Page 31 of Demon Reform Academy, Term 3

31

SKEL

“ I don’t know,” I muttered, blowing out a plethora of rainbow smoke into the air as I leaned back on Hunter’s sofa. “It’s like…she’s my sister. I love her. She used to be my favorite being in this world, but then—” I stopped and swallowed the lump forming in my throat.

“She wasn’t there for you when you needed her the most?” Hunter asked softly, his white eyes locking with mine across his desk.

“Exactly.” I took another hit off my pipe. “And I know that’s selfish thinking. I mean…I was the one who traumatized her . I’m the one who had to seek forgiveness from her after what my magic did. ”

“From what your magic did. Not what you intentionally did.” He let out a sigh as he grabbed his cup of coffee. “From what you’ve told me of the story, she’s the one who set up the meeting with the witch and the meeting with the magical artifact. Correct?”

“Yes, but ultimately, I agreed.” Another exhale of magic smoke.

“You did, but you agreed because she was your sister. Your older sister. She wouldn’t have taken no for an answer, would she?” He took a sip of the coffee, and his lips curled into a small smile.

“No.” I inhaled, feeling the magic spread through me. “She wouldn’t have.”

“And you knew that.” He set the coffee cup down and met my gaze. “Right?”

“Yes, but?—”

“Then, when everything went wrong, she left you to deal with it on your own,” he supplied.

“I…yes. I suppose so.” I clutched the pipe in my hand and tightened my jaw.

She had left me on my own. I’d tried to get in contact with her so many times. But she wouldn’t talk to me. She couldn’t. She was so afraid of me after that.

“I’m not saying your sister was completely in the wrong.” His voice was soothing. He really was good at his job. “Her fears were valid. She did apologize to you for leaving you alone. Right?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “And I accepted her apology, but it just…it still hurts. I can’t just go back to how we used to be.”

“And that’s okay. It’ll take time. Your sibling bond was fractured on both ends. It’s something both of you will have to work on. Things won’t be the same right away. You shouldn’t expect it to.”

“I know,” I muttered. “But she wants it to, and it’s hard to go along with.”

“Then don’t go along with it,” he said simply. “You need to express this with her. You need to get to know each other again. A lot has changed, and she should understand that.”

“You’re right.” I took another hit off my pipe.

“Malice wants to meet with you next week,” he offered, glancing down at his tablet. “Interested?”

“For what?” My mouth went dry. I knew Hunter told me Malice was still interested in me taking over his spot on the council…but was I really worthy? Could I really do it?

“For discussing your future. You’d be a great fear demon representative on the Demon Council. Malice has wanted you to succeed him for a long time now.” Hunter’s brow arched.

I could be someone worthy of Pandora. I could be successful—although, I’d be the first demon who wasn’t nobility on the council.

Nodding, I figured it wouldn’t hurt anything to go to the meeting. “I’ll meet with him.”

Hunter typed something on the tablet as a smile formed on his lips. “Good. I’ll set it up. It’ll be during our regular session time.”

“Thanks.”

“Any time.” He shrugged. “It’s my job to make sure my students receive all the best opportunities to succeed. Plus, you’re family, right?”

“Right.” I nodded, my cheeks heating at the thought of Pandora and how she’d smoke shared with me in a kiss completely fucking unprompted. It felt like…she really did forgive me for all the fucked up things I’d done.

She made me feel worthy.

My tablet buzzed in my bag, and I pulled it out to see Kat’s name flashing on the screen. “It’s my sister.”

Hunter smiled and nodded toward the door. “We’re done. Talk to you later.”

“You too,” I murmured, getting up and leaving his office. I answered the tablet as soon as the door shut behind me. “Kat?”

“Skel!” she squealed her greeting, as if she were overly excited to be talking to me—something she could’ve been doing all this time but chose not to. “I have to tell you who I ran into at the Market today! Do you remember the vampire that used to go to our high school?”

“The one that got bullied out because he started biting the girls in school?” I deadpanned, strolling out of Reform Hall and pausing in the front of the building. “Wait. Didn’t he bite you? Dad was so pissed.”

“Yeah. Durge Von Hart.” She giggled, but it was like she was dancing around the subject. “By the way, so were you! Don’t you remember? You beat him up.”

“I did.” I nodded, faintly remembering the vampire with the odd last name. Dex and I were the main reason he left. Kat knew Dex and I had beaten the vampire up for biting her, but I also let his fears loose on him. His biggest fear? Losing Kat. It was weird. I was just being a protective brother because Kat wasn’t the only demon he’d been biting and letting experience his venom.

