“It was for your protection, of course,” Elder Asago said, “but we need to have more trust in us and in you.”
“And we’ve agreed that Domus Academy will no longer be a secret,” Elder Kali said. “We want to operate openly so that we can educate as many lost or orphaned cambions as we can find.”
“With proper protection, of course,” Elder Bahaira added.
“And we certainly won’t be employing the local coven to help with that,” Elder Kali huffed.
“Where will you go?” Rylan asked. I knew she was probably concerned about being too far from her half siblings still attending the academy.
“There’s available land near Mount Martha Cemetery outside the city,” Elder Alastor said. “We were able to negotiate an excellent price for the land since no one wants to be too close to the cemetery and there are multiple abandoned buildings that can be converted for our use.”
Barris frowned. “That cemetery is creepy.”
“It’s perfect!” Sage interrupted.
“We think so,” Elder Alastor said. “It’s close to the city but bounders avoid the area.” When he smiled, Elder Alastor’s entire face became unrecognizable. Despite the jarring change, it was wonderful to witness.
“Domus amica, domus optima,” I said. Home beloved, home best. It didn’t matter the location. It only mattered that you carried that place in your heart wherever you went.
“Moreover,” Elder Asago said, “we shall open a new branch on the west coast in California for cambions taken into care there.” He inclined his head to the left. “And Ana has agreed to help us get it off the ground.”
“I think you mean Elder Ana,” the seraph said with a shy smile.
My chest ached with happiness. Ana was going to be able to stay close to Jessup’s father and help raise generations of cambions just like Elder Sam.
“And now I believe it’s time to escort you to the portal,” Elder Kali said.
Sage winked. “I think we know the way by now.” She strode past the Elders to the corridor.
“You’re welcome to visit anytime,” Elder Bahaira said.
“I don’t know that I’d say anytime,” Elder Alastor said. “You never know with this group.”
“Me first,” Sage said, elbowing Rylan and me out of the way to get to the portal.
“By all means,” Barris said. “Be in a huge rush to get away from us. No offense taken.”
Sage blew him a kiss over her shoulder. The portal was already open and waiting, so she stepped forward and disappeared from view. I let the others go in front of me so I could take one last look at the Elders and the main spire. Gretel seemed to sense that change was in the air and gave me a final hiss from the end of the corridor.
Rafe’s was the first face I saw when I emerged from the portal. I cut straight through my kenzoku and rushed into his open arms.
“Congratulations,” he said, lifting me off the ground. “How does it feel?”
“Like a dream,” I said. And not a nightmare for once. With the prophecy fulfilled, those days were hopefully behind me now.
“I’m glad it’s real,” he said. “I’d be awfully disappointed to wake up and find I’d imagined you.”
My feet reclaimed the earth and I gazed into his eyes. “I’m here, Rafe. I’m really here and I’m not leaving this time.”
“I’d go to the Nether and back for you, you know that.”
I heard an exaggerated groan behind me. “He isn’t going to be sleeping over all the time, is he? If we’re going to be roommates, we need to lay down a few rules.”
My brow wrinkled. “Sage wants to impose rules?” My gaze flicked to Barris. “Did something happen between the academy and here? A spell?”
Sage lifted her chin. “We’re responsible adults now. We have to act like it.”
Rylan backed away. “I’m glad I decided to get my own place.”
Rafe released me. “Relax, Sage. I have a loft of my own and I intend to keep it. You won’t need to share your ramen noodles with me.”
Barris snaked an arm around Sage’s waist. “And I’ll be feasting every day in Hotel Franklin. Feel free to be jealous.”
“Balthazar didn’t give you carte blanche in the restaurant,” Rylan pointed out.
“That’s what free room and board means,” Barris said. “I’ll work for him and he’ll cover my living expenses plus a stipend while I study part-time for a degree.”
“I have to admit,” I said. “I’m jealous of your amenities.”
“You’re welcome to swim in the pool anytime,” Barris said. “Even if you forget your swimsuit, it’s no problem.”
Sage elbowed him in the stomach. “One last kenzoku hug, everyone.”
We linked arms and put our heads together. I may have finally met my father, but I’d already found my family.
“Big night,” Sage said. “Are you ready?”
I studied my reflection in the mirror and adjusted my wings. They were a little too fluffy for the occasion. “More nervous than ready.”
“You’ll be great. You were born for this.”
“No, I was born to overthrow my grandfather and keep the peace between realms.” I flashed a smile. “No big deal.” I checked my teeth. I’d had a salad with my dinner and lettuce had a bad habit of sticking between them.
“You look perfect,” Sage huffed. “Will you just go? You don’t want to be late and give the wrong impression.”
“I won’t be late. It’s only a couple of blocks.” And I could fly. No traffic or slow pedestrians to block my path, not that I would have either of those at this hour anyway.
I turned away from the mirror. “I’ll meet you at Pandora afterward?”
“We’ll all be there,” Sage said. Except Zeph. He’d decided to move across the country to the desert. There was a contingency of cambions there to welcome him, so that made for an easier transition. We’d promised to take a trip out west to see him in a few months.
“Good luck with your applications,” I said. Sage was in the process of applying for college admission now that she’d decided to become an archaeologist. I couldn’t imagine anyone more suited to wiling away the hours of her life among dusty old bones. It was a match made in…the Nether and the mortal realm, apparently.
“Thanks. Rylan is going to swing by to help me after her shower. She just finished her shift at the library.”
“Tell Barris not to wear that bowler hat this time,” I said. “Everyone in the club was looking at us.”
Sage scrunched her nose. “Really? I thought he looked kind of cute in it.”
“Then he can wear it in the enchanted kissing booth with you,” I said. “Leave the rest of us out of it.”
Sage laughed. “Like we need an enchanted booth.” A knock on the window made us both jump. “Can’t he use the door like a normal person?”
“He’s not a normal person,” I said. I crossed the room and lifted the window to greet Rafe with a quick kiss. “You look handsome enough to make history.”
“Oh, good. That’s exactly the look I was going for.” He moved aside so I could climb out through the window onto the balcony. I’d told Sage that a high-rise balcony was non-negotiable for our apartment.
“Have fun rebuilding the realms, you crazy kids,” Sage called. “See you at the club.”
“Are we going to a club later?” Rafe asked. He glanced down at his loafers. “I didn’t wear my dancing shoes.”
“You can change later.” As I spread my wings, they knocked against his. I couldn’t help but laugh. “I think we need a bigger balcony.”
Rafe’s hand found mine. “You think? I don’t mind this one. It’s cozy.”
“I stand corrected.” I beamed at him, happiness spilling out of every pore. I couldn’t hide my feelings for him if my life depended on it. They were as much a part of me as my eyes or my feet.
We launched into the night sky and flew to 5th and Chestnut, landing in front of one of the most famous buildings
in the city. I took a brief moment to admire the Georgian-style architecture.
“Mariska would be so thrilled that we’re meeting here,” I said. She had great affection for the Founding Fathers.
“I’m just glad we were able to use our connections,” Rafe said.
I squeezed his hand before releasing it. “Magic helps.” Thanks to a cloaking spell by the coven, no one would know that the national landmark was being used for multi-realm purposes. It was decided that the meetings would be held once a month, barring any matters of urgency.
We entered the hall and filed into the room where the others were already assembled.
“The first official Founders Council meeting will now come to order,” I said. I gave the table in front of me a cursