Page 15

Checking my watch, the face reads 2:35 pm in the afternoon, also the exact time of Bailey’s transmutation class. Our beautiful mate sent us a text during her lunch that she’s being forced to attend the class because Jasper threatened her with punishment if she refused.

Bullshit, I tell you.

If the gargoyle was anyone else, I would have marched right into his office and shattered his stone, but as a councilman and the owner of the academy, my hands were tied. He’d revoke any chance I have of being on academy grounds, no matter the fact of who I am.

I just couldn’t do that to my Goddess. She needs me here in case anything goes wrong. And after the shit at the gala, she needs me here twenty-four-seven. Now if only she’d ask me to move in… I’d do it in a heartbeat.

But my goddess needs her space right now. There’s so much for her to work through and having my strong presence there all the time could be considered a hindrance. I freaking miss her, though, when I’m not with her, and I know Axel feels the same.

Plus, as per the rules when a new supe comes over from the human sectors, they’re bound to live in the academy until they actually graduate. So, it’s not like Axel and I can ask her to move in with us.

Leaving the library behind, I teleport onto the edge of the field and prepare myself for the wave of dizziness and nausea that always happens when teleporting. Only, it doesn’t come, shocking the shit out of me. Ever since I learned this particular skill at a young age, I’ve always been plagued with sickness just by using it. As I’d gotten older, the effects were less, but never have they not been there at all.

Could finding Bailey—my goddess, my fated mate—be the reason?

My brows arch in surprise at the thought, and a smile stretches across my face. Of course, it’s because of her. She’s the only new factor in all of this.

“Luka?”

I glance up at the sound of my name, my smile widening even further at the beautiful sight in front me.

Bailey rushes over and throws herself in my arms, wrapping her legs around my waist. I spin her around, relishing in her carefree laughter, even if it only lasts for a moment before she stiffens in my arms.

“Goddess, what’s wrong?”

Her legs drop from around me, and she wiggles out of my embrace, putting distance between us. Those stunning pink eyes of hers dart around the field, nervousness coating her features.

What the hell is going on? She’s never been like this before.

My head turns to follow her gaze, and my eyes immediately darken. Across the field, other students are openly mocking her, disdain clear on their faces. But that isn’t what really sets me off. It’s the words that I failed to hear when she was in my arms.

“Now the whore’s opening her legs for the demi-god?”

“First the professor and now the librarian. What a slut.”

Oh hell fucking no.

Thunder rumbles and clouds gather overhead, growing darker with every passing second. The need to defend my goddess overrides all rational thought, leaving me with only one thought.

Make them pay.

Bright flashes of lightning illuminate the blackening haze, but before the first strike can land, a small hand clamps onto mine, lacing our fingers together. The feel of her skin, her touch, it sends a jolt through my system and bleeds the fury from me instantly.

Coming back to my senses, I look down at the perfect specimen standing next to me, worry causing a wrinkle between her brows. She shouldn’t be worried, though. I’d burn this world down if it meant she didn’t have to hear bullshit spewed from the mouths of those lesser than her.

“They’re not worth it, Luka. Let them talk. It doesn’t bother me,” Bailey murmurs, not that I believe her. The small tremble in her voice leads me to believe otherwise. It bothers her. A lot. Much more than she’s willing to admit.

“Will you actually be joining this class, Miss Matthews?” My head snaps up at the harshness of the Lycan’s words, unable to believe that this motherfucker is actually talking to her this way.

Didn’t that fucker learn the first time?

Looks like he may need another reminder.

Bailey grinds her teeth at his words, so hard I’m damn surprised her molars haven’t cracked. Before I can comment, her grip slips from mine, and she makes her way over with the rest of the students, standing clear in the back, away from everyone else. My poor goddess looks so small in direct comparison to every other supernatural lined up in front of her. They’re shifters, so their size is a given, but all it would take is one of those big fuckers knocking her over, and she’d be done for.

With that thought in mind, I step forward to join my girl, but before I can, the asshole of the hour ignores his class and heads in my direction. As the distance closes between us, he starts to change form, his golden eyes bleeding silver, dark hair sprouting over every inch of his body, and his limbs contorting in an effortless ease until the man is no longer there. No, this son of a bitch thinks he’s going to intimidate me in his Lycan form.

