13. Serafina
THIRTEEN
Iadjust my sweater when it falls off my shoulder as I rush up the tight, spiral stairs to Atlas’ classroom, frowning when I hear raised voices.
“What the hell is going on now?” I mutter as I pick up my pace. The moment I regained control of my magic, I called Atlas, telling him what I found in the forest as I ran back to the university. After getting an earful from him about going into the forest alone, he told me he would call the Balaur Patrol and hold a meeting with the Headmaster in his office.
I had ten minutes to shower and get myself together before I was supposed to be in his classroom so I could relay everything I found. Thankfully, my bag and shoes were where I dropped them outside my apartment building.
My feet were cut up amd bleeding everywhere when I rushed back up to my apartment, and my body still feels like I ran a marathon. So after I showered, I opted to change into my favorite black cable-knit cropped Ralph Lauren sweater with a heather gray tank top underneath and a comfortable pair of black leggings. I swapped my heels for my only pair of knee-high black leather boots and zipped them over the tight leggings before shoving my blade into the small pocket meant to hold a phone while working out.
My long hair is down, because I only had time to wash and blow-dry it enough so it’s not dripping wet. It’s been twenty minutes, not ten. But Atlas will have to get over it. It takes a long time to wash long hair. Thankfully, it’s almost dark outside, and I didn”t see many students on my mad dash to the castle.
“How do we know it wasn’t the Covington girl who did this?” a female voice snaps from the other side of Atlas’ closed classroom door. “She is a Reaper, after all.” My steps still, and I can”t help but roll my eyes at whoever is speaking. It figures they’re already placing blame on my shoulders when I’ve only been here for a couple of days.
“It”s been two weeks since the Balaur Patrol reached out to Councilman Covington for help, and he sends us what? A Warlock who can’t stand up and a girl who will kill anything on sight? How is that any help?” the woman snaps, and my eyebrows furrow.
Fucking bitch. She can talk badly about me all she wants, but Atlas? Fuck no!
Does she not realize the magic and power that Atlas possesses? He could take down this entire school with a simple spell if he wanted to. The hairs on my neck stand up as I feel a familiar magic seep into the air. Even through the door, I can feel the power of it, and I chuckle to myself, waiting to go in so I can hear what my brother is about to say.
“You will leave your biased feelings about Serafina out of this, or you will not be kept up to date on this situation,” Atlas whispers.
Whose biased feelings of me? I lean closer to the door, my ear pressed to the cool wood. Atlas’ voice is cool and collected, but I can hear the clipped note in his voice. Whoever that woman is, she just pissed him off.
“You can’t do that,” the woman hisses back, and I frown. Something about her voice sets me on edge. It sounds familiar. “I run this school and can have you removed from the staff. These killings are getting out of hand, and having that girl here will only make it worse.”
This time, another person laughs. It”s deep and rumbles through the air. “Not even you can pull that off, Teagan. I would love to see you explain to Councilman Covington that you removed the man he assigned from the Fae Council to monitor this situation. Besides, I told you not to let students back this semester! This death is on your shoulders.” My blood runs cold when I hear the man say the woman”s name, and my eyes slam shut.
“I should have dressed back up,” I mutter, resting my forehead against the door, wishing I had put on a full face of make-up as well.
“We already have someone here monitoring the situation! We don”t need her here. I refuse to let her near my son again!” Teagan shouts back, and Atlas laughs.
“Yeah. And how is that going for you? Angels don”t give a fuck about Fae, you know that. Their only focus is to ensure the balance of life isn”t altered. They won”t intervene unless the Demons try to take over this territory. They’ve never cared about Fae deaths,” Atlas snaps, and there is a pause. “And you know that it was an accident as much as I do. She never wanted to hurt Teos.”
“Teagan, save your personal problems for another time. We have another dead student,” the deep-voiced man grumbles. I puff out a breath and stand up straight, squaring my shoulders as I reach out and open the door, my emotionless mask firmly in place as I stride into the room.
Four sets of eyes flash to me as I walk in, moving toward Atlas where he sits behind his desk. I let my eyes scan over the group, moving from the massive beast of a man standing beside Atlas to the woman pacing in front of his desk. She glares at me, hands fisting at her sides as I look at her.
