Zen and the Art of Major Magical Control Read online

  Glancing up, he saw a huge snowball. In the next second it came crashing down on top of him. The world was suddenly dark, cold, and wet.

  It only took him a moment to burn his way through the giant mass of snow, but the match was already over. Ms. Yang held her hands up, telling him to stop. The yuki-onna stood with a slight grin while their classmates laughed.

  Every year his opponents got tougher, but Dylan was still used to winning. Or at least ending the match in a draw. In this class, he was getting beaten over and over. It was frustrating.

  One of the seniors had even teased him about it: “This is the kid who killed a dark fae? Must’ve been luck.”

  Nobody had dared to tease him for years. The urge to prove him wrong had boiled inside Dylan, but he didn’t need another suspension. He’d earned some leniency with the principal and the PTA, but he’d be an idiot to push it too far. Not to mention Warden Bully.

  A few more comments like that though, and he was going to snap.

  Dylan glumly shook the girl’s hand and went back to the bench.

  “You did good,” Aiden said.

  “I lost.” And his clothes were soaked from melted snow.

  “But you like a challenge, don’t you?”

  He did, but this was too much. Until he’d been kidnapped and hunted like an animal, he’d never felt… vulnerable. Weak. And the dark fae attacking him at the pit had made it worse.

  Now every match was a reminder that he wasn’t as strong as he’d thought. There were things out there that could kill him. Now he was being whooped by kids only a year older than him.

  If Aiden hadn’t trapped that dark fae, if Dylan hadn’t gotten hold of his knife…

  “Next up,” Ms. Yang said. “Aiden and Jabu.”

  Aiden gave Dylan a nervous glance.

  “You’ll do fine,” Dylan said.

  His friend still panicked sometimes, but he’d gotten a lot better. Which was great for a lot of reasons, including a selfish one. Every time Aiden panicked about magic, guilt twisted inside Dylan. He’d been the one to cause it in the first place.

  Dylan still had nightmares about turning and throwing fire at Aiden, the shocked look on his friend’s face. Aiden had never been mad at him for it, and that somehow made the guilt worse.

  Aiden stepped over the wards surrounding the center of the gym and walked to one of the blue circles outlined in the dirt. Jabu stood in the other circle several yards away. Jabu was an impundulu, a lightning bird, and one of the toughest opponents in class.

  This year they were in annex three, the biggest of the three gym rooms. It had a dirt floor to accommodate nature-based powers like Aiden’s. Also unlike the other gym, it didn’t have any stands. The practice area took up almost the whole room, with enough space along one side for the rest of the class to watch.

  Ms. Yang called for the match to start. Aiden looked almost calm as Jabu gathered lightning in his hand. Then vines shot from the floor under Jabu’s feet. He jumped away from one, but the other caught him. A third vine appeared, catching the light in an odd way. It looked shiny.

  It caught Jabu around the wrist, and his lightning fizzled out. “What the heck?” He reached out with his other hand, but nothing happened. “What did you do?” The guy looked slightly panicked.

  Ms. Yang must have had an idea, because she was smiling as she declared the match over. “Oh, very good, Aiden.”

  “I had the vine carry a wire with it. When it touched him, it grounded his electricity.” Aiden grinned. “Magic and science.”

  The vines unwound, and Jabu shook his head, smiling. “Well, that’s a new one.”

  Aiden cast a guilty look at Ms. Yang. “I uh, might have broken something under the building.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll get it fixed.”

  Aiden wasn’t just doing okay, he was doing great. Better than Dylan.

  Dylan high-fived his friend as he returned to the bench. “Awesome.”

  “Thanks.” The smile was back.

  A nasty feeling of jealousy sat like a weight on Dylan’s chest. He wanted to be happy for Aiden, but all Dylan could think about was how Aiden was getting better while he seemed to be getting worse.

  * * *

  The ground was cold, but Marisa had thought to bring a big blanket for them all to sit on. “I’m gonna miss our picnics,” Brooke said, “when we’re trapped in that smelly lunchroom all winter.”

