Goody Magic Academy, Year Three

Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

H eadmaster Tarus had kindly told us that we could stay at Red Rose Academy tonight, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. I stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, shadows dancing across its surface as moonlight filtered through the thin curtains. Finn’s and Jaxon’s faces swirled around in my brain, appearing every time I closed my eyes.

My chest tightened as I considered my conflicting emotions. If only I could be attracted to sweet, dependable Finn. He was loyal, trustworthy, and he clearly adored me, his warm brown eyes always filled with affection. But my feelings for him were only ones of friendship. No, I had to go and fall for the bad boy with the attitude, the one who made me feel like I was constantly teetering on the edge of a cliff, both terrified and exhilarated. Finn just didn’t make my breath quicken or my heart race the way Jaxon did.

Jaxon. Just thinking of him sent a shiver down my spine, my pulse quickening despite my attempts to stay calm. I tossed and turned in bed, the springs creaking with each movement. Twyla’s soft snores filled the room, a rhythmic counterpoint to my racing thoughts.

I ran a hand through my hair distractedly, wincing as my fingers caught in a few tangled strands. My pajama shirt clung to my slick skin, the fabric rough and uncomfortable. The blankets twisted around my legs like constricting vines, trapping me in a net of restlessness.

With a frustrated sigh, I sat up. The walls of the room seemed to be pressing in on me, the air thick and stifling. I couldn’t bear it any longer.

As quietly as I could, I swung my legs over the side of the bed. The floorboards were cold against my bare feet as I tiptoed across the room. I paused at the door, glancing back at Twyla’s sleeping form, her chest rising and falling peacefully.

I crept out of the room, wincing at the soft click of the door closing behind me. The hallway was dimly lit, shadows lurking in every corner. I took a deep breath, the cool air a relief after the relative stuffiness of the bedroom.

Some fresh air was what I needed. Maybe a walk around the campus would clear my head. Anxiety and anticipation coursed through my veins but the night air beckoned, promising solace from my tumultuous thoughts.

As I made my way toward the exit, the floorboards creaked softly beneath my feet, each sound making my pulse quicken. The musty scent of old wood and dust tickled my nose, threatening to make me sneeze.

Just as I opened the front door, a hand pushed it closed again.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest as I turned, the blood rushing in my ears as the familiar scent of cedar—unmistakably Jaxon—filled my nostrils.

He put his hands either side of my face and leaned close. His breath was warm against my skin, carrying a hint of cinnamon.

I panted, putting a hand over my racing heart. “I couldn’t sleep… and thought some fresh air would help.” My voice came out as a shaky whisper.

He picked up my braid, the gentle touch sending shivers down my spine. “You should be careful. There are hungry vampires out there.” His voice was low, almost a growl, and I caught a whiff of something metallic on his breath—was it blood?

I grabbed my braid out of his hand, my fingers brushing against his cool skin. “There’re hungry vampires in here too.” The words came out breathier than I intended, the air between us thick with tension and the sweet, intoxicating scent that seemed to emanate from his very being. “Now, do you mind?” I tilted my head in exasperation. “I want to get some fresh air.”

Jaxon’s eyes gleamed mischievously as he placed his slender fingers underneath my chin. The touch sent electricity through my body. “I’ll protect you,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.

I cocked my eyebrow, fighting the overwhelming urge to lean into his touch. “I’m a black dragon. I can protect myself.” The words sounded less forceful than I would have liked.

He ran the back of his knuckles down my cheek, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. “But do you have full control over your power?”

The answer was an obvious no and my cheeks heated, but I refused to admit that. Instead, I just folded my arms across my chest, trying to ignore my fluttering heart and the heat rising to my cheeks. “Are you going to let me pass or not?” I managed to keep my voice steady…just.

A smirk played over his lips as he stepped aside and opened the door for me with an exaggerated flourish. “My lady,” he purred, his eyes never leaving mine.

I brushed past him, acutely aware of how close our bodies came to touching. The cool air hit my face, but it did nothing to turn down the heat of the blood pumping through my veins. And Jaxon could probably feel it—vampires and their damned heightened senses.

As I walked out and into the night, I could feel Jaxon’s gaze burning into my back. I was tempted to spin back to take another look at that cocky grin and those eyes that I swore could see right through me. But I kept walking, trying to convince myself that the shivers running down my spine were from the cool air, not the lingering effect of his touch.

Moonlight played peek-a-boo with me through the oak trees, casting shifting shadows across the ground. Spanish moss draped from the large branches like ghostly curtains, swaying gently in the night breeze. Crickets chirped their nocturnal symphony.

The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and sweet magnolia blossoms. Each breath I took filled my lungs with the heady aroma of the Southern night, making me feel slightly intoxicated—or maybe that too was just the lingering effect of Jaxon’s presence.

“Peyton,” he said softly. He had followed me outside.

Every fiber of my being screamed at me not to turn around, to keep walking, to put distance between us. But something in his tone pulled me like a bee to a flower, irresistible and enticing, wrapping around me like silk and tugging at something deep within my chest.

Slowly, I pivoted to face him. The moonlight caught his features, highlighting the sharp planes of his face and making his eyes glitter dangerously. He stood there, silhouetted darkly against the silver-lit night, looking every bit a predator.

Before I could react, he closed the distance between us in two swift strides. His arms encircled me, strong and unyielding, pulling me to his chest. I could feel the solid muscles of his body as the coolness of his skin seeped through my thin shirt.

