Shadowborn Academy_ Year One (Dark Fae Academy #1) - G. Bailey Page 0,51
cloying with alcohol and food that makes my mouth water. The gorge itself is corded off with a protective barrier; I can see it shimmering in the lights, and there is nothing but blackness down below.
Izora points to the assortment of tables someone has frozen to keep all the bottles of alcohol cool. “I’ll be over there if anyone needs me. Is that all right, Professor?”
“You’re all old enough to drink whatever the fuck you want.”
I gasp in horror. “Professor Gale! Did you just swear?”
“He does a lot more than that,” Sage whispers, nudging me on the shoulder and winking. “A lot more. He can do this thing with his to—”
“Out of school, call me Jakob,” he quickly intervenes, his cheeks heating up at whatever Sage was about to say. “You owe me a drink.”
I watch him drag Sage off to one of the makeshift bars. Izora follows them, though she gets sidetracked by her best friend on the dance floor. Nobody seems to bother about a teacher being here. Maybe he’s a regular at these kinds of parties? Who knows. That guy must have some serious skills because he’s managed to make Sage like him, and he’s chilling out with everybody like he’s just another student.
“Vina, you came!” Ronan shouts, coming up to me. “Do you like beer?”
I accept the proffered bottle and take a sip. “Not really, but damn, do I need it.”
“Hard day, huh?”
I think about Echo, and my heart sinks into the pit of my stomach. “Yeah. You could say that. I wonder what Izora is doing.” I smoothly try to divert the conversation.
I don’t want to tell Ronan that I broke every rule in the Book of Zorya to bring Echo back last night. I also still don’t know how he died, but I have a hunch it wasn’t natural causes. I know Zander had no part in it. He was so shaken over the ordeal, and while he might be a Shadow Warden, I don’t think he’s a killer. He’s not like me.
“She’s over there, dancing.”
I follow Ronan’s finger to the crowd of students moving to the music. She’s dancing with another girl who I think is her best friend from the year above. Kione is making out with a cute boy next to them, and Willow Greene and a bunch of scantily-clad girls are dishing out their best white girl moves. Willow looks like she’s trying to find her keys.
Once I finish my beer, Ronan goes to grab some more and I join Izora on the dancefloor. Her black, off-the-shoulder dress is quite similar to what I’m wearing, except mine is royal blue with gold laces around the waist that form a corset.
I have always loved to dance, for as long as I can remember. Today has been so crazy that right now, all I want to do is dance with friends and lose myself to the music. I lift my arms and allow my thoughts to drift until all I can think about is how to move my body in time with the beat.
Sage and Ronan quickly join us, bearing drinks. The way Sage’s silver sequin dress moves against her body as she dances reminds me of the moon shimmering against water. It’s so good to see her smiling like this again, so free and uninhibited.
I dance with her and the others until my feet are aching and I need to sit down. As a slower song comes on, my friends turn away to get more drinks, and I follow them.
“You’re a sick dancer,” Jonah says, appearing in front of me and blocking my path. “Wannna dance with me?”
I run my gaze up and down his body. Fuck, he looks hot in his dark blue shirt, the buttons all left undone so you have no choice but to stare at his six pack and toned chest. His trousers fall low on his hips, and I gulp at the happy trail that disappears into them. But no. I can’t. He’s a bit of an asshole and I really don’t have time right now to date assholes.
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
I slide by him and try to walk away, but Jonah grabs my arm and spins me around. His other hand finds purchase on the small of my back and he pulls me close to him, so close his aftershave wraps around my senses.
“What do you want?” I snarl, wriggling my hand free from his grip.