Page 19 of Wicked Chains (Serpentine Academy #2)
Seventeen
Rose
As soon as I wake up in the morning, I’m reaching across the bed with eyes still closed, my fingers searching.
My heart does a painful squeeze, the one that comes when I expect someone to be gone.
As my hand touches empty sheets, I open my eyes, and my breath catches.
Drake is still here, looking at me with those haunted blue eyes, a little smile on his face that makes me smile back.
"You stayed."
"You asked me to." He reaches out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Yeah, but..." I trail off, not wanting to admit that I expected disappointment. "You look comfortable," I say instead, rolling onto my side to face him properly.
"And you look smug." His fingers trace the curve of my cheek, his eyes studying me. "Like the cat that got the cream."
I can't help the grin that spreads across my face, then reach out to touch his face, because I can. Because he's here. "Thank you for staying."
Instead of answering, Drake moves suddenly, pinning me beneath him in a motion so quick I don’t have time to think about it; I just feel the weight of him on top of me, the press of his body against mine.
"How could I leave when you look at me like that," he murmurs, his lips a breath away from mine.
"Like what?" I can feel the heat rising in my core.
"Like you want me." And then he's kissing me.
I respond immediately, my arms coming up around his neck, pulling him closer.
His body is cool against my sleepy, warm skin, a delicious contrast that sends a shiver through me.
I hook a leg around his waist, and flip us over, so I'm straddling him.
The sheet falls away, and I'm suddenly very aware that I'm completely naked.
Drake looks up at me with his hands settling on my hips. "You are so beautiful, Rose." He’s said it before, but this time I’m starting to believe him.
I lean down to kiss him again, lingering, enjoying the moment, the feeling of being wanted, of being seen. His hands slide up my sides, leaving goosebumps in their wake, and I forget all about assemblies and blood marks and psychotic headmistresses.
Until the alarm I set on my phone goes off and ruins the moment.
"Ignore it," Drake says, his hands gripping my waist tighter.
I groan, reaching over to silence the offensive noise. "I can't. They called an all-school assembly. Mandatory attendance."
"Since when do you care about mandatory anything?" Drake's thumbs make circles on my hipbones, distracting me from the responsible thoughts I'm trying to have.
"Since the new headmistress can make my life even more of a living hell than it already is," I say, though I don't move to get up.
Drake's hands move higher, skimming the undersides of my breasts, and I let out an involuntary little moan as his thumbs brush over my nipples. “Oh, God. Drake, I can’t.”
"I'll make it worth your while," he promises, pulling me down for another kiss.
For a minute, I consider staying. But I’m on such shaky ground right now that I don’t want to find out what the consequences are of disobeying Helena, so I reluctantly pull away.
"I have to go," I say, though I make no move to leave the warmth of my bed. "Trust me, I'd much rather stay here with you."
Drake sighs, his hands falling away as I slide off him and start hunting for something to wear. "You're choosing an assembly over me? I'm wounded, truly devastated."
"Oh please," I laugh, pulling on underwear and jeans.
He props himself up on one elbow, watching me as I tug on a clean shirt.
"Besides," I say, hunting for my shoes under the bed, "I'll leave Hank to keep you company." I concentrate for a moment, picturing my little frog familiar, feeling the pull of our connection.
A small green glow materializes on my desk, solidifying into Hank, who blinks his eyes at us.
"Ribbit," he says, which might be frog for "good morning."
Drake eyes Hank with exaggerated suspicion. "I'm not sure I'm ready for that level of commitment. Meeting the family already?"
I throw a sock at him, which he dodges. "Be nice to Hank. He's the reason I found you."
"Then he has my eternal gratitude." He looks at Hank. "Though I draw the line at sharing my girlfriend with a frog."
The word "girlfriend" catches me off guard, a warmth spreading through my body that has nothing to do with how aroused I am right now. I busy myself with putting on socks to hide the ridiculous smile threatening to take over my face.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." I lean over to give Drake one last kiss. "Try not to disappear on me again."
"Just hurry back."
I grab my hoodie and head out the door. The hallway is already filled with students heading to the assembly, their faces ranging from bored to annoyed to anxious.
The assembly hall is crowded when I arrive, rows of seats filled with reluctant students. I spot an empty chair near the back and slide into it, listening as the murmur of conversation dies down when Helena Wickersly strides onto the stage.
"Students of Serpentine Academy," she begins, her voice carrying without the need for a microphone, "as you all know, we will be hosting Serpentine’s annual Family Day event in two days."
Great. A whole day of watching rich kids show off for their even richer parents. I think I’ll plan on spending the day in my dorm room.
"This is an important tradition," Helena continues, "and a crucial opportunity to showcase the changes that have been made under new leadership. I expect each and every one of you to be on your best behavior."
She drones on about schedules and expectations, about representing the academy with pride, about the prestigious families who will be in attendance.
"Even those students who will not have family attending," Helena says, her eyes finding me in the crowd with unerring precision, "are required to participate fully and are expected to attend."
She looks at me like I'm something unpleasant she's found on the bottom of her shoe as she delivers her reminder that I'm alone here, that I don't have anyone coming tomorrow. No loving parents to show me off to, no family connections to leverage. Just me and my frog.
A movement to my left catches my eye. Soren, standing against the wall with the other faculty, rolls his eyes dramatically like a teenage girl. His gaze meets mine across the room, and he makes a small gesture with his hand like a puppet's mouth opening and closing, mocking Helena's speech.
At least someone else sees through her bullshit.
As Helena finally wraps up, releasing us all with a dismissive wave, I glance back at Soren. He winks at me, a quick flash of silver appearing in his black eyes, before turning away to speak to another professor.
Maybe I'm not as alone as Helena wants me to feel.