Elemental Fae Academy: Book Three: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance

by Lexi C. Foss

  Cyrus paused just before touching her, and the woman gave him a knowing smile. She extracted a strange playing card from her pocket that gleamed. “Hmm.”

  Her dark eyebrows danced, and he caught her hand in response.

  She laughed as he pressed a kiss to her wrist. “You always were a charmer, Cyrus,” she said, her tone sultry and immediately getting under my skin.

  No. It wasn’t the tone. It was her whole package. She had curves in all the right places. A tight top that emphasized said curves. Perfectly straight near-black hair. Soft blue eyes. And a smile that captured the attention of half the bar.

  Including that of my mates.

  I hated her on sight alone.

  Hated her even more as Exos took her hand and kissed her in the same place Cyrus had. “What brings you to the Human Realm, darling?” he asked, gaze flickering with curiosity.

  She sighed and shook her head. “Bureaucratic bullshit.” She waved her freshly manicured fingers around and focused on me. “You must be Claire.” The woman even had dimples when she smiled. Too fucking perfect.

  “I am,” I replied. “And you are…?”

  “Not your competition,” she mused, her gaze twinkling. “But I am glad you finally tamed these two. They caused quite the stir in the Fortune Kingdom a few years back. Who was it? Aurora and Cassandra, right?” She giggled. “You two are bad, bad boys.”

  “Now, now, Gina.” Cyrus flashed her an indulgent look. “Don’t go putting thoughts in my mate’s head.”

  “Oh, she doesn’t need my help with that,” the female—Gina?—replied, winking at me. “I can see she’s well acquainted with your antics already.”

  “Who are you?” I asked again, this time with a little more force.

  “Gina.” She positively beamed at me. “I’m so glad you’re finally here. The plague is spreading, you know. But you’ll fix it all up in no time. Just have to rid yourselves of that dark piece that doesn’t fit.”

  Cyrus folded his arms on the bar, his amusement dying behind an intense mask. “Elaborate.”

  “Oh, I would, future Water King, but I’ve already revealed too much. And with my luck—which does appear to be running out—I’ll be discovered sooner rather than later.” She sighed dramatically. “The future refuses to bend.”

  “Who is the dark piece?” Exos tried again.

  But Gina merely smiled. “You already know, Spirit King. As does your beautiful mate. And if I may...” She made a show of leaving the playing card on the table before capturing my hand without warning. Her blue eyes flickered into a creepy clear shade. She blinked, the color returning to normal as she gave me a squeeze. “So much pain, Claire. Two decades of it. But you have the power to heal them all, to restore the balance. I’m rooting for you.” She leaned in and lowered her voice. “Just remember who you are, Claire. Your mates aren’t the only ones counting on you.” Her attention drifted over my shoulder, her expression lighting up. “Ah, he’s here. You all behave now. Can’t have you drawing more attention to me.”

  She whirled around, frolicking—and that wasn’t an exaggeration—to the other side of the bar with a flourish of her very short skirt.

  Like she really needed any help drawing attention.

  Fortunately, Cyrus and Exos didn’t seem to notice the length or her magnificent legs. They were too busy standing to greet the newcomer who I assumed was Kols.

  And wow, was he gorgeous.

  Tall. Athletic. Brown hair tinted with a hint of red that glimmered beneath the low lighting of the club. And eerily beautiful golden irises that flickered with power as he met my gaze.

  Fuck, this guy is potent. I could see it in the grin that graced his full lips.

  “Charm her, and I’ll kill you,” Cyrus said flatly as I pushed off the stool.

  Kols chuckled, the sound warm and masculine. “Too late, Water Prince.” He held out a hand. “I’m Kols.”

  “Claire,” I replied, pressing my palm to his.

  “I know,” he murmured, kissing my wrist the same way Exos and Cyrus had done to Gina. This time it was their turn to scowl.

  Exos wrapped a possessive arm around my back, tugging me into his side. “Good to see you, Kols.”

  “Is it?” the Midnight Fae asked, releasing my hand. He glanced around the room, the slight arch of his neck showcasing a line of inky black tendrils moving just beneath the collar of his dress shirt. Like Exos and Cyrus, he wore a suit, sans tie. However, he’d chosen all black, while my mates were in crisp white shirts and ebony jackets.

