Dakota doesn’t move even as I bend forward so that my lips are near the curve of her ear. “Do you need my assistance?” She gives a nod, unable to speak.
Reaching out, I place one arm beneath her legs, and the other I wrap around her waist, pulling her up and into my embrace.
The students begin to whisper as I carry her out of the sanctuary, the lights flickering on behind me as the rest of the teenagers prepare for their exams.
Once alone, I slow my pace as I wander down the empty corridors.
I prefer having Dakota in my arms, much to my dismay. I feel compelled to hold her, as if the world seems right whenever I’m in close proximity to her.
“What are you doing?” She croaks.
My gaze lands on her face. “I’m taking you to the infirmary. Ms. Evergreen should have no problem looking you over.”
Tears stream down her cheeks. “What happened to me?”
Cradling her with one hand, I use a free hand and gently wipe a tear away from her face. “You were hexed. Someone put a spell on you. Rest easy, you’re safe.” I press my lips to her forehead and when I pull back, Dakota’s eyes have fluttered shut.
Pulling her closer to me, Dakota’s head tucks under my chin and she feels like she’s been molded to my chest.
Not that I would dare to complain, for I quite like the feeling of her in my arms.
Hearing voices, I crane my head to stare over my shoulder. Two older women, both teachers, are whispering in unison. Speaking in a language that I’m not familiar with.
Surprisingly enough, beyond the women is Valdine. How she managed to get behind us I have no clue, more than likely a spell I reckon.
“Max?” Dakota sounds petrified.
I blink a couple times; I’d been staring down at the main artery in Dakota’s neck. The idea of feeding on her flesh and blood sends my body in a frenzy.
My teeth sharpen past my lips as I open my mouth, leaning down to get just one taste…
“Max!” She’s shouting as I trip, coming to my senses. I drop her and she lets out a hoarse cry.
Whirling on my heels, the two women have stopped but I know what they are. They’d given themselves away by hexing me into almost killing Dakota. They’d used her blood against me, and they will die if I have any say in the matter.
“What do you want with her?” I snarl.
The woman to the left, Ms. Hale waggles a gnarled finger at me. “Her blood swims in your veins. She cannot be allowed to live!”
Ms. Greenfield is off to the right, the skin on her arms sagging as she raises her hands. “You’re smitten with the girl and that’s not allowed!”
“Max!”
I turn sideways to find Dakota has two fairly large pythons circling around her. They’re poisonous and if I don’t act fast then she could die. Her death does not set well with me.
Whipping back around, I snap at the witches. “I’ll leave her alone. I swear on the blood I was turned from. Just leave her alone.”
Hale and Greenfield, both women eyeball me, then disappear in a plume of black smoke.
Valdine sags against the wall, having just been beyond them. I can tell she’s exhausted, and as I turn to gather Dakota up in my arms once more, the pythons are gone, and I know that Valdine had them disappear as their masters had.
Dakota has a hand to her neck, her eyes swimming with tears. “M-Max?” She croaks out.
I stop cold when her hand peels away. There is a scar, it’s wrapped around her neck like a necklace. Except it’s not a necklace, but a mark to symbolize what I promised to those witches by staying away from her. They want me to be sure to uphold my end of the deal. The scar looks raw, and bloody as if she’s had the top layer of flesh peel away from her skin.
“I—” I swallow hard, unable to form the words.
How could this have happened?