by G. K. DeRosa
“Man, you guys are totally going to give Luna the wrong idea about me.”
Kimmie-Jayne leaned in and pulled Ryder into a hug. She whispered something in his ear, and his teasing grin disappeared.
“Always,” he muttered in return.
K.J. moved to me next, and I was surprised by the unexpected emotion that clogged my throat as her arms wrapped around me. “Take care of yourself, Luna, and I promise to come check in on you as soon as I can. If you need anything, go straight to Cillian—or even Ryder. You’re going to do great here; I know you will.”
“Thanks…” I leaned into her embrace, my tense body softening. “Thanks for everything.” I’d only known my half-sister for two days now, but somehow it seemed much longer.
Fenix patted me on the shoulder with a reassuring smile. “Cinder will show you the ropes. You’re in good hands here at Darkhen.”
“Thanks, Fenix.”
They turned to leave, and I couldn’t help my gaze lingering on their backs as they faded into the darkening corridor.
“You ready for the tour, mini minx?”
My brows slammed together, not too fond of my new nickname, especially since it was a derivative of my half-sister’s. “Just call me Luna, okay?”
“Whatever you say, kid.”
He opened the door labeled Darkhen Hall, and I stepped through. Every muscle in my body tensed. I could feel it in my bones. Everything was about to change, and there was no going back now.
Chapter 6
Students spilled across the wood-paneled corridor, moving in packs. The high, arched ceilings multiplied every whisper and each footstep until it reverberated in my skull. Though the undergrads all wore the same crimson, forest green and black plaid uniforms, they couldn’t have been more different. Eyes of every shape and hue bored into me, heads whipping around as we passed. The air smelled of smoky sweetness, instantly transporting me back to the day before at the Supe Café. It was magic; I was sure of it now.
Two boys passed by, their fangs popping out as they sniffed the air around me.
“Keep walking, Mace and River,” Ryder snapped. “Nothing to see here.”
I couldn’t help the shudder that snaked up my spine. Vampires. My second encounter in two days.
Behind them three cute girls with translucent insect-like wings fluttered past. Their rainbow-colored hair stood out sharply against the dark uniforms. They giggled as their eyes landed on Ryder then me.
“Hi, Ryder,” they said in unison.
“Good afternoon, ladies.”
Curious gazes roamed over me as I continued to follow Ryder down the wide hallway. Five doors lined each side of the hall, class names labeled across the top. Some I’d seen on my schedule and others seemed like more advanced ones—Dark Arts, Mastering Glamour, Elemental Manipulation.
Geez, and I’d thought Geometry and Calculus had been rough.
“This is the second floor of the main hall. There are three others above us that hold classrooms. The level below is the banquet hall where you’ll eat all your meals. Everything’s included so don’t be afraid to splurge.”
I hadn’t even thought about the financial aspect of attending Darkhen Academy. After years in public school, I’d taken free education for granted.
I glanced up at Ryder. “Is my father paying for me to be here?”
“Probably. You can ask Cillian. I don’t really involve myself in that sort of thing.”
“So what do you do here?”
“I’m the Combat instructor.”
I swear his chest puffed out as he said it. With his massive pecs and thick arms, I didn’t doubt it. Everything about his body screamed lethal weapon, and my stupid hormones wanted a taste.
Bad, Luna! I shook off the errant thought, and my mind focused back on the black words on my schedule. “I think I’m in that class.”
“Yup. Your ass is mine.”
My insides clenched at the rough edge to his voice, and heat swirled from my middle all the way up to my cheeks.
He chuckled. “Your sister used to do the exact same thing when she got embarrassed.”
And it was gone. Ryder mentioning Kimmie-Jayne was like a bucket of ice over the head. And it was probably for the best. This guy was my teacher now. I had to get these lusty thoughts out of my head fast.
“So anyway, you were talking about my classes…”
“Right. Since you’re the first supe virgin we’ve had”—a ridiculous grin lit up his handsome face— “we’ll start things out slow and see if any of your abilities surface.”