Yeah, she”s not happy to see me again. Not that I blame her. The last time I saw her was in the hospital when I had almost killed her son.
Teagan Ramadan opens her mouth, no doubt to snarl something degrading at me, so I glance away, dismissing her presence and making the big guy next to my brother snort in amusement. I look to the final set of eyes in the room, the golden eyes locking with mine the moment I glance his way. Goosebumps race over my skin as I study the man—no, not a man—an Angel.
I would know one of their kind from a mile away. The way their magic gleams around them, highlighting their otherworldly beauty, which makes them look almost unnatural. One of my uncles is only half Angel, and he’s beautiful. This guy is stunning on an entirely different level. He is exceptionally tall, his broad shoulders taking up more room than an average Fae as he glares down his perfectly straight nose at me.
His long, wavy hair falls around his shoulders in golden waves, and his square jaw is so defined it looks like it”s been carved by an artist. He”s dressed in a pristine suit that reminds me of the ones Atlas wears: tan, perfectly pressed slacks, a white button-down shirt with the top two buttons undone, and a gold silk tie clutched in his hands…
Wait a fucking minute!
My eyes widen as I stare at the Angel, my blood boiling as I realize who this man is. No wonder I couldn”t figure out what kind of Fae Professor Ambrose was earlier today. It’s because he’s not a Fae at all… but a damn Angel.
I shoot him a glare in return, keeping my chin held high as I feel a tingle of incredibly powerful magic brush against my mental shields. The warmth of the bright magic gliding over my void is like razor blades against my skin, making me shiver in delight as a surge of magic races down my spine at the painful feeling.
Fucking featheredprick is trying to get into my mind.
I almost laugh at that. If only this guy knew that the pain he’s trying to inflict helps me keep him out, not the other way around. With a flick of my wrist, I shove his magic away, more than used to dealing with Angelic magic as I reach where Atlas is now standing, hands spread wide on the desk in front of him for support.
From my peripheral, I see Professor Ambrose stand up straight, surprise etched on his beautiful face from me blocking then sending his magic back to him.
“Sit,” I whisper so only Atlas can hear, walking behind him and pressing a hand to his shoulder to get him to sit down. Atlas wanted our connection to each other kept from people at this university, and if he starts going overprotective brother on me, that will never happen. Atlas listens, his eyes still locked on the Angel, who is once again lounging against the wall in the shadows of the room. I can feel his gaze on me, heavy and all-consuming as I pat Atlas’ shoulder and then step to the opposite side that the big guy is on. I nod at him in greeting, taking in his appearance and relaxing when I notice the gold rings around hazel eyes.
Dragon Shifter.
The man smiles back at me, making the lines at the corners of his eyes deepen as he leans over Atlas and holds out a hand to me. “Boris, commander of the Balaur Patrol. And you must be the Councilman’s sister he sent to keep an eye on things?” the older Dragon Shifter asks, grin still firmly in place. I look at him from head to toe. The man is a mountain, standing at least seven feet tall. I can feel the strength of his animal side, the dominance that practically flows from every pore. The soft scent of pine and something musky drifts in the air, and I know this guy is an Alpha class shifter.
Atlas saves me from shaking the man”s hand, reaching out and pushing it back toward Boris as I dip my head at him in respect, lessening the snub my brother just gave. Boris scowls down at Atlas, his warm eyes flicking between us before he tilts his head to the side, eyes lighting up as he smirks.
“Your mate?” he asks Atlas, just as my brother reaches out and drinks the amber liquid in the crystal glass in front of him. Atlas snorts, shooting brandy through his nose as he coughs and gasps for breath, just as something loud cracks from the other side of the room. But when I glance the Angel’s way, nothing seems out of place, and I frown. What the hell was that?
“W-what?” he asks, looking at Boris like he’s gone mad. It”s hard to keep a straight face as I watch Atlas’ face flush. Oh, God! If only Boris knew he was my brother.
“Can we get back on topic here?” Teagan sneers, stepping back from Atlas’ desk to avoid getting sprayed with his drink. I look at the woman in front of me and frown.
