Page 60 of Fortune Academy: Year Three
“I’m not,” he insisted, gripping my arms and walking me back a step. “Look, I don’t agree with your decision,Koneko-chan, but I believe inyou.” He turned me around so that I faced the door. “I am a demon, which means Cole and I are more similar than I care to admit. You were right when you said I should have understood, even if I’m not ready to forgive him. Even if I never forgive him. It doesn’t matter. This isn’t about me. You are my mate and this is what you want, so this is what I will help you achieve.” He leaned in and kissed my neck, his lips brushing my ear as he lingered and waited for me to open the door.
I held my breath as I raised the cloth and I watched as the blood vanished before my eyes, sending the runes flaming with Hellfire as the door opened.
And the demon from my nightmares waited for me on the other side.
“Like a moth to a flame,” the demon said, his voice a sensual wave of rolling thunder that hit me straight in the stomach.
I swallowed hard as he exited his prison. Bands of red energy snapped from his ankles and wrists. He didn’t have any clothes to wear, or if he had been wearing any I imagined the fire running over his body had burned them up months ago.
And holy shit, was he beautiful.
Even the bat-like wings looked majestic as he spread them, stretching them out after being confined to the small space for so long. He brushed back his hair and glowing red eyes focused on me. He unleashed a devilish grin as his tail whipped the fog behind him, kicking it up into the cell. “You should have listened to your mates, little angel. I have no interest in being your puppy dog.” He glanced up, taking note of Dante, Orion, and Kaito, with his gaze resting on my mentor the longest. “Hello, old friend.”
“You’re no friend of mine,” Kaito snarled. “You’re weakened after six months of the Dean draining you, so don’t even think of trying to overpower us. Lily can—”
Cole moved so fast that I didn’t have time to stop his fist from meeting Kaito’s face. My mentor lashed to the side as the blow hit hard.
I reacted just as the demon turned to go for Dante. The Hunter was already on full alert and held up his dagger, but Cole blasted through it like it was a piece of glass. Shards of metal went flying and a shockwave fanned out as the blade’s magic broke like a popped bubble.
My attempt to stop him fell short when something locked around my wrist and yanked me back. I fell to the ground as the wind knocked out of me, only to find Cole’s tail pinning me down as he sent Dante flying into the wall with a well-aimed strike.
“What the fuck?” I tried to slash at it, but his tail was surprisingly indestructible.
“Save your strength, angel darling,” Cole said with a silky sweet voice as he sent a wave of fire over Orion.
I screamed, terrified that my demigod would be burnt to a crisp, but Orion deflected with his arm, groaning as he fell to one knee and grabbed his blistered skin.
“Stop!” I protested, only to have my mouth clamped over by the flat end of the demon’s tail.
Cole turned on me, his red eyes glazing over with excitement. “Don’t worry. I won’t kill them so quickly.” He brushed a gentle touch over my cheek. “I’m going to draw this out after everything you’ve put me through.”
What the fuck did I do?
A loud boom shook the tunnels and dust filtered down on our heads. We all glanced up as a steady beat indicated something big was going on in the Arena.
“Hmm, it seems the Dean is here to ruin our fun,” he said as he released me enough that I could breathe.
“We’re on the same side,” I protested. “Come with us to face her, together.” I offered my hand and the demon gave me a raised brow like I’d lost my damn mind.
“I know what you want,” Dante growled, staggering to his feet. I grimaced when I spotted open wounds across his arm where the demon’s claws had gotten him. “Take me in exchange for doing what Lily asks of you.” The Hunter bent and took one of the broken shards of his dagger, dragging a line across his arm and spilling blood onto the floor.
“Dante!” I yelled, horrified.
“Trust me, Lily,” he said, his orange eyes glowing with determination.
Cole laughed, a booming, evil sound completely devoid of humor. “A deal with a demon. Really, Hunter? You’re sure?”
Dante held out his arm. “I’m sure.”
I stared in open disbelief, unsure of what was about to happen, but I knew whatever it was, there would be no going back.
Cole spread his wings and his eyes flared with red Hellfire as the black mist around us unfurled and grew. It closed in around Dante and he went rigid as it invaded the wound in his arm.
“Stop this!” I yelled and used all of my supernatural strength to lunge at the demon. I managed to scratch his wings with my claws, leaving long gashes as he growled and flung me back with a snap of his massive wings.
Orion caught me before I hit the wall and Kaito knelt beside me, his tattoo glowing with the last remnants of his magic. I knew he’d sacrifice himself before he let the demon kill us. “Trust him, Lily,” Kaito said, making me go still.
Kaito seemed to know something I didn’t, but it didn’t change the rolling pit in my stomach as I watched the fog infiltrate Dante’s body, turning his eyes black as he went rigid.