Supe virgin was about ten times worse than mini minx. I really hoped that one didn’t stick. I bit back the nasty retort, convincing myself I could handle his playful jokes and I needed to focus on why I was here. “What if they don’t? I’ve heard that some half-bloods don’t ever develop any powers.”
“That’s true, but I have a feeling about you, kid.” He reached over to muss up my hair, but that’s where I had to draw the line.
I swatted his hand away and shot him a narrowed glare. “Hey, I’m not your kid sister or something! I’m not even that much younger than you.” I paused, not really sure how demons aged as opposed to other supes. “How old are you, anyway?”
“Twenty-two. Youngest instructor on staff.”
“So you’re like the same age as some of the upper classmen?” That had to get weird. I could totally see this guy trying to hook it up with some of the stunning girls I’d already seen.
“Most graduate by twenty or twenty-one. So yeah, I’m pretty close, but you heard what Headmaster Cillian said, right? Rules are rules.”
“Yeah, you really seem like one of those sticklers to the rules.”
He laughed, the smooth sound vibrating his big chest as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders again. “You get me, mini minx. I like that. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun getting to know each other in the next few years.”
We walked through the entire building from top to bottom before ending up at the banquet hall. Ornate wooden chandeliers hung the length of the vast room, illuminating the quiet space in an ethereal glow. Long banquet-style tables stretched across the hall—seven of them in total.
“So everything seems to be pretty divided by supernatural species—where am I going to fit in?”
His lips twisted as he scratched at his stubbly chin. “I guess wherever you want. Since you’re rooming with Cinder, maybe the dragons will adopt you. They’re a pretty easy going bunch.”
Somehow dragon and easy-going didn’t quite seem to fit.
A big yawn escaped through my clenching teeth, my efforts at suppressing it wasted. This had been the longest day of my life.
“Come on, why don’t I show you to the dormitories? You can do some more exploring tomorrow.” He turned me toward the far corner of the hall, and a doorway caught my eye. “I’m sure Cinder will show you all the ins and outs of Darkblood in the coming days.”
“Darkblood?” I arched a brow at the demon.
“Huh? Oh sorry, it’s a nickname for the school. Most of the students call it that.”
“A pretty ominous one,” I countered.
“Not really.” He ushered me toward the door at the back, and as we neared I read the sign above it—Julias L. Darkhen Dormitory. “All supernaturals have both light and dark magic running through their blood. None of the houses are inherently dark or light—good or evil per say, however there are some that have a greater tendency to swing to one side over the other. Our sources of power differ. For example, all shifter magic is light, while the Coven Council and Fae are more gray, and the Sons of Heaven come from pure white light—the most uncontaminated of us all. Now, the Royal Vampires’ power stems from dark magic as does the demons of the Underworld. Like me.” He grinned. “They say that those with dark blood tend to be the most powerful and as this school is an elite one for the most gifted—”
“Hence the nickname Darkblood Academy.”
“Exactly.” Ryd
er held the door open, allowing me to go first.
“Do you think I have dark blood?”
He leaned in closer, his musky scent invading my space, and sniffed my neck. Goose bumps exploded over my skin as his warm breath brushed my collarbone, and my pulse skyrocketed.
He backed away with a mischievous grin. “How would I know? I’m not a vampire.”
“You’re such an as—” I quickly bit back the curse, reminding myself this was my instructor and not just some hot guy I was flirting with.
He waggled a finger at me, his dark eyes sparkling. “Watch it, mini minx. I do give out detentions, and I’m not above corporal punishment.” A wicked grin tugged at his lips as he turned down the next corridor.
Holy demon babies. This guy was going to be the death of me.
Ryder stopped at a massive spiral staircase and pointed up. “Dorms are this way.”
“Let me guess, seven floors?”
“Yup! You’re a smart one, aren’t you, kid?”
“Luna. My name is Luna—not kid or mini minx and especially not supe virgin.” I resisted the urge to stomp my foot because I didn’t want to seem like a child throwing a tantrum.