“Well, I ran into him! He’s back in the capital, get this, looking for me! Because he had a theory he wanted to test…and I mean, his theory was right. So, of course, I agreed to go out on a date with him this weekend. Stay tuned for updates!” She sounded excited, nervous even. It was different from the other dates that she’d told me about in the past. She seemed like she was actually looking forward to it.

“So long as you’re his only date.” Glancing back behind Reform Hall, I desperately wanted to go to Rapture Cavern, but it was in ruins now.

“Oh, I’m not.” She let out a brief chuckle. “He has a mate.”

“What?” Surprise rippled through me. “What the fuck do you mean he has a mate?”

The Fates wouldn’t let a supernatural have a sealed bond and still be attracted to another…unless?—

She went quiet for a moment. “He has two, actually. Well, three… now .”

I brought my pipe up to my lips and took a deep draw before blowing it up in the air and watching the rainbow wisps curl and dance as they dissipated. “You…that fucking vampire is your mate?”

“He is,” she enthused. “And…I just…I know I wasn’t there when you found yours, but…I wanted to tell you about him.”

“Congratulations, Kat. Sorry I scared him off when we were young. I didn’t know?—”

“You didn’t know he was my mate. Neither did I. Neither did he. I mean, he had a suspicion, but now it’s confirmed.”

“Have you told Dad?”

She let out a tired sigh. “Not yet.”

“I’m happy for you, Kat. I am. Fated mates are amazing. They complete you. Dad will be happy for you.” My mind drifted toward Pandora, then suddenly, I saw her walking toward me. Her long, black hair shined in the evening sun, and her red lips curved into a smile as she noticed me. “And mine is coming over here, so I’ll talk to you later?”

“Of course. Tell her I said hi!” she said before hanging up.

I dropped my tablet in my bag, but my gaze was glued on my mate as she stopped in front of me.

“Hi,” I murmured, feeling the pull of the bond tugging on my soul.

“Hi,” she replied softly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “Do you want to go for a walk?”

“Were you looking for me?” My heart thudded almost painfully in my chest.

“I was,” she confirmed. “I followed our bond to you. I…I wanted to talk to you.”

“I wanted to go to Rapture Cavern, but…” I glanced toward the ruins of them.

“Then, let’s go.” She intertwined her fingers with mine and squeezed. “I’d like to be alone with you, anyway.”

“Are you sure?” My breath caught. “I…you were taken and held there. I don’t want you to feel any lingering trauma if we go there.”

“I’ll be fine. I promise.” She smiled. “Thanks for worrying about me, though. I want to see if any of the cats are hanging around. Let’s go.”

The sun cast a golden hue across the endless expanse of sand as she tugged me toward the ruins of the cavern, and I followed her like a lost kitten.

“How are you holding up?” I asked, glancing at her. The warmth of her hand in mine was fucking everything to me, but I could see the shadows in her pretty red eyes—the pain etched within them.

She’d been through so fucking much lately. She couldn’t catch a break—and she needed one. I wanted to give her peace, but I wasn’t even sure I was capable of peace.

She looked ahead, but her expression was distant. “I’m just...thinking about what the cavern used to be,” she replied softly, her voice barely louder than the whispering wind. “I didn’t know we were in the cavern. Not until Dex broke the tourmalyke collar from my neck. I’m not even sure how I knew where we were.”

“It doesn’t matter how, princess. You did know, and you’re okay now.”

“Okay?” She tilted her head back and let out a weak laugh. “I have a hit on me, Skel. I’m not okay…”

As we approached the ruins, the remnants of the cavern peeked out from the sand like phantoms. Jagged rocks jutted out at odd angles, the surfaces weathered and rough.

“I know,” I croaked, pain radiating from my heart at the thought of it. “But we’re going to keep you safe.”

“I know you’ll try.” Her red eyes flicked to mine as we reached the ruins. “I love that. I had to face Mother alone. Nebula was there, but he couldn’t protect me. It’s nice to have my mates to rely on for protection through this. I’d only ever dreamed of having mates.”

The smell of sun-baked earth mingled with the taste of her caramel scent in the air.

“And now you do. I know I didn’t do right by you, and I’m so fucking sorry. But I’m here for you now, and I’ll do anything for you, princess. Anything.”

“I need you to distract me, Skel. From everything.” Her gaze darted to my lips as she climbed one of the coarse stones protruding from the sand and sat down on it.

