Page 39 of Demon Reform Academy, Term 3

39

SKEL

O ccult Arch loomed over us, empty with wasted potential—something I had once felt about myself.

I didn’t feel that way anymore, though. Not now that I didn’t need to rely on fae magic to control my magic—not now that I had bonded with my fated mate.

If Pandora thought I was worthy enough, then I was. I had to believe that myself.

Occult Arch was slowly brimming with more than just potential, too. It was becoming more than the natural rock arch that cast a cool shadow in the sweltering heat of the desert campus.

Pandora and I had started building the cat sanctuary with the help of certain magical items that we’d bought from the Market. I loved how much she cared about the cats.

The arch was now etched with magical runes that attracted stray cats specifically, something I hadn’t known was possible, and the energy they gave off was welcoming for us, too. We also managed to put in place protective wards encircling the sanctuary from predators. The wards weren’t as powerful as the academy wards, but they kept dangerous desert creatures and the harsh elements at bay. Only those with kind intentions would be able to pass through without issue.

The air inside the sanctuary felt cooler, and it was a welcome reprieve from the heat.

We were working on an enchanted oasis garden for underneath the arch, but that was a work in progress. We had enchanted soil and desert plants scattered out, and we wanted to add in a stream through it all that wouldn’t dry up.

Another part of the sanctuary we were planning to build were sheltered grottos for the cats. They loved the cave, so to have something similar for them would be awesome. We’d found a witch who dealt with spatial magic who would be able to build little grottos into the arch itself that could be larger on the inside.

Pandora’s dad told us the cost didn’t matter, so we were going all out.

We did manage to get the enchanted feeding grounds finished, though. It was off center of the arch, and there were ten food bowls that were enchanted to replenish themselves of different kinds of meat.

“It’s coming along nicely,” she rasped, planting her hands on her hips and smiling at me.

I loved that she smiled at me.

“We’ve still got a little over halfway to go. We wouldn’t be able to do this without your dad’s help. I hope he knows how much we appreciate it.” I reached up and scratched the back of my head. I’d thanked him, but I only got a grunt in response. He wasn’t…as fond of me as he was Reed and Hunter. But I’d grow on him, probably. Hopefully.

“I’ve thanked him a lot,” she told me, taking a small step closer to me. “But I am enjoying building something for the cats with you.”

“I am, too,” I murmured, blinking down at her. She was so fucking pretty. “Uh, have you tried using fear magic?”

“Fear magic?” Her lips parted as she blushed. “Oh, yes . I completely forgot, to be honest.”

“You forgot?” I chuckled, pulling her into my chest and wrapping my arms around her. “I could never forget how you marked me. I think I’ve even figured out sensing souls. Pretty fucking cool.”

“I didn’t forget how we mated,” she hissed out. Embarrassment flooded the bond. “I just forgot to tell you that I used your magic.”

“Oh, yeah? Did you grant feelings of fear or take those feelings away?”

“I took them away.” She nuzzled into my chest and sighed. “I took feelings of fear away from Dex.”

“Good,” I whispered. “I’m glad. You’re just fixing all of us, aren’t you?”

“Fixing you?” She frowned, glancing up. “You didn’t need to be fixed, Skel.”

“We all do,” I admitted. “I was so dependent on fae magic, Pandora. You cured me of it. You cured my fucking soul, and you cured Dex’s and Bram’s of dark magic, too. You’re always there when we need you, and we didn’t even know we needed you so desperately. We hurt you, and I’m so sorry for that. I’ll be sorry for the rest of my fucking life, and I’m going to continue to make it up to you.”

“I forgave you, Skel. I forgave Dex, too.” She paused. “I’m going to forgive Bram. The point is, you’re my mates. I’ll do anything I can to help you, but you weren’t beyond repair, Skel…and I love you.”

The moment the words left her lips, my world shifted.

It was sappy as fuck, but it felt like time folded in on itself. Everything else faded into the background, leaving only her in front of me. Her red eyes were soft and vulnerable, searching mine for a reaction.

My chest tightened. A mixture of disbelief and desire crashed into me all at once, flooding our matebond. I couldn’t form any words that were a good enough response to that. My gaze fell to the slight tremble in her lower lip.

I moved.

My mouth slammed against hers, urgent and all-encompassing. It was like I was pouring everything I’d held back for so long into this one kiss for her. I kissed her hard with an almost bruising force, tasting the truth of what she’d just said. I could feel her love in our bond, wrapping around mine.

Her arms wrapped around my neck, and her hands tangled in my hair, tugging, pulling me closer.

The softness of her lips, the warmth of her skin, the way her body melted against mine was so fucking perfect. All I fucking cared about was her: her scent, her taste, and the way she responded to every touch like she’d been waiting for this just as much as I had been.

I broke the kiss just long enough to soak in her expression. She had no idea what she’d done to me. She didn’t know how alone I’d been—how much I was drowning in my own fucking trauma—but she’d pulled me out and gave me hope again.

Her eyes were filled with the desire coursing through my veins, and her breathing was ragged. “Skel?”

