Page 78 of Academy of the Wicked, Year One

“Careful there, hero,” a familiar voice drawls, laced with smug amusement. “I know it must be a dream come true to find yourself in my arms, but try not to swoon too hard. I despise weaklings.”

I tilt my head back, glaring up at Damien’s infuriatingly handsome face. His crimson eyes gleam with mirth, and his fanged smirk only deepens as he takes in my scowl.

“Shut the fuck up,” I bite out, shoving him away with what little strength I can muster. “I’d rather fall and die than accept your help, you arrogant?—”

Before I can finish, the pillar beneath us shudders violently.

Cracks spiderweb across its surface, and a deafening crack splits the air as it begins to collapse.

“Shit,” Damien curses, his smirk vanishing as he grabs my arm to steady me. Cassius’s gaze sharpens, and he lets out a sharp whistle that echoes across the battlefield, its sound cutting through the chaos like a blade.

The slate pulses, the runes flaring brighter as the ground beneath us begins to disintegrate.

14

THE TRIALS OF THE WICKED ELITES PART TWO

~GWENIVERE~

The ground beneath us collapses in a roar of crumbling stone, but before the abyss can claim us, vines of gold and green burst from the void.

They spiral upward in a graceful arc, catching us mid-fall. The vines twist and weave with mesmerizing precision, wrapping around my waist and limbs like living tendrils as they slow our descent.

Cassius is the first to steady himself, his shadow-laden form pressing against the vibrant tendrils as if testing their integrity. Damien curses under his breath, his grip still tight on my arm as the vines gently lower us.

Then, with a sudden flourish, the vines snap taut, forming a platform beneath our feet. A lush canopy of oversized, iridescent leaves materializes, their veins glowing with an ethereal light. The platform is large, sturdy, and somehow alive—a living refuge in the chaos.

I have just enough time to catch my breath before the familiar hum of danger pierces my senses. A swarm of taintedbees hurtles toward us, their stingers glinting with deadly intent. My heart leaps into my throat.

“Here they come again!” I shout, summoning a weak gust of wind to shield us, though I know it won’t be enough.

But before the swarm can reach us, another force joins the fray. From above, a dazzling swarm of bees—red and pink, their bodies shimmering like gemstones—descends with violent precision. They collide with the tainted bees in midair, a clash of light and darkness that sends shockwaves rippling through the air. The tainted bees explode or decay into ash upon impact, their corrupted forms no match for the blazing vibrancy of their new foes.

The air hums with residual energy as the battle rages on, but the platform beneath us remains untouched. My pulse steadies, though my mind reels. What the hell is happening?

“This is really tiresome,” a voice drawls, so drenched in boredom it’s almost insulting.

I whip around, my gaze darting to the source of the voice. Damien stiffens beside me, his crimson eyes narrowing. Cassius’s expression doesn’t change, but I can sense his tension in the way his shadows coil tighter around him.

Floating above the platform with effortless grace is Nikolai. The Fae prince exudes an aura so potent it feels like the entire battlefield bends to accommodate him. Golden light radiates from his skin, his hair levitating with an almost hypnotic rhythm, charged with immense magic. He lands on the platform without a sound, his every movement a study in ethereal perfection.

I’m speechless. Despite the chaos still unfolding around us, my eyes are drawn to him, unable to look away. The sheer force of natural magic emanating from him is overwhelming. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, a primal power that thrums in the air, commanding both reverence and awe.

He turns to me, his violet eyes gleaming with amusement as a smirk tugs at the corner of his lips. “You’re staring, Gabriel,” he says, his tone teasing but sharp. “Careful now. If you fall for me, I might just have to indulge you.”

My face flushes, and I immediately look away, scowling. “Oh, please,” I mutter, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Take your egotistical, glowing ass elsewhere.”

Nikolai’s smirk deepens as he steps closer, the light radiating from him casting long shadows across the platform. He leans down, his fingers gripping my chin with surprising firmness, tilting my face up to meet his gaze.

“Unlike Damien’s incubus tendencies,” he murmurs, his voice dropping an octave, “I don’t hesitate to take the lead when someone shows even the slightest hint of attraction.”

I yank my chin free from his grip, my scowl deepening. “Take your sexy ass away from me,” I snap, the words spilling out before I can stop them.

Nikolai’s laugh is a low, melodic sound that somehow feels more dangerous than comforting. He winks at me, his violet eyes sparkling with mischief.

Groaning, I step back, muttering under my breath. “I forgot how cocky Fae can get when they’re hopped up on power and might.”

“And yet,” Nikolai retorts smoothly, “you’re still staring.”

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