Chapter Thirty-Five
Bechora
“What’s with him?” I asked, nodding toward Dante, tearing from the classroom like someone lit dragon fire on his ass.
Zypher frowned and shrugged. “I could not say, Dilectus.”
I studied my mate for a second, trying to determine if that meant he didn’t know or he did and wasn’t going to tell me. His expression gave nothing away, and I finally gave up when he started gathering my belongings into my messenger bag.
“I’ve got this,” I insisted.
“It is my pleasure, Dilectus,” he replied with a heart-stopping grin. It had every fiber of my being screaming to take him to my room and climb him like a tree. I shook my head to clear away the lust-induced haze just in time for him to put the strap of my bag over my head with a knowing smile.
“I shall walk you to combat class before I return to the library,” he said, placing his hand at the small of my back and guiding me toward the door.
We’d spent countless evenings after dinner gathered in the library or one of our dorm rooms with Shadrie and Miles, working through the ancient tome that had been delivered to Zypher.
It hadn’t been much help in figuring out how to use my Starcaller gifts.
Everything written was vague suppositions based on legend and stories passed down from those who’d been alive during the time of the last Tinu Nall.
Zypher had somehow managed to befriend the academy’s librarian, and she had started seeking out books kept in the school’s archives on the subject.
Even with her help, the only thing I’d managed to accomplish was sensing the abilities that already lay in wait deep in my inner well.
Since I’d accepted and completed the mate bond with Zypher, I could now feel his shield ability, and if I focused hard enough, I could trace it back to him.
Same with the flames I’d been able to summon since I’d received the pendant.
The thread of fire magic settled in my well led back to the necklace I wore.
If I removed the pendant, the magic didn’t last long, leaving only the magic I’d copied from my demon mate at my disposal.
“Do not worry, Dilectus,” Zypher spoke in a reassuring tone as we drew near the stadium where combat class was held. “We will find answers, and you will master your abilities.”
“I know, big guy,” I sighed, patting his chest. “I just wish we had them already.”
Zypher smiled at me, dipping down to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear as he placed a gentle kiss on my lips. Lust zinged through me, and I fought the urge to wrap myself around him like a koala, much to his amusement.
“We will see what we find this evening, Dilectus,” he promised, pressing his lips to mine again before stepping back.
I watched him turn and walk toward the main quad, half tempted to race after him and take him to the ground. A giggle to my right forced me to tear my attention away from his backside.
“You’re a lucky girl, Bechora.” Kiri, the lightning mage from my combat class, sighed. “I’d compliment your mate, but I’m not sure being your friend could save me from the level of possessive jealousy I’ve heard exists over mates.”
I laughed, smiling at her. “I haven’t quite felt like ripping anyone’s hair out over him, but yeah, I don’t think I want to test it with someone I like either.”
Kiri beamed. “Come on, we should get changed and on the pitch before Rumlock loses his shit.”
I followed her into the stadium to the locker rooms to change.
Kiri and I hadn’t spent time together outside of class—what time we had was limited to the locker room and the occasions we were partnered for sparring—but we’d still managed to become something close to friends.
I couldn’t help marveling at how quickly I’d adjusted to my new life as I changed into my training leathers and hurried to take my place on the pitch.
Professor Rumlock ran us through our warmups, watching us with a stern expression, before ordering us into pairs to spar.
Kiri gave me a thumbs up, bouncing on her toes with a grin when we were paired together.
“Yes, girl!” she cheered as we reached our square sparring mat. “Now you can fill me in on alllll the dirty details while we spar. I’ve been wondering what those demons are like in the sack.”
I giggled, opening my mouth to respond as a shadow fell over us. “Move it. She’s with me today.” Gabriel snarled, stopping just behind Kiri.
To her credit, the lightning mage didn’t flinch as she twirled around to scowl at him. “Rumlock paired us together, Dreadgrave. Take it up with him if you have a problem.”
Gabriel leaned toward her, flashing his fangs. “Do you see him stepping in now?” he demanded.
