Page 51 of Fortune Academy: Year Three
“That’s a chance we’re going to have to take,” I said, shoving past him. “We need the Dean to help us get them back where they belong, andyouneed to help me get some of Evie’s blood before she goes through the portal.”
He hurried after me, slamming a hand on the door before I could open it. “Why do you need her blood?”
I rolled my eyes. “Really, didn’t you graduate a few years ago? The blood of a Founder can open any locked door in Fortune Academy.” I held up my hands. “Locked doors like… the gate to the Monster Arena? Kaito’s cell?” I didn’t add I also planned to unlock Cole’s cell as well. The Hunter would never let me near the demon if he knew my true intentions.
He backed away and grunted at me, showing off his supreme skills of communication. I took his noise of noncommittal irritation as agreement.
I shoved into the Dean’s office and found her with her nose buried in papers. She looked so much like an actual Dean who cared about her students. She glanced up and smiled, putting me at ease despite knowing who she really was.
“Ah, Lily. Olivia said you might be stopping by today.” She set down her pen and straightened. “What can I help you with?”
I took a deep breath before I explained I had a young Queen of the Royal Covens in the lobby yanked from her time period before her ascension to the witchy throne. The only evidence that the Dean wasn’t exactly who she presented herself to be came as a flitting of malice across her gaze.
“She can’t knowweknow who she is, besides her being a witch. Plus, I don’t know exactly how to get her home. I was hoping you could help me with that.”
The Dean hummed as she tapped her chin in thought. “There’s a portal to Earth reserved for supply deliveries. It could be modified for time travel, assuming her vampire mate has fed.”
I grimaced, recalling the image of the vampire latching onto Evelyn’s wrist. It look like it hurt, but it also looked pretty… intimate.
Too bad I didn’t have a vampire mate of my own to explore that particular experience with.
“He’s fed,” I answered, shoving aside my succubus-fueled interests in all things even remotely sexual, “so no problem there.”
“Oh. Well, that solves that.” She opened her desk drawer and held up a key. “This opens a portal to Earth and is three doors down from my office.” When I reached for it, she yanked it away and a light, mischievous smile spread across her face. “Of course, I want to vet them first. Once they use this portal with a time-warlock inside, his magic will take up the rest, but I’d like to speak to them first.” She offered the key again and I took it before she changed her mind. She put on an innocent smile that almost had me fooled.
Almost.
“Show them in, would you?” she asked with a sickeningly sweet tone to her voice.
A cold chill ran up my spine. The Dean so better not screw this up for me or I’d take my chances trapping her in the Angelstone that Dante hid in his scabbard.
“Of course,” I managed to say as I turned on my heel before she saw the worry on my expression.
I retrieved Dante and our guests, sitting them down across from the Dean while I sat next to my Hunter.
He absolutely radiated anger and heat, making intimate parts of me respond to his need. Despite what he and Hendrik thought about my capabilities, I could take whatever violence they cared to throw at me, but I did worry about them for their sake. My succubus-side had a tendency to go haywire, especially now that we weren’t in Hell where that side of me had seemed somewhat satiated.
“I’m terribly sorry that we mistook your mate to be a rare monster,” the Dean began once everyone was settled. Her “apology-face” was impressively genuine, so much so that even I almost believed her, but that was probably just an extension of her powers as an ancient immortal. All the more reason not to underestimate her, even if I did want to dig that Angelstone out of Dante’s belt and trap her here and now.
“I’ve been trying to tell you,” the vampire growled, interrupting my thoughts, “that I wasn’t a monster. Yet now when Evelyn forces you to release me, you see the error of your ways?” He crossed his arms. “I don’t buy it.”
Huh, maybe it would be harder to fool the vampire than I thought. Kudos to him.
The Dean didn’t miss a beat and turned her disapproving glare on me and Dante. “What have you two to say to Marcus and our new guest?”
All the blood rushed from my face when Dante pulled out his blade.
Do not use the Angelstone, you idiot!I yelled at him in my head, but I didn’t think he heard me.
My Hunter plucked at the blade’s edge with his fingertips. The Dean waited patiently for his response, not looking threatened in the least.
“How was I supposed to know it was a problem?” he asked defensively.
I thumped him in the ribs. “You’re supposed to say you’re sorry!”
He just glared at me and even though I couldn’t hear his thoughts, I took a moment to consider his position. Capturing the vampire had been one of many jobs, and I had no doubt the Dean had him on overtime getting her new monsters to throw into the Monster Arena.
I relaxed when I realized Dante’s rudeness was actually him playing his role. He’d been given a job, one he’d executed as asked. If he didn’t seem pissed off when told to apologize, the Dean might smell a rat.
