Chapter Thirty-Nine
Bechora
To my surprise and delight, Gabriel was leaning against the outer wall of Magus House, waiting alongside Zypher the next morning.
We hadn’t spoken since he’d deposited me in Zypher’s bathroom, and I wasn’t sure he’d behave any differently than before the bond was completed.
Shadrie filled me in on the details about Gabriel’s father after she’d finally calmed down from her confrontation with Vallynn.
Knowing the sort of cruelty my mate endured at the hands of a man who should have loved and cared for him left me with a deeper understanding of his motivation to push me aside.
Zypher smiled and handed me a cup of coffee in silence while Shadrie hung back, and I continued to stare at Gabriel in disbelief. My vampire mate pushed off the side of the building, his shoulders slumped as he crept toward me. Uncertainty filled his face, mirroring my own.
“I didn’t think you’d be here,” I said quietly.
Gabriel shrugged. “Where else would I be?”
“I thought you might be somewhere regretting things and planning your next move to push me away if I’m being honest. Shadrie… she told me about your family, what she knew at least. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t blame you if you went back to pretending our bond doesn’t exist.”
“No,” Gabriel hissed, shaking his head sharply. “I was wrong to ever do that, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make it up to you.”
“But your mother—your sister. Won’t your father—”
“I spoke with my brother. I don’t know what he has planned, but he assured me he will see to their safety. The only thing left in this world my father can use against me is you, and you’re too damned stubborn to let him do that.” His lips curled into a smile, and Zypher laughed.
“Well, I guess if B forgives you, I do too,” Shadrie piped in. “But just know, Dreadgrave, if you hurt my bestie, I will end you.”
“Your friends are vicious, Dilectus. I quite enjoy it,” Zypher interjected, causing me and Shadrie to laugh. Gabriel shook his head with a soft smile, and we made our way to the dining hall for breakfast.
The massive space went silent as soon as we stepped through the door.
Every head turned to face us, studying me before returning their attention to a table in the center of the room.
Daena sat perched there like a queen, her perfectly styled hair spilling over her shoulder as she leaned close to Vallynn.
She’d wedged herself at his side, her hand brushing his arm as she laughed at something only she seemed to find amusing.
Her merry band of harpies clustered around her, smug expressions fixed as they hung on her every word.
“Poor little Bechora Knight.” Her voice lifted above the soft din. “You should have seen her. Absolutely trembling. One teensy bit of magic and she pissed herself, right there in front of everyone.”
Shadrie snarled at my side, and I glanced at her. My friend’s gaze was pinned to Vallynn as he sat there in brooding silence. Gasps and laughter answered Daena’s words, her friends eating them up. I felt Gabriel tense beside me and reached for his hand.
“You really should have seen it. It was just meant to be a fun little test, you see. Something to determine if the pathetic little mage from the human realm was really worthy of the academy without her demon interfering. Poor dear was like a frightened little bunny. If I’d pushed her any harder, I suspect her heart might have given out.
Not what I’d call academy material. Not at all.
” Daena’s words marked me as prey among predators, something I knew couldn’t be left to stand if I didn’t want the entire academy out for me.
“If anyone isn’t worthy of being here, it’s you, Daena.” Shadrie’s voice rose above the cruel laughter before I could defend myself, silencing it and dragging everyone’s attention back to us. “You interfered with a mating bond.”
The words hit the hall like a thunderclap.
The scrape of chairs, the sharp intake of breath.
Gasps rippled through the crowded space as the weight of the accusation sank in.
Dozens of eyes swung toward Vallynn, seeking the reaction of their crown prince, expecting him to condemn Daena.
His dark gaze swept across the dining hall, lingering on me with disdain before cutting to Shadrie.
“Daena didn’t commit a crime. She did the kingdom a service.
My father would have approved of my betrothed’s methods of culling the weak; he may still reward her for it.
If Ms. Knight truly can’t stand on her own without the help of her bond, then she is neither worthy of this academy nor her demon mate. ”
He spat the word mate like it disgusted him, and I couldn’t help my involuntary flinch.
My heart seemed to rend in two alongside it.
Neither reaction was something I could understand or wanted to dig into.
Shadrie took a step toward them, the temperature dropping rapidly as the males at my side snarled.
I grabbed her arm and shook my head before deliberately moving my gaze across the dining hall.
“It’s funny you call me weak, Daena, but I’m not the one who has to pretend the male at my side enjoys my company.
Maybe if you pet his arm a little harder, he’ll roll on his back and let you cuddle.
” I lifted my chin defiantly, my eyes sliding to Vallynn.
I could have sworn his lips twitched as if he were fighting a smile before his arrogant mask fell back into place.
“And I find it strange how you, my prince, talk about culling the weak, while hiding behind a female who needed her friends to help take me on.”
Daena’s face flushed crimson, her mouth flapping open and shut like a fish as the cruel laughter turned on her.
Vallynn held my gaze, his jaw ticking as I stared him down.
It felt like an eternity stretched between us, though it was barely seconds, before his chest heaved and he turned his face away.
“Come on, let’s find somewhere else to eat this morning. The dining hall reeks of desperation and cowardice,” I snapped, turning on my heel and striding through the doors.
