Wintertide Read online

  “I don’t need my father’s protection to take care of the likes of you,” he bit out.

  She rolled her eyes as she walked back to me. “But what about protecting you from him?” she asked smarmily pointing at Calex before turning her attention to Jaxon. “Too bad for you, she’s already claimed, by not just one, but three guys from what I hear. Bet you will come crawling back soon,” Alayana pouted. “So, sister,” she looked back at me and clapped her hands together enthusiastically, “Do I get to tell them, or do you?”

  The power raced through me. I had gotten away from her torment only to have to face it again. This time it was worse because she was determined to destroy the life I had finally started to enjoy. The people I had begun to grow close to and want to be part of something with. Fury took hold and Jaxon’s muttered words at my side fell on deaf ears. “They know enough, Alayna. It’s none of your business.”

  She glared at me and then looked at Jaxon, her grin spreading, “Hmm, but I do know a secret that not even you know, Evangeline.”

  My fingertips froze over, the crystals forming across my knuckles and creeping up my hands. Calex squeezed my hand, reassuring me and soothing me. That was all it took to ground me, I was not going to lose control because of her ever again. I gave his hand a brief squeeze and dropped it, taking a step toward her.

  She glanced over her shoulder at Carmen, “Get ready, I told you it wouldn’t be hard to make this one lose control. Even if the dust failed. She really does make it so easy,” her laugh fell away as she looked back at me and saw the fury within me.

  “I will never lose control because of you again you stupid bitch. All of my life, I wanted to belong. I wanted to be part of something and time and time again you took that away from me. Until everyone I tried to be close to was sent away. Even our own Mother and Father shunned me. You won’t be allowed to do it anymore,” I bit out.

  Alayna lifted her hand and the ball of electricity rolled in her hand, its blue orb crackling as she pulled it back to fling at me. “And what are you going to do about it? You're pathetic.” The crowd around us let out a gasp at her blatant display of power, but again I didn’t give two fucks. She was not taking what was mine. Not this time.

  I focused on the blue, pictured it captured in a ball of ice and with a deep breath I let my magic flow onto her palm. The blue orb stopped its spinning and crackling and became suspended in ice. Alayna stared at it in shock before she dropped it and it shattered to pieces at her feet.

  “I think she gets the point,” Jaxon said as he urgently gripped my shoulder to pull me back. But Alayna had something else in mind as she let out a growl, “Don’t you fucking protect her ice boy.” She pulled back and flung one of her balls of energy toward us. Instantly, I waved my hand in front of us and shot a large crystal up from the ground, the ice shard blocking her hit and protecting Jaxon and myself.

  Her eyes went wide as the ice receded again. “You?” she breathed in disbelief.

  “I’m not your doormat any more, Alayna,” I stated firmly as I hoped she got the point and left me alone.

  I should have known she wouldn’t drop it. Once she got her talons in something she stuck it out, especially when she didn’t want to be made a fool of in front of people. Without warning she flung ball after ball of her energy in our direction. I raised my hands and drew a sheet of ice from the ground up. My breath heaved out, this was more energy than I had ever purposely used before, and holding it steady was beginning to take its toll.

  I was at my breaking point and it was time to shut this down. She needed to learn she was no longer in control here. I looked into myself, that line Jaxon had talked about and this time I found it easily as it glowed within me. With a deep breath I focused on the feeling, the power that I knew came from within and I sent my magic out directly at the ice wall, shattering it to pieces and sending it flying toward her.

  The ice shards soared around her, falling just short of hurting anyone as I intended, but at the same time stopped her from her little display. She was seething, I could see it in the way she breathed heavily and the fury that emanated from her.

  “It doesn’t have to be like this Alyana,” I attempted. “We don’t have to fight anymore.”

  “Don’t you get it?” she shook her head. “It’s about power. It’s always been about power.”

