Page 11 of Fortune Academy: Year Three
He snarled at some Demonspawn who got too close, but word must have gotten out who I was. The murmurs included words like “Your Majesty” and “Princess.”
I don’t care, as long as they keep their distance,Logan snapped back, his words coming with a growl inside my head.Let’s just find Kaito and get back to the others. I don’t like how they’re looking at you.
Walking tall, I cupped my Blood Stone for strength. Royal demonic lineage wasn’t something I had asked for, but now that we were here, I would play my part. I’d do anything to keep my Virtues safe.
That instinct made me smile. We’d all come so far. When I’d first come to the Academy, I didn’t know who to trust. With the exception of Logan, all of my Virtues had selfishly operated with their own agendas in mind, but now that we faced Calamity together, I could feel all of that changing. Their priorities were starting to shift and each of them held the key to our redemption.
It was time to accept that maybe I was a monster… and they were too.
And maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.
Dante had hunted down supernaturals, killed, and done unspeakable acts. Taking me to the Academy had been under orders. He knew what he’d done had been wrong and everything he did now was to make amends. My Hunter had my back and he’d do anything to protect me, including facing Hell and the witch spirits that had created him.
Orion had been a playboy demigod with only sex and power on his mind. He’d resented me at first when I had turned his world upside down. He’d run from our connection, denied his feelings, and even tried to break his role as my Virtue. I came to terms that it wasn’t personal. He hadn’t done those things because he hated me, but because it terrified him. The idea of loving me, sharing me, and facing the reality that he might give his heart and then lose me was too much to bear. Now that he had accepted his role in the mate-circle, he would be a force of love, light, and of course, lots of sex.
Then there was Hendrik, the Dark Mage who took what he wanted and gave no apologies. He had used me, dominated me, and watched me suffer—but for him, it hadn’t been with malicious intent. That was just the way of his world. Power and change came at a cost, and for Hendrik, that cost required suffering. He always kept the big picture in mind. He wanted to protect his clan, lead them when no one else cared, and if being my Virtue meant he could do good by his people, then he would embrace it. I didn’t think he had expected to fall in love with me and his reluctance stung in the mate-circle like a thorn. He had no problem lusting me, but love? That wasn’t something he ever expected a soulless mage to have to contend with.
Logan, though, he had loved me from the beginning. The wolf in him recognized me as his mate and everything he had done had been selfless acts of sacrifice, and I wouldn’t soon forget it.
It didn’t change what needed to be done, though, no matter if my wolf disagreed with my decision. Kaito was a part of this mate-circle and I wouldn’t just leave him alone. I sensed him wallowing in self-pity somewhere in the dark, glittering buildings that jutted from the massive cavern walls. The air shimmered with heat, but it didn’t bother me. Logan, on the other hand, panted as his tongue lolled and he trotted in a zig-zag in front of me, making sure to keep any curious Demonspawn a healthy distance from my path.
Kaito is in that building,I said, sending my words into Logan’s mind as I approached one of the taller buildings where red lights burst from the windows.
It reeks of alcohol,Logan replied as his nose twitched.Are you sure you want to go in there?
I laughed.I worked at a bar, remember?I patted him on the head.Wait outside. I don’t think the Demonspawn will take kindly to a wolf interrupting their drinks.
He glowered at me and whined and tried to follow me anyway. I cupped my Blood Stone and sent out an invisible barrier, shoving the wolf back as he snapped and snarled.
“Trust me,” I whispered over my shoulder. “I got this.”
Logan’s doubt crept over me as I progressed inside the building, but he didn’t attempt to follow me again.
The Demonspawn jived to a steady beat, reminding me of a nightclub in the human world. I sensed Kaito somewhere in the back and I pushed my way through the crowd, ignoring the sounds of excitement when I was inevitably recognized.
“It’s the Princess!” one female squealed as she grabbed my skirt. Her long talons poked holes through the fine fabric and I snarled, turning on her.
“Don’t touch me!” I instructed and transformed my fingers into claws. I sliced at her, making her jump back.
Her companions laughed as she tucked her tail between her legs. I almost felt sorry for her when she pushed out her lower lip and moisture glistened in her glowing red eyes. Who knew demons could be so… sensitive.
The hairs stood on the back of my neck when bodies surrounded me. I turned to find a semi-circle of males boasting evil grins and sharp teeth poking from their lips. One stood out from the rest and his tail wrapped around my ankle, making me jump back. “If she really was royalty, shouldn’t she be on the lower level with the Queen? Not in the city running around with the riffraff.” The male hissed at me and a forked tongue flicked the air.
Gross.
“Leave her alone,” a voice rumbled over the sound of the music and the Demonspawn turned to growl at the source.
Kaito shoved his way through, pushing aside the bulky Demonspawn with ease. The rest backed off—because, yeah, Kaito looked downright terrifying. The tattoo that ran up his left cheek shone with a violent red aura and the silver streak of his hairline lit up with blue fire. The same low flames erupted from his fingertips as he pushed back the last of the stubborn offenders, with the main Demonspawn who still had his tail wrapped around my ankle hissed.
“I wasn’t done talking with her,” he snarled.
Kaito summoned a long katana and sliced down, chopping the Demonspawn’s tail clean off. A horrid shriek echoed over the steady music, causing the crowd to turn and stare at us.
Kaito ignored them and offered me his hand. “Come,Koneko-chan.”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I slipped my fingers into his and shook off the piece of the Demonspawn’s tail that had been strangling my foot.
“Way to not make a scene,” I muttered under my breath and followed my mentor down the dimly lit halls to the back rooms.
