Page 4

At some point, Axel stepped away from our corner while we were waiting, only to come back with towels and a few bottles of water in his hands. The guys worked together to get the blood cleaned up from my shoulders, while I returned the favor cleaning them in return.

The entire time, Luka and Axel were oblivious to the glares of everyone in the gala as they fussed over me. But me? I was aware of every single stare, pointed look, and snarl in our direction. Or maybe they knew and just ignored it like I should have.

But it’s hard when you’re hated by so many for something you have no choice over.

My impatience starts to get the better of me as I grit my teeth, my gaze not once leaving the room behind the dais.

It feels like we’ve been standing here for hours waiting for the council to come back with a decision. But really, it’s only been twenty minutes at the most. But I guess when your life is hanging on the line, time flows differently. I just wish they’d hurry up. I want to go home and be done with this shitty night.

Part of me expected people to start leaving since it was perfectly clear that the gala was over, but maybe that’s just me downplaying their bloodlust and need for violence.

After another grueling thirty minutes, the door opens, and everyone in the room collectively holds their breath, waiting for the verdict. But instead of the council, Titus—the dragon bastard—waltzes through the door like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

Hell, I don’t even know when he actually went back there and joined them. But it’s obvious he did or how else would he be emerging from what I feel is the council’s inner sanctum.

“Curiomancer, your presence is requested.” My body tenses, and fear quakes through my limbs at the thought of walking through that door but not walking back out.

“Luka…” I whisper, my words trailing off as he seems to understand what I’m asking without voicing the thought. Wrapping his arm around my shoulder, he heads toward the room with Axel trailing behind us, not allowing more than a few feet of distance between us.

I fully expect Titus to stop my mates from coming, too, but surprise renders me speechless when he steps aside, letting the three of us in. Maybe it’s because they're my mates. Or maybe it’s because he doesn’t want another fight. But either way, I’m grateful, though I don’t voice it out loud.

As soon as we step in, Luka lowers the shield that’s been keeping others away, obviously not sensing a threat now that we’re behind closed doors.

But that’s just silly. Even to me. Doesn’t he realize that we’re just walking to my doom and not safety like he thinks?

The lights are dim in the small hall between the door we just entered and the room we are heading to, but the bright light flooding from ahead of us acts as a beacon of where we’re supposed to go. Every step forward seems harder than the last, our gait slowing as it feels like concrete encases my feet.

“Breathe, cor meum .” Axel’s smooth murmur does nothing to soothe the panic bubbling in my gut. I can’t breathe. Doesn’t he realize that?

This is the end of the road for me. Because there’s no way in hell one councilman was able to convince nine others that I’m not a threat to society.

I so badly want to cry and stomp my feet and blast to the world how unfair life is. But I won’t. I plan to stick to my word of concealing my emotions to the very bitter end. An end coming far quicker than I hoped.

My knees damn near buckle the moment I step over the threshold as my gaze collides with the familiar green orbs of the only person—or should I say gargoyle—I know.

Jasper Stonewell. My headmaster.

But… I snap my gaping lips closed, my brows furrowing as I look around the room, realizing eight of the ten council members have robes on, whereas two do not.

That could only mean…

This time my legs do give out, but before I can hit the ground, Luka steadies me with one arm banded around my waist.

The overgrown rock bird is a member of the council. He… left me there to be condemned for what I am. For what he told me was special. For what he was willing to hide.

Fuck. Keep it together, Bailey.

Well, that’s one major kick in the damn face. Just goes to show that there are very few I can actually trust with my life. And he isn’t one of them. Not anymore. Not after learning this piece of information he so helpfully left out.

Betrayal and sour bile surge like hot lava up my throat, but I swallow it down, just barely, allowing Luka to lead me to the middle seat of the only three empty ones left.

Jasper’s stare feels like a hot brand on my flesh as it remains on me, probably hoping to catch my eye, but I refuse to give him any more of my attention. This revelation hurts way too much. It shouldn’t, though. He’s just my headmaster. Not my mate. If it was Axel or Luka, I’d be losing my absolute shit right now. Hell, I still kind of am.

But that’s only because I thought he was… different. Guess I should have known better.

Axel and Luka shadow me on each side, their postures tense but not outwardly showing it. I can only tell because they’re mine. We’re so intricately linked, it’s easy to tell how they’re faring. I can say that they’re handling this a hell of a lot better than me.

In an attempt to quell the fear I know is permeating from my skin, I glance around the room, taking in the large boardroom-style table in a beautiful walnut brown, with high back chairs perfectly spaced to take up the perimeter. White damask wallpaper covers the walls, and sconces are evenly placed around the room, but the main source of light is the big fancy ass chandelier hanging precariously over the table.

“Miss Foss.” Shit. It’s starting. Taking a deep breath, I clench my hands on my lap before looking toward the voice. The angel stands proud behind his seat, his voice warm and welcoming. It’s on the tip of my tongue to blow a raspberry at his greeting, but I keep it in. Just barely. “My name is Cassian Deveroe, and I’m the angel representative on the council. I want to apologize for our less than welcoming introduction into our society as we’ve learned that you’ve only recently joined us not knowing what you were.”

Axel hisses at his words as that bile earlier makes a reappearance, but I force it back down again. There’s only one way they’d learn that little tidbit of information, and I don’t even have to guess to know who spilled the beans.