  When he finished his perusal, I noted the hungry gleam in his eyes.

  Vampire, I remembered, shivering.

  His lips quirked as if hearing my internal thought. And maybe he could. Wasn’t that a supposed trait—their ability to read minds? Or was it mind control? I’d have to ask Exos and Cyrus more about it later.

  “Let’s grab a corner booth,” he suggested, nodding toward the darkest side of the club where a group of people had just stood to vacate.

  Did he do that? I asked, my heart fluttering in my chest.

  Yes, Cyrus said. Kols isn’t just a Midnight Fae; he’s also a prince. Like me.

  Meaning he’s powerful, I translated.

  Incredibly gifted, yes. Cyrus took my hand and led me forward, while Exos remained on my opposite side with his arm draped around my waist. If any of the humans noticed our little triad, they didn’t react to it. But Kols certainly eyed our touch with amusement. He slid into the booth first, followed by Cyrus, while Exos and I took the opposite side.

  “Was that Gina I saw up at the bar?” Kols asked, curiosity deepening his voice.

  “Yeah.” Cyrus glanced at the stools we just vacated. “She’s hiding from something.”

  “Isn’t she always?” Kols mused.

  Cyrus lifted a shoulder. “Seemed a bit more serious this time, but I’m sure she has it handled. Besides, she seemed more interested in leaving us with cryptic words.”

  “Typical Fortune Fae.” Kols’s eyes glimmered as he steepled his fingers on the table. “So how can I be of service? As I assume this isn’t just a meeting for fun.”

  “Not this time, no,” Cyrus agreed, indicating they’d met for fun in the past. Given his easy candor with Gina, I could only imagine what that meant.

  I mean, my mates were all experienced. And I knew I wasn’t their first lover. While I could accept that, I didn’t want to think about their pasts. Especially not with a beautiful fae like Gina.

  “We suspect one of our elders is using dark magic,” Exos said, jumping right to the point. “And we’re hoping you can help us confirm that.”

  Kols grinned, a flicker of flame circling his pupils and dying beneath a blink of his long, elegant lashes. “Sure. Can you replicate it? Or detail what you felt?”

  Cyrus looked at me. “Can you describe what happened when Elana summoned the dead?”

  Kols eyebrows lifted. “A death spell?”

  Cyrus and Exos nodded.

  “Do tell,” Kols murmured, leaning forward, his intrigue palpable.

  I cleared my throat, unsure of where to start. So I went with the beginning, about how Elana had taught me about spirit magic, creating pixies and things of that nature. Then I told him about our last session, about the spirit writhing in the strange liquid and the pain I felt from his spirit. Just the memory of it made me shiver with wrongness. “It was like he couldn’t speak,” I added. “But I sensed he wanted to say something.”

  Kols nodded. “My guess is she threaded a mutation into the magic, one that disabled his ability to form sentences. Because a proper summoning allows the soul to speak. It’s also possible she infused some of her spirit element into the act, thereby compelling his silence.”

  “So you agree it’s dark magic?” Cyrus pressed.

  “Oh, absolutely. I didn’t need all the gory details to tell you that. Necromancy is popular among a certain sect of my kind, while frowned upon by the rest of us. Aswad is a particular advocate
for raising the dead.” He grimaced. “But yes, it’s absolutely dark magic. Which means your Elana must have some Midnight Fae heritage because one does not just become a necromancer. One must have an affinity for the death call first.”

  Cyrus and Exos shared a look.

  I knew what they were thinking because I thought the same. “Part Dark Fae, part Spirit. Isn’t that what my mom told you?”

  Exos nodded. “Yes.”

  “That’s impossible,” Kols cut in. “Mating between the species is prohibited. It tips the scales of power.”

  “Such as being able to raise the dead and control it, too,” Cyrus suggested, arching a brow.

  “Wait, what do you mean by ‘prohibited’? Why?” I asked, frowning. “We’re all fae, right?”

  “Yes, but with unique bloodlines. Tampering with those bloodlines creates… abominations.” Kols cringed, his gaze darkening to a black cloud that sent a shiver down my spine. “The Dark Wars are not a time I ever wish to live through.”