Then his lips were on mine, and the rest of the world fell away. He kissed me deeply, passionately, as if he were a man dying of thirst and I was the last drop of water on earth. His mouth moved against mine with an urgency that set my blood on fire.

I knew I should push him away. But in this moment I was unable to remember a single reason why this was a bad idea, and my body betrayed me, melting into his embrace. My hands found their way to his hair, tangling in the silky strands as I kissed him back with equal fervor.

The night air no longer felt cool; it crackled with heat and electricity. The chirping of the crickets faded away, replaced by the thundering of my heart in my ears. Nothing else existed but the two of us, locked in an embrace that felt both dangerous and inevitable.

As we kissed, I found myself wondering if I was making a terrible mistake or embarking on the most thrilling adventure of my life. With Jaxon, it was impossible to know.

His lips trailed down my neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. “You’re all I can think about, Peyton,” he breathed against my skin. “I promise I’ll protect you at Ravenwood Estate.”

My fingers clutched desperately at his shirt as he held me close, reassuring me with his gentle words and comforting embrace. He lifted me up in his arms and then gently lowered me onto the plush grass, my back sinking into its dewy softness. He moved his hands up my body, lifting my shirt over my head, exposing my bare skin to the cool breeze. I wanted this so much, wanted his hands and mouth on my body. As if reading my mind, his lips were suddenly on my bra, sucking hard and sending shivers down my spine. I gasped in pleasure as he continued to explore my body with his lips and hands.

His fingertips pressed into my cheek, sending a jolt of electricity through me that set my nerves on fire. As he leaned closer with a hungry gaze, I could feel the heat of his breath wash over me, igniting a wildfire inside that threatened to consume me. My body trembled with a mix of fear and longing as he trailed his hand down my quivering belly, stopping at the edge of my lacy panties. Anticipation built inside me like a ticking bomb, waiting for his next move.

Before our lips could touch, Twyla’s voice shattered the moment like a siren.

“Peyton? Where are you?” she called out, her tone anxious, like a parent searching for their wayward child.

Panic seized my chest as I tried to compose myself, but Jaxon’s intense stare told me he wouldn’t be satisfied until we both succumbed to this raw desire.

“Jaxon...” I gasped for air. The magnetic pull between us was overwhelming, and I knew deep down that I didn’t want him to stop.

“Twyla? What’s wrong?”

The headmaster’s voice stopped us both cold, as surely as if a police officer had shone his flashlight into a parked car.

“I can’t find Peyton,” she said. “She wasn’t in our room when I woke up. I’m worried something has happened to her.”

Jaxon groaned in frustration. “Damn it. Another time, Peyton. I want to hear you scream my name.” He moved away from me and helped me pull down my top.

My cheeks burned with shame as Twyla and the headmaster headed toward us, under the oak tree. I smoothed my hair nervously, hoping I didn’t look as flustered as I felt.

Jaxon cleared his throat and stood up first, gallantly offering me his hand. I took it, trying to ignore the lingering warmth of his touch as I rose to my feet. There were blades of grass stuck to my bare legs, and I hastily brushed them off.

The headmaster’s eyes narrowed slightly as he approached, his gaze flicking between us with barely concealed suspicion. A step behind him, Twyla wore a similar look, as if she couldn’t believe I was entangled with the enemy.

I knew she thought I should choose Finn, but it wasn’t her choice. It was mine.

The headmaster’s eyes swept over us, taking in our disheveled appearances with obvious disapproval. His gaze lingered on our joined hands before settling on Jaxon, his expression morphing into one of utter contempt.

“I suggest you both come inside,” the headmaster said quietly, his voice low and heavy with barely contained anger. Each word fell like a stone in the tense silence. “You’re supposed to be protecting her, Jaxon. Not seducing her.”

His accusation hung in the air, sharp and cutting. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, spreading down my neck and up to the tips of my ears. Shame and embarrassment crashed over me in waves, making me wish I could disappear into the ground beneath our feet.

“I am protecting her,” Jaxon countered fiercely, his voice a low growl that sent vibrations through the air. “I will always protect her. She’s mine.”

His words sucked the breath from my lungs. My heart stuttered and raced, and heat bloomed across my cheeks, warring with the chill that had zipped down my spine.

Mine. The word echoed in my mind, alluring and terrifying all at once. Did he really mean that? The intensity in his amber eyes made me want to believe him, so desperately. Jaxon was everything I’d ever wanted in a man—or in this case, a vampire. Strong, protective, dangerous.

But tomorrow...

My stomach churned, acid rising in my throat. Tomorrow, he would sell me to the highest bidder, all in the name of getting the Dragon Nexus. I swallowed hard, tasting bile.

I forced myself to meet his gaze, searching for any hint of deception but seeing none. “Yours?” I whispered, the word barely audible despite the stillness of the night.

Jaxon’s hand cupped my cheek, his touch strangely gentle for someone so strong. I leaned into it involuntarily, even as another part of me screamed to pull away. His thumb brushed across my lower lip, and I shivered.

“Yes. Mine to protect,” he murmured, his cool breath fanning across my face. “No matter what happens tomorrow.”

I nodded, not trusting my voice. In less than twenty-four hours, my life would be in his hands—and those of whatever monster bought me at auction. I could only pray that Jaxon’s promise wasn’t a hollow one.