Dancing With Demons (The Academy of Amazing Beasts Book 3)

by Melody Rose

  Truth be told, I had this all neatly arranged while I slept over my covers so as not to disturb it. A sneaking premonition told me that I would need to provide Joan a sanctuary to settle her nerves. I didn’t know when exactly this scenario would come to fruition, but I had a strong inkling that it would occur by the next full moon. If Serafina was as deceptive as I thought she was, then it stood to reason that she would try to harness lunar magic. I had a feeling that we were dealing with a sorceress who used all she could to its fullest advantage.

  Of course, she would prey upon an academy that was once hailed far and wide. Then, she could sink her teeth into it while it was at its most vulnerable and drink in its lifeblood.

  Though I was presently mired in theories and plots, it satisfied me to see Joan squeal in excitement over the amenities. I was even able to hear this fully because the once ornery kitten hopped onto my bed to doze off. I decided it was best not to disturb the creature. Regardless of why it was that deep in the circle of eternal death, to begin with, I’m sure it had been through quite enough. Aurelius followed suit, disabling his flames and curling up to rest. That allowed me to give Joan my full focus for the moment.

  “Would you care to soak and release the troubles of the day, at least for a spell?” I asked politely. “I’ve already drawn you a bath with a special cleansing tincture of lavender and sage. It’s still warm, of course. The cantrip was so simple it didn’t even cost much mana at all. I’ll stay awake, should you wish to discuss these matters in more detail.”

  Joan, having already pulled off her boots, cloak, and traveling clothes, was just in the middle of adjusting her robe. Before she tied it to maintain her modesty, she rubbed her chin thoughtfully, considering my proposal. This resulted in her fully exposing her body, leaving me to enjoy her generous breasts, flat stomach, and smooth mound. I was frozen in admiration. It was hard to believe that just a few semesters ago, she had hurled a hairbrush at me for catching the smallest glimpse. On second thought, it wasn’t so difficult to fathom, seeing how delightfully stubborn she was.

  Now, I was fully intimate with her glorious gifts. I felt humbled and terribly distracted.

  “Hm,” she mused out loud, still failing to cover herself. “I’m not sure. I’m torn, you know? A good soak sounds tempting, but so does unpacking all of this. I don’t know if I’ll rest at all unless I process it. Maybe we can arrange for both of those?”

  My heart began to pound. “I think that sounds more than reasonable.” Though I tried to remain poised, I’m sure the lust was dripping from my voice.

  “Perfect!” Joan exclaimed and tossed off her robe the rest of the way before trouncing over to my clawfoot bathtub. I enjoyed watching how her bottom bounced in the process. Somehow, all of the sweets she indulged in only impacted the curves that mattered most. How was I supposed to discuss occult conspiracies when she was so achingly lovely?

  Stay on task, Theodore! I chastised myself as I followed her like a devoted familiar.

  She lowered herself into the bathtub and moaned with delight, sinking in until only her head was above water. I sat on the marble floor, positioning myself behind her, and stroked her hair. Joan responded by perking up, electrified by my touch. I smirked and began to rub her shoulders.

  “You simply cannot stay out of trouble, can you, Joan?” I teased. “Let me hazard a guess. We weren’t in the circle of death for the same reason, and yet you too felt compelled to return, answering the call of a dream. Dissatisfied with barely managing to survive last time, were you?”

  “Pssh!” she retorted. “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t, right? Either I’m some prissy human that can’t handle what Lemuria throws at her, or I’m a foolish witch biting off more than she can chew.”

  I chuckled and shook my head. “Not at all, my lion-hearted beauty,” I soothed, then kissed the nape of her neck. “I am astounded by your bravery. Most would be in a stupor of fear after all that you’ve endured. Instead, you rushed headlong into the root of your torment to pull it out, ensuring it would no longer influence you. I cannot think of any mage worthier of Bouclier than you.”

  Joan leaned into me, dampening my tunic, but I didn’t mind at all. All of my charms were now disabled to allow her full access to me. I removed my assortment of wands and weapons, dropping them on either side of me. Their clack on the marble echoed softly. I then cuffed my sleeves at the elbows and slid my arms into the water, placing my hands on her hips.

