Chapter Forty-Five
Bechora
“That bitch is mental,” I muttered, nodding in the direction the Dean had gone as Gabriel stood and helped me to my feet. “You’d think we all just passed a multiple-choice exam the way she acted.”
“It’s the way things are here,” Miles said softly from behind me.
I looked at him over my shoulder, taking in his appearance once more. “Are you okay?” I asked as we merged into the crush of students making their way to the exit.
“I’m alive.” He shrugged, slipping his grime-covered glasses back onto his face.
“Thank Selir for that!” Shadrie replied.
I shook my head, not sure I could say anything to ease the trauma we’d endured over the last three days.
Gabriel tugged me forward with the crowd, and my free hand shot behind me to grab Shadrie’s.
I barely heard her say something to Miles over the growing sound of chatter, but a quick glance told me she’d taken his hand in hers.
We held tightly to one another as we weaved through the throng of students, and I couldn’t help searching over their heads for Zypher.
The blinding light of midday caused me to blink furiously the moment we stepped outside. Time had moved differently in the third trial, like it had in the second. Students fanned out, moving toward their families as my vision adjusted.
“There’s Zypher,” Gabriel said, pointing through an opening in the crowd toward the far side of the quad.
I sucked down a breath of relief as I took in my other mate.
He stood next to a male who bore a striking resemblance to him.
Zypher wore an exasperated expression as he gestured wildly at the man’s clothing.
I let myself take in the new male and almost laughed as I noted his khaki cargo shorts, the striped polo tucked into them, and the white sneakers on his feet.
He was the epitome of the suburban dad stereotype.
“This is not what I meant by casual, Father!” I heard Zypher hiss as we drew near.
The male simply rolled his eyes. “Fine,” he sighed, waving his hand in front of his body. His clothing changed in an instant, leaving him standing in a sleek black suit.
“Thank you,” Zypher drawled just before he turned and spotted me. A smile split his face, and I tore my hands free from Gabriel and Shadrie’s hold. I ran the remaining distance between us and launched myself at my demon, my arms and legs wrapping around him as he caught me.
“You’re alive,” I sobbed, burying my face in his neck.
“Of course, Dilectus. I told you I would return to you,” Zypher replied, one hand supporting my weight as the other rubbed soothingly across my back.
“Ah, this is the female who has deemed my son worthy of her Vinculum.” The male beside him spoke, causing me to stiffen.
I slowly peeled myself off Zypher, embarrassment causing my skin to flush red as he allowed me to slide down his body to my feet. Tucking me against his side, Zypher turned us to face the male.
“Dilectus, allow me to introduce you to my father, Lucifer Morningstar.”
“The pleasure is mine, I assure you.” Lucifer smiled before his eyes flicked to the others. “Am I correct to assume this is the rest of your Vinculum?”
Shadrie cackled, and I noticed Miles’ face turning red. Gabriel moved to stand at my other side, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Can you imagine us with B and these two?” Shadrie laughed, elbowing Miles as she pointed at Zypher and Gabriel.
“Shadrie, Miles, this is my father,” Zypher interjected, motioning between my friends. “Father, these are our friends.” Zypher gestured toward Gabriel as Lucifer nodded at them. “This is Gabriel Dreadgrave, my bond brother.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you all,” Lucifer replied before addressing Zypher. “I will leave you to comfort your Dilectus with your bond brother. As I recall, the trials are rather traumatizing. When you’re ready, I will be speaking with the Dean.”
We watched the crowd part as Lucifer strolled toward the administration building. Zypher and Gabriel both pressed closer to my sides as the male vanished from sight.
“I apologize for him,” Zypher spoke, finally. “My father can be a bit much.”
“It’s fine,” I assured him. “I honestly thought he was kind of sweet.” Gabriel scoffed but didn’t say a word. I leaned forward, peering around Zypher to find Shadrie.
“Should we find your parents now?”
“We can try, but it’s probably better if we stay put and let them find us.” She shrugged.
I was about to ask Miles the same question when I spotted a familiar face moving through the crowd toward me. His hair was a vibrant blue, and his clothing was in an unfamiliar style, but there was no denying the shape of his hazel eyes or the silly grin plastered on his face.
“Geordie?” I croaked.
“Hello, Bechora,” he said, drawing to a stop in front of me.