“Teagan,” I murmur in greeting, glad that my voice comes out steadier than normal when I feel like I’m about to throw up. Teagen manages to look simultaneously upset at the lack of respect shown by using her first name in greeting and shocked at hearing my voice. Her eyes flick over my body, studying me with an intensity that unnerves me.
“Hmm, I told that brother of yours that you could talk. I’m glad you’ve finally decided to grow up and communicate,” she grinds out, making Atlas’ shoulders tense under my hand.
“Teagan, you can be respectful, or you can leave. I extended you an invitation since you are the current acting Headmaster of the university, but that can and will be rescinded if you cannot show my friend the respect she deserves.”
“What she deserves? Serafina tried to kill my son!” Teagan snaps as her perfectly manicured, pointed cream nails dig into her palms. She moves her glare from me to Atlas, while I examine her designer pantsuit. It”s fitted, giving the Headmistress a timeless yet professional look, and the soft cream and peach colors compliment her darker golden skin tone, making her look like some island goddess. Damn, she’s as beautiful as I remember. Her curly, shoulder-length chocolate brown hair is down, framing her youthful face, giving her the appearance of a woman closer to my age than one in her seventies.
“And as acting Headmistress,” she corrects Atlas. “I should have been made aware of her attending my school!”
“I was unaware it was your school, Teagan,” I admit, cutting off Atlas before he insults the woman more. If she really is the Headmistress of Silverwood, it will be easier for her not to hate one of us, and since she already hates me, I need Atlas to shut up. Moving my hand away from Atlas’ shoulder, I lean a hip against his desk, ignoring the golden eyes that haven”t shifted from me since the moment I walked into this room. My magic is honed on him, watching with bated breath for a chance to launch itself at him, only it”s not feeling quite as murderous as I want it to, which is confusing.
“Would it have made a difference if you had?” she asks, tilting her head to the side as she studies me.
“No.”
My clipped response has her jaw clenching, and I can hear Boris chuckle, his big shoulders shaking as he watches us. “I had an email correspondence with the Silverwood school board. Maybe take up your complaints with them since they approved my transfer from Black Veil,” I suggest, keeping my voice flat as her bright, glimmering eyes narrow on me, a challenge lit within.
The air simmers with Teagan”s magic, and I smirk as my own responds, smothering the warmth in seconds, chilling the air and making the flames in the fireplace flicker as the room darkens. Teagan grimaces, her eyes still firmly locked with mine, refusing to back down, so I add just a sliver more, only a drop in the bucket of my magic that I know will make her fold. I used to respect this woman, and even though I understand her hatred of me, I won”t let her push me around.
Teagan stumbles back, her eyes falling from me as she curses and I shake my head, tsking under my breath. One day, we will have to talk. One day, I will apologize since she wouldn”t let me all those years ago. It”s something she deserves and something I will gladly give, but until then, she will keep herself in check and stop challenging me.
My magic twists over Teagan before dancing across the room in a deadly wave toward the golden-haired Angel. I feel it prod his barriers and wince. The recoil from his bright magic is immediate. The golden strands latch onto me like water to a sponge as I attempt to control my wild magic and yank it away from him. It takes a moment to shake off his magic, but once I do, I make sure I have everything well out of his reach.
“Serafina,” Atlas rasps, startling me from my magic standoff with Teagan. Looking down, I see him shift uncomfortably in his seat, eyeing the dark magic floating in the air around us. Shit. I call it back to me, finally moving my gaze to the Angel, who somehow moved closer without me noticing, his stance guarded as he watches me closely.
My magic feels a little lighter, not as black as it had been before, and I shudder, not liking the feeling at all. Damn Angel better not have fucked up my magic. “Gross,” I mutter under my breath as I study it, hating the almost gray color it has become, then blink in surprise when a growl comes from the side of the room where Professor Ambrose stands.
My eyes fly back to him, noting how tense he looks. Normally, I chalk that up to Angels being tight-asses. I was taught from a young age that most Angels hate Fae and Humans, considering them lesser than themselves. The two I grew up with are different from the others, no longer living amongst their kind. Angels don’t allow emotions to sway them… and they believe love is a weakness that cannot be afforded no matter who or what the situation is. Something I tend to agree with after my run-in with it.