“Well done, Dilectus.” Zypher grinned as we reemerged outside.
“Sure, if the goal was to have Vallynn coming after you,” Gabriel hissed, his words a worried counterpoint to Zypher’s praise. “He’s the crown prince. You can’t just insult him like that and expect to get away with it, Bechora.”
“Oh, fuck him!” Shadrie snapped. “It’s not like he’s going to get his hands dirty, and I can ice any bitch he sends B’s way.”
I huffed out an annoyed breath. “It’s too early to argue about this. I get that what I did probably wasn’t the smartest move, but it would have been worse if I’d let the rest of the school think I’m weak prey. I know exactly how the students at this school treat prey.”
Gabriel flinched as if I’d struck him. I hadn’t meant to hurt him, but neither of us could deny he’d been the one to teach me that lesson.
“Fine,” he said after a moment. “But you’re shit at fighting—”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I demanded, interrupting him.
“If you’d let me finish. I was saying, you’re shit at fighting, but I can help you improve enough to defend yourself. We’ll start first thing in the morning and work on it outside of class.”
“I can’t,” I said, biting my bottom lip.
My bond with Gabriel was completed, and he seemed all in now, but I wasn’t sure I could tell him what I was, and that I spent all my free time in the library or working with Zypher to hone my magic.
As my mind worked to decide, Shadrie spoke, taking the decision out of my hands.
“She has to practice her Starcaller shit with Zypher. And we need her help going through the books the librarian finds about her abilities.” Shadrie paused, turning to me. “Speaking of, now that you and Fangs, over here, are totes bonded, any new abilities in the well?”
“Her what?” Gabriel asked.
“I’m not sure,” I replied at the same time.
Zypher clapped Gabriel on the shoulder and smiled at me. “Allow me to educate my bond brother on what you are, Dilectus. That will allow you and the ice mage to determine what new skills you’ve gained.”
“I knew I liked you, Triple D.” Shadrie grinned and winked. “You’re officially my favorite out of B’s mates.”
Zypher let out a full belly laugh while Gabriel stood there looking lost. “Well, I still need to feed her, but I will take your favoritism, ice mage.”
Miles came barreling toward us before anyone else could speak.
When he reached our group, he pitched forward, placing his hands on his knees.
His face was flushed, sweat dotting his brow as his entire body heaved with his effort to breathe.
Miles raised a finger—the universal signal to wait—and gulped down another breath before taking a puff from an inhaler.
“Professor Thrackborne,” he panted.
My forehead scrunched in confusion. “What about him?”
Miles straightened to his full height as his breathing eased.
“I was in the library reading over some loose pages Mrs. Fiodh gave me. They were some sort of journal entry, or something written in a language I didn’t recognize, but there was an old translation with them.
I barely had a chance to skim the first page when Thrackborne startled me.
He was just standing there, glaring at the pages.
Demanded to know what I was doing with elven texts and why I was reading about Tinu Nall.
I told him it was just academic curiosity, but I don’t think he believed me. ”
“Tinu Nall?” Gabriel asked. I shot a glance at Zypher, catching his eye. My demon mate gave me a knowing nod and murmured an explanation to Gabriel, quietly.
“So, he was mad about it, but that doesn’t sound warpath-y to me,” Shadrie spoke.
Miles’ expression grew serious. “You didn’t see his face.
Smoke was pouring out of his nose, and I swear I saw scales crawling up his arms. I was sure he was about to dragon out on me, but someone started yelling at the other end of the library.
The second his head was turned, I got out, but it’s not like we can leave the academy.
He’s going to catch up with me eventually. ”
As if to add credence to his words, a loud roar sounded across the cobblestones. Miles’ eyes widened in fear, and his breath stuttered.
“That is definitely a pissed off dragon,” Gabriel said, causing Miles to blanch.
I swatted Gabriel’s chest before turning my attention back to Miles. “We should probably get you somewhere that isn’t out in the open.”
“Class,” Miles offered. “We have spellcasting, and Professor Snowthistle doesn’t allow students to be pulled out of her class.”
“Okay, that will do for now. We’ll figure out what to do once we’ve gotten you into the classroom.
” I looked at my mates. “Zypher, Gabriel, can you two try to figure out why Thrackborne is so angry about those papers and see if you can… I don’t know, distract him or give him something else to focus on so he forgets about hunting down Miles? ”
Zypher smiled, reaching into the messenger bag slung across his shoulder and pulling out a fruit bar. “Of course, Dilectus. Take this as well, since I was not able to feed you this morning.”
Gabriel frowned. “You just carry around snacks in your bag?”
“Of course.” Zypher smirked as I took the fruit bar from his hand. “You don’t?”
“Guys,” I interrupted. “We don’t have time for this. I’m going to get Miles to class. I’ll meet you at lunch to find out if it’s safe for Miles to show his face around campus. Zypher, don’t forget to get Gabriel up to speed. And the two of you work together to distract the very pissed off dragon.”
My mates nodded, their expressions serious. Shadrie stepped forward and gave Miles a hug, murmuring something I couldn’t make out. Whatever it was seemed to calm him slightly before we turned and hurried to class.