“What the fuck, asshole?” I snapped, punching him in the chest. “Six fucking years and you never told me a damned thing. You were my best friend, and you were lying to me the entire time!”
His lips twisted into a frown. “I had to. It was the only way to ensure you ended up here when you needed to,” he replied.
“Did you know the whole time? That I am… what I am?” I demanded.
“I’ve known since before you were born, Bechora.
Before your mother fell pregnant with you, I foresaw what you would be.
I tried to warn our father, but my meddling kept changing the future.
I didn’t realize how badly I’d fucked things up until the day you were sent through the portal.
I was supposed to follow right behind you.
You were never supposed to be alone in the human realm. ”
The words tumbled out of him, the weight of the truth breaking through the dam that had kept them back for the last six years.
“I barely made it out of our home that night. Your mother and our father… they died buying time for me to escape. It took me years to find another way to the human realm without being detected.”
“So, it’s true then. The things I saw in the first trial.”
“Some of it, yes.”
“The part about you being my half-brother?” I asked, arching a brow.
“That is true,” he replied. “I was seventeen when you were born. We share a father, though my mother died in her birthing bed and your mother was the only one I ever knew.”
“What else are you keeping from me? How are you even here? I thought you couldn’t come to the academy!” The words came out in a rush of demanding questions.
“I won’t be able to stay here, Bechora. I’m only here now because I have to warn you. And because I needed to speak with you.” His eyes moved to Zypher, who stiffened at my side. “Tell your father to use Aegis Maleficarum. You will know when he needs to use it.”
“The law that claims mated females as a familial ward?” Zypher frowned, and I glanced between him and Geordie in confusion.
“Yes. That is the one,” Geordie replied, his head turning toward Miles and Shadrie.
I opened my mouth to question him, but he held up a finger to silence me and moved toward my friends.
“Hello, mate,” he purred, taking Miles’ hand in his and pressing it to his lips.
Miles flushed, his mouth opening in stunned silence.
“Oh, you lucky asshole,” Shadrie laughed, slapping Miles on the back.
Geordie turned to her, and she narrowed her eyes at him.
“You have done well protecting and helping my sister, ice mage. Before you give me your brilliant speech about being good to Miles, I have one more request. I must ask that you look after my heart now, too. I won’t be able to do it myself for some time, and I trust that you can keep him safe.
You must pretend he is yours. Promise me, mage. ”
“Well, damn. I guess I don’t need to give the speech now.” Shadrie gaped. “I promise. Miles can be my fake mate as long as you need him to be.”
“Excuse me!” I snapped. “I’m not done getting answers from you, Geordie. You owe me explanations.”
Geordie moved to stand in front of me again and let out a heavy sigh. “I can’t give you the answers you want. Not yet, at least. The only thing I can tell you now is that you’re still moving too slow. You should have claimed your third mate by now.”
My eyebrows shot to my hairline. “Excuse me? My what?”
Geordie ignored my outburst, tapping one finger on his chin. “Hmm, I don’t think that one is quite ready. Perhaps it’s for the best you claim your dragon next.”
“My… my dragon!” I shrieked.
“Yes, the professor. Very broody that one, but he’s been sending you all those little gifts all year. It won’t take much to sway him into giving up his fight against the bond.”
Clarity crashed over me. The strange pull I felt toward Thrackborne, the way his behavior toward me seemed to run hot and cold, his sudden disappearance and cessation of our tutoring sessions after the incident with the succubus allure. “That bastard,” I hissed.
“Indeed,” Geordie chuckled. “I must be going now, but you should go ahead and tell the dragon exactly what you think about him hiding from your bond.”
I snarled at Geordie, causing him to laugh before he turned on his heel and vanished into the crowd.
My feet moved of their own accord, and before I knew what I was doing, I was stomping toward Thrackborne’s office, friends and mates following in my wake.
I didn’t bother knocking when I reached it.
The heavy oak door slammed against the stone wall as I shoved it open.
Thrackborne straightened where he sat behind his desk and shot me an unamused look.
“Ms. Knight,” he drawled, his voice deceptively calm. “To what do I owe this—”
I stomped to the opposite side of his desk, the others filing in the room behind me. “Don’t you dare,” I snapped, cutting him off. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time! Mates. We’re mates and you thought you could hide that from me?”