digging in as I fought for control, but still driven by my need for more.

  “Let go for me, Eva,” his voice thick with lust washed over me and caused pleasure to crash through me as my core pulsed and my whole body quivered. I buried my face in his shoulder and cried out my orgasm as it surged through my body. He ground my pussy against him a few more times, making me ride out the pleasure before he held me close and peppered kisses on the top of my head. After my first orgasm ever, I realized why books were written about this kind of thing.

  As my breathing steadied, I felt his hardness against me. I wanted to return some of the pleasure he had given me, I didn’t know how, but I knew I wanted to try. Unsteadily, I moved my hand down and felt his bulge through his pants and my pulse spiked again, knowing I had done this to him.

  He groaned as I rubbed him through the fabric and he pushed harder into my hand. A thrill raced through me as I realized he was getting pleasure from what I was doing. I explored what I could through his thin pants, the large length captivating me and making me brazenly curious. I wanted to feel him in my hand, feel his skin against mine without the barrier. I shifted his pants to the side and slid my hand down, finding him completely bare beneath.

  He hissed out a breath as I came in contact with him. Need inexplicably wracked through me again as I stroked the velvety smooth skin. It was so soft and so contrary to the hardness, it mesmerized me and made me want to find out more. I was so entranced with feeling him, with his reaction to my unsure strokes, that the rest of the world ceased to exist around us.

  I closed my hand around the tip and found a small bead of moisture. It made heat shoot to my core again, knowing he was slick with his own desire. The idea of his excitement drove me forward bravely and I gripped his dick a bit firmer and slicked my hand over his tip and back down his shaft. He let out a low groan, his dick stiffening even more in my hand, and making me revel at what I could do to him.

  My hand dipped lower on his cock, but instead of the reaction I was hoping for he shoved me back. His rejection stung, until the lust induced haze lifted and I heard someone entering the room. Quickly I straightened myself and turned to find Calex already returning with the other guy as promised. I recognized him as the water fae that had fought in my first class.

  Sebastian cleared his throat, “Evangeline is fine now and just needs to get some rest.” He looked at me, the regret and need clear in his eyes as he spoke. “Will you be alright to walk to your room by yourself?” I nodded my head, unable to speak for fear of my voice betraying what we had just done.

  “Good. Calex, I’ll need you to supervise the cleanup. I need to get to a meeting that I’m already late for.”

  “You got it professor,” Calex winked and I had the feeling Sebastian was going to owe him. A tinge of guilt washed over me knowing it was me that made the druid indebted to him. Sebastian nodded and sauntered out the door, closing it behind him.

  As soon as the door
closed Calex crossed the room to me and gently put his hands on either side of my face, a concerned look crossing his. “Are you alright?” he asked, ignoring Sebastian’s information that I was fine.

  “I’m okay,” my voice came out more tired than I expected, considering moments ago I had all the energy in the world. “Do you want me to stay and help?”

  He caressed my cheek, “No, Ice. I want you to go get the rest you need. Beck and I have it covered.”

  Beck shifted nervously and asked with more confidence than it looked like he felt, “Are we good after this?”

  I’ve never seen a man change moods so quickly as Calex turned to Beck, “No. We will never be even. This is just a small portion of what is owed to me. We will be even when I say so and not a moment before. Got it?”

  Visibly gulping, the water fae nodded and started his work. It was hard to not watch as the water swirled up to his hands and seemed to disappear within him. Calex turned to me, his features softening, “Go. Get your rest before I don’t let you go.”

  I nodded, guilt stabbing at me over the care he showed for me after I was just with Sebastian. “Thank you Calex. I owe you for your kindness.”

  Fire burned in his eyes and he spoke firmly, “No, Ice. You will never owe me anything for what I do for you.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek chastely and even with the brief contact I found myself wanting more. Instead of giving in to my sudden lust-filled urges, I walked away and left, feeling a bit empty as I closed the door behind me.

  The hallways on this floor were seemingly abandoned. Other than a few guards stationed through the hall, lazily looking me over as I went by, I passed no one. No other students were around and I figured they were probably taking advantage of their free time before our required dinner.

  It was quiet as I made my way down the stairs and I was happy to be alone for once. I needed to think about what had just happened with Sebastian and my shameless desire for Calex right after. I didn’t understand how I could be so attracted to two men so deeply. And it wasn’t just a desire for sex either, considering I had just experienced my first orgasm. Though if I were being honest, I would be seeing about making that happen again as soon as possible, even if it meant me taking care of it myself.