Kiri went pale with a nearly audible swallow, but didn’t move.
“Leave her alone, Gabriel,” I snapped. “She’s my partner for today, and that’s that. Whatever your malfunction is, it’s not my problem.”
Gabriel’s eyes slid to me before focusing back on my friend. “You will find another partner if you don’t want to be made into my thrall, mage,” he hissed.
“Hey, asshole,” I yelled at him. “I said leave her the fuck alone.”
Kiri turned toward me slowly, her hands trembling at her side. “No, it’s okay, Bechora. I’ll… I’ll just swap partners with him.”
I turned my head to search for the professor and found him staring at our trio with his arms crossed, watching. “Aren’t you going to do something about this?” I demanded.
Rumlock raised a brow and shrugged one shoulder, and I growled to myself. Our professor seemed to think this was a situation for us to sort out on our own.
“Run along, little mage,” Gabriel barked.
My attention snapped back to the vampire, and I opened my mouth to speak, but Kiri cut me off. “It’s fine, I promise. Just let it go and spar with him.”
I pursed my lips and studied her face as I considered what to do. “Fine,” I nodded after a beat. “Why don’t you join my friends and me for dinner since we aren’t going to get to go over all the fun uses for demon anatomy in bed?”
Gabriel stiffened at my words, and I smirked at him. Kiri nodded with a smile before taking off in the direction of the vampire’s abandoned sparring partner.
Gabriel stepped into her place on the mat, planting his feet and letting his gaze travel over my body. “It’s no wonder you’re not improving if you spend your time in class gossiping,” he snapped. “A shame really— all that lean muscle and you don’t know how to put it to use defending yourself.”
I plastered a saccharine smile on my face and waved a hand down the length of my body. “My muscles were used for climbing a pole in a strip club, and let me tell you, they were effective.”
Gabriel went still at my words, his face twisting into a snarl as they sank in.
An enraged sound left his mouth, and I was on my back beneath him with his fangs at my throat before I could even consider summoning a shield.
His snarl vibrated through my throat; his fangs close enough to break skin if I so much as breathed the wrong way.
Rage ripped through me, and I slammed both palms against his chest, summoning flames to my hands.
Heat flared between us, the desired effect dampened by the magic that kept us from killing each other on the combat pitch.
The flames were still hot enough to make him rear back, his lips curling into something between fury and amusement as burnt impressions of my handprints sank into the chest of his training leathers.
“Better,” he muttered, on his feet and circling me before I could blink. “At least you’re not lying down waiting to die this time.”
“Fuck you, Gabriel,” I snarled.
“Only in your dreams,” he replied with an arrogant smile before winking at me.
My fury sputtered out as I realized he was referencing the dreams that haunted me nightly.
The last time the asshole had mentioned them, he’d all but blamed them on me.
I couldn’t wrap my head around why he was bringing them up again.
The answer came nearly as soon as the thought formed.
My feet flew out from under me as Gabriel’s leg swept them away, and I landed on my back, the air rushing out of me in an oof.
“It’s like you want to get hurt,” he snapped. “Found your magic and you’re still fucking worthless in a fight.” My chest still ached from having the wind knocked out of me when Gabriel barked. “Get up. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
I wheezed out a breath and pushed to my feet, glaring at the arrogant vampire. “I’d say you could be less of a dick about it, but you’re… well, you.”
Gabriel ignored me, his eyes glinting as he circled, weight balanced perfectly on the balls of his feet. “Square your stance before I drop you again.”
My anger flickered back to life, and I forced my body into the fighting stance Professor Rumlock had drilled into us since the start of term. Tracking Gabriel with my eyes, I called flames into one hand and made a come-hither motion at him with the other.
Gabriel tilted his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You must enjoy it when I put you on your back.” His words dripped with innuendo, and I couldn’t help the flare of lust that tingled up my spine.
“Do you ever shut up, or do you just enjoy the sound of your own voice so much that you find it impossible?” I taunted, embarrassment at my reaction coiling in my stomach.