Page 14 of Fortune Academy: Year Three
This was different than when we had sealed our connection in the Virtue bond. This was between two demons, two dark spirits who understood Hell’s suffering and yearned for redemption.
I clawed my fingers into the table, sending splinters flying as Kaito ravaged me and the burning binds of my magic wrapped around us. I bound his wrists and his ankles, then finally one rope wound around his neck, but he didn’t stop. He pounded into me harder and harder until I thought I would explode.
His eyes blazed with red and his spirit released a screech of rage, but still, he didn’t stop.
The internal battle fascinated me and brought tears to my eyes. “Kaito,” I whispered, heartbroken that he had struggled with this for so long. Determination made my jaw clench. “Tonight, we bear our suffering together.”
I gripped my Blood Stone and drew out the power I needed to finish the job. Heat exploded in the room and billowed my hair away from my face. The powerful flame reflected in Kaito’s eyes as his pupils blew wide. He released a roar, one that went through my body and filled my soul as he gave me everything and I opened up to him, my pleasure matching his as I shattered into a thousand tiny little pieces.
Together, we lost ourselves to the fires of Hell.
And together, we would find redemption in each other’s arms.
Chapter 6
“I don’t know what the fuck you two did in there, but I have a feeling we have all been banned from every demonic bar in a thousand-foot-radius,” Logan said on a growl.
He staggered ahead of us naked and covered in soot. My session with Kaito had brought hellfire into the Demonspawn city, which apparently was not supposed to happen. The streets glowed red and Demonspawn had fled the vicinity seeking shelter.
Even Demonspawn thought Hell could get too hot—who knew?
Although the streets were clear, I felt eyes on us as we followed Logan toward the Demonspawn barracks. We knew exactly where to go because our mate-circle connection guided us. All this time bonding with my Virtues made sense to me now. I hadn’t been wasting time, and instead reassured each of my Virtues that they belonged with me, and I with them. Together, we would grow and learn to trust one another despite all the bad history between us.
Kaito and I clasped hands as we walked in silence. His body glowed with waves of red power and his tattoo lit up like a metallic brand on his skin. Above all, I sensed a growing confidence in him that hadn’t been there before. A smile lit my face when I realized that I had put that conviction there. Because of me, he wasn’t afraid to face what he was: a demon who he had believed to be beyond redemption.
That was a kindred fear that I could relate with and together, we would conquer it.
“Thank you,” he said, glancing at me and rewarding me with a gorgeous smile. “It’s like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. All this time I have been pursuing the prophecy in hopes of gaining power—power that would wipe out all my sins. But I realize now that the power I sought wasn’t as I imagined it.” He brought my fingers to his lips for a kiss. “You are that power. You are everything I’ll ever need.”
Logan paused to glower at us. “I’d tell you two to get a room, but that proved to be a bad idea.”
Chuckling, I grabbed Logan and squeezed his hand. He made a sound of complaint, but then fell in line so that I could walk with two of my Virtues hand-in-hand. Despite where we were, and the challenges coming our way, I couldn’t help but burst into a giddy smile. I didn’t dare name this feeling, because if I admitted I was actually happy, I knew something would swoop in and take it away.
And being between two powerful males who loved me, with one of them showing off all the goods that were entirely at my disposal? Yeah. I was pretty fucking happy.
“We really have to find you some clothes,” Kaito said to the wolf. “You’re distracting Lily.”
Logan grinned. “Hey, after that last show you two pulled, I’m going to use every advantage I can get.”
While my two Virtues broke into witty banter with me literally stuck in the middle, the Demonspawn barracks came into view. Magnificent black spires jutted into the cavern’s ceiling and creatures flew around the top, giving the building a haunted atmosphere.
Yep. This was the place where my screwed up destiny would take a nose dive further into the pits of Hell.
At least I wouldn’t be alone. I felt the pull to the rest of my guys, even if they all had mixed feelings about my latest session with Kaito. It had brought heat and hellfire into the mate-circle, fueling us all with the power of suffering that came naturally to the darker parts of my genetics. Being part-succubus and part-Demonspawn, I had to come to terms with the source of my power. Suffering was a part of my history, a part of the culture all around me and it couldn’t be ignored.
As they say, when in Hell, do as the demons do.
An armed entourage of Demonspawn greeted us at the entrance. One of the males with crooked horns motioned to the hall. “Luc is waiting for you.”
I kept ahold of Logan and Kaito as we walked in. The remaining four Demonspawn surrounded us and didn’t seem to notice Logan’s lack of clothing, but they did keep a wary eye on Kaito.
My mentor glared back at them with defiance as his tattoo glowed with power. I had no doubt that if they made one false move, he would show them what aKamiwas capable of.
The entourage led us through the halls until we came to a massive throne room, complete with a smug-looking male who didn’t need a crown to demonstrate his claim. Two large horns protruded from his head, but those weren’t what captured my attention. The fanning bat wings behind him swayed and spread out over the throne’s armrests as he considered us.
The audience of Demonspawn parted, revealing the rest of my Virtues chained by their wrists. Orion broke his shackles the moment he saw me and sent the Demonspawn around him roaring with panic.
Hendrik chuckled while Dante watched with those ever-pensive eyes of his. Jess screeched from her position next to the male on the throne. “I told you guys to play it cool!”