  “Lion-hearted!” she breathed out with satisfaction. “Rolls off the tongue so much better than lamb’s blood.”

  “And I will continue to apologize for my error in judgment,” I acknowledged.

  Joan giggled and brushed away my guilt. “I’m just messing with you, Theo! Now, tell me what you’ve learned about Serafina and how you figured out she’s bad news. How long have you been following her?”

  I inhaled to keep my anger in check. “Since my father introduced her to me. They tried to convince me that they were saving the academy by removing Nascha, but I knew that was minotaur bollocks. I don’t care if she was born out of the abyss! She lifted Bouclier out of the gutter and elevated it with the recruits she detected.” I didn’t bother to hide my growl of frustration. “My father actually seemed to see reason in Nascha’s presence. His Sight flickered to its highest capacity since my mother was still with us. With Serafina’s hooks lacerating his will, he didn’t even have a glimmer of perception.”

  Joan suddenly twisted herself, readjusting to face me. I fell in love with her all over again as her eyes went glassy with earnestness.

  “What can we do to stop her?” she implored. “It sounds like she should be where Nascha is, thrown into a cellar! I wish we could just trade their places. Won’t your father put more value into what you say? You’re his son, for Chrissake!”

  I took her hands in mine. “I’m afraid not, Joan. My father doesn’t need any other mage exerting their influence on him. If I were to voice my grievances and ask to sever Serafina from her duties, I doubt it would truly appear to be a strong case against her. We’d need more than the headmaster’s son and his paramour to vouch for Nascha and against her replacement. You understand?”

  Joan’s shoulders sank down in defeat, but I was glad to see that fire remained in her eyes. “I see what you mean, but what are we supposed to do in the meantime? Just hope the cat jumps out of the bag and that Serafina gets caught?”

  “Not at all,” I replied. “We’re going to ignite our own resistance and make sure we have more pairs of eyes on this Serafina than just the two of us. Believe you me, Joan. We won’t relent until we learn the truth.”

  My beloved returned my vow with the grin of a witch who refused to back down. Each of our auras blazed with a primal passion for one another, but we had to put a stopper in that potion bottle, so to speak. We were on the cusp of an epiphany, emboldened by our mutual discovery of Seraphina’s artifice. Who knew what time would’ve been lost if we indulged in one another? No, it was best to guard our will. We would need it as we sifted through all the signs.

  After finishing her soak, now mercifully wrapped in her robe so I could enjoy mental clarity, Joan sat cross-legged on my bed. The curious witch absentmindedly petted the kitten curled up beside her. Strangely enough, the slumbering critter had one ear flopped back. Briefly, I thought I might have allowed a spy into my quarters. One couldn’t have been too sure.

  “Pardon me, Joan.” The suspicion disrupted my train of thought. Even though the creature appeared harmless, I knew not to be fooled by surface glamour. Wasn’t it awfully convenient that it was roaming the worst parts of le cercle de la mort éternelle?

  Joan cocked her head to the side. My precious trésor. She couldn’t fathom that any creature was capable of wrongdoing. Even when her Cavallian wolf transformed into a hellhound before her eyes, she never doubted the purity of his heart. This ruthless loyalty of hers was damned attractive, but I hoped it wouldn’t be her downfall.

  I placed my
palm on the crown of the kitten’s head. Careful not to disturb it, I whispered my incantation.

  “À qui appartient cette bête?” I asked. “Who does this beast belong to?”

  My sense of decorum backfired. At least I learned that it wasn’t a claimed creature, but I wasn’t able to avoid waking the kitten. Rather, its eyes fluttered open, and then it fixed me with a wounded glare. It seemed offended that I doubted it. I patted its head consolingly and turned back to Joan.

  “What I think is most likely is that Serafina has hypnotized my father and stolen his Sight, but I’m not sure how long she’s been conspiring against him and with whom,” I went on. “By the looks of tonight, it would appear that she has accomplices. At the very least, I can rest assured that my father’s maddened state is not his fault. Perhaps I have been too hard on him, as I thought his negligence was willful.”

