Exordium (Emberhold Academy #1)

18. Nathan

Chapter 18

Nathan

W hat the fuck is happening right now? I’d been sitting by my precious Nexi, and then I was standing at the edge of a massive forest. I could see a cute little village with stone cottages and thatched roofs. Smell the smoke from the little chimneys.

Was this my initiation? If so, I was insulted. Someone as badass as me should be fighting four-arm beings with insectoid helmets or aliens with enormous dragon wings and a spider face. Wait, was I describing characters from Destiny ? Shit I was. That’s how I had pictured my initiation since I learned about it. Not to toot my own horn, but I was a beast at that game.

Crouching down, I decided observing my surroundings for a while was best. I had no idea what was coming for me, but it better fucking not be killer gnomes or some such shit. I’d never live it down.

My new reality was insane. Finding out I wasn’t human was a real trip. The best part of everything was knowing my bond with Reverie was unbreakable. As a human, I would’ve never let her go, but now, finding out I was Aurathion, she was genuinely tied to my side. I had been in love with Reverie for as long as I could remember. The fight I put up to have her was the most challenging thing I had ever gone through, including this jacked-up initiation. I should’ve been sickened at the lengths I had gone to have her, but I wasn’t. I would fight anything to stay by her side, even Reverie herself. Getting through this would bring me one step closer to letting everyone know she was mine, so bring this challenge right, the fuck, on.

I pulled into the high school parking lot, ready to start my senior year. I saw that Reverie’s baby blue jeep was in the parking lot. She liked to get to school early, so that meant I did too.

The fight to get Reverie to admit how she felt about me was mystifying. I was the total package. I’d had made sure of it. In primary school, she was my best friend; we played together at recess and were inseparable. Then, at the beginning of our freshman year, Reverie wouldn’t have anything to do with me. There was no explanation, just radio silence. I would have preferred a good kick to the nuts than the pain of seeing her laughing and talking with other people.

I did everything I could think of: I worked out and got good grades; I was good-looking; extremely witty. What else could she possibly want in a man?

The most aggravating part of all was that I caught her watching me, the lust and love in her eyes more than evident to me. I didn’t understand why she was doing this to us. I needed to be near her, and the rage I felt at being denied was all consuming. Over the last three years, I had done things I wasn’t proud of, trying to get her attention. I was going to do one of those things this morning, in fact.

Entering the hallway, I spotted her looking at her phone, walking toward me, not paying attention. Glancing around to make sure there wasn’t anyone else in the hall, I grabbed her and pulled her into the empty classroom nearby.

“What in the hell are you doing?” Reverie stumbled. I had to take her unaware, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to manhandle her. The girl was strong.

Lucky for me, it was a biology classroom with a doorway leading into a lab at the rear of the room. Putting my hand over her mouth, I dragged her into the lab.

Grabbing my hand, she jerked it off her mouth and punched me in the stomach. Damn, that hurt. Trying to breathe, I bent over and grabbed my knees.

“Let me out of here, Nathan!” Reverie screamed at me.

“No! I want to talk to you. I don’t understand why you’ve cut me out of your life. We spent every moment together until freshman year. What changed?” Standing, I made sure I was blocking the door.

“I don’t answer to you. I owe you nothing, and after the things you’ve done the last few years, I don’t have any feelings left for you at all!”

I couldn’t stand hearing those words coming out of her mouth. I felt my rage take over and grabbed her shoulders yelling in her face, “I don’t fucking believe you! I see how you look at me! Every single mother fucking thing I’ve done has been to make you see that we belong together. I love you, Reverie! What else can I do? Do I need to fuck someone right in front of you to get an honest reaction?”

“Screw whoever you want! Maybe that’s what I need to do to end this once and for all! Dane Taylor has been trying to get in my pants for years. This year just might be his year.”

I completely lost it. I pushed her on the teacher’s desk; grabbing her shirt, I jerked it open, and buttons flew across the room. I held her hands over her head, both of her tiny wrists in one of my hands, restraining her. Pulling her bra down, her breasts were framed so beautifully by the pink lace. I leaned down and drew a plump pink nipple in my mouth and laved it with my tongue. The tip grew hard even as she fought me, kicking and yelling. She was stronger than an average girl, but the rage I was feeling gave me strength far beyond what I should have.

“What are you doing?” Reverie growled but ended the sentence in a moan.

Ignoring her, I took her lips, swallowing her words before she could say anything else. Sucking her tongue into my mouth, she tried to bite me, but I drew back before she could latch on. I kept my mouth against hers, trailing my free hand down her stomach, undoing the clasp of her jeans, then continuing until my hand was pushing at the waist band of her panties.