  “Dark Wars?” I repeated, even more confused.

  “A black point in Midnight Fae history,” Exos explained softly. “Commingling between the fae altered the balance that we all pull from to survive. Imagine vampires with the ability to control water or fire.”

  “Well, that’s not a difficult trick,” Kols murmured, a light flame erupting over his fingertips. There and gone in a second. “But it was worse than that. Magic requires an equilibrium between light and dark. If it’s disturbed, mutations occur, and power is distributed rather unevenly.”

  “Which creates chaos and allows dictators to rule,” Exos added.

  “That explains her obsession with the Council,” Cyrus mused, causing Exos to arch a brow at him.

  “Meaning?” my spirit mate pressed.

  “If her origins were revealed, she’d be executed without ceremony. However, if she convinces us all to work together and asserts herself as the leader of the Council—which she has—that puts her on a pedestal as the fae who created it all. If you ask me, it’s only a matter of time before her true intentions rise.”

  I pinched my lips to the side. “So you think it’s all a ruse and she’s using her connections to all the fae for her own benefit somehow.”

  “By siphoning energy from them,” Kols said, leaning back in the booth. “I mean, if she’s already playing with the dead, why not manipulate the life source of others while she’s at it?”

  My eyebrows shot upward. “She can do that?”

  He flickered another of those flames across his knuckles and winked. “Child’s play, sweetheart. Especially if she’s of the necromancy line.”

  “Water.” Cyrus laughed, the sound lacking in true humor. “I’ve sensed her use water more than once, but she’s notoriously a single-gifted Spirit Fae.”

  Kols spread his hands as if to say, Case in point. “She’s siphoning it off another.”

  “But why?” Exos demanded. “Why would she do this?”

  Cyrus scratched his chin. “Only one way to find out.”

  “If she’s practicing dark arts, I doubt it will be as easy as having a conversation. But I might have something that could help you,” Kols said, grinning. “Your elders won’t like it, though.”

  “What is it?” Cyrus asked, arching a skeptical brow.

  “A book.” His lips quirked up even more. “Sort of like a beginner’s guide to necromancy. I’d be breaking a dozen Midnight Fae laws by giving it to you, but I suspect it’ll assist you in more ways than one.” Power radiated from him as he spoke, reminding me of how the elements seemed to swim around Cyrus and Exos.

  “A Midnight Fae text,” Exos mused. “Exactly how many rules are you breaking by handing that over to us?”

  Kols chuckled. “How many are you breaking by accepting it?”

  Cyrus and Exos just smiled.

  “Why would there be rules about a textbook?” I wondered out loud.

  The three of them laughed, Exos’s arm wrapping around my shoulders to pull me in for a hug. “Fae politics, princess,” he murmured. “Dark magic is purely Midnight Fae. Just as we own the elements.”

  “But sometimes you have to break the rules,” Cyrus drawled.

  “And I’d say now is one of those times,” Exos agreed. “When can we get the book?”

  “Tomorrow,” Kols replied, his gaze drifting out to the club. “I’ll be busy tonight.”

  Right. Vampire. Nightclub. Sort of cliché, but also appropriate. “So are we done?” I asked. Because as hot as he was, I really didn’t want to see him snacking on humans.

  “So eager to get us home,” Exos teased, his lips trailing up my neck. “Do you want us to share you again, princess?” The words were spoken against my ear, causing my stomach to twist in anticipation and my cheeks to heat.

  Cyrus smiled from across the table, clearly aware of what his brother had just said.

  Fortunately, Kols appeared too busy scoping out his next meal to pay attention to us. “Right, well, I’ll be in touch,” he said, pushing away from the table. His gold eyes met mine, twinkling with mischief. “I would tell you to have a nice evening, Claire, but I can already see Exos and Cyrus have it covered. So I’ll just say, lovely to meet you, gorgeous. Enjoy.”

  Exos

  “So do you two often venture to the Human Realm to meet up with other fae?” Claire asked as we escorted her to a well-known New York City portal.

  She’d been rather disappointed by the uneventful transport, stating she thought it would be magical with fairy dust or pixies or some crazy flying horse. Instead, it was an elevator in an older building with a special keypad that teleported us between the realms at will.