  “That's where you’re wrong. It’s about so much more than that.” I told her quietly, the gentle hum of my connection with my guys ensuring me they were there, supporting me. Even Sebastian who had stepped up to the upper rail along with the strange man. I couldn’t understand why I felt panic rolling off Jaxon, but it didn't matter, I knew I could handle this.

  Alayna lifted her hands and electricity shot from her palms to the ceiling, the long rows of fluorescent lights shattering and raining down on us as we were thrown into darkness. Chaos erupted around us as she continued to shoot thin trails of energy out at us, their lights slashing thin trails through the dark, illuminating the terror on the other students' faces. I knew it was time to put a stop to it.

  A storm began to rage around us, the bright flashes of blue struck out and illuminated the snow and ice that blew around us. The winds howled as they wrapped her little tendrils of electricity within it and froze them as the snow and ice encapsulated them. They were rendered harmless and the weight dropped them to the floor to break apart.

  The storm pummeled her, pushing her back a few feet as I pulled what magic I could feel left in me toward the surface. A soft blue glow began to surround me, pulsing outward as it lit the space as bright as if we were in the field outside. Suddenly the winds stopped, and the snowflakes stilled, suspended in the air as Alayna stood panting at me in her anger.

  I flung my hand outward and sent my power reeling toward her all at once. The wind and snow all rushed toward her in one gust, the air around me moving so fast with the force that it pulled my hair and skirt in her direction. She was thrown into the opposite wall and before she had time to drop I pulled ice crystals outward from the surface, surrounding her and spearing just through her blouse to hold her in place.

  “Didn’t you know blue balls aren’t that great?” I quipped as I turned and left her stuck to the wall, the blue glow fading fast from the room as I made for the exit.

  As I rushed out of the cafeteria the man on the railing caught my attention. Even in the fading light, I could feel his steely glare following me. I glanced up to the balcony and noticed the pair of ice blue eyes that matched Jaxon’s as he watched me almost hungrily. I shuddered under his gaze but quickly dismissed it. He was probably just pissed at my blatant use of magic. That much power could get the guards in trouble for allowing it, and no one had stepped in to stop me. Little shit was overlooked, but what I had just done was not little by any means. Even I knew that. I was about to be in deep shit along with them though if I didn’t get out of here fast.

  I scrambled down the nearest hall, my mind racing with the consequences of what I had just done. I had heard about solitary, and I dreaded it more than anything else here. Not only would I face one of my biggest fears, being left alone for days on end, but there were stories of torture happening down there, and I knew I wasn’t cut out to handle that.

  I needed to get out, and fast to give myself time to think. Una’s room came to mind and I knew it would be the perfect place to lose myself for a few hours while I tried to figure this shit out. I busted through the door that indicated No Students Allowed and searched the wall as she had used. I knew one of these bricks had to budge. Damn it, I should have paid closer attention. Frantically, I pushed against the wall, one of them had to give.

  Finally, one depressed and the wall let out a grating sound as I darted into the opening and made to find the interior switch. Calex, Blade and Jax sped through behind me and Calex reached up and depressed the switch from inside, quickly closing us in.

  My breath came out uneven and heavy as the adrenaline wore off and fatigue began to overtake me.
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br />   “What the hell was that, Ice?” Calex looked at me disbelievingly.

  “Me done letting my sister win?” I quipped as my knees gave out and Blade scooped me into his arms. His muscled arms bulged beneath me as he gently carried me over to one of the covered crates and set me down.

  “That was one hell of a way to show her, kitten,” Blade said as he straightened.

  “And the dust? What was with that?” Calex asked.

  “I have no clue,” I insisted.

  “I might know something about that,” Jaxon said sheepishly from near the exit.

  Blade darted across the room and pinned him against the wall, “You better spill, and fast before I end you where you fucking stand.”

  Calex crossed the room and put a hand on Blades shoulder, “Let him go Blade. He might have some explaining to do, but he isn’t the one that hurt her. In fact he saved her,” Calex said, his voice low, the command laced through his words. Blade might be an alpha, but not much more trumped the son of the devil.