Reverie renewed her efforts to get away, bucking and kicking, trying to scream. I muffled the noise with my mouth and continued my descent, I could smell her arousal, the sweet honeysuckle scent permeating the room. Penetrating her tight opening with two fingers, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was hard as a rock but managed to get even harder when I felt how wet she was. Pulling my fingers from her, I started circling her clit. The fight suddenly left her. Reverie started kissing me and arched her body, trying to bring my fingers back inside her. With all signs of resistance gone, I placed a trail of kisses down her body. Dragging her jeans down her beautiful legs, I threw them on the floor then spread her thighs. I almost came right then at the sight of her glistening pussy.

The moment was profound, hers was the first and only I would ever taste, or touch. Reverie’s gaze was heated as she watched me lower myself to my knees. If she would only love me, I would stay on my knees for her the rest of my life.

I licked her slit, spreading her lips gently then took her tiny nub into my mouth and sucked gently. Reverie went wild grabbing my hair and pushing my face against her. Feeling her tiny hands gripping my hair made my desire for her skyrocket and I devoured her like a starving man. Pushing two fingers into her tight opening I felt her body shake and knew her orgasm was close. With one last long suck of her clit, I felt her tighten around my fingers and her juices cover my face.

I released my cock from my jeans, squeezing the head tightly to stop me from coming before I found my way inside her. Bringing my mouth to hers, wet from her release, I kissed her with every bit of love and adoration in my body. Before she realized what had happened, I rubbed my cock in her wetness, then entered her abruptly. She screamed into my mouth from the pain.

Knowing I was the first to be inside her almost made me come right then and there. Tears ran down her face and I leaned over and licked the salty drops, wanting every part of her. I wish I could fit her inside my body and never be separated from her again.

I paused, letting her get used to my size and begin rubbing her clit; when she began moaning and writhing on the desk, I started moving my hips. The pleasure was intense as her inner muscles clenched around my cock, I saw stars, losing my vision temporarily. Her hands were now clutching my arms, pulling me closer as I started slamming into her.

Reverie moaned as my cock hit the sensitive bundle of nerves deep inside. I released her mouth and stared into her passion-glazed eyes as her release grew closer. I felt my balls tighten and didn’t know how much longer I would last, but I was determined to make her come first. Suddenly, Reverie threw her head back and began pulsing around me. My thrusts became erratic, and in the next moment, I found my pleasure, pulling out and spurting white ropes of cum all over her stomach.

I took my hand and rubbed it into her skin, wanting to know that she would smell like me all day. I leaned down and laid my head on her chest hoping with everything in me, she would quit fighting and give in. I thought for a moment I felt her fingers tunneling through my hair. Feeling her tense up, I realized it was probably just wishful thinking.

Raising my head, I saw tears running down her face again. Standing up, I pulled her in my arms and held her as tightly as I could, knowing this may be the last time for a while. I didn’t mean for this to happen, but I couldn’t regret it. I wouldn’t allow someone else to take what was mine, and I wouldn’t give another what was hers.

I let go of her, squatted down, and pulled her pants back up her legs. I fastened her jeans and took my plaid shirt off, removing the henley I had underneath it. I gently lowered my shirt over her head, pulling it slowly down, hating to cover up her beautiful skin. She let me dress her like a doll.

“I can’t believe that just happened,” Reverie whispered.

I felt like she was talking to herself, so I didn’t answer. I went to fasten my jeans and saw that my cock was covered in her blood. Knowing I should be horrified by my actions; bewildered that I wasn’t. I now felt a sense of belonging and rightness. I knew I still had a fight on my hands, but there were simply no lengths I wouldn’t go to make her mine.

I crawled into a large bush, where I still had sight of the village. I had no idea what time it was here, but it felt like early morning. There was dew on the grass and a chill in the air.

I was thankful I had taken Reverie’s advice and dressed in preparation for this eventuality. I wore cargo pants, hiking boots, and a long-sleeved, lightweight shirt. My body temperature ran hot like all Aurathions, so the cold wouldn’t be a problem. I had a backpack I hadn’t taken off since I was busy bringing my Nexi coffee. The backpack had water and a few granola bars. I also carried a knife Reverie had given me on my birthday. It was special to me, and I had it on me constantly.

Taking a sip of water, I sat and waited for the occupants to wake up and come out of their little cabins so I could see what I was dealing with. I hoped I could get this over with quickly and return to Reverie. I didn’t like leaving her alone. She had no idea how much I stalked her. I very rarely left her alone. I gave Zeke and Zane shit, but when she was with one of them, I knew she was safe. That was the only time I could comfortably observe our enemies and ensure they stayed in their lane.