  “Yeah, this is nice.” Carter tilted his head back and took a deep breath.

  Hanna looked around at them all with a smile. Being with her pack filled a hole inside her and made her content in a way she’d never felt before.

  Marisa scooted a little closer. “So we’ve been talking.”

  We? As in the other pack members? A little sting went through her chest at being left out.

  Marisa must have seen something on her face because she put a soothing hand on Hanna’s arm. “We want you to be our alpha.”

  “What?” Her heart jumped, and she stared at Marisa before glancing around at the others. “Why?”

  “Because you protect us,” Carter said. “You take care of us.”

  “But Marisa is alpha.” Hanna looked at her friend.

  “I was alpha last year because there wasn’t anyone better. I needed to hold us together.” She squeezed Hanna’s arm. “But you’re the real deal.”

  Hanna shook her head. “I’m not an alpha. I’m a wimp. I had to ask Dylan to keep Conner from bothering you because I’m not strong enough to do it myself.” She was a disappointment just like her parents said. A submissive wolf.

  “We don’t need someone that uses their fists to watch out for us,” Gavin said. “Or to keep us in line.” A dark look crossed his face. He and his family had always been on the outskirts of the Shadow Valley pack.

  Brooke set her pop down. “I still don’t get all this werewolf stuff, but I know you’re the kind of person I want to follow.”

  Hanna’s eyes burned as her chest swelled with emotion. They didn’t think she was a disappointment or weak. They wanted her to lead them. An alpha usually took over by force or intimidation, but did it have to be that way? “You really want me to be your alpha?”

  They all nodded.

  “You don’t have to,” Marisa said, “but we all think you’re the best choice.”

  Could she do this? Hanna had left Dylan so she could find herself. Would leading the pack distract her from that, or was it part of it?

  “Please.” Carter looked at her with big eyes.

  Hanna wanted to be what they saw in her. Although it made her stomach tight with nervousness, she said, “Okay, I’ll do it.”

  “Yes!” Carter threw his arms around her, knocking over her pop.

  Marisa grabbed it before much could spill.

  “But you have to be my beta,” Hanna told Marisa.

  The girl smiled. “Of course.”

  I’m leading the mutt pack with a vampire as my beta. My parents are going to kill me.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Aiden loved the warm summer nights when fireflies covered the tall grass and filled the air, little points of light like stars floating down to earth. Tonight only a few fireflies remained, but he was still here with Tiago, and that’s what mattered most.

  Curled against his side, their hands linked, Aiden floated in happiness. Around him the forest hummed with life, his connection to nature both grounding him and lifting him up. Occasionally he or Tiago would lean in for a kiss—on the lips, the cheek, the neck. All summer had passed this way, three or four nights a week with Tiago, walking in the woods, lying together, kissing. Or they’d go up to Aiden’s room and watch movies and shows on his laptop.

  It was wonderful.

  “Hey.” Tiago shifted around to face him, resting on one arm in the flattened grass. “Are you ever going to tell your parents about us?”

  Aiden’s happy little bubble went pop. “I um… I don’t know…”

  Tiago studied him. “You think
they’ll freak out?”

  “Probably not. But I’ve already… put them through enough.” Aiden swallowed. “Do you want me to tell them?” He’d just assumed Tiago wanted to keep their relationship a secret.

  “Yes.” Tiago’s eyes glowed just a bit in the dark.

  “Oh.” Aiden’s heart skittered with panic.

  Tiago brushed a thumb over his cheek. “I’m not gonna pressure you or anything. I’ll keep quiet if you want me to. But I want to tell the whole world I’m with you.”

  For the tiniest moment, Aiden wanted it too. But his parents, the kids at school… Dylan? No way. “I can’t.”

  Tiago looked disappointed, but he took a deep breath and nodded. “If you’re worried about people picking on you, you know I’d protect you, right?” He laughed. “But really, you can protect yourself. You fought a dark fae.”

  “With Dylan.”

  “Man, the wardens are even afraid to take on a fae. My boyfriend is a badass.” He nudged Aiden onto his back, pressing their chests together, and gave him a slow, deep kiss.