  I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding as Blade released him and Jaxon stood against the wall.

  “Well?” Calex demanded. He may have convinced Blade to release him, but it was very clear he could just as easily let him end him.

  Jaxon let out a sigh as he looked at me for understanding. I knew with how he had exposed his magic in front of everyone like that to save me he had to have an explanation. I only hoped whatever it was would convince the guys finally that he was on our side.

  “I overheard Carmen and Alayna discussing how they were going to hurt you. I played along so I could find out more. They told me about their plan to get you high on pixie dust so you would lose control of your magic and be sent to solitary. Once you were down there, they were going to have a steady supply slipped in your food, keeping you crazy until they eventually gave you enough to overdose,” he admitted.

  “You didn’t think to say something before now?” Calex boomed out.

  “I just found out myself. I didn’t think they would act so quickly,” he added.

  “Well, that's what you get for thinking,” Blade snarled as he paced the room. “What would you have done if they had actually gotten to her?”

  “I wasn’t going to let that happen,” he snapped back.

  “We could have helped Jaxon,” Calex supplied.

  “I should have told you sooner. Again, I didn’t think they would act that soon,” he stated regretfully.

  “Guys, cut him some slack. He clearly didn’t know. He made up for it in spades by saving my life. He didn’t have to expose himself like that,” I spoke up from my seat, still not trusting myself to stand.

  Slowly they seemed to agree and backed off.

  “Well, there’s more,” he said with a wince as we all stared at him in disbelief. What more could there be?

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Fuck,” I swore as my father looked at me, his icy glare somehow even colder and more detached than ever before. I knew I was going to be in some serious shit. Not only for using my power in the open, but for the fact that he clearly saw the extent of Eva’s magic now too. Instead of sticking around and waiting for his wrath I made the impulse decision to follow Eva and make sure she was okay.

  While I thought my icy wind had gotten it all, I needed to be sure and see for myself. I followed them through a corridor and passed through a heavy door and quickly ducked behind the brick wall with the other two guys.

  They were rightfully pissed at what happened, though I hoped they would hear me out as I explained the rest. I could use short on time for my reason for not informing them sooner about the pixie dust thing, but the rest, I had no excuse other than selfishly wanting to get out of here.

  I took a deep breath, the two didn’t seem to want to kill me any longer, but they certainly waited on edge for an explanation. They deserved it, hell they all deserved it. I had held back my secret long enough and it was time to come clean.

  I walked between them and took the seat across from Eva as the other two stalked behind me. Blade leaned against the wall at Eva’s shoulder and Calex took her side, flanking her in, ready to pounce at a moment's notice.

  “Jaxon, whatever it is, we will deal with it together,” Eva said earnestly as I ran a hand through my hair, her kindness shaming me even further.

  “My father is the warden, Jack Frost. That part isn’t a secret, but he has one that no one else knows about,” I started. I had no clue how to explain this. How to explain the shame.

  “He has an unquenchable thirst for power. It was the whole reason he took this position, he had easy access to those that had power and when they disappeared, little to no questions were asked,” I told them.

  “What are you getting at?” Calex asked, watching me carefully, I was sure for any sign of deceit. He wouldn’t find any though it was long past my time for secrets.

  “Exactly that. My father figured out a way to absorb people’s magical abilities, making them his own. Even at the risk of taking someone's life. He doesn’t care and he is insatiable. He is always careful to not show the other powers he has, unless in the company of someone that he’s taking their life anyways.”

  They all watched me quietly waiting for me to get to the point, so I continued, “Well, Eva came, and he knew that we shared the same sort of magic based on her parents accounts. He wanted me to use that commonality as an in with her. Get close to her and learn exactly what kind of power she had and report back to him. In return he promised me my freedom.”

  “So, you spied on her?” Calex ground out as his wings trembled, showing the fury his voice didn’t.