Oren was going to be a problem. I felt in my bones that he was hiding something. Kristine and her Bitch Brigade were filled with want-to-be mean girls who wouldn’t be any real threat. My Nexi could whip their collective asses with her hands tied behind her back. The oldest Storm sibling watched Reverie constantly when she wasn’t looking. Ever since she bonded with Pantar, he rarely took his eyes off her, and I didn’t like it.

I watched Jet quite a bit, too. Something was off with the big guy. Jet was the perfect dorm mate. He kept to himself, cleaned up, and was quiet. But I had noticed him watching everyone around him as if he were memorizing their movements. The Dean was on my list too, I’d gone to the office on a trumped-up errand to try and sneak into the Dean’s inner sanctum and go through his things. I found it suspicious he was only appointed to his position this year. I didn’t trust him and wanted to find out what I could about the man, and why he was really at Emberhold. I smelled a big steaming pile of bullshit.

Hearing a door shut, I noticed that the sun was beginning to rise. I heard talking, but in a language I didn’t recognize. That was going to make things more challenging.

The voices were getting closer. I saw two women coming near my hiding spot. They were both tall and willowy. One had green hair cut in a short bob, and the other had lavender locks hanging in the middle of her back. The first had ebony skin that seemed to sparkle; the second had light pink. Their faces looked primarily humanoid, but the women’s eyes were abnormally large, and their mouths were wider than the average human.

Even though I cared nothing for any other woman besides my Nexi, I could admit these two were exceptionally beautiful despite the strangeness of their faces. They were dressed in leather pants and a corset top laced up the front. Green hair was in a purple corset, and purple hair had on a green one. It was comical, especially if they didn’t plan it that way. I could see other women in the clearing in front of the cabins. They were dressed similarly to the first two but with hair and skin in every color of the rainbow. Some were carrying spears made from a strange glass-like material.

Three women entered my line of sight, and I noticed the two in the back dragging someone between them. It looked like a large man, so large in fact, I was surprised they could move him at all. They went toward a giant fire pit in the center of the circle of cabins. There was a large cage near the fire I hadn’t noticed earlier in the absence of light. The woman in the front opened the door to the cage, and the two women dragging the man threw him in. The first woman shut the door, then took a small rectangular object out of her pocket and trailed it along the outline of the door. Sealing the door in some way, I presumed.

Watching the man, I couldn’t detect any movement. He was either dead or passed out. What kind of fuckery was this? Did the Academy want me to rescue this guy? Was he a damsel in distress? Biggest fucking damsel I’d ever seen. I shrugged, I guess that made me the prince. It made sense because I was rather princely.

I thought the best move was to find a safe spot to spend the day. Then come back tonight to check it out. I eased slowly out of the large bush I was crouched in and backed deeper into the woods.

I walked carefully, continuously scanning my surroundings. The trees were enormous. They looked like giant redwoods; the leaves were gold, red, and green; it reminded me of the forests in Oregon or Northern Idaho during the fall. I approached a clearing and saw massive mountains in the distance with a blanket of mist covering the valley below. I could almost believe I was still in my dimension, except the colors were too vibrant. The mist had a purple hue, and the sky was a pale lavender. I saw a tree with a large limb at least a hundred feet in the air. I felt it was wide enough at the base to sit comfortably and still have a good view of my surroundings.

I reached for the well of power inside me and…nothing happened. Closing my eyes and concentrating harder, I was able to teleport, but it took everything I had. I was sweating bullets and felt like I had run twenty miles. This dimension seemed to be fucking with my ability, or the distance from Reverie was affecting it.

I could have climbed with no problem but why have an ability if I didn’t use it. I hated to give any credit to Storm, but his conditioning regimen was legit. I’d always been in shape. I’d played sports from a young age and liked knowing when I took my shirt off, I had Reverie’s complete attention. After becoming Faction, and the training Reverie’s fathers put me through, I reached a fit reserved for MMA fighters and Navy Seals. Storm had ensured the students who were already fit maintained it, and the ones who weren’t became that way. I thought it was more for his amusement than a concern about the Passives surviving initiation.

Once I reached my destination, I got comfortable and pulled out a granola bar and bottle of water. Munching on my food, I tried to put a plan together. Teleporting into the camp and grabbing the giant man wouldn’t work. I was lucky to teleport myself to this limb, much less me and a massive man out of here. I would figure something out. I always did.

Getting back to Reverie and completing our Faction was my most important goal. I had a feeling her life may depend on it.