Rosemary Johns - Rebel Academy - Curse

“Robin…?” I screamed into the darkness.

I blinked against the sharp slice of the wind. An outline formed, which was first no more than a smudge of charcoal, and then like painted sweeps of green and gold, the ghostly outline was filled in, until Robin stood before me.

Hecate above, Robin had been returned to me.

I froze. When I should’ve rushed into my lover’s arms, I was paralyzed at the shock of his resurrection.

Well, now I knew how the Immortals must’ve felt at Hecate’s Tree.

Robin’s smile was soft, however, as he took the step towards me, sweeping me into his arms.

He could touch me…?

His chest was muscled. He smelled of sweet blackberries.

He was alive.

On my magic, if this was a dream, never let me wake.

Joy thrilled through me; my magic spiraled up to dance around the stars.

Robin slipped one arm around my waist to rest his hand in the small of my back, while clasping his other hand in mine. Then he led me in a slow dance to Sleipnir’s beautiful fuzzy guitar, which mesmerized like a trance.

I couldn’t look away from the emerald of Robin’s eyes. How had I ever broken his gaze?

“Am I doing this right, wife?” He asked, biting his lip.

When he stepped on my toes, I hid the gasp with an over bright smile. “You’re an excellent dancer, husband. Have you been taking lessons?”

Robin snorted, but his eyes creased in the corners in the way that I loved. “Liar.” Yet he was still smiling. “It was my greatest wish to dance with you at the Enchanted Ball, no matter how hard I was beaten for it after. I planned to give you the Your Hearts Desire Book as an official courting gift. I’d loved you for so long, and I don’t think that I even realized how much, not truly. Dying for you was nothing.”

“Not nothing.”

“Perhaps,” he conceded. “But letting you go tonight… that will be something.”

My joy died inside, becoming heavy in my guts. My magic fell like pink falling stars around us.

“How are you here tonight?” I demanded.

“Horn and hoof, just let me dance a little longer and then…” He rested his cheek against mine.

How was it warm?

I shook, clutching him like he’d vanish at any moment. Inside in the light, were my lovers, professors, patrons, and Titus .

Yet here I was, dancing in the arms of the man who’d been dead for decades.

Reluctantly, Robin drew back to look at me but he didn’t stop our slow dance. “Do you remember your papa’s peacock amulet?”

I blinked. “Well, aren’t you quite the Romeo. Do you wish to discuss mother’s hat collection as well?

Robin rubbed his nose against mine in a way that was so familiar it hurt. “Please don’t mention those appalling robin skin hats.” He shuddered. “Your papa was a good man. He cared for me when nobody else did and he taught me secrets of my mage heritage, including my god, Pan.”

I paled. “I remember, and he would’ve been whipped for such sacrilege. It appears that papa was quite the rebel, and braver than me.”

I loved the pride that swept across Robin’s expression because I knew that it was mirrored on my own. “The lie was that the peacock amulet was showy finery. In truth, it was a Blood Amulet to bind his magic.”

I stopped dancing, wrenching away from Robin.

My mouth was suddenly dry; I couldn’t swallow.

I didn’t believe it… I wouldn’t…

Mother had murdered my mage lover, while marrying her own?

“ The hypocrite ,” I howled.

Robin caught me, as my knees buckled. He soothed over my hair.

“Hush,” Robin kissed my hair in light pecks, “it’s done. Your mother and he were friends as children, and when he revealed his magic, she persuaded his family to give him to her, rather than to throw him to the wolves. Yet the deal was that he must hide his magic. Why not rejoice that he wasn’t killed?”

Hexes and curses, Robin was right but still, Bryon had hidden his magic from me. I knew that he’d loved me, but he hadn’t trusted me.

Why should he?

I took shaky breaths at the realization. He’d tried to show me that there was a different way to be with Robin. But what if I’d turned out like Henrietta, as soon as I’d become a woman, married a prince, and taken over the academy?

“Don’t blame him,” Robin urged. “Your papa helped me, even before you noticed me. I believe your mother turned a blind eye to it and his unusual views on equality because she knew how hard it was for him to suppress his magic. Plus, your papa loved you so much. You were his only joy in a miserably hard life. All he ever talked about was making your life brighter. Yet… pan’s balls …he was terrified that you’d end up despising him.”

I’d died without being able to reassure Byron that I loved, admired, and would never despise him.

Why hadn’t I told him?

As if he could read my thought, Robin reached for my shoulder and pulled me back against his chest. “He knew that you’d turn out different to your mother.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“Because he trusted you enough to reincarnate me.”

I remembered Byron pressing his hand against the wall, after Henrietta had sealed Robin up, and chanting like an invocation. For a moment, I’d hoped that Robin would burst free, but instead, Bryon had collapsed like he’d used up all his energy.

I’d been too caught in my grief to understand.

By the branches of the tree, save your children, blessed be…

“He resurrected you…?” Magenta flowers sprung to life like a bridal bed beneath our feet. Bryon had saved Robin, after all. “This is real?”

Why were Robin’s eyes suddenly so sad?

“Silly sweetheart, I’m only an echo. I’m not truly here.”

I grasped his arms tight in my horror, and he grimaced. “I beg strongly to disagree. You can feel…and I can touch…and you’re real…you have to be…”

I choked on a sob, before my eyes widened.

Hadn’t he said reincarnated , rather than resurrected ?

“A shimage is viewed as the wickedest form of mage by Hecate, but as the most blessed by Pan. Imagine your mother’s fear at what would happen if both Hecate’s and Pan’s most powerful were united. She wouldn’t have been able to control us. Hate is at heart fear .” He hesitated. “It was your papa’s duty to make sure that my spirit was reincarnated, even if it took many decades to find…”

He broke off, gazing at me searchingly.

“ Fox ,” I breathed.

My magic surged through me, and it told me that it was true that Robin had been reincarnated as Fox, in the same way that I’d sensed how special Fox was to me the moment that he’d walked onto the Rebel Academy grounds.

He’d connected the Immortals; his blood had resurrected me.

I’d needed Fox and been desperate to protect him. We’d gifted each other our virginities.

Tears slipped down my cheeks because while I’d been grieving for Robin, I’d had my second chance with him all along.

“But he’s not you ,” I whispered.

Robin smirked. “I’d hope not. I’m unique, and so’s he. A Soul reborn is its own.” Robin curled his arms around my lower back again, and we danced like this was our ball alone. “But he’s getting weaker because I’m here. It’s why you can touch me. Mama would know why; the dead feed from the living. But I’m the shade. A shadow.” His eyelashes were matted wet. Don’t let him say it… please …don’t. “I love you like a crushing ache. I’d haunt you always. But I have to grant Fox life. I had mine, and now it’s his chance. Yours …together. This moment is enough for me. It’s more joy than I ever thought that a mage could experience. I’ll die with your name in my heart and on my lips. Will you kiss me one last time, Magenta?”