I climbed up with her, hardly noticing the way it dug into my legs. I was too focused on her. Her long hair danced in the breeze, catching the last rays of the sun, and longing swelled within me. A need to hold her close, to shield her from all of the shit happening.

“The best way I know to numb the world is this.” I passed her my pipe with a trembling hand.

She took it, taking a hit off it before handing it back. I watched the way her lips formed a circle as she blew out the smoke, and my cock hardened.

She was perfect for me.

“Do you think they’re okay?” she asked, her voice raspy.

I could almost hear the rustle of paws against the stone and the gentle purring of cats that had once called this place home, but they weren’t here anymore. They had been my friends, but now they were lost.

I sighed, looking down at the ground. “I hope so. I’ve been worried about them.”

“Me too,” she murmured.

We took turns passing my pipe, the smoke curling around us as the fae magic filled our veins. As the ruins of the cavern around us began to blur, the moon started to rise from the horizon.

“Guess what?” she prompted, her voice a little dreamy.

“What?” I let my knee fall against hers and almost moaned from the contact.

I loved touching her more than anything else in the fucking world.

“I got the approval to create the cat sanctuary on campus.” She flashed me a grin.

“Are you serious? That’s incredible!” A rush of excitement surged through me, and without thinking, I cupped her face and kissed her senseless.

She laughed between my kisses. It was a sound that rang like music through the desert, and I couldn’t resist the urge to pull her into my lap until she straddled me.

My hands slipped under her dress, and I grabbed handfuls of her ass. She was wearing a thong .

Fuck.

Her skin felt so soft…

“Please let me mark you,” I breathed, my soul lurching for hers, threatening to break my bones from the impact. “Please, princess. I need you. I can’t fucking breathe without your soul tied to mine anymore.”

Her gaze widened. “Skel, I?—”

The sweet scent of fae magic still lingered in the air, and I poured my longing into my words. “I need you. I need to make this connection between us permanent. I want to feel your emotions, and I want you more than anything in this world. Please, Pandora. ”

She studied me for a moment, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. She’d forgiven me already, even when she probably shouldn’t have. I knew I’d screwed up with her, but she gave me a chance and I wanted to make the most of it.

I didn’t want to waste any more time not bonded to my soulmate.

A giggle bubbled from her throat, and I froze.

Her next words changed everything for me.

“Skel, I actually wanted to talk to you about this. I’m ready to mark you. I’m ready for us .”

“You…you are?” I choked out as a desire so fucking fierce thickened my cock. I was so hard it hurt.

“I am,” she confirmed as she hopped off the rock we were sitting on and placed my pipe on another rock nearby. “Mark me, Skel. I need you, too.”

“When you say mark…” I trailed off, sliding off the rock and striding over until I stood over her. “Do you mean mark you and only that or…”

“I want to have sex with you,” she stated plainly.

“That’s exactly what I needed to know, princess.” A groan escaped me as I reached out and tugged her dress over her head in one fluid motion. With deft fingers, I unclipped her bra, freeing her breasts. Then, I slipped her thong down her legs, dropping to my knees in front of her where I belonged.

I never thought I’d feel so comfortable on my knees, but for her? I always would be.

“I’m going to eat you, now.” I grasped her thighs and lifted one leg over my shoulder, burying my face in her pussy.

She gasped loudly, her fingers tangling in my hair and pulling. The burning in my scalp only made my cock throb harder.

My tongue circled her clit before parting her soaking lips and lashing into her core. I bit gently on her clit, teasingly.

“Skel!” she cried out.

Pressing her pussy against my face, I tongue-fucked her over and over again, bumping my nose against her clit and smelling the sweet scent of her pleasure.

Her breath was shallow, and her sweet arousal drenched me as I lapped up everything I could. Pulling my tongue out, I grazed my teeth over her clit again before plunging inside her again.

Her frantic hands grasped my hair and yanked as she came in quivering waves on my face, crying into the nothingness of the desert.

“Fucking delicious.” I licked my lips as I gently helped her steady her shaking legs back on the ground.

She swayed on her feet, stumbling toward a piece of rock sticking up from the sand. She clung to it as she blinked at me. “That was…that was incredible.”

“Yeah?” I licked my lips, tasting her on my lip ring. Unbuckling my pants, I pushed them and my boxers to the ground, freeing my cock and stepping out of them. “I want you to be mine. Selfishly, thoughtlessly mine. Can you be that, princess?”

“ Yes . Mark me, Skel. I’m yours,” she breathed out in shaky breaths.

Hearing Pandora call herself mine made my world spin.

