Page 57 of Fortune Academy: Year Three
“It’s a demigod thing,” Dante said, sounding irritated. “Your rage demon isn’t the only one who can invade dreams.”
Orion gave me a low chuckle that had me wanting to ask a lot of questions. “You guys are going to tell me what’s been going on these past months when this is all over,” I ordered.
For now, we had a demon to catch.
Chapter 21
We ran into a few mindless thralls on the way to the Monster Arena, but Dante took the lead and convinced them that the Dean had business for him to attend to with the monsters he’d brought in, not that he’d be able to get in without the Dean’s approval—not without the blood I’d collected.
Luckily, thralls weren’t too bright.
“We don’t have much time,” Dante warned as he waited at the gate. I brought out the handkerchief and the gate unlocked, allowing us through. “They’ll report back to Melinda who’ll know we’re not supposed to be here.”
“That’s fine,” I said, breaking into a light jog to get to the Arena in the distance. “Once we free Cole, the demon will be out of the bag anyway.” I glanced down as I felt a stab of heat along my wrist. I’d almost forgotten the last gem on my bracelet was about to let me know that my time was up.
It was now or never.
“This way,” Dante said as he swept around the building. “There’s a back entrance to the tunnels where I bring the monsters in.” He gave Orion a glance. “Might be a tight fit for you. Did you growmorein the past six months?”
Orion grinned and flexed a massive arm. “Yeah. Between all this energy across campus to feed on and time with my little star, my powers are overflowing.” He grabbed me and gave me a deep kiss, filling my body with warmth and sunlight. “A gift for which I will repay forever with my adoration.”
“Repay it by helping us all stay alive,” I countered as I pushed him toward the hatch. I waved the handkerchief and it opened, but I noticed the cloth was starting to miss some of the blood I’d collected. Each door would use up the essence of the Founder’s blood. I bit my lip and hoped there weren’t too many doors between us and my imprisoned Virtues.
Orion grinned and gave me another kiss. “As you wish. The sooner we save the world, the sooner I can get you back into bed.”
Gods. Did he think about anything other than sex?
My massive demigod shoved himself head-first into the hatch, somehow managing to wiggle through. Dante followed next, moving like a shadow as he disappeared and I went in after him.
Orion provided a steady glow of light once we were in the tunnels, not that I needed it. I preferred darkness, but at least it helped Orion see where he was going.
Dante paused and looked around. “Not sure where she’s keeping Kaito. I haven’t been down here in a while.”
Even though the mate-bond was strained, I tried to sense my sexy school counselor now that I was in closer proximity to him.
I closed my eyes and concentrated. It took a while, but I felt a whisper of his energy. Kaito always felt like mystery and darkness, with just a little bit of heat that I now knew came from his origins as a Japanese demon from one of the deeper layers of Hell.
“There,” I said, pointing down one of the paths. “Let’s just hope that she’s keeping Cole close by, because I don’t feel him at all.”
Dark wisps soaked up the light Orion emitted, betraying that Cole was definitely down here, and that he didn’t want to be found. Perhaps when he learned that I intended to free him he’d change his tune.
I followed my heart, moving past cages filled with more people than I remembered from my last visit. I held up the cloth with blood, but then thought better about it.
“These might not have wards on them,” Orion offered when he saw my intent.
Releasing my claws, I tested one of the bolts. It resisted me, pinging back with magical power.
Not to be bested by a stupid lock, I did the first thing that came to mind. If Founder blood could let me into any locked door in the Academy, surely my blood would have enough magic in it to get me into some minor prisoner’s cages.
I scratched a line across my arm, wincing as the black blood seeped over my claws.
Dante and Orion both watched me with concern, but didn’t try to stop me. I tested my claw against the device again and it sliced through like butter.
Bingo.
I walked the long line of cages and broke the locks as we went, leaving the sleeping prisoners to figure out on their own that they’d been freed.
“Is that such a good idea?” Dante asked as I sliced my claw through yet another lock.
