Page 52 of Fortune Academy: Year Two
“I know,” he said calmly as he got up and sat on the edge of his desk. “I can feel them, of course.” His lip twitched and I realized he was about to divulge a rare truth. Maybe it was because Dante was his friend, or perhaps he’d gain something from pissing the Hunter off. “I’ve been blocking your connection so you wouldn’t feel it. I needed her to bond with the others, first, and I knew if I told you that you’d go all Hunter and try to take her before any of us got a chance.” He clicked his tongue. “We have enough testosterone in the mate-circle as it is. I needed you out of the way until she bonded with me, as well as the Dark Mage.” He glanced at me. “Well done, by the way. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“What the actual fuck, Kaito?” I said, growling as I slammed both hands onto his thighs. “You’ve lied to us. You kept Dante in the dark, and then you failed to mention thatIam the reason supernaturals have lost their memories, as well as key details of your research that pertains to me. Don’t you think I deserve to know? Why keep me it from me?”
My demonspawn claws pricked at my fingertips, wanting to shred him into pieces.
My succubus side, however, wanted to taste the succulent lust he offered as he drew me between his legs.
“Koneko-chan,gomen nasai—I’m so sorry,” he said, cupping my chin and angling me up to look at him. “I was trying to protect you.”
I wanted to believe him so badly. His love for me flowed through our Virtue connection without restraint, slamming into me like a waterfall. My mouth parted on a gasp as I felt it.
Was this just another ploy to get in my good graces? Maybe he knew how to manipulate the Virtue connection, too.
“There’s more darkness in you than light, and I more than anyone else understands how difficult that can be.” He paused for effect and I wondered if he would finally divulge what kind of supernatural creature he was, but he continued, “I want to give you the chance to uncover the truth for yourself. If I tell you everything, then it’ll lose all impact.” He pressed a light kiss to my mouth, pulling away as he stroked my cheek. “Do you feel stronger now that you learned the answers on your own without my help?”
It was true, I did feel empowered, but I couldn’t also help but feel betrayed. Yet, when I looked into Kaito’s silver eyes, I saw my mentor and lover looking back at me. He wanted me to truly learn who I was without his intervention. He knew that when his student uncovered the answers on her own, the victory was all the sweeter and that was a gift he wanted for me.
In his own way, he was trying to help me.
“I don’t buy your bullshit,” Dante growled, shoving Kaito’s shoulder and sending him toppling to the floor.
I pressed a hand to Dante’s chest. “It’s okay. Leave him be.”
Dante growled, but backed off.
“Tell us who the Conduit is so I don’t have to look at your face a second longer,” the Hunter said, his tone taking on that familiar emotionless quality that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
Kaito’s brow shot up. “Why do you want to know that?”
Dante looked at me, and I nodded. I wasn’t going to be like Kaito and keep secrets.
I told him what I had learned in Heaven and about our plan to lure Calamity to the Hell realms. Hell was good at imprisoning things. Merlin had already done some of the work for us getting us close to one of Hell’s outer realms, so once we had Jess on our side, we could jump ship. Unlike me, she was a full-blooded demonspawn and would be able to make sure we got to Hell in one piece.
But we needed to know who the Conduit was first, or all of this would be for nothing.
Kaito sighed, having taken to one of his chairs as he pondered our proposal. “This isn’t how the prophecy said Calamity would be beaten. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“I’m not looking for your approval,” I snapped. “Tell me who the Conduit is or I’ll dig it out of you.” I had the Claw, and a hell of a succubus kick, so I was sure that a little bit of interrogation was well within my abilities.
His lip twitched again, although he looked more aMused than frightened of me. “All right,Koneko-chan,if you want to do it this way, I’ll tell you.” He straightened, then blew out a long breath. “My list of suspects included Hendrik, Olivia, and the Dean.” He bobbed his head. “Given that Hendrik is one of your Virtues, and Olivia was deemed worthy to be gifted a new soul as you mentioned, then that leaves our obvious choice.”
I rubbed my temples.
Well, shit.
Chapter 20
Ihad no idea how I was going to lure the Dean to Hell, but I guessed it would create serious obstacles in maintaining a passing grade.
Leaving the counselor’s building, I stopped in my tracks when I spotted a wall of wolves blocking our path. I squinted, trying to see what the hell was going on. One of the wolves jaunted towards us—a silver beast with his eyes locked on me.
“Logan?” I asked with a tinge of guilt to my voice. It wasn’t as if I’d forgotten him, but I had a billion things on my plate. Even if I wanted to get revenge on him for humiliating me, I still felt like I’d crossed a line with Orion. I had hurt him deeply and it pained me how everything had played out between us.
His bones cracked as he took his time with his shift, making me cringe as I watched the slow, agonizing transformation. Dante edged closer to me, sensing a threat, but I couldn’t do anything except stare at my beautiful Virtue as his body shaped into his athletic form.
Even in the cold weather, Logan didn’t act cold even though he was completely naked. He shook off a layer of snow that tried to settle on him as he approached us. He kept his gaze on me and completely ignored the Hunter. His perfect form moved and he almost didn’t seem real as he silently leaned in close and bit my shoulder, pressing hard enough to bruise the skin before backing away. Only then did he regard the Hunter with a challenging stare that said only one thing.
Mine.
