Dragon Fire Academy 1 First Term an RH academy romance - Rachel Jonas Page 0,59

now, as my own force rivaled that of the Darkness on the other side. A warm trickle of blood fell from my nose, but I couldn’t stop. Not until it stopped. I knew that, if I did, that would be the end.

All of a sudden, the bright, green glow faded, and then disappeared. Then, as if my body sensed the very second the threat had left us, I fell to the bathroom rug in a heap—exhausted, wondering what the heck had just happened to me.

“Is she okay?”

“We have to help her.”

The tiny voices moved closer, and one lifted my head into their lap as I fought to stay conscious.

“I think it’s safe now. We should get someone,” one of the kids suggested, which sobered me even more quickly.

“No!” I called out, reaching for the boy’s arm, stopping him just as he touched the knob. “Wait a little bit. For me?” I asked with a smile, not wanting to terrify any of them any more than they already were.

With the faint light coming from beneath the door, I made out his silhouette when he nodded.

Slowly but surely my strength was returning and I could sit up on my own. Sydney handed me a piece of tissue and I thanked her before using it to wipe the blood beneath my nose.

Things were quiet outside now, from what I could hear, but that wasn’t necessarily a good sign. For all I knew, everyone was dead, and this group of kids and I were the only ones left.

That is, until I heard my name being yelled.

Still shaking, I stayed silent. Even when several other voices joined the first. It was difficult to tell from behind the closed door, but I was almost certain it was the guardians. Still, as desperate as they sounded—like they feared the worst—I didn’t respond.

What if it’s another trick?

What if the entity is counting on my soft spot for the guys?

“Noelle!”

When a fist slammed the bathroom door again, the kids yelped, and I gathered as many of them as I could in my arms.

“Noelle, it’s Kai.”

I wanted to believe that, but—

“I know you’re scared,” he went on. “I promised I’d keep you safe and I failed, but please. Come out if you’re in there, so I know you’re all right.”

My heart lurched at those words.

If that was Kai, did he really think he’d let me down? Did he really think I would hold it against him that he couldn’t stop this from happening? The thought occurred to me that he carried the guilt of not being able to save Malu’s father on his shoulders, but now I knew for certain. He felt responsible.

For everyone.

Always.

“It’s okay,” I said quietly to the children, reassuring them as I stepped out from the middle of the huddle we formed on the floor.

I thought twice about opening the door, but decided to trust myself. Before, I felt the entity when it was near. That feeling wasn’t present now.

Exercising extreme caution, I opened the door, and was relieved to see Kai standing there. Without thinking, I threw my arms around his neck, and the connection I felt toward him when we kissed in the grotto overwhelmed me now, too.

“Thank God you’re safe,” he spoke against my neck. Being in his arms brought a sense of relief I couldn’t put into words, even if I tried.

“I’m so sorry,” he continued, but I quieted him right away.

“This wasn’t on you.” When I backed away to look him in the eyes, I wanted him to know I meant that from the bottom of my heart.

It took a moment, but he nodded. Then, a strange pang hit me right in the gut.

“The other guys, they’re okay?” I asked in a panic.

“They’re fine. They were out searching the property for you, but I just told them you were okay.”

His answer made me smile, knowing he’d had that conversation in his thoughts while we held one another.

It wasn’t until the door creaked open behind me that I even remembered Kai and I weren’t alone. Turning, I held out my hand for Sidney to take it, and the others emerged from the room behind her. Kai glanced over, locking gazes with me.

“You protected them,” he said with an air of surprise in his tone.

Smiling, I shrugged. “We protected each other.”

Sidney giggled at that, revealing deep dimples set in her round cheeks.

Knowing the kids were anxious to go, I turned to Kai. “Is it all clear down there? Janet … she attacked me at