“Right, sorry.” He started up the steps before turning back to me. “Dragons are on the fifth floor by the way. I hope you’re up for some exercise.”
Ugh. I hitched my backpack higher up on my back and trudged up the stone stairs behind him. Luckily, he didn’t try to engage in any witty banter while we ascended because I would’ve been too out of breath to respond.
When we finally reached the fifth floor landing, I sucked in a breath, my lungs burning. Damn, I was out of shape.
“Don’t you worry, mini—Luna, I’ll have you in tip top condition before long. We start each Combat class with a two-mile jog.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“Nope.” He popped the P, and I couldn’t help but smile even though my heart was still pounding from the uphill climb.
The fifth floor hallway looked much like the others we’d seen so far. Fancy mahogany doors, stone walls and candle-lit iron sconces—the medieval feel encompassed every foot of this old fortress. The only thing that set this floor apart was the navy blue banner stretching across the wall. A family crest was emblazoned on the left, and big bold letters were inked across the massive sign in a language I didn’t recognize.
“What does that mean?”
“Ex igne venite victoria.” The strange words rolled off his tongue. “It’s the dragon-shifter motto. Loosely translated it means from fire comes victory.”
“That’s pretty cool. Do all the houses have one?”
He nodded.
A question had been floating around in my mind since the demon bachelor appeared in Cillian’s office. “How come the Underworld isn’t represented at Darkhen or even in Azar?”
A rueful grin tugged at his lips so that he was almost smiling, but it also kind of resembled a sneer. “Because we don’t count. We don’t have a seat on the Etrian Assembly so our vote doesn’t matter. The land of the damned was not deemed worthy of such honor.”
“So how come you’re here?” The second the words were out I regretted them. Dang, I had no filter.
His expression darkened. “Because being Lucifer’s son does have some perks. And being a traitor to your own kind is worth more than sticking to tradition.”
I opened my mouth to ask more, but Ryder stopped in front of a door about midway down the hall. “This is it.” He knocked on the door before I could apologize. Something had obviously upset him because the fun, flirty instructor from a few minutes ago had vanished. A dark mask slipped over his handsome face.
Before I could think on it for long, the door swung open, revealing my new roommate. Cinder Skyraider. A year had turned the cute girl into a beautiful young woman. She pushed her bangs to the side, and her deep golden eyes flickered over me. Jet-black locks tumbled over her shoulders as her lips parted into a sweet smile. “You must be Luna. I’m Cinder, come on in.” She scooted to the side, allowing me to enter.
I stopped midway across the threshold when I noticed my shadow had stopped moving.
Ryder cleared his throat, the tense set of his jaw making it clear something was still bothering him. “I’ll let you two get acquainted. You’re in good hands with Cinder, Luna. See you in class tomorrow.”
I almost missed the stupid nicknames.
He spun around and disappeared down the hallway before I could thank him for showing me around.
I quirked a brow at my new roomie. “Is he always that moody?”
She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Yesss.”
The dorm was a decent size with two double beds – one on each side of the room. My two duffel bags already sat next to my bare bed, and I dropped my backpack beside them. Matching mahogany desks, dressers, and nightstands stood on both sides of the chamber. My undecorated side looked markedly different from Cinder’s, which was covered in pictures and posters and pink—lots of pink. A pile of books sat on her desk beside her light pink laptop.
Crap… I didn’t have a computer. At Astor Home, we had a communal one that we all shared.
“That’s your side, in case that wasn’t obvious.” She smiled, snagging her lip between her teeth. I couldn’t imagine this girl as a dragon. She seemed sweeter than apple pie. Walking to my closet, she pulled out a cream comforter, pillow, and matching sheets. “You can use these for now. Until you get your own. They’re kinda plain, but they work.”
I took them from her and threw them on top of my bed. “Thanks.” I couldn’t imagine where I’d buy dorm stuff. I hadn’t seen any Bed, Bath & Beyonds in the Fae forest. Not to mention I had no money.
