Page 26 of Demon Reform Academy, Term 3

26

REED

W hen the fire fae’s elemental trap exploded underneath Pandora, I didn’t think. I just threw myself over her. The pain of my flesh bubbling and melting off had been worth it.

I loved her so much that the thought of losing her literally stole my breath.

Everyone I’d ever loved had been killed in one way or another. I couldn’t— wouldn’t —lose my mate.

I tightened my grip on the bag slung over my shoulder as I strolled through Reform Hall, wishing I was with my mate instead. We had this next class together, and I couldn’t wait to see her.

Knowing Dark Veil was after her messed with my head, and I knew I wasn’t the only one. It messed with all of us.

Out of nowhere, my head snapped back from the force of a fist barreling into my face. The sudden, jarring impact felt like a bolt of electricity shooting through my cheek.

I reached out and grazed the rough sandstone wall to steady myself before stumbling into it.

Blinking a few times to make sense of the situation, I saw Nightwind glaring at me. My matebond to Pandora flared, and her magic sparked through me as I sensed his soul.

It was bitter—riddled with jealousy.

“Sorry. I just can’t stand your fucking low-class face.” Nightwind grinned condescendingly at me.

That wasn’t a lie. He couldn’t stand me—because I was a low-class demon, my mom was human, and I had Pandora’s affections. He didn’t.

Anger surged through me. I pulled my fist back and struck him in the nose, the sharp crunch filling the hall.

“Finally fighting back, Nyx?” He fell back a few steps, clutching his bleeding nose. His blue eye leveled on me, and his soul turned from bitter to sour as his intent shifted toward killing me. “I thought you were as weak as your mother was.”

“What did I ever do to you, Nightwind?” I spat blood at his feet, trying not to let him bait me.

“She chose you. She literally fucking mated you —a half-human—and three other low-class demons when she could’ve had me .” Rage burned in his gaze so fiercely it made me falter. “It’s so fucked!”

“Take it up with the Fates.” My lips twitched in amusement.

“The Fates don’t always know what’s best.”

I moved forward and slammed my palm against his forehead. My magic surged forth, knocking him out in an instant and taking me with him into the carefully crafted nightmare I made for him. “The Fates do know what’s best. Because they’ve agreed that you’re clearly unworthy of her.”

Sifting through his worst nightmares, I tugged out my favorite: Dex cutting off Nightwind’s dick and shoving the detached appendage into his eye socket.

My magic buzzed as I formed the nightmare, and Nightwind’s screams and fear from him reacting to it fueled my reserves before I hopped out, leaving him to live out his worst nightmare.

I felt my horns and tail rescind and dropped my hand before walking around Nightwind’s asleep but standing body. I strolled down the hall toward Demon Capital History.

Pandora met me a few doors down, rushing into my arms and pressing a few kisses to my face where he’d hit me. “What happened to you? I felt your pain in the bond.”

“Nightwind,” I grumbled, threading my fingers in her hair and leaning down to kiss her.

She kissed me back before frowning. “He’s messing with you again?”

Groaning, I nodded.

“I’ll eat his soul!” She pulled out of my arms and launched herself down the hall before I tugged her back against me.

“As attractive as that is, we shouldn’t miss our makeup lecture,” I whispered in her ear. “Besides, I handled it. He’s having a nightmare as we speak. You’ll never guess who’s at the center of it.”

“Who?” She knitted her brows.

“Dex.”

Respa had the classroom back to normal two days after the explosion, so she insisted we would spend an extra day to cover what our actual final project would be on. It wasn’t going to be a long lecture, but it was important, apparently.

She frowned before glancing up at me with a pout. “Fine.”

We walked into the classroom, and I sat in Pandora’s seat quickly before moving to mine. Just to be sure there wasn’t any trap on it again.

She gave me a raised brow as she sat next to me, in the seat I’d just double-checked. Though, it didn’t erase the anxiety clogging my throat.

Watching her sit down and then a literal explosion erupting underneath her just about killed me.

“I have to make sure you’re safe, okay?” I mumbled, feeling that need radiate down the bond to her.

She nodded, a small smile tugging her lips up. “Okay.”

“Where’s Jenni?” I asked, realizing she wasn’t next to her.

“Her mom wanted to spend the day with her,” she whispered, but I could feel the slight hint of envy through the bond. Still, she smiled.

I knew she was happy that Jenni had a good relationship with her mom, but I also knew Pandora never had that. She knew what a good mother was supposed to be like, but she never had one. She needed one. Instead, Penny Bones abused her.

It gutted me.

“I’m glad to report that there were no casualties after the explosion.” Respa gave a blinding smile, drawing our attention to the front of the class. “That said, we need to discuss your final project for the term. You will have all term to research, write a detailed essay, and be able to present your essay to the class. The topic is going to be on the history of uncommon fatal risks when demons feed. You need to include one real life scenario. It must be a feeding of your own demonic sub-type.”

“So, like the dream demon who was murdered in a nightmare while he was feeding?” someone spoke out.

I stiffened at the mention of my dad.

His death was widespread after it happened. The one who murdered him wasn’t charged because it wasn’t him who killed him. It was a serial killer created by his subconscious to terrorize him— not my father. That was the hardest part to come to terms with. There was really no one to blame for his death even though he was brutally murdered. It was just a freak accident. All because it happened in a nightmare by a serial killer who didn’t actually exist.

My chest tightened as if a heavy weight crushed my lungs. It made it hard to breathe.

Pandora glanced over at me before intertwining her fingers with mine, but it didn’t stop the way my pulse pounded in my ears like a loud, throbbing drumbeat that tried to drown out everything else.

Swallowing hard, I tried to focus on the lecture, squeezing my mate’s hand.

“Yes,” Respa murmured, her gaze shooting to mine briefly. “Another example of a feeding risk would be for a chaos demon. Chaos they cause or manifest can kill them. Shadow demons can lose control of their shadows when feeding and kill themselves, as well. Feeding isn’t supposed to be dangerous, but there are risks in everything. Your job is to research the risks and give an example.”

“Do we need to leave?” Pandora whispered, her caramel scent filling my nose. It wrapped around me like a comforting blanket, filling my senses and replacing the panic with a sense of calm that only she could provide for me.

“No—No. I’m okay, dream girl.” I took another breath, deeper this time.

Her scent was the only thing that mattered. Her hand was warm and soft in mine, and I clung to the way my fingers curled around hers.

She was my fated, and she was with me.

Everything was fine.

I was in control of my powers. I didn’t know what happened to Dad when he entered that nightmare, but I knew how to scan dreams and the impending dangers when entering others’.

I’d be okay.

I squeezed her hand a little tighter, feeling the steady pulse in her wrist. With each beat, I felt more in control.

She was my anchor, and more than anything, I wanted to be hers, too.