  The floaty bubble returned. Boyfriend. God, he loved when Tiago called him that. Maybe someday he’d be brave enough to have Tiago call him that in front of other people.

  But he wasn’t. “I’m not a badass. I’m not even brave.”

  Tiago leaned on his elbow, gazing down at Aiden. “Remember what I said: real courage doesn’t mean you’re not afraid.”

  “It means being afraid and doing it anyway,” Aiden finished, but that just made him feel worse. “But I’m not. I’m hiding because I’m afraid of what people will think. I’m not doing anything. I’m a coward.” He put an arm over his eyes so he wouldn’t have to see Tiago’s disappointment. Or his pity.

  Tiago shifted against him, his body a line of heat against Aiden. Close to Aiden’s ear, he said softly, “You’re just not ready yet, but someday you will be.” He kissed Aiden’s cheek.

  “How do you know I won’t be a coward forever?” Aiden was always afraid of something.

  “’Cause you’re not.” Another kiss, and oh that was distracting.

  “Why do you like me?” Aiden often wondered when Tiago would come to his senses and realize he wasn’t worthy.

  Gently, Tiago tugged Aiden’s arm away from his eyes so they could look at each other. “’Cause you’re nice, and super smart, and you never treated me like I was dumb.” Behind him, the sky was a sea of stars, a lone firefly drifting in the space between. “And because you accepted me even after I told you I used to hunt humans. Eat them.”

  Aiden didn’t like to think of that. “With your parents—”

  “You act like you’re lucky that I want to date you, but really I’m the lucky one.”

  Aiden was glad he wasn’t standing because his knees would’ve gone weak. Swoon indeed.

  He reached up, intending to pull Tiago down for a kiss, but the sky burst into a shimmering rainbow. For a second he thought it was in his head, but the colors kept rippling, spreading like a wave.

  “Whoa.” Aiden sat up.

  “What?” Tiago turned. “What the hell is that?”

  Purple dominated, but every other color shone in the previously dark sky. Blue, red, yellow, orange, green, pink—all constantly shifting. For a moment it covered the whole sky. Then it started to fade, the ragged edge of whatever it was passing overhead.

  Aiden stared, the sky once again a deep black covered with stars.

  “Is this how the zombie apocalypse starts?” Despite the joking words, Tiago sounded nervous.

  Reaching out, Aiden took Tiago’s hand and gripped it. So many weird things had happened that his mind went to worst-case scenarios. A zombie apocalypse didn’t sound so far-fetched. There were kids at school who could create zombies, though not the Hollywood kind.

  Aiden felt along his connection to the forest. If there was a serious danger, it should be able to tell him something. The sensation he got back wasn’t alarm, but he closed his eyes to go deeper just in case. Phoebe’s training had focused on this particular aspect of his magic, and he’d gotten much better at it the past few months.

  “You doing your tree thing?” Tiago asked.

  “Yeah.” There was something at the edge of the forest’s awareness, a little tickle of concern, but he couldn’t get anything clear. That didn’t mean nothing was wrong, only that the forest wasn’t afraid. There were plenty of things dangerous to people that the forest didn’t care about.

  “It’s not worried,” Aiden said, opening his eyes. “It doesn’t seem to know what that was either.” Of course, he wasn’t advanced enough to make the woods understand his question, and Phoebe was almost at the limit of what she could teach him.

  He wished there was a full-blooded or half-blooded fae around to help him.

  “It was sorta like the northern lights. But it’s the wrong time of year and the colors were wrong.” Tiago watched the sky. “Probably some kind of magic.”

  In this town? “Definitely.” They stayed for a while, but it didn’t happen again.

  * * *

  That semester Aiden had homeroom with both Toby and Maggie, and it was an interesting experience. As Maggie said, she wasn’t really a gossip, but she was curious, and so Toby had someone to eagerly listen to all his little bits of information.

  It was further proof that Maggie could keep a secret because Toby hadn’t once mentioned Aiden and Tiago were dating.

