Chapter 6
Storming outside with Hendrik at my heels felt damn good, but I had to stop almost as soon as I cleared the steps because I had no idea where I was going.
The Dean, unlike my Virtues, didn’t exactly leave some psychic calling card in my head that I could sense. Which was good, yeah, but I didn’t like that I had to cut short my grand exit by stopping to look around, obviously lost.
“Lily,” said a wolfish voice.
I froze as Logan stepped out of the shadows and my heart tightened at the sight of him.
“How did Dante take the news that you're alive?” he asked, coming closer, his expression knowing.
He hadn’t wanted me to go through this. I could feel that much through our withered bond, but he didn’t pull away from me when I wrapped his essence around myself, my nostrils flaring at the minty scent of forests and wilderness.
Meeting Logan’s gaze, I sighed. “It didn’t go well.”
His gaze flicked past me to linger on Hendrik before returning to mine.
“Dante hates me,” I decided. We all might as well be open about it. Then I glared back at my Dark Mage Virtue who hadn’t responded much better. “Hendrik doesn’t mourn the dead because he has no soul. But, hey… at least Orion missed me?”
“I missed you, too,” Logan said, closing the distance between us as he cupped my cheek. His touch was so familiar, so soft and wanted.
A touch between mates.
Warmth bloomed inside at his simple statement and I leaned into him, sliding my arms around his waist. I let myself lean on him for a brief moment, needing that faultless, enduring loyalty that his wolf provided.
At least all my Virtues weren’t assholes.
He’d changed, too. I could feel it, but as Hendrik had so clearly pointed out, a year had passed for them. They should have changed.
But Logan didn’t blame me.
He cupped my chin and lifted my face to his. “Of course I don’t blame you.”
I blushed. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how easily you read my mind.”
He grinned and it was almost the playful smile he’d once given me. Almost. “It gives me a little bit of an edge,” he agreed. My other Virtues seemed limited to the thoughts I sent to them, either intentional or not. Logan, though, he knew me too well.
Then he stroked his hand down my hair, smoothing the ends. “I’m happy you’re back, Lily. But I always knew you would be.”
He kissed me then, a sweet loving brush of his lips against mine.
When he pulled back, I sighed. “Thank you.”
I couldn’t put into words what I was thanking him for—his steadiness, his loyalty, how easily he gave me his love and devotion. He was so vital to me—and although the others might not realize it, he was vital to the mate circle as well.
“You never need to thank me, Lily. Not for loving you.”
Taking his hand, I squeezed.
“Are you two done?” Hendrik asked, sounding bored. He’d been watching the exchange. I had expected him to venture on to the Council Meeting without us, but as indifferent as he insisted on being, the claiming lock of his gaze said that he wasn’t letting me out of his sight.
Logan lifted his lip at Hendrik in a snarl. “I came because I felt her pain, you asshole. Give her a moment, and then we’ll go.”
Hendrik only smirked.
Logan turned his attention back to me. “I’ll walk with you, if that’s alright.”
“Just get me away from here,” I said, ignoring Hendrik as he moved closer. I didn’t have the energy for his brand of “love” right now.
Logan’s pupils spiked and along our bond, I felt his protectiveness toward me rising. Needing to soothe.
I leaned against him, my cheek to his bared upper arm. It helped, just knowing he cared.
We started walking with Hendrik our faithful shadow.
“The Dean isn’t the same,” Logan said after several minutes of quiet passed.
“I’d hope not,” I agreed. She had killed me, after all.
“I’m serious.” Logan brought my hand to his lips and kissed the back softly. “Being the Conduit for Calamity took a toll. I don’t think she started out being an evil bitch. Ever since Luc took on the curse of being the Conduit for himself, she’s definitely changed.”
Stopping in my tracks, I looked up at him.
“What?” Logan eyed me warily and that was all it took.
The line between humor and hysteria must not be all that broad because I started laughing. “So, Luc… Lucifer, has already won.” I gestured to the barrier. “This isn’t a war. This is a siege.” Now I understood why Cole had wanted me to choose his side.
Because it was the one that would win.
“Don’t look at it that way,” Logan said, tugging me along with him. “With the Dean on our side, we have a better chance and we’re getting stronger, all of us. She’s a powerful immortal and the Queen wouldn’t have chosen her to lead the Academy if she didn’t believe in her.”
The Queen… he meant my mother.
“When I first saw the Dean, I wanted to rip her throat out,” Logan growled. He paused, then added darkly, “With my teeth.”
