Spring (Evermore Academy #2) - Audrey Grey Page 0,67

difference is they have a choice. I do not.

Valerian roars as he batters the shield trying to get to me, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent. Burst after burst of his magic slams against the thin partition separating him from me, but the shield’s power feeds from the entire academy, and it refuses to break.

Asher joins him, their combined magic rolling outward in waves of pale blue and orange, one frosting the shield and the other scorching it.

But I already know the divide between us cannot be breached, and I might as well be in another realm entirely. Unreachable and . . . alone.

With a psychopath.

“What are you . . . doing?” I demand.

Ruby is freaking out, squirming where she’s trapped inside my vest. I can’t even reach my hand in to protect her because the force of the wind has them pinned against the magical wall.

Hellebore chuckles, an arrogant, lazy laugh that’s much closer than I anticipated. Adrenaline floods my veins as I feel his breath warm against my ear.

He still has yet to touch me. Yet to do anything but taunt me with this stupid, impossible wind.

“One touch,” he murmurs. “That’s all it would take and you would beg me in front of your Winter Prince and the entire school to take you.”

I snort, wild laughter bursting from my throat. “To take me? Yeah, to a bookstore so I can buy you a book on better pickup lines.”

“You’re cheerful, for someone who no longer has a future.”

“Bullshit, you can’t touch me without permission.”

“You’re right. I can’t physically touch you.” His voice is softer now, teasing, like he’s my lover and not a wacko forcing me into a weird roleplay game.

Ignoring his insane voice, I focus on Valerian. The teachers are working now to try and undo the spell, but Valerian has stopped, his eyes holding mine, willing me to be brave as he mouths, I’ll come for you.

Oh, God, that means . . .

I don’t even see the portal open up, but suddenly, Valerian and the others just disappear. I’m in a . . . garden. The same one Hellebore took me to last time.

The cloying scent of magic fills the air and then vines of jasmine, honeysuckle, and ivy shoot from the cobblestone path, sprouting and twisting into an elaborate cage that walls us off from the rest of the world.

And then, just to show off, I assume, the flowery cage lifts into the air, drawn by a swarm of thousands upon thousands of monarch butterflies.

Meaning no one can see us. Meaning I’m now alone and defenseless against this raging sociopath, who’s obviously decided he no longer cares if I’m protected.

Weapon! Before I can so much as turn around or go for my sword, tendrils of ivy wrap around my wrists and waist, and I’m jerked around to face Hellebore. The vines wind tighter and tighter around my flesh until I’m immobilized against the cage, unable to move. Pinned like a butterfly to a board.

I open my mouth to fling an insult his way, but he shakes his head, a stupid little smile on his face. “Say one more thing I don’t like and I’ll gag you, understood?”

His eyes flick down as Ruby bursts from my vest, a war cry on her lips. Something flashes to my right, and Hellebore’s sprite appears from seemingly mid-air.

I watch the two tumble through the spaces between our cage of jasmine and ivy and disappear.

“Now, where were we?” he asks smugly, knowing he has all the time in the world to torture me. This is his land. It might be infected with the scourge, but it still gives him incredibly strong powers. “Oh, yes. Touching you. I may not be able to physically touch you without your permission, but, as you can see, that doesn’t really matter. Besides, I find everyone gives me permission eventually . . . when asked the right way.”

I thought I hated Inara. I thought between the loathing I felt for her and Cal, I would never despise someone more than I do them.

But the murderous, blinding rage I feel for Hellebore in this moment burns so hot that I fear I’ll burst into flames.

He takes one look at the wild fury in my eyes and draws closer, a moth to my fiery hatred.

My heart jackknifes into my sternum as, slowly, intentionally, he plants his hands on either side of my head. He’s so close I can smell his scent over the sweet perfume of jasmine and