“Th-thank you,” I stutter, mentally kicking myself over my blunder. Dammit. I need to keep my shit straight for now, and I can lose it later in the privacy of my own room. If I make it home.

Cassian smiles at me, but it’s not something I can return. And he can tell by how his smile falters for a mere moment before he continues. “I know you’re waiting for our deliberation, so I’ll just come right out with it, then we can go over the logistics. It’s been decided that we’re going to give you a chance. A chance to prove that you are not like your ancestors. I’m unsure if you know the full story behind what happened, but your headmaster,” he sweeps his arm toward Jasper, but I keep my eyes on the angel, refusing to make eye contact with the jerk, “can fill you in.”

A loud thump makes me jump almost damn near out of skin as the head councilman slams his fist on the table, the crack reverberating around the smallish room. Shit. He’s pissed. Probably more so than before.

“It’s not a goddamn story. It’s fucking murder, and you know it,” Dirk, the head councilman, hisses in his eerie disembodied voice, his fury palatable. “She should be fucking put in the damn ground, not given a chance.”

Thunder rumbles through the small room, and a dark ominous cloud starts to gather around the chandelier. Small sparks of light flash as the pressure builds, making my ears pop. Luka’s display of power instantly shuts the head councilman up, but it doesn’t seem to stem the anger radiating off his body. A trickle of rain starts to fall centered on the table, but as I look around, it’s also falling on every single council member, minus Cassian. He’s still dry as a bone.

They all grumble as the rain picks up, but my mates and I are spared from the onslaught, thank goodness. I doubt wet curiomancer is a good look on me.

Cassian stifles a laugh as the other council members grumble over being soaked, including Jasper, but then he shoots me a pointed look, telling me to end this now. Even though every person in the room knows I’m not the one doing it. Knowing he’s right, I reach over and place my hand on Luka’s thigh, rubbing what I hope are soothing circles in an effort to calm my mate down before he fries Dirk to a crisp. Cause it’s a given that he will after his most recent comment.

Oh so slowly the rain stops, the thunder quiets, and the clouds dissipate, leaving a slight glossy sheen on the table and wet council members to pull themselves together. I fully expect Dirk to put the blame on me, but he remains quiet, not voicing his displeasure over his current circumstances.

Cassian takes center stage again, continuing what he was saying before he was so rudely cut off.

“As I said previously, there are certain logistics that we’ve decided on as a collective that you must adhere to in order to keep this deal intact. First and foremost, you will return to the academy and continue your studies. I’ll get with Headmaster Stonewell on the subjects you need to be focusing on as he’s already explained that you’ve been taking random classes as part of your cover story.” Holy shit. He’s told him everything it seems. “So now you’ll be taking classes for the runes you hold. I have a book at home that classifies what each rune does, and I’ll be sending that your way as study material. In a week’s time, I expect to have a full list of the runes you carry as a precaution. Are you with me so far?”

Am I? Yes. Do I like it? Not one freaking bit. Not so much the classes part. But the part about him obtaining a full list of runes I have etched on my skin seems a little intrusive. It’s not like I can tell him that, though.

Before I can give my affirmation that I’m still with him so far, Axel cuts in. “What do you plan to do for her, safety wise? Your esteemed leader has already practically put a damn price on her head. One of her now ex-teachers,” he throws a pointed look at Jasper that screams I’ll fill you in later, “has already expressed her displeasure, thanks to you. And, as of forty-five minutes ago, she’s been let go from the academy. So what steps are you lot going to take to ensure her safety while she’s learning?”

If the situation wasn’t so dire, I’d swoon over the fact that my mate is worried about my safety. I am too, but damn. I love this vampire for putting me first.

“I’m glad you asked, Mr. Pennington.” My head whips toward Axel, my eyes screaming the question, do you know him ? A small shake of his head is all I get in return, but I’m too confused to decipher what it’s supposed to mean. “That’s actually the next point I was planning to make in our logistics. But to answer your question, I’ll be sending two of the best bodyguards to shadow Miss Foss and deal with any threats that may arise. They’ll be staying at the academy, in the room next door to Miss Foss, for her protection.”

Babysitters? Is he for-freaking-real?

Logically, I get it. I really do. Especially after experiencing the hell in the main hall with the supernaturals out there. But come on! This is the academy. It has to be a hell of a lot safer there, right?

“And, finally, you’ll be meeting with me every few months to go over what you’ve learned and where you still need help. If we feel that you aren’t getting the proper instruction for certain areas, we’ll provide teachers that can help. That’s about it. Do you have any questions, Miss Foss?”

The most I can do at this point is shake my head, any words I may have dying on my tongue. This is the best-case scenario compared to how it could have gone. So, while I may have a few objections myself, I keep them to myself. I’ll rage over them later.

“Fantastic.” Cassian tucks his hands in his pockets with a bright, blinding smile on his face and his wings ruffling behind him. “I’ll call Jasper in a few hours with the information on the bodyguards that will be showing up tomorrow. Other than that, Miss Foss, you’re free to go.”

Thank fuck. I’m ready to go the hell home.

I quietly murmur my thanks as I hop out of the chair like the damn thing is on fire and head toward the door, knowing the guys will be following right behind me. There’s no way I would have lasted much longer in that room with the displeasure from a few council members weighing me down.

There’s one thing I definitely know for sure.

Next year, if I survive that long, I’m staying the fuck home.

Galas can kiss my runed ass.