She pointed at a third door in the middle of the room. “That’s the shared bathroom. We split it with two other girls on the other side—Maxi and Alissa. They’re pretty cool and not too messy.”
“What happened to your old roommate?”
“I never had one. I just got here last week. Our calendar year isn’t the same as the human one. We start in the spring and study through summer and fall. Then we have break during winter.”
“Oh, that’s interesting.” But I guess it didn’t really matter that much when you lived in a realm of permanent winter. I yawned again, unable to hold back the exhaustion.
“I was heading to dinner, but you seem like you’re ready for bed.”
“Yeah, I guess I’m more jet-lagged than I thought.” I slumped down on the unmade mattress.
“No worries,” she said, grabbing her pink purse and throwing it over her shoulder. “We can catch up in the morning. I’ll introduce you to everyone at breakfast. I feel like I already know you anyway; Fenix caught me up before you arrived.”
Oh man, I hope he didn’t tell his sister I’d totally ogled him when we first met.
“Thanks, Cinder. I’ll see you in the morning then.”
She sauntered out the door with a wave, the short uniform skirt just skimming her mid-thigh. She was tall like Fenix, but slim unlike the bulky dragon. I thanked my lucky stars I’d gotten a decent roommate. From our short interaction plus what I’d seen on Hitched, I thought we’d get along just fine. It was weird because it seemed like I already knew her too.
Now I needed sleep. After a quick trip to the bathroom, I hastily made my bed and sank into the soft mattress. My mind whirled with everything that had happened the past few days—I turned eighteen, cut class, discovered a supernatural café then discovered I was supernatural. I met my half-sister and was whirled off to a magical school and met more supes in a few hours than I had in the past year. Oh, and I discovered my dad was not only a warlock, but also the President of the U.S. Tomorrow classes started, and I’d be tested against supes with actual powers. I didn’t think sleep would come easily.
I was wrong.
Chapter 7
The banquet hall was packed. The clatter of trays, books slamming down on tables, and chattering students reminded me of Crestwood High.
Only difference was some trays floated to their tables, students levitated in the air, and I was pretty sure those tall bottles of crimson liquid at the vamp table were filled with blood, and not bloody Mary’s.
I still couldn’t get over how separated the houses were. Each of the seven banquet style tables were so clearly divided among the supe races—even to a newbie like me.
Besides the vampires, the Fae stood out the most. They were all gorgeous and perfect, plus the pointy ears were a total giveaway. They seemed to float across the floor, even those that weren’t being propelled by translucent wings. The members of the Coven Council were more of a mixed bag as were the shifters. I didn’t think I could pick them out of a crowd. The members of the ocean realm had a sort of chill vibe about them, and they seemed to move in slow motion. Like their legs still hadn’t fully adjusted to life on land. Then there were the angels and nephilim, most didn’t sit around with their wings out, but when they unfurled, a radiant heavenly glow shot out in a ten foot radius around them.
“Don’t stare, sweetie.” Cinder walked up beside me and nudged me toward a table on the far left of the hall. The Brotherhood of Dragons.
“Easy for you to say. They’re all staring at me,” I hissed.
“It’s just because you’re new.”
“And human!”
She shrugged. “Yeah, okay maybe that too. They’re trying to figure out what you are.” She led the way, sitting at the end of a packed table. Two girls and a guy looked up and smiled at my roomie, until their gazes landed on me.
The two girls were our suitemates, Maxi and Alissa. Like Cinder, they were tall and slender, but both had light brown hair as opposed to her stunning deep raven color. Again, I couldn’t imagine any of these cute girls turning into ferocious dragons.
I’d already briefly encountered my suitemates coming out of the shower this morning. I was half-naked so we didn’t chat much as I scurried out of there to my room.
“Ladies, this is Luna Hallows.”
They both gave me tight smiles.
“How about me? I don’t get an introduction?” Emerald green eyes scanned over me, a cute grin lighting up the guy’s face.