Love can go ahead and fuck itself. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I allow a man to have that much control over me again. I tilt my head to the side in a challenge, wondering what his deal is. He keeps watching me, and it”s fucking creepy as hell. When he doesn”t move or say anything, I dismiss him with a roll of my eyes.
“Well, as entertaining as this has all been,” Boris pipes up, shifting from one giant foot to the other, his brown eyes scanning the four of us as he runs a hand through his brown hair. His thick corded arms cross over a broad chest as he narrows his eyes on Teagan before he looks at me, his gaze softening just a bit. “We had another death today, and I would like to know how you found her. The victim hadn’t even been reported missing yet. According to her roommates, she left for classes this morning like always, and then Professor Hawkins, here”—Boris points at Atlas—“called me with a report of a murdered student in my forest. Does that all sound correct to you?”
I nod, noting the timeline of the girl”s disappearance. “That”s right. What do you need to know?” I ask, looking at the Dragon as he studies me.
“I already know where she was found. I have a Balaur Patrol team there clearing the scene. But…” he pauses and takes a deep breath. “The girl was still warm. She had just been killed. According to one of my men, he thinks she had only been dead for an hour at most. It took them ten minutes to find the scene after it was reported, which means you stumbled upon it less than half an hour after the murder happened,” Boris explains, and I nod.
“Yes. I suspected as much when I found her. There were still air bubbles coming from her mouth with the blood, but the soul had been forcibly removed. Whoever did it did a messy job. She looked like she had just barely been killed, and there were symbols I’d never seen carved on her face. When I found her, it was already too late. There wasn”t enough soul to salvage. Not even he could have done something about it,” I say, nodding over to the Angel. “Not that he would,” I add, voice cracking a little from the strain of using it so much. The Angel scowls at me while Atlas somehow produces a water bottle out of thin air, thrusting it into my hands and glaring at me until I take a drink.
I roll my eyes at Atlas’ frown of concern flickering in his eyes as I set the water bottle back on his desk. Teagan inhales sharply at my description of the scene, her golden brown skin paling as she slowly sits in a chair across from Atlas’ desk.
“You shouldn’t have been out there by yourself. What were you thinking?” Atlas murmurs, concern thick in his voice.
“It was a good thing I was, or who knows what else that girl would have endured. At least it ended her suffering,” I volley back, making Atlas scowl at me. “Besides, this is why I’m here—so that I can help figure out what”s going on with these girls. You are supposed to use me,” I remind him. This time, it”s the golden-haired prick who scoffs, eyes flashing as he shakes his head and steps forward.
“You are a child. No,” he snaps, causing Teagan to look at the professor shocked.
“A child?” I laugh just as Atlas growls, eyes narrowing on the Angel.
“Amell, you weren”t invited. Why are you here?”
Amell Ambrose? Hmm, that’s an odd name. I study the pompous prick and nod. Yeah, it fits him—a prissy name for a prissy Angel.
“How did you know about the murder?” Boris asks, glaring at the Angel as he steps closer, eyeing me with his lips pressed in a firm line.
“Not much happens in this school without me knowing,” Amell responds, and Boris snorts.
“Except for the deaths of nineteen girls!”
“Twenty,” Amell corrects. “You’re not counting the one from tonight. And I already told you there is only one creature that can escape my notice. I gave you a lead, which is more than I should have,” he murmurs, his smooth voice coursing over me as he watches him. His hands twist the gold silk of his tie between his long fingers, and I can see a glimpse of swirling gold tattoos peeking out from his shirt sleeves and collar.
“My second-in-command already knew it was a Demon!” Boris snarls, and Amell”s lips draw back in a sneer.
“That”s right… the Frankenstein Demonic Dragon.” Disgust fills Amell”s face as my heart lodges itself so far up my throat that I’m pretty sure I make a weird choking sound that earns me some odd looks.
The… what? No fucking way. Gabe said he wasn”t here anymore! That”s one of the reasons I was okay with coming here to help Atlas.
