Page 5 of Academy of the Wicked, Year One

"A noble cause. Breaking into the most dangerous magical academy in existence to save your dying twin. Very heroic. Very touching." His smile shows just a hint of fang. "And completely impossible."

I bite back a scream of frustration.

This son of a bitch!

"Obviously not impossible since I'm sitting right here!" It shouldn’t be so hard to say the actual truth for once in my life.

"That's precisely what makes this so interesting," Nikolai drawls from where he's perched on a windowsill, moonlight casting his sharp Fae features in silver. "No one simply walks into Wicked Academy. The walls themselves are alive with tainted magic. The wards are sentient and rather fond of creative dismemberment."

My eyes dart around the ornate office they've dragged me to, searching for any sign of the third prince.

The Duskwalker —Prince Cassius it seems— had been there one moment in the bedroom, wreathed in living shadows, and then...nothing.

I don't even remember being brought here or tied up, which means I had to have briefly passed out or something.

"Where's your creepy shadow friend?" I demand, trying to mask my unease.

"Concerned about our resident Duskwalker?" Damien's smile widens. "How fascinating. Most people try very hard not to think about Cassius at all."

A chill runs down my spine.

I've clearly blacked out at some point, which means the Duskwalker probably...

I shut that train of thought down hard.

"Look," I say, forcing myself to sound reasonable. "I realize breaking in was wrong. I'll take whatever punishment you want to dish outafterI save my sister. Just let me get the chalice?—"

"There is no chalice," Nikolai interrupts. "At least, not the one you're looking for. The Chalice of Restoration is a myth."

The words hit me like a physical blow.

"No. I saw it. Almost touched it.” It’s odd that just thinking about it hurts my head, making me wonder if what I saw wasreal…or an illusion.I shake my head. “You're lying. The texts in my grandmother's grimoire?—"

"You were probably planted here to lure us," Damien finishes. "The question is...by whom?"

I slump in my chair, my mind racing.

If there's no chalice, then Elena... No.

I can't think about that right now.

I need to focus on getting out of here alive.

"There's still something not adding up," Nikolai muses, sliding off the windowsill with Fae grace. He circles my chair slowly, and I resist the urge to squirm under his scrutiny. "Perhaps we should verify certain...details...about our unexpected guest."

His meaningful glance downward makes my stomach drop. Slowly, I follow his gaze to my lap and the implications hit me like a thunderbolt.

Wait a minute...does that mean I have a...

I must make some kind of horrified face because Damien arches one perfect eyebrow.

"Why do you look so disgusted?"

"I'm cursed with having a—" I cut myself off, choking on the word. "How am I supposed to pee?!"

They both stare at me like I've lost my mind.

"You don't know how to urinate?" Damien asks slowly.

---