Page 25 of Underworld
This was Fortune AcademyUnderworld.
“I imagine you have questions,” the Dean said.
Just one or two, I thought.
She gave me a level look. “Whatever my punishment may be for harming you, I’ve earned it. I take full responsibility for what happened when Calamity chose me as a Conduit.” Her lips firmed out into a hard, flat line and she looked away, her gaze falling over the campus. “Desperation can do that to a person. When you’re so determined to make something happen, you lose focus over everything… but what does that matter now? Lancelot is gone. I failed.”
“Is that an apology?” I asked.
“It is,” she agreed. “Your mother hasn’t forgiven me, but she’s allowed me to work off my debt. I only ask for the same deal with you so that I may restore the things I have broken.”
In many ways, the Dean is who I should blame for everything that happened. Cole wouldn’t have had the opportunity to torment my Virtues. Dante wouldn’t have been suffering alone, and I could havebeen herefor them all.
My mother’s choice to put Gwen in charge was the only thing that stilled my shaking hands.
“Why should we trust you?” I asked bluntly.
“Lily…” Hendrik warned.
But Gwen shook her head. “Lily is right to question me.” With a quiet sigh, the Dean leaned against the window. For the first time, I noticed the slight wrinkles around her eyes as if her age was finally catching up with her. “Lancelot was gone, trapped in Hell and I would have done anything to bring him back. What I did by forcing his spirit into a Vessel wasn’tsavinghim—or me, for that matter. All I did was open myself up for the sort of manipulation Calamity seeks. Lancelotisfree now. That’s all that matters.”
“Didn’t he return to Hell?” I asked, remembering that night like a brand seared into my nightmares.
“Yes, but not to the same layer of torment.” Gwen shrugged and tucked her hands into the voluminous pockets of her robe. “Your mother made sure of that. He isn’t in the rage layer of Hell and he now serves out his eternal sentence in her territory. It’s a blessing, I assure you.” She glanced at me, smiling. “I sold my soul for my immortality. I was a fool to expect it wouldn’t come without a price.”
“If you sold your soul…” I trailed off.
“I’m sure Lucifer is polishing up a room just for me,” she said, irony heavy in her voice. “I can only hope to work off enough of my debt that the Queen intervenes when that time comes.”
I almost felt pity.
How strange.
The ache in my heart spread and I rubbed at it. It did no good. It was like a cancer, growing with no end in sight.
“Is your head spinning yet?” Yuri asked, tossing away her sucker stick. Olivia and a male with bright green eyes entered the room behind her, making me relax. I hadn’t seen the panther shifter in a while and I was glad to see he would be included in this conversation. He’d always been kind to me.
“That’s an understatement.” I gave her a tired smile as Olivia silently joined me by the window, squeezing my arm.
“Hey.” Aaron nodded at me, his green eyes perusing my face. “It’s nice to see you’re back.” He winked at me. “I’ve been hoping for another chance at Shifter Games.”
Memories of the match I’d joined when trying to get Logan to talk to me filled my mind. “So, I’m invited on the team again?” I asked.
“Of course,” he said, then his expression darkened. “What’s left of the shifters, anyway.”
Shadows and grief seemed to spread around him at that statement. My hairs stood on end as the temperature of the room dropped.
Not fear, I decided, but a sense of awareness that something wasn’t quite right.
The shadows cloaked Aaron’s form as he shrugged it off.
“Fucking darkness,” he muttered. With a faint shake of his head, the shadows dispersed. “Sorry. Still getting used to that.”
I stared at him blankly.
“A lot of weird shit started when the two academies merged.” He glanced at my wings as the door opened again. “You’re not the only one who’s changed.”
“Hmm,” I agreed.