My demonic form took over. My tail swished behind me as my horns emerged from my skull with a crack. “Yes, princess. You’re mine.”

I hauled her up on the smoother rock she was leaning against and sat her on the surface, spreading her legs. Her pussy was dripping, soaked with her arousal, and her hooded red eyes were locked on me.

“You know, I think you have the prettiest nipples…” Pumping my cock, I leaned in and kissed her lips before trailing my lips down until I kissed her belly button.

“You do?” She gasped.

“I do.” My horn grazed her breasts.

She arched her back as her breath hitched.

I pressed the tip of my horn against her nipple until it gave way, slicing a cut into it. I poured my soul into the mark, marking her as mine. A warm glow enveloped us as my soul latched to hers, giving her all of me.

It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. Raw, intoxicating love fled through me and locked my soul to hers.

I slowly moved up and kissed the bleeding cut on her nipple softly before taking it into my mouth and giving it a gentle suck.

She whimpered, arching into me. “Please, Skel. I need you.”

Fuck.

“You don’t have to beg me for anything.” I gripped her hips and lined my cock up with her, sinking into the depths of her body. “I’ll give you everything, Pandora. Everything I have is yours.”

She moaned, and the seductive sound urged me on.

I smothered her lips with my own as she moved her hand to rest over my chest.

A burning sensation struck my flesh. Her soul reacted to mine, intertwining them forever as she marked me.

As we kissed, her power slinked down my throat. It was a foreign feeling, having her dark smoke funnel into my body.

I froze only for a fraction of a second.

“Dark…magic,” she managed to rasp against my lips.

Dark magic?

“What?” I croaked, but I didn’t stop fucking her.

She could have my soul. I would die balls deep inside of my mate and not have any regrets.

Her body tightened around me, her hands raking through my hair as she tugged me closer, taking every hard, rough stroke I gave her.

I was lost to her depths. Her arms and legs were wound around me, and her mouth was open for my kisses—I’d forgotten she had her power inside of me until it surged through me. It was as if part of my soul had been cracked open, but she filled that crevice with her essence.

Her magic went back into her, leaving me, and her eyes glowed black as she opened them slightly.

“You’re all mine,” she gasped.

My hips stuttered as I spilled my cum inside of her in a way that was absolutely uncontrollable. I came hard , and stars burst in my head.

As my orgasm rolled off me, I grabbed her hips and fucked her harder, pushing her body until she climaxed again.

“I’m yours, princess,” I agreed with her, sealing my lips over hers and letting my tongue explore her mouth.

She writhed and moaned as her pleasure erupted, claiming every bit of her. The buzz of sexual heat burst within our bond, and I could feel everything.

I came inside of her again.

She pulled away with a strangled gasp, clinging to me tightly. “Oh, Fates, that was…”

“Incredible? Amazing? Otherworldly? Fucking everything?” I finished for her.

“All of the above.” She traced her fingertips over the soul mark that now branded my chest—branded me as hers . “You had a sliver of dark magic that cracked your soul, Skel. I can’t believe I couldn’t sense it before. The crack was so tiny, but it was also long. Our mating sealed all the breaks. I destroyed the dark magic inside of you and replaced it with my essence.”

“You…you did?” My voice cracked as I realized my magic wasn’t leaking.

“I did.” She kissed my lips softly.

I felt…in control of my powers in a way I’d never once felt before. “Pandora, what… did you fix my leak?”

“I think so.” She tensed. “Skel…what’s that?”

“What?” I looked over my shoulder at a black pipe and letter sitting where my fae pipe had been.

“What the fuck?” Dex’s voice pierced the air.

“Dex?” Pandora jolted, squeezing my cock that was still inside of her.

“Fuck, princess.” I held her close to me. “Don’t say his name when I’m the one inside of you.”

Her eyes widened, and heat flooded her. I could feel a gush of our fluids seep out of her again. “I…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s kind of hot,” I mused.

“Agreed,” Dex rasped, carefully reading the letter without grabbing the pipe that was on it. “Sorry. I was a bit distracted by what you two were doing. I wasn’t watching the area. It’s from Sybil Shaw. She’s…Fates, Skel, Sybil Shaw is the witch who did a dark magic ritual that made your powers lose control.”

“What?” My heart stopped.

“She says you just screwed up her big plans for you,” he muttered. “And she took your fae pipe. I can get you another one, though.”

“Don’t bother,” I mumbled, pulling Pandora into my chest and breathing her scent in. “I don’t think I need it anymore.”