Page 55 of Demon Reform Academy, Term 3

55

HUNTER

I hovered near the bed, watching Pandora and Reed, trying not to seem too overbearing to my mate. But I couldn’t help it. I’d been a mess ever since she almost died and we found out she’d been infected. She was infected by the enchanted water bottle I got for her. She insisted on keeping it since she purged dark magic from it, but…the thought still haunted me.

I might have stolen it for an afternoon to get a small protection ward on it.

It eased my worries, slightly.

Finals were next week, and I couldn’t believe how fast this term flew by. With the constant attacks on our lives, it made sense. Still, I wished for a little reprieve from all the heartache.

Pandora was completely absorbed in her studies, her red eyes scanning the tablet in front of her and her lips pursing in that way she did when she was deep in thought. Her long black hair was pulled into a bun, but a few strands fell loose, framing her gorgeous face.

Reed was next to her, flipping through his own notes, looking as anxious as I felt.

“You good, Reed?” I asked, strolling over and sitting on the bed next to them.

“I’m worried about this essay,” Reed admitted, his voice low. “Mine is on dream demons dying while they feed in other supernaturals' dreams. My dad…you know, he was killed like that. He entered a coworker’s nightmare, and the nightmare…it literally ripped his heart out. The coworker saw it all happen. His account is the only thing we have to know what happened. He was just as horrified.”

“I’m sorry, Reed. Perhaps this essay can be an opportunity for you to work through some of that trauma,” I suggested, but the air in the room felt heavy. “What happened to your dad was tragic, but you’ve overcome so much of your fear of feeding due to it during your time at this academy. I’m proud of you.”

Pandora looked up, abandoning her work and moving toward Reed. She climbed into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck before pressing her lips against his in a sensual kiss that honestly made me a little jealous.

Reed’s hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer.

I cleared my throat, trying not to feel too left out. I could’ve easily joined in, but she had to prepare for tomorrow. “Pandora, have you finished your essay?”

She pouted, pulling away from Reed, and I couldn’t help but smile.

I leaned over and kissed her softly. “I’m only trying to help,” I whispered against her lips.

Reed leaned back as she slid off his lap and went back to her spot. “What did you decide to do your essay on?”

Pandora nibbled on her bottom lip, a habit I found both endearing and distracting . “Well, you already know it’s about a soul eater who died while feeding. I found literally only one instance of this happening, and it happened long before my dad’s time. Supposedly, the soul eater consumed the soul of a drake. And get this. ” Her eyes twinkled with excitement as she continued, “The supernatural was said to be a stormdrake, though that’s just legend. The soul eater couldn’t handle the power and died. Burnt from the inside out. Like the magical essence was too strong for them.”

I tilted my head, frowning. “Stormdrake? Those don’t exist.”

I’d literally never heard of them once. Firedrakes and icedrakes, sure. But stormdrakes?

Reed cut in, his eyes lighting up. “They’re theorized to have existed before Kalista’s First War. I read about them. There are caves in Blezen with depictions of drakes with lightning powers. Not just that, but lava powers, too. It would be super cool if they did exist.”

I huffed a laugh. “We’d definitely know if they existed.”

“Would we?” he countered. “Drakes and dragons are nearly identical in fossils and skeletal remains. The only differences between them are their magical essences. Who’s to say they’re extinct?”

“According to my dad, they’re just a fairy tale. He couldn’t give me any solid proof. Just the word of a vampire who witnessed the soul eater’s death.” Pandora shrugged. “Either way, the soul eater who died…it wasn’t pretty.”

The idea of a soul eater consuming a soul of a supernatural so powerful it could kill them was terrifying.

Dex appeared from the shadows with Bram and Skel in tow. Their arms were full of books. “Want some company?” Dex said with a grin, handing Pandora a plate with a medium-rare steak.

Pandora’s eyes lit up, and she leaned forward, giving Dex a kiss. “Thank you!”

“Figured we’d join in,” Bram murmured, dropping a kiss to her head. “Since Skel is stealing you tonight.”

“He’s not stealing me. We just want to get some work done on the cat sanctuary,” she told him with a cute huff.

“The cats need their sanctuary since Hunter destroyed their cavern.” Skel smirked and kissed her cheek before settling down on the bed beside us.

“It needed to be destroyed,” I growled.

“Not arguing that,” he mumbled. “Just worried about the cats is all.”

Soon enough, they were all back to work, and I continued to email a few students on my tablet while sneaking glances at my fated mate.

Hopefully, we could give her some semblance of normal.