“He’s an abomination that should have been destroyed years ago,” Amell growls, eye twitching as he glares at us
I can feel my throat tighten, my magic pressing forward at Amell”s words, and watch as his eyes shift from my face to my fingers, where I know the smallest wisp of black magic has appeared. He studies it briefly, frowning before looking at me with narrowed eyes.
“You’re upset,” he states, and I blink at him, unsure of what to say. I quickly check on my mental shields, finding them perfectly in place before I shake my head, denying his words. Amell’s eyes flash, their gold darkening as his jaw tenses. It”s the only sign that he’s upset. The rest of him exudes a cold calmness that I only wish to replicate. “Do not lie to me,” he grinds out just as I’m hit with a lash of magic.
What the..?The blow startles me enough that I stagger back a step before my own magic leaps from me in response, wrapping around his in a deadly battle. What was once an invisible attack turns into a flash of gold and black, sparking and twisting in a torrential storm of angry magic.
“Amell!” Teagan snaps, surprising the shit out of me when she stands, flames growing in her hands as she glares at the Angel. But I don’t have time to gawk at the woman as I glare death at the Angel before me.
What the hell is this guy”s problem? I tell him a simple lie, and he fucking attacks me? I know he didn”t like me from our encounter in his classroom, but this is a little much!
“Serafina!” Atlas shouts at my side.
I feel my finger tingle as I tilt my head to the side, watching our magic battle. Then I glare, realizing that besides the initial attack, Amell isn”t sending any of his magic at me. He’s challenging the black magic that exploded from me. He’s testing my magic, and by the look of horror on his face, he wasn”t prepared for what he found.
Ha. Stupid Angel. Don”t go looking for things you don”t want to know.
I can feel a smile stretch over my face as I slowly peel back the cage where I keep my darkest secret, letting it peek through as I tighten my hold on his golden magic. The pain I feel steadies me and when Amell darts his angry gaze to mine, I wink.
Teeth bared, Amell strides forward like he’s about to physically attack. Suddenly, a bright blue shield snaps out, crashing through our magic and closing around me. It makes Amell pull up short, his eyes feral as he stares at me, chest heaving with barely controlled anger. Gold swirling tattoos inch up his neck, sparkling like starlight on his golden skin.
He’s lost control of not only his magic but his emotions, and something about that fact makes me smug as fuck. Not so calm and collected after all. You know, for an Angel, he really sucks at the no-emotions thing.
Atlas slowly pushes himself onto shaky feet, furious eyes pinned on the Angel as he points to the door. “Out,” he snarls, making Amell inhale sharply, his eyes never straying from me.
“No.”
Boris steps in front of me, cutting off the stare-down Amell and I were having, and I blink, shaking my head as a headache forms at my temples. I gradually lower my arms, not realizing that I had lifted them until now, and slowly collect the magic I still have strewn around the room, then take a deep breath. I may have had enough magic to keep the Angel at bay… but not without it taking its toll. My body shakes, and exhaustion rolls over me as I step to Boris’ side, not wanting to appear weak.
“Amell, report to my office for a meeting. I suggest you leave now before we have a bigger problem,” Teagan grinds out, glaring at the Angel. “And if I were you, I would call Rafael.” Amell’s furious gaze falls on Teagan as he scoffs.
“You can’t be serious.”
“You just attacked one of my students on Fae grounds! Not even you have the authority to do that!” Teagan shouts back, and I lift an impressed brow. Hmm, I thought she would be cheering Amell on.
Atlas’ hand reaches out and grabs mine, yanking me close in a move I”m not prepared for. Usually, Atlas keeps to my boundaries, respecting the distance I need to feel in control. Whatever magic battle Amell and I just engaged in must have set my oldest brother on edge, and he’s not happy.
“Are you…” Atlas starts to ask.
“Fine,” I answer, cutting him off and squeezing his hand for a moment before letting it go and taking a step back. Amell watches the movement, eyes narrowed on my hand before he shakes his head and opens his mouth to say something, but it”s not words I hear next. It”s an ear-splitting roar that comes from outside, shaking the floors beneath our feet.