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PANDORA

R eed and I strolled back from our study date at the library hand-in-hand. The warm air had just started to cool as the sun dipped below the horizon, and the breeze ruffled my dress.

“We’re so close to graduation,” Reed murmured, his violet eyes searing into me. “How do you feel about it?”

“Both relieved and sad?” I shrugged my shoulders as I met his gaze. “I met my mates here, but I’m also glad we’ve overcome our traumas during our time here. I’ve learned how to be a demon.”

“I understand that. You have come so far. Plus, this is where I met you. You know?—“

A sharp voice interrupted us. “ Pandora .”

We stopped with an abrupt halt, noticing Ironwood ahead of us, his expression more unreadable than I’d ever seen it before.

“Ironwood?” I frowned, my skin crawling at the way his gaze raked over me.

“I need a word with you about your grade,” he said smoothly, but there were dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. Not from being infected, but from clear lack of sleep. “It’ll be quick.”

“It’s late.” I shook my head. “Can’t you speak to me about whatever it is during class?”

He shook his head, but Reed cut him off before he could answer.

Reed’s eyes burned with anger. “Didn’t I warn you about Pandora?”

My brows furrowed before I remembered that Reed had paid Ironwood a visit in the form of a nightmare.

Ironwood forced a smile, but there was anger sparking in his soul as he noticed Reed. “It’ll be quick,” he repeated. “I just need her to come with me to my class for a moment.”

Something in my gut twisted. “I’m not going anywhere alone with you.” I held onto Reed’s hand tighter.

“I insist.” Ironwood closed the distance between us. “You need to listen to your professor if you value your grade.”

The world froze for half a second.

“Fuck that.” Reed placed himself between me and Ironwood, tugging me behind him just before Ironwood’s hand managed to make contact with my arm.

“I’ve spent countless fucking nights in torment because of you.” Ironwood’s hands fell to his sides, where they balled into fists. “Yet, I still can’t stop thinking about?—”

“About what, asshole?” Dex blurred from the shadows and slammed him into the ground the next second.

Blood splattered across the sand in a gruesome arc as Dex sank his shadows into Ironwood’s gut.

Ironwood gasped, clutching his stomach, his fingers slick with his own blood. His head fell back with a mirthless laugh. “About your mate, obviously.”

Another shadow tendril jerked in Ironwood’s gut, making blood pour out more rapidly before the wound healed—slowly. As if his magic reserves were already low to start with.

Dex leaned back and got to his feet. Relief swept through our bond as his fog gray eyes landed on where I stood with Reed beside me. “You good, trouble?”

I stared at him, fighting back a smile at his protectiveness, and nodded. “Yeah.” My voice softened. “I’m fine.”

“He tried to grab her,” Reed explained with a frown. “But I intervened before he could.”

Dex scowled. “We’re all here now, and I think it’s time we do something about the pervy professor.”

Skel, Bram, and Hunter stood around us, and it was only then I realized Dex had brought them with him.

Hunter stepped forward, jaw clenched. “Ironwood, you were warned. Verity even sat you down to talk to you.” His magic crackled in the air. “Reed gave you a courtesy with the nightmares. One you won’t be getting again.”

Dex grinned, taking a step to the side to let Hunter move in front of Ironwood. “Do it, Hunter. Make him fucking pay for messing with our girl.”

“Wait!” Ironwood coughed, trying to crawl backward. He looked awful even before Dex stabbed him in the stomach, so he was weak. “I can’t—I can’t help myself. It’s the forbidden lure, you have to understand!”

“Understand, what exactly? That her being off-limits makes you hard?” Bram spat, eyes burning with fury. “How fucking sick is that?”

“Sick? No !” Ironwood trembled, finally getting to his feet again. “You get it, right? Sorry I fucked your mom, but you gotta understand…”

I flinched at him mentioning Bram’s mother.

“No.” Hunter’s vengeance magic struck, making his body jerk.

“He doesn’t have to understand shit.” Dex’s shadows lashed out at Ironwood, making his eyes widen as they barely nicked his flesh. “None of us do.”

“But, I?—”

Demo materialized behind him, tripping him as he stumbled over her ghostly magic form.

Ironwood fell back onto the sand again with a whimper, and a wet mark appeared on his pants as he pissed himself. “Shit.”

“You’ve been warned plenty of times. You fucked around with too many students, you messed with them, blackmailed them, and now, you’re trying to mess with our mate.” Hunter stepped forward. “Your life ends here.”

Vengeance magic roared around us—and Ironwood screamed as it slammed into him.

I watched as Hunter’s magic made Ironwood’s body convulse terribly before he finally fell still, lifeless.

Only the smallest shred of his soul remained, and my power slipped from my lips and entered his body, absorbing it with finality before slinking back into me.

My reserves filled from it.

Footsteps crunched in the sand as Verity Clearwater stepped beside us, taking in the scene.

“Did you get vengeance?” Her eyes flickered to Hunter, who was still radiating with his vengeance magic.

“Yes.” He met her gaze. “I was going to get rid of his body before anyone found out.”

She sighed, glancing down at our professor’s body. “What happened?”

“He’s been fucking with our mate,” Dex seethed.

“And sleeping with his students,” Hunter added. “I did report this to you.”

“He always used his position to be a creep,” Bram muttered.

“But our main problem was him sniffing around our mate,” Skel admitted.

“We warned him,” Reed explained.

“So did I.” She turned away from his corpse. “To be honest, I don’t see anything here. I was just out for a walk.”

Hunter grinned, striking Ironwood’s body with vengeance once again, this time turning him to dust. “I don’t see anything either, Headmistress.”

She smirked. “Well, I guess you’re proctoring the final for his class, hmm?”

Hunter groaned, tilting his head back slightly. “Damn it.”

She smirked. “I need to get back to my mates now, before they worry. Have a good night.”

“You as well.”

As she walked away, I exhaled a breath of relief.

The night was far from over, but at least Ironwood wouldn’t be a nuisance anymore.