  I let out a sigh. “Naturally, we cannot be in all places at once, just as we do not know if Serafina isn’t leading us into a trap. We are going to need as many well-chosen allies as we can muster. The more proof we have of this interloper’s meddling, the more it is likely that she will no longer be able to keep her hold over my father.”

  Joan nodded as the kitten wandered into her lap and walked in small circles until it settled into a comfortable spot. “How will we know who to trust? It seems as though there is more than meets the eye at Bouclier. We don’t want to accidentally let in any double agents or someone so stupid they’ll blow our cover.”

  “Agreed,” I said as I reached for a leather pouch embossed with runic wards. “This is why I’ve specially infused these scrolls with a charm for that very concern. I would like you to hand them out to those whom you find worthy.”

  “Me?” Joan blinked, surprised. “You’ve been in Lemuria your whole life. You’re practically, if not literally, bound to Bouclier. Why wouldn’t you be the one in charge of recruitment? Are you too busy?”

  “Too busy to save our realm and the stronghold that I am ancestrally sworn to protect?” I chuckled and handed her the satchel. “Not in the least. I am entrusting you with this task because you are the most qualified. Only the touch of the good-hearted will activate these scrolls. I know this because I have placed a spirit-shard of my own will into this collection. I will never be able to regain it, but I find this to be a worthy cause. I truly wish to give all that I have to my family’s legacy. I cannot abide seeing all that the Von Brandts worked for laid to waste.”

  Joan’s eyes glimmered with devotion. She accepted the set of scrolls, placing them next to her.

  “I won’t let him happen, either, Theo,” she promised without a pinprick of doubt.

  “While my intentions are in the right place,” I explained, “my thirst for retribution can cloud my senses. Particularly after sacrificing a piece of myself, I cannot be sure that the scrolls will resonate with my real purpose here. I will have to accept humility and watch how this quest unravels from afar.”

  “That’s very big of you, Theo,” Joan said without even a hint of sarcasm. “I know it’s hard to hold yourself back when this matters so much to you. Do you have any other words of advice before I take over?”

  My energy amplified on hearing her praise. In a world where all mages took note of my status and prowess, it was fulfilling to be seen for my true nature beyond all of this. Beyond being a Von Brandt, I had an innate desire to stand up for the innocent.

  “Why don’t you begin with those we already have a rapport with?” I suggested. “You’ve known Nate nearly as long as me. He is well connected with many valiant, disciplined athletes and would be a sound point of contact. Perhaps not every mage would be suitable, but the Arcane Contests and Combats team is an excellent place to start with. Damian also has earned my trust, as he is the mage who spared you from the wrath of a demon. As far as I know, he has an unusual gift with familiars and spirits. This can prove particularly usual in espionage. He also can hold his own with creatures from the abyss, if that is indeed what we are dealing with.”

  Joan’s aura swirled, a wild array of colors akin to a painter commingling all possible colors. Even though this would have puzzled any other onlooker, I knew exactly what perplexed her. I was drawing her attention to the very man she thought I perceived as a threat. Perhaps this was a cultural norm from Earth, but I saw no reason to begrudge a man who saved her life. Quite the contrary, I was glad to call him an ally.

  To both tease Joan and convince her that my ego was unscathed, I gently placed the kitten aside and massaged my beloved witch’s thigh. As I leaned forward, continuing my massage, I gripped the back of her neck and murmured in the deep, dominant voice she had grown to love.

  “If you’re a good and obedient girl,” I tempted in a tone that was either a strong suggestion or a command, “then I’ll reward you accordingly.”

  I leaned back slightly, studying her eyes for a signal that I had tread too far. While it would have been satiating to give in to my instincts, I didn’t want to disrespect her sovereignty. There was no telling when a witch would bristle at authority, even if she craved it just nights before.

  “Yes, sir,” she purred throatily, leaning her head back.