Along our bond, I felt the intensity of those words and knew he meant it as Hendrik hummed in agreement.
My mother had chosen the Dean to remain in charge, even after what she’d done. Calamity was a fucked-up entity, I decided, and I couldn’t blame those impacted by it for their actions.
It was Calamity that needed to be dealt with, and now, that meant dealing with Luc… and Cole.
“I’m glad you spared her,” I said, “Because Calamity is what we’re up against, and it isn’t done with us yet.”
“We wouldn’t be that lucky, would we?” Logan tugged on my hand, nodding toward a path that veered off to the right. “This way.”
“Everything’s trashed,” I murmured, gazing at the dorms that sported fresh scars and glittering embers of hellfire.
“It’s been rough.” Logan glanced behind us, mouth tightening as he looked at Hendrik.
“We’ve been managing,” Hendrik offered. “My mages can repair most of the damage, given enough Blood Duty. Olivia has proven useful in prevention spells, as well, given her nature as a Light Mage.” He said the word with a sense of pride when I expected a sneer.
I saw the evidence of her work when we came upon a building untouched by the destruction all around it.
Hendrik’s obsidian eyes swept over the structure, calculating, but satisfied. “Olivia made a protective spell for Central Hall,” he explained. “She had some help doing it, but it keeps those outside the Academy from damaging it or getting inside. It’s the safest place in the Academy for now.”
“Good to know.” I bit my tongue, because this looked like a damned powerful spell, whether Olivia had help or not.
No wonder she looked like some sort of ethereal goddess.
But like the Dark Mages, her magic would be finite and if she lost her soul in the process, Hendrik would have hell to pay for pushing her like this.
One more Virtue that could get in line on my shit list.
Venturing inside, I followed Hendrik to a platform that hummed with magic. Hendrik looked up and I followed his gaze.
No stairs.
Just a straight tunnel that went up.
“Am I supposed to fly up?” I asked, my wings flicking uselessly behind me.
“Of course not,” Hendrik said as he waved his hand. He muttered a spell and a snap ricocheted through the air. The release of magic made my breath catch when it swept us off our feet.
We spiraled upwards, Logan taking my hand in his as I clutched my wings to my back, trusting the magic to hold us. He smirked at me, clearly enjoying it.
Hendrik landed first at the top platform and Logan swept me onto my feet behind him.
“Wow,” I wheezed as Logan nudged me through the doorway. “Beats running up stairs, I guess, although now I feel kind of sick.”
Hendrik hummed in agreement. “And it’s a safety measure to keep our headquarters safe.”
We ventured into a large office furnished with expensive oak. Blood-red light spilled across the floor from massive windows as Yuri smirked at us, her legs perched onto a massive desk.
She swung her legs over and giggled at my nauseated appearance. “You gonna make it, Champion?” she asked, using my title with a mocking tone.
“I’ll be fine,” I glowered.
From up here, I could feel the damage done by the latest onslaught. Moving to the nearest window, I gazed out and my heart stuttered to a stop. Grabbing onto the window’s stone ledge, I stared outside.
“It’s a sad sight, isn’t it?” a woman’s voice asked, someone entering the room.
Whirling, I looked back at the Dean.
The woman who had killed me.
“Gwen,” I said weakly, clinging to the window’s edge for support.
“Hello, Lily.” Her lips curved up and she came to stand with me. “It doesn’t look the same as you remember, does it?”
I didn’t bother to answer. A blood red moon hung in the air. Vibrant trails of molten red ran through the streets. The faint luminescent barrier flickered in and out of sight, while Hell itself lingered around the perimeter, pressing in like a nightmare.
This definitely wasn’t the Fortune Academy I remembered.
This was Fortune Academy Underworld.
“I imagine you have questions,” the Dean said.
Just one or two, I thought.
She gave me a level look. “Whatever my punishment may be for harming you, I’ve earned it.
I take full responsibility for what happened when Calamity chose me as a Conduit.
” Her lips firmed out into a hard, flat line and she looked away, her gaze falling over the campus.
“Desperation can do that to a person. When you’re so determined to make something happen, you lose focus over everything…
but what does that matter now? Lancelot is gone. I failed.”
“Is that an apology?” I asked.
“It is,” she agreed. “Your mother hasn’t forgiven me, but she’s allowed me to work off my debt. I only ask for the same deal with you so that I may restore the things I have broken.”
In many ways, the Dean is who I should blame for everything that happened. Cole wouldn’t have had the opportunity to torment my Virtues. Dante wouldn’t have been suffering alone, and I could have been here for them all.