Didn’t he learn the last time he tried this shit on me?

The motherfucker woke up tied to a gods-damned chair, and there was nothing he could do about it.

I arch a brow at his audacity, a smirk flirting on my lips.

His bravado falters for a moment, but he doesn’t stop, and the second he opens his mouth, I know something stupid is about to come out.

“Students only in class. We don’t have a need for a librarian.”

A mocking laugh rumbles my chest, my eyes shifting toward the demon brothers and back again, daring his next words.

“They’re council sanctioned. It’s different.”

“Sure it is,” I smirk, stepping closer, overjoyed when he flinches. “Forgive me if I don’t trust you with my mate after you abused your power as a professor.”

A low, dangerous growl emits from his chest. “I didn’t fucking know. How many times do I have to say that?”

“Wait, wait, wait. Hold the hellfire on.” Zane swaggers into the conversation, Bane right on his heels, though his eyes never stray from keeping Bailey in his sight. “What did he do to our charge?”

Hudson’s gaze drops to his feet, not willing to admit the fact that he abused her in her first class.

Me, though? I have no such qualms.

“If there’s anyone you should be protecting her from—” I nod toward the dumbass in front of me, “—it’s him.”

There’s no mistaking the hurt that flashes through his silver gaze, hurt he has no damn business even feeling. If anyone deserves the right to feel that emotion, it’s my goddess. He’s hurt her in more ways than one.

A quick blur of red leaves Hudson sprawled across the grass, gasping for breath. Zane towers over the fallen Lycan, black smoke curling around his heaving form. The smell of ash and burning wood heavily assaults my senses, making my eyes water, but inside? I’m fucking cackling. Fucker’s getting what he deserves.

Looking over, all the other students watch with rapt attention, but no one makes a move to help the professor. Not even his sister, who looks smug as fuck standing there with a group of guys around her.

Mates, possibly. With the way they’re angled around her, a protective barrier with her in the middle, yeah… definitely mates. Not that I think she acknowledges the fact with how she was trolling for a date at the gala.

Not my mate, not my place to say a word about her actions.

“What did you do?” Zane thunders, sparks popping on the tips of his horns as he leans down and grabs Hudson, ripping him from the ground and holding him aloft by the collar of his shirt.

“It was a misunderstanding,” the bastard chokes out, his eyes darting around, looking for something. A savior, maybe. But he won’t find one. Not in me. Not in Bane. And definitely not in my goddess.

He’s on his own. Just like Bailey was when he dragged her through the academy grounds.

“There better not be another misunderstanding, or you’ll end up in a misunderstanding with my fist.” At those words, Zane drops Hudson like he burnt him and steps back, brushing imaginary lint from the sleeve of his t-shirt.

Not another word is spoken by the professor, but he seems to get the gist really fucking quick. He hustles away without so much as a glance in our direction, back over to his awaiting class.

I stifle a laugh, but really? Seeing these demons taking their job seriously, it appeases the worry that’s been hanging over my head since Axel and I left her dorm last night.

We didn’t want to leave. But we knew we had to. These classes are important, and it’s one of the only ways we can secure her future and the longevity of her life. She needs to learn. She needs to show the council there’s nothing to fear from her because she’s got her shit down. Us occupying her time twenty-four-seven will only hurt her in the long run.

But fuck, it kills me to be away from her. Same with Axel.

Soon, though. When she’s done with this bullshit academy, we’ll be together, living our lives as a unit in the same house. We’ll never spend another night without her.

Zane and Bane bracket me on either side, their arms crossed over their chests, their eyes pinned to my white-haired beauty with pink eyes. Their attention on her should rattle me—worry me—but for some reason, it doesn’t. If anything, it tells me that if I can’t make it to this class one day, they’ll be here to make sure she doesn’t get hurt again.

“We’ll keep her safe,” Bane murmurs, his voice quiet but still loud enough to hear over Hudson barking orders at his class.

“I know,” I mutter, mirroring their stance.

But having my eyes on her, seeing her in the flesh—whole and alive—is the only way to keep my sanity from slipping with the what ifs of what could be happening to her.

There’s one thing I know for sure, though.

I love my goddess, and I’ll destroy anyone who lays a hand on her.