Page 26 of Fortune Academy: Year One
Orion approached me first, paired with a girl on each arm as if for effect to remind me how desirable he was, as if his godly good looks weren’t enough to rub that fact in my face. “Now that we know you’re a dud, you’re only good for one thing.” He waggled his eyebrows at me. “I’m having an orgy party tomorrow night. You’re welcome to...come.” He licked his lips on the last word.
I balled my fingers into a fist and took a swing at him, aiming straight for his perfect nose. The blow landed—hard.
“Are you insane?” I ground through clenched teeth as he stumbled back and the girls on his arm fluttered away with gasps of horror. “If Hendrik’s spell is working on you, then you’re even dumber than you look.”
I meant it as an insult, but Hendrik took that as a compliment. Orion looked up at me with a grin as a trickle of bright red blood rolled over his lips. So, gods bled too. “Oh, spells don’t work on me, darling.” He gave me a wink. “But I’m glad you think I’m dumb. That’ll make outsmarting you into my bed so much more satisfying.”
He sauntered off and Olivia released a low whistle, which was severely impeded by the dried crumbs from her sandwich. “Damn. I’ve never seen anyone get under a Demi’s skin, much less punch one in the face, but Orion seemed pretty shaken.”
I gave her a raised brow. “Uh, really? He looked fine to me.”
Hendrik interrupted us by tossing an orb to the ground. Purple smoke made me gag and Olivia dropped her sandwich in disgust. A magical stink bomb, really, so mature. “You two get this straight,” he said, snapping a finger at us. “You’ve gotten on my bad side, which means you’re going to have to get in line and grovel for my forgiveness. You don’t eat unless I say you can eat. You don’t fuck unless I say you can fuck. And you don’t even breathe unless I say you can.” He snapped his fingers and Olivia clutched at her throat.
“Olivia?” I cried and grabbed onto her arm as she sank to her knees. “Hendrik, stop it!”
He smirked, although there was a gleam of hatred in his eyes. I had a feeling that his choking spell was supposed to have affected me too. A simple stink bomb might work on me, but something that actually threatened my willpower or my life bounced right off of whatever defense mechanisms my body had in place, the same ones that worked against Melinda’s attempts to compel me.
“It’s sweet you’ve made a baby alliance,” Hendrik said, lowering his voice with a dangerous growl that would have been sexy had I not known that he spent his free time chopping off people’s hands. “If you like this little dark mage, then you’ll do as I say, got it? She’s one of my clan, which means she owes a blood debt to her people.” His dark eyes flashed with malice and triumph. He knew he had something I wanted to protect—Olivia. “What I say goes and you’re going to have to accept that.” He hooked the collar of my bloodied uniform and made me stand on my tiptoes. “These are my orders. You’re going to partake in your new friend’s blood debt, then you’re to stay away from Logan and any member of my alliance unless you are specifically called upon.” He sniffed at Olivia. “That includes any pathetic excuses of an alliance you manage to build as well.”
I was already indebted to Olivia for the suffering I’d put her through. I’d fucking killed her, and now I’d put her on Hendrik’s bad side. It made me regret ever opening up to her. If I’d just been mean or distant when she’d first introduced herself, none of this would be happening right now.
“If you hurt her I’ll—”
Olivia made a strangled sound as Hendrik twisted his spell harder. “You’ll what? You’ll let your one ally die over your pride?”
I balled my fingers into fists, cutting my palms with the crescents of my fingernails. “Fine,” I said, hating how pathetic and weak I sounded. I didn’t have anything to throw back at Hendrik... other than the demon conjuring orb I had in my pocket and that would do a better job of getting me expelled than accomplishing anything useful. If I really found myself in danger, it was a last resort, but now was not the time. Unfortunately, Hendrik had me in his crosshairs and he knew it.All I had to do was pretend to roll over… for now.
“I’m sorry,” he said, leaning closer to me. “I didn’t quite hear you.” He beckoned me closer. “Why don’t you whisper it in my ear so I make sure we have an understanding.”
I glanced at Olivia who still clutched at her throat and her lips were taking on a shade of blue. Dammit. He wouldn’t actually make her pass out... or worse, would he? By the dangerous gleam in his black eyes that sparked with power I knew better than to test him.
I moved in until I was close enough to touch him and a tingling swept over my body. His spell wouldn’t work on me, but I sensed it crawling over me and my nostrils flared against the impact of the sweet scent.
Didn’t Olivia say magic had a smell?
If it did, Hendrik’s was roses... along with something else that tinged the edges of my senses with a metallic taste.
Blood?
That would make sense. Hendrik was a dark mage. His magic was based in goodness. I felt it, but the blood magic he’d swept over it changed it fundamentally in a way that was... wrong.
“I’m waiting, Lily.”
Hearing him say my name made a shiver run down my spine. I forced myself to spit out what he wanted to hear.
“I’ll do what you want, Hendrik. Please, don’t hurt Olivia.”
It was just words, but the defeat that settled into my chest made me want to vomit.
Hendrik leaned back with a smirk on his face. He waved his hand and Olivia gasped for breath, making me relax with relief.
“Good. Now, I have more important matters to attend to. You’d do well to stay out of my sight, but be sure to show up for blood duty tonight.” He grinned. “My dorms. Bring your friend.”
Shit, he wanted usto do blood duty today? I hoped that didn’t involve losing any limbs.
“Right, okay, whatever,” I promised, although I had no intention of bringing Olivia along so he could lord her life over me again.
Satisfied, Hendrik grinned and backed away. A distant crack sounded through the room as he changed the hold of his spell and I noted that a line of concentration disappeared from his forehead. The crowd dispersed as the spell weaned. “Good. I’ll see you tonight then.” He looked back at my sad, deflated pizza still on my tray. “Finish your... nourishment, so that you’ll have the energy to donate.”