“You love me?” I choked out, hot tears filling my eyes as fast as a dam breaking.

“Of course I do,” she rasped. I could feel her love for me in our bond.

Holy Fates, she loved me.

“I love you too, princess,” I whispered against her lips, tugging her in for more.

Pandora’s lips were so fucking soft against mine, and the scorching heat of desire to sink inside of her spread through me as I cradled her head in my hands and kissed her with everything I had.

I’d never felt anything like this before I met her—the pull of our matebond, like every piece of my soul was magnetized to her.

I wasn’t addicted to fae magic anymore—I was addicted to her.

A throat clearing caught our attention, and I pulled back, pulling Pandora into my chest in a protective stance.

My heart dropped to my stomach.

Kat was standing there, arms crossed, and an amused smile twitching at the corners of her lips. Her white eyebrow arched in that infuriating way that only she could pull off. She still had that same look in her purple eyes that always made me feel like I was seven again, awkward and small.

I fought the instinct to step back and retreat into myself. Instead, I kept the stance, holding Pandora in my arms.

“Well, don’t stop on my account,” she teased, stepping forward with a bright smile. Her white and black bob bounced as she moved.

I’d mentioned to her that Pandora and I would be working on the cat sanctuary on campus when she called me this morning, but I hadn’t expected her to drop by.

Pandora, still pressed close to me, chuckled. “Hi, Kat.” She pushed against my chest slightly and stepped back, giving me a soft smile before turning to face my sister fully. “We were just, um…”

“Yeah, I saw,” Kat interrupted, flashing a mischievous grin. “I wanted to drop in and see my little brother and his mate. I’ve missed you, Skel.”

My mouth felt dry, and my brain was scrambled.

Kat— my sister— after all this time, she was standing in front of me like she didn’t just leave me when I needed her the most. Like she didn’t disappear, leaving me to figure things out alone.

Did she even understand how much I needed her to just drop in on me before?

Pandora, however, was completely unfazed. “It’s good to see you. We were just talking about the cat sanctuary and everything else we needed to do to get it ready.”

Kat’s expression softened, like she realized she’d fucked up. “Oh, yeah. You’re really building it from scratch, with all the magical protections and automated cat things and everything?”

“Exactly!” Pandora smiled, gesturing around us. “We’ve got wards up, runes to attract the stray cats, enchanted food bowls, and we’re working on the garden and stream for water now. We’re going to have sheltered grottos and floating paths, too. Skel and I have been working on it together whenever we get time. It’s going to be a safe haven for the cats.”

I found myself smiling, staring at my mate. “She’s amazing at this, honestly. I may have had the idea, but she ran with it.”

“That’s amazing,” Kat said, her eyes bright. “It’s awesome that you’re able to do this together.”

I couldn’t get over how well she got along with my mate. The way she acted was like she hadn’t left me when everything was falling apart around me.

Bitterness rose up in my throat.

Pandora’s hand slipped into mine and squeezed. Her touch settled my emotions. She knew my feelings. I figured they were all over the bond.

“You know, I found my mate, too.” Kat’s gaze met mine. “I told Skel, but I wanted to maybe let you guys meet him…or rather, have Skel meet him again. Maybe this time without scaring him half to death?”

I frowned. “ I am happy for you to have found your mate, Kat. It’s just really weird to be talking to you again. I got used to not having you around, I guess. I don’t really know how to act with you anymore.”

Something shifted in her expression—like she was finally seeing me, really fucking seeing me and my trauma and everything else I’d done on my own.

“Sense her soul,” Pandora whispered. “You’ll sense what I do.”

For a moment, I did. I sensed the guilt, the regret. It hit me in the chest, but before I could process it, it was gone.

“Again,” she urged me.

It wasn’t easy, but I let Pandora’s caramel scent seep into me. I focused on the part of her that was embedded in my soul. Resting my other hand on her mark on my chest, I felt her magic resonate. It opened a sort of door between me and my sister.

I finally sensed Kat’s soul in its entirety. It was familiar, bright, and… bruised . She was hurting too. She was sorry. The same kind of sorry I felt when I thought of how I treated my own fated mate.

The weight of it pressed on my chest, and I finally realized that she didn’t leave because she didn’t care. She left because she was so fucking scared of me and of what she had done to me.

Kat broke the silence. “I didn’t mean to leave you like that. I didn’t know how to…I couldn’t handle it. But I never stopped caring. You know that, right?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t know that. I didn’t know if you cared or if you just hated me.”

She swallowed hard, and I saw my sister falter. The confident, carefree Kat was gone, replaced by someone just as unsure as I was. “I’m sorry, Skel. I wish I could take it back.”

Pandora squeezed my hand again. “She means it.”

“I know.” I knew she meant it, but it didn’t make it easier.

Kat glanced between us, then stared at Pandora with a small smile. “You’ve got a good mate, Skel.”

Pandora laughed softly. “I try. You said you met your mate? Congratulations.”

The tension eased between us a little, the sharp edges dulling.

I knew by sensing Kat’s soul, she only had pure intent for me. I just wished that healing came easier.