  With that consent, I gripped her jaw tightly and gave her a brutal kiss. Forcefully, I then threw her gorgeous face away from me. I turned my attention to the kitten, collecting it in my arms. Though I was gentle, it immediately stirred. Its look of deep admiration startled me. It seemed remarkably attached to me. Had I somehow stumbled upon a familiar, even though I avoided being weighed down by one for years?

  I petted the doting creature as it nuzzled me, countering my tenderness with a stern expression.

  “So mote it be, my pet.”

  19

  Theo

  I had still abstained from slaking my thirst on Joan’s beautiful submission, an aspect of her that only emerged during our private moments. Both of us were “on edge,” as she would say. Still, it was a sacrifice that must be made. A mage’s will was sharpened when lust was kept at bay.

  More than ever, I required mental fortitude. If I was going to have any chance of unraveling Serafina’s secrets, then I would need to be vigilant. Of course, the abyssal ritual was damning enough. Frankly, I could not think of any innocent reason for this scene. The only very improbable explanation I could devise was that she made a career out of luring demons out of hiding. “Hellion hunters,” as they were commonly called, were not entirely rare. Lemuria may have been open to plenty of species, but only those that dwelled on the surface.

  Even if she were in the field of banishing hellions, any succubus of Nascha’s caliber should have been granted a fair trial. She had earned a counselor permit from the stewards of Bouclier, my family. That essentially cleansed Nascha of any infernal association. Provided my father agreed to disavow the very sorceress he fought to employ, I still should have been notified. It was difficult for me to brush this off as an oversight.

  Though I had doubts, logic and proof were tied to my code of ethics. Truly, the best way to understand another’s motivations was to track their movements and behavior. One isolated event, no matter how compromising, could not paint an accurate portrait. To be fair, I should have followed that advice when I tracked down Joan. I allowed my prejudices to cloud my judgment and blind me to her true nature. As I was so sorely mistaken just years ago, I could not repeat my transgression.

  I trailed my thumb against the polished surface of my vanity, weighing my options. As I fixed my gaze onto my reflection, I noticed the face of a conflicted man. Dark circles ebbed away at the once unmarred skin, the aftermath of sleepless nights combined with maddening dreams. Azure blue eyes, once bright with intensity, were distant, as though the man looking back at me were on another plane entirely.

  How had Bouclier descended into such chaos? How could I ever restore the academy to its former glory if a spiritual infection had already suffused it and suffocated it? Was I already too late, as I’d missed all the signs all along?<
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  I shivered in disgust at myself and my ineptitude. For so long, I had tainted my relationship with my father, begrudging him for an illness that was not his doing.

  Then again, perhaps I was still entirely wrong but in a different fashion. Could it be that my father had access to his Sight only after he removed Nascha and that he was indebted to Serafina for discovering the plot? Locking her in a cellar still seemed oddly out of character for him. For all of my father’s faults, he was not cruel. In fact, even in his least lucid moments, he always rallied against injustices. Surely he planned to arrange a trial for his once trusted dean?

  Regrettably, I had not and could not ask my father who was truly to blame. Whether it was Serafina or Nascha I truly had to worry about, addressing this matter directly with him was misguided. I was certain that if I approached him, I would endanger either him or the entire academy.

  Instead, I would need to be covert and not utter a single word to any mage too close to him. Fortunately, Abelard never had a single conversation with any student still enrolled with Bouclier, except myself and Joan, of course. That my beloved witch was lured into this dismayed me, but I knew she could hold her own. Between the two of us and well-chosen allies, we would persevere.

  I sighed and closed my eyes. This was certainly inconvenient. Before Serafina had sauntered into Bouclier, I cleaned my will of any meddling tendencies. I hadn’t summoned Becks to give me advice about romancing Joan, pulled in Irk or Yavo to perform minor favors, or spied on my love. I simply wished to move on as an ordinary mage, progressing in my studies as all my peers did. Joan had recommended that I free myself from cleaning up my father’s messes and merely focus on my needs.

  It was sound advice, and though I may have missed a sign because of this, it also meant I was able to grow closer to Joan. I wouldn’t have sacrificed that for the whole realm, even if it meant I’d have to end up saving it. Even if it meant I would need to slip back into old habits again.