I pulled against him as he forged forward. “It’s not what you think.” I couldn’t get him to stop. I’d messed up. I shouldn’t have looked at Reese. Crap. I shouldn’t have come back in the club at all with my emotions running high.
Jace was almost to the other side of the room, and I had to do something before he attacked Reese. My mind reeled. I jumped in front of his path, and he stopped. Then I grabbed his face and planted my lips on his. His lips were firm, unyielding to mine at first, as if I’d shocked him. Then I felt him give in. He cradled my face between his palms, and his lips parted against mine.
As we kissed, I maneuvered his back toward Reese, hoping he’d forget about him if he didn’t see him. After a several seconds, I pulled away. Jace’s eyes shone bright blue, and he smiled. I smiled back and quickly slid my eyes in Reese’s direction.
Reese leaned against the wall, his eyes and hands blazing red. The beer bottle he held heated, taking on the red glow…then shattered.
Chapter Sixteen
REESE PUSHED OFF THE WALL, fuming. He took one step toward me, then halted. He stared at me, and his eyes flashed violet. He quickly shut them, blinking the purple away, and headed out the exit.
I sunk against Jace. Reese had let his control to slip. It had only been a split second, but I’d seen it. My chest felt hollow, numb. I’d allowed my emotions to control me, acted on my anger. And Reese had almost given himself away. I buried my head in Jace’s shoulder.
This is wrong.
“Hey,” Jace said into my ear. “You all right?”
I nodded against his shoulder. “Yeah.” I drew back and looked into his eyes. “Want to get out of here? I think I’m ready to go back to the Academy.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
I wracked my brain for something that wouldn’t make him flip out. At least the kiss had calmed him down. “He just said something about the Shythe, Jace.” I held his eyes. “It was stupid. I don’t even know what he said now that made me so mad.”
His eyes studied me a moment before he nodded. “I get that.” He feathered a loose strand behind my ear. “You really want to go? Are you tired?”
“I’ve been working a lot of late nights on my project. I think my brain is fried.” I tilted my head. “Not to mention the late night get-togethers.”
“True.” He smiled easily. “I’ll tell Lana and Nick we’re heading back early.”
I watched him walk off, my heart slamming into my feet. What had I done? I’d just confirmed that we were together. A couple. I’d watched Reese’s reaction. I didn’t know if he was jealous, or pissed because I’d thrown kissing Jace back in his face. Whatever his feelings were toward me, he was furious now. There was no hope. I’d killed us for good.
Jace walked me to the girls’ wing of the Academy, and we stopped before the spiraling staircase. I still couldn’t ride the lift alone. He leaned forward, his fingers lifting my face to his.
“I know things are weird,” he said. “I think after a while it’ll fall into place. I still look at you most days and imagine the best way to take you down.” He laughed. “But now, I don’t feel as bad fantasizing about kissing you, either.”
My face burned. “Well, yeah, but I think we know who has the upper hand. You’re not letting me win at practice, are you?”
“No,” he said, placing a kiss on my forehead. “You do have mad skills. Trust me, I struggle to keep up with you.”
“Thanks, you’re not so bad, though, for a guy.” I cocked my head. “By the way, I told my mom I’d stop by and visit with her tomorrow.”
Jace nodded once. “We should probably go see our parents, too.” He dipped his head, his eyes finding mine. “Later, though?”
“Yeah. We’ll get together.”
He moved forward and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. I tried to match his tenderness, but my mind kept flashing to the angry expression on Reese’s face. I leaned into the kiss, giving him what I had left of myself before pulling back.
We said goodnight, and I bounded up the staircase to my room. After changing into my pajamas, I lay on my bed, staring at the currents flickering inside the crystals along the wall. They moved