  Monday evening the whole class was turned toward Maggie and Toby as Aiden walked in.

  Toby bounced half out of his chair. “Did you see it?” he asked Aiden.

  “Yeah,” Maggie answered for him. “He texted me about it last night.”

  Of course everyone was talking about it. Maggie had said she was looking into it but hadn’t gotten back to him with any answers. Aiden was almost at the point of calling Mr. Johnson to see if he knew what the weird light in the sky had been.

  Toby waved his phone. “I have video!”

  Aiden hurried over to join the cluster of students. Toby hadn’t recorded it himself. One of his friends had sent it, a video that started out wobbly and fuzzy before focusing on the rainbow-colored lights that filled the sky.

  For some reason, watching it on the tiny screen of Toby’s phone made it more real. On the video, voices exclaimed:

  “What is that?”

  “It’s so weird.”

  “So pretty.”

  Huddled around the phone, the kids watched in silence. The lights faded from the sky, and someone on the video asked, “Is it gone?” The person filming panned around the sky for a few seconds before the video stopped.

  Toby looked up with a grin. “Maggie has a theory.”

  Everyone turned. “Someone was testing the barrier. That’s a spell going up along it.” She made a motion with her hand. “The barrier curves round the town like glass on a snow globe.” Another motion indicating a dome shape. “Someone tried to use a spell to break out. Well, not break out, but get out without setting off the alarms.”

  “But—” Aiden bit his tongue. Mr. Johnson had told him there weren’t any alarms, but Aiden wasn’t supposed to tell anyone else that.

  “One of us then?” A kid asked.

  “Probably.”

  Toby rubbed his hands together. “So everyone is a suspect.” He stuck an invisible microphone in Aiden’s face. “Where were you last night at approximately twelve thirty-five?”

  Oh God. Heat rushed to Aiden’s cheeks.

  Maggie, bless her, came to his rescue. “I bet it was a senior. Someone who knows they won’t graduate.”

  “No way.” A girl shook her head. “People have been outside the barrier before. My older sister did it last year on a dare. Nothing happened.”

  “But she came right back, didn’t she?” Maggie asked. “Kids go outside for a few seconds, maybe a minute, and then they come right back.” She walked two fingers through the air, miming someone going back and forth. “I bet they know that. Someone goes out, the al
arm goes off. They check and wait. The person comes back in. No harm, no foul.”

  Aiden wished he could tell her. Maggie was so smart, and the theory made sense, but she didn’t have all the facts. It felt cruel to let her keep speculating.

  “So they just let us go outside the barrier?” Toby asked.

  Maggie shrugged. “They have to know kids will try it. They probably think it’s not worth harassing a bunch of teenagers every year over it.”

  “So why try to turn off the alarm?” a boy asked.

  “Because.” A smile played at her lips and her eyes lit up. “There’s a difference between going out on a dare and running away. Other people must have figured it out the way I did and know that if they want to get away undetected, they have to turn off the alarms.”

  Aiden was contemplating how fear alone could work to keep people in line. The barrier was only there to keep Shadow Valley hidden from the outside world. He suddenly wondered if someone had wandered into town while hiking.

  Toby’s eyes went wide. “But what if… they were trying to destroy the barrier?”

  Maggie made a face. “That would take a huge amount of power.”

  A girl said, “What if they were like, trying to cut a hole in it?”

  Maggie pointed at her. “That makes sense. Fits my theory too. Make a hole so it doesn’t set off the alarm.”

  Her conclusions about why someone was messing with the barrier didn’t make sense due to what Aiden knew. Although… someone could be operating with the same bad information. The kids all seemed to believe crossing the barrier set off an alarm somehow. And Maggie had unwittingly reinforced that idea by saying the wardens or police simply didn’t respond when it was kids out on a dare. So someone could have been poking around out there, trying to turn off an alarm that didn’t exist.

  Or someone could have been doing something completely different. The idea that it had something to do with the barrier didn’t seem far off though. It wasn’t the sky that had lit up, but the curve of the invisible dome.