Page 22 of Fortune Academy: Year Two
Whatever allure Hendrik held for me instantly evaporated in that blunt statement. I was nothing to him other than another pawn. His cock was overruling his mind because the Virtue connection was driving him towards me, but that’s all this was.
“Fuck you!” I shouted and shoved, trying to ignore the sting of his rejection. This time I meant it and Hendrik was off of me in an instant, his dark eyes smoldering with need as he wrapped himself with raw restraint.
“I wish you would,” he admitted, his desire for me naked on his face before he schooled himself into a rigid scowl, “but I think that’s enough fun for today.”
I narrowed my gaze at him, not sure what kind of game he was playing. “Whatever,” I snapped after an awkward moment of silence. “Are we done here?”
He glared at me before taking his wine and kicking it back to finish it off. The slight grimace that flickered under his careful mask told me he wished it had been whiskey. “We’re done,” he confirmed. “You’ll finish charging the Blood Stone, and then you’ll uncover dirt on the Dean for me.” He set his glass down on the table with a softclink. “If you don’t, then I’ll expose you for what you are and your life will be over.”
“I could say I was working for you,” I countered.
“Your word against mine,” he said without missing a beat. “Good luck with that.”
A growl emanated in my throat and Hendrik snapped his fingers, sending the door opening with a rough slam. It’s the only evidence that he’s as sexually frustrated as I am right now. “Run along, pet. I’ll see you next week.”
Chapter 9
Ithought I had known rage before, but after my worst encounter yet with Hendrik, I was positively livid. Now I knew what it felt like to want to smash my fist through someone’s face over and over again until they stopped moving.
And then kick them in the balls.
Hendrik and I might have a Virtue connection, but right now all I wanted to do was fuck him and then kill him like I was a black widow.
“Someone shit in your shoes?” Melinda drawled, shocking me from my red-haze of rage induced fog.
I’d nearly forgotten about my archnemesis, the Muse that hated my guts just because she couldn’t control me.
She could get in line.
“Did someone shit on your face?” I countered. “Oh, wait, that’s just your makeup.” I flashed my best grin. “Looking good.”
She scowled as she hooked the arm of one of her groupies. The Mind Freaks got away with a lot, but they couldn’t control the stronger supernaturals. Logan, Hendrik, and the Demis didn’t have to worry about their antics, and it bugged Melinda to no end that I was included in that group.
“Keep talking, dud, while you can.” She flashed her teeth at me. It might have been intended as a smile, but it looked more like a snarl. “Once Hendrik’s done with you, you’re all mine.”
I shoved past her, letting my shoulder bump against hers. She jostled and screeched at me, casting threats, but I ignored her.
I had much bigger supernaturals to fry.
Needingto burn off some steam, I headed straight for the Awakening Arena. It was the only place in all the realms where I could actually murder someone and not suffer the consequences. It did wonders for my rage.
Professor Payne gave me some freedom when it came to my attendance at the arena. No one could beat me and I’d been a dud long enough that I was becoming quite the fighter, which only frustrated me more. How was I supposed to Awaken if I was undefeated?
That’s probably why Kaito had given me that special “class.” I remembered drinking that vile liquid with a cringe. It was intended to be used to kickstart my Awakening… instead it had taken me to my deepest, darkest nightmare, which happened to be a very real memory. It was enough to tell me I was a demonspawn, and start some rather unpleasant and unwanted transformations, but it wasn’t enough to help me unlock my full potential. Kaito insisted there was something good in me, something wonderful that would redeem all the darkness that lingered in my heart. I sure hoped he was right.
When I entered the arena, Professor Payne scowled down at me from his elevated throne. The dwarf must have thought he was intimidating, but he always looked like a Troll doll on a high chair to me.
“Well look who decided to show,” he said with a grin. The motion made his beard puff out like a cute furry rat. “Get ready, students! We have a special treat. Lily’s here to Awaken some of you.”
The group of students huddled against the wall eyed me warily. I might have felt bad for them, but their dud status made them as good as shit between Professor Payne’s toes as far as the rest of the Academy was concerned. Getting them to unlock their supernatural powers did them a favor, and at least I could let off some steam at the same time.
I grabbed a longsword and hefted the weight before choosing a lighter one.
The dwarf’s assistant, a panther shifter named Nikki, scanned the small group of duds with a slitted gaze. “You,” she said, pointing a taloned finger at the largest male. “You’re up.”
I drew in a shocked breath when Dante emerged from the shadows with his amputated arm tucked into his coat. Even with a missing appendage, he didn’t cease to take my breath away. His once short hair now was long enough to pull back in a messy warrior’s tail, which made him look even hotter. “Hey, babe,” he said with one of those grins that flashed his dimples. “Long time no see.”
“What are you doing here?” I hissed.
