Chapter Twelve
Bechora
I trudged my way across campus to my dorm room and gathered my things for a quick shower to get the blood off of me.
I wasn’t sure what to do about my ruined training uniform, but that was a problem for tomorrow.
By the time I scrubbed the dried, flaky blood from my skin and dressed in my night clothes, I was so exhausted that I was seeing things.
For a brief moment, I thought I saw fur spread across my face when I caught my reflection in the mirror.
Blinking my tired eyes, I dragged my feet back to my room and collapsed into bed.
There wasn’t anything unusual when I checked my reflection in my vanity mirror the next morning.
“This place definitely has me hallucinating,” I mumbled to myself as I smoothed my hair down.
I groaned as I stretched my stiff, sore muscles and slowly made my way to my door. Even though I’d slept, I felt like I’d done ten rounds with Mike Tyson. Everything ached.
“Oh, good! You’re up.” Shadrie beamed when I strolled into the living area of our dorm. She lifted a small brown package and waved it at me. “This came for you.”
“What is it?” I frowned, taking it from her hands.
Shadrie just shrugged and motioned for me to open it.
Carefully, I peeled away the tape, sealing the package and retrieved a small vial of liquid from inside.
There was a brown tag tied to the neck of the bottle that read Drink Me.
My brows knit together as I studied it, tilting the bottle side to side as I watched the shimmering blue liquid slosh around.
“Damn, B, someone’s sending you the good stuff. I bet it was Zypher.”
“Uh, what the hell is it?” I asked.
“It’s a restoration potion. Those things are expensive as fuck, too.”
“What is a restoration potion?”
Shadrie blinked at me for a moment in silence. “It’s only the best recovery potion ever made. I’d kill for one right now. My entire body aches from combat training yesterday morning. You take that and you’ll feel brand new. No sore muscles, no brain fog, nothing,” she said with a dreamy sigh.
“I’m trusting you, Shadrie,” I said, eyeing her. “If this does something weird to me instead of making me feel better, I’m going to find a way to dye all your clothes pink.”
She let out an offended gasp and clutched her chest, her voice a hushed whisper. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“I would. Especially if you’re pulling some Alice in Wonderland shrinking potion trick on me.”
“Cold, Bechora. Very cold.” She playfully scowled before waving her hand toward the vial. “I promise it won’t do anything weird to you.”
I squinted at her before uncorking the vial and downing the contents.
My eyes grew wide at the taste of cotton candy and the sudden warmth that traveled down my throat.
The warmth seemed to spread to my limbs in a matter of seconds, and I couldn’t help the squeak of delight that left me as I realized I wasn’t feeling stiff or sore any longer.
“See?” Shadrie grinned, waggling her eyebrows at me.
“I’m going to have to make sure to thank Zypher. That potion is a fucking miracle,” I replied.
“Speaking of, he practically interrogated Miles about the human realm when he sat with me at dinner. Where were you, anyway?”
“I had my meeting with Professor Thrackborne,” I replied, letting my face show my irritation with the dragon professor.
“He threatened me with detention if I didn’t follow him to his office for our meeting, as I was on my way to the dining hall.
It didn’t occur to me at the time, but it’s ridiculous that detention is a thing. We’re adults, for fuck’s sake.”
“What do you think detention entails?” Shadrie asked. The tone of her voice told me that my answer had no chance of being correct.
“I mean… I’d assume you’re stuck in a classroom with anyone else who has detention, and you just have to sit there until they release you. That’s how it is back home, but they don’t have detention past high school.”
“Oh, you sweet, ignorant thing. No.” Shadrie laughed, causing me to scowl at her.
“A guy in my potions class has detention all week. You know what they’ve been having him do?
He said they alternate between planting for the potions master and cutting crystals for advanced spellcasting, which is not nearly as easy as it sounds.
My sister even told me about a student who had to use his abilities to repair one of the old stables.
I can only imagine what sort of twisted punishment Thrackborne would concoct. ”
“That sounds intense. How do they get away with that?” I demanded. “There have to be laws against using students as laborers.”
“It’s not like the human realm,” Shadrie shrugged. “The Academy can do whatever they like so long as it hones a skill.”
“That’s really messed up.”
“Welcome to the supernatural realm, B.” She grinned. “We should probably head to breakfast before that mate of yours comes looking for you, though. After the way he acted at dinner, I’d bet my life Zypher is impatiently waiting for us outside.”
Shaking my head at how absurd it was that the Academy could abuse its power the way Shadrie described, I snagged my messenger bag and followed her from our dorm.
I caught sight of Zypher waiting just outside of Magus House for us, two paper cups in his hands.
Some part of me was soothed by his presence, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to examine that feeling any closer yet.
“Good morning, Dilectus.” He smiled, handing me one of the cups.
“Good morning,” I replied, taking a sip from the cup he’d handed me and nearly groaning in satisfaction as delicious coffee filled my mouth. “God, this is good. Thank you. And thank you for the potion, too.”