  “Initially yes,” I admitted, but continued quickly before they could get too angry. “Once I started to get to know her though, I was unable to be his little spy. I saw the kindness she had in her, even toward someone like me, and I just couldn’t. I knew what he wanted with her power, and I wasn’t going to be the one to give it to him. Instead, I lied to him, made it seem like her parents were looking for attention and she was incapable of even creating a snowflake.”

  “Now though, he knows the truth. He was standing at the rail watching everything. He will be gunning for her for sure now.”

  “That man was your father?” Eva finally spoke up, the tiredness evident in her voice. I was only grateful that she didn’t seem angry with me in the least.

  “Yeah,” I replied, ashamed.

  “Oh,” she said quietly. “That would explain a lot. Like the way he looked at me.”

  “Eva,” I plead, “he will stop at nothing to get to you and your magic. You need to figure a way out of here, and fast.”

  “Don’t worry, we won’t let anything happen to you, Ice,” Calex spoke up as Blade grunted his agreement.

  “We still need to get her checked though. We need to make sure she has no effects of pixie dust since it was so close to her,” I told them.

  “Sebastian,” Blade stated.

  “He would be one we can trust, and the one that can make sure she didn’t inhale any,” Calex answered.

  “I’ll go get him,” I volunteered.

  “No, we don’t need your father getting to you at the moment. If I’m not far off base here, he’s going to be pretty pissed now that he’s got reason to believe you lied to him,” Calex insisted.

  I nodded, “You have a point.”

  “Blade and I will split up and search for him. You are to stay here and protect Eva. No one in, no one out. Understand?” he ordered.

  “Got it,” I agreed, surprised they were trusting me with her alone. I had betrayed them after all and I was certain they would cast me aside.

  “We will return shortly,” he leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips oddly making my dick twitch as I saw the passion flare in her eyes at the brief exchange. Blade followed suit before they both left.

  The room fell into silence before I finally spoke up, “I’m sorry, Eva.”

  She looked up at me, her large eye
s full of emotion. “Jax, I get it. I know why you did what you did. I would have expected the same of anyone in your situation, looking for a way out. Anyways, you didn’t actually betray me. You were hurt, to consider reporting back to him is natural.”

  “You forgive me?” I asked, hope brimming at the surface.

  She stood and crossed the room and stopped in front of me. “There is nothing to forgive,” she smiled that breathtaking smile of hers and my heart all but stopped.

  Slowly she leaned down and pressed a light kiss to my lips, her softness quickly ensnaring me as I pulled her closer, deepening our embrace. My tongue danced with hers and the rich, cool taste of her filled me. I drank her in as if she were a drug and I would never get my fix.

  The small moan that escaped her coursed through me and made me want more. I eased her back on the covered crates at last letting my hands roam over the gentle curves of her body, reveling in the way she trembled beneath my touch.

  Her hands ran up and fisted in my hair, pulling me closer and demanding more. My dick stiffened, aching for its release as the thoughts of making her cum for me filled my head. Her back arched against the crates as I dipped my hand beneath her skirt and found her hot and waiting core, such a contrast to the coolness that radiated from her.

  I was driven mad with the need for her, but I wanted to see the passion fill her eyes before we found our release together. Having dreamt of this moment for so long, I needed to relish in the reality. I slid one finger into her waiting pussy, making her tremble beneath me, her excitement driving me forward. I thrust again and again, groaning when she finally released my hair and gripped my shoulders as one leg wrapped around me riding my hand.

  “Fuck, Jax, you make me so damn hot. More,” she cried out.

  A wicked grin crossed my face as I pulled my finger out, and letting the ice flow to my fingertips I added a second and thrust into her. Her surprised gasp followed by her low moan of pleasure had my dick throbbing with desire. I thrust my icy fingers into her pussy, the walls instantly spasming around my fingers with her imminent orgasm. “Take it, Eva,” I told her as her body quivered beneath me and she rode my hand to her finish.