  “Not often,” Cyrus replied, his arm draped across her shoulders. I’d given her my jacket, wanting to cover her shoulders and protect her from the cool New York air. It was winter, after all. And she’d worn one of her usual dresses with knee-high boots instead of a sweater and a coat. Fortunately, she had her fire to keep her warm, but she seemed to appreciate the chivalrous act as she hugged my jacket around her.

  “But you seem to know the other fae well,” she said slowly. “Like Gina.”

  My lips quirked up. “Jealous, Claire?” I teased, kissing her on the neck before opening the door to the building we needed.

  “No.” Her answer was quick. Too quick.

  I shared an amused glance with Cyrus and gave him a look that said, You tell her.

  “She’s an old friend,” he explained. “And not that kind of friend, Claire. Fucking a Fortune Fae would not be enjoyable. She’d know all my moves before I made them.”

  A laugh leapt from my throat as I nodded in agreement. “He’s right. Takes all the surprise out of it.” I nipped at my mate’s neck again, pressing my chest to her back and wrapping my arm around her waist. “Just think how boring last night would have been had you already known what was going to happen, Claire.”

  She shuddered, her body melting into mine. “I… That wouldn’t be…” She swallowed, her weight collapsing into me even more. “Yes.”

  I chuckled against her throat as Cyrus mused, “That wasn’t a complete sentence, little queen.” He pressed the button for the elevator in the lobby. “But I’ll allow it.”

  “As for us visiting the human world, it’s infrequent. But as Royal Fae, we are well acquainted with the others. It’s how we know Kols and Gina. Their families hold status in their respective fae kingdoms, and occasionally, we are required to meet for social functions.”

  “To maintain the balance,” Cyrus added.

  “Exactly,” I agreed. There was still so much Claire didn’t understand about the supernatural world, the laws that governed us all, how we cohabited in peace, and our long histories of times where we didn’t maintain that perpetual peace. We were just so wrapped up in the current problems within the Elemental Realm that we hadn’t had a moment to talk about the others. But Kols and Gina, they both had their troubles within their own ranks. Just as the numerous other types of
fae did.

  We all just chose to mostly focus on ourselves, only coming together when needed.

  The elevator chimed, and Cyrus entered the sequence of numbers required to return us to the Academy as I ushered Claire into the waiting car.

  “Can you mist from here?” she asked.

  Cyrus considered it as he joined us, just as the doors closed. “I can mist anywhere, but between realms is harder. Within our elemental home, I’m closest to our source. It’s easier. Here, it would require a lot of effort that I’d prefer not to expend because who knows when I might need my magic.”

  It wouldn’t necessarily deplete, but I understood what he meant. Accessing the core of our gifts from this far away took strength and energy, weakening our ability to fight like we could on our own ground. Best to retain as much of our element as possible in case of the need.

  Light flickered around us as we began our journey, the sound a quiet whoosh softened by the metal car transporting us to the Academy. Kols would use this contraption as well, but it would take him to the Midnight Fae Academy. “Is Kols in his final year?” I asked, thinking out loud.

  Cyrus shrugged. “No idea. That fae doesn’t talk about himself a lot.”

  I snorted. “True.” For as many times as I’d met him, I barely knew him. He seemed to hide behind a mask of nonchalance and elegance. A typical royal, really.

  We came to a stop, the metal clinking and beeping and dissolving before our eyes to reveal the heart of the Academy. My muscles loosened on instinct, the familiar elements bathing us in warm welcome.

  Claire spun in a circle, her smile one of the most beautiful sights I’d ever seen.

  Until a familiar presence spoiled our fun.

  I turned toward it, eyebrow already arched. “Mortus,” I said, his name resembling more of a curse than a greeting. I hadn’t seen him since he knocked me out and threw me in a cage. I knew now that it wasn’t actually him, that someone had been controlling him, but that didn’t make me any more relieved to see the bastard.

  “Where have the three of you been?” he demanded, eyeing Claire.

  “I don’t believe we have to report our whereabouts,” Cyrus said coolly, wrapping his arm around our mate. “Unless you’re questioning the intentions of your Spirit King?” He nodded at me.