“You are very welcome for the coffee, Dilectus. I noticed it was your preferred morning beverage yesterday. However, I didn’t send you any potion.”
“Well, somebody did. B had a restoration potion sent to her this morning,” Shadrie chimed in, linking her arm through mine and turning me so that I was between her and Zypher.
“Maybe it was from the infirmary. I did have to go there yesterday after Rumlock paired me with a fucking bear for class,” I said.
“He did what?!” Zypher demanded, pulling me free of Shadrie and positioning me in front of him so his eyes could scan over my entire body.
“I’m fine, big guy.” I smiled, patting his chest. “I got swiped on the shoulder, but the infirmary fixed me right up. And I’m not even sore thanks to the potion I got this morning.”
Zypher’s chest rumbled under my palm as he let out a low growl. “Unacceptable. You should have never been injured. I will speak to Rumlock.”
“You really don’t need to,” I replied.
Zypher looked down at me, his gaze softening. “I do, Dilectus. I told you that I would prove myself worthy the night we met. I cannot do so if I knowingly allow you to be injured again.”
“Just go with it, B,” Shadrie spoke, grinning at me.
“Fine,” I said with a sigh. “But nothing crazy, okay?”
“On my honor,” Zypher grinned. “Now, let’s get you fed, shall we?”
We chatted about our class schedules for the day as we made our way to the dining hall.
Zypher was a third-year student at the Academy, and his commentary about some of the professors was enlightening.
By the time we entered the dining hall, I’d learned that Professor Vatorgan, who taught astrology, was an elemental mage who’d once served at court.
With the strange abilities I’d been manifesting in my sleep, I was looking forward to my first class of the day despite my personal thoughts on astrology being a sham.
“Sit, Dilectus. I will retrieve your breakfast.” Zypher smiled as we stopped at what was becoming our usual table.
I opened my mouth to argue with him just as a body slammed into mine, knocking me off balance.
Faster than I could blink, Zypher steadied me and grabbed the person who’d run into me, slamming them into the table.
My mouth fell open in shock as I recognized Gabriel being pressed into the wood by the back of his neck so hard it bowed slightly.
His honey-brown eyes locked on my face, and his lips twisted into an angry scowl.
“You dare touch my Dilectus?” Zypher snarled, squeezing Gabriel’s neck slightly.
“I see the dud has found a powerful ally,” Gabriel hissed. “What did you promise the demon to keep you safe?”
Zypher growled, lifting Gabriel by the neck and slamming him into the wooden table again. I shifted uncomfortably on my feet as the attention of everyone in the dining hall turned our way.
“Zypher,” I said softly. “I’m sure it was an accident. Just let him go, and let’s get our breakfast.”
Gabriel let out a derisive snort and rolled his eyes. I reached out my hand and ran it down Zypher’s arm, drawing his gaze away from the rude vampire. Unsure how to proceed, I glanced over my shoulder at Shadrie, who just shrugged.
“His accident”—Zypher started, saying the word like it left a foul taste in his mouth—“could have caused you to become hurt.”
“I’m okay. I promise. I don’t think he meant me any harm,” I said, flicking my gaze to Gabriel. “You didn’t mean anything by it, right?”
A muscle ticked in Gabriel’s jaw as he clenched his teeth.
His face was painted with so much fury and loathing it nearly stole my breath, and I couldn’t understand why it was directed at me.
Sure, I’d clearly made a faux pas when he’d led me to the infirmary after combat class, but I didn’t think I’d given the vampire a reason to dislike me.
“Right,” Gabriel spoke up finally, not bothering to hide the malice in his gaze.
Zypher squeezed the back of Gabriel’s neck one more time before jerking him upright. “If you are smart, vampire, you will stay far away from my Dilectus. I am not as forgiving as she is, and I will have no problems tearing your heart from your chest should you touch her again.”
Gabriel gave Zypher a tight nod, and Zypher released his hold on him. The vampire shot me an angry scowl before moving toward the exit faster than my eyes could track.
“Selir, that was hot,” Shadrie spoke, fanning herself. “What I wouldn’t give to have a guy go all beast mode for me.”
I thrust my elbow back, catching her in the side just as Zypher turned his attention to me.
“Are you alright?” he asked, his gaze softening.
“I’m good,” I smiled.
“Good. Though I would caution you to keep your distance from that vampire.” Zypher replied as he tucked my hair behind my ear.
“Get a room, you two.” Shadrie laughed as she moved around me toward the food buffets.
Zypher’s eyes heated with desire, and his nostrils flared. “Say the word, Dilectus.”
Heat crept up my chest and into my cheeks as I flushed under his intense stare. Shadrie cackled loudly, and I cleared my throat before patting Zypher’s chest.
“Why don’t we focus on getting something to eat?” I said.
“Of course,” Zypher winked. “Sit, both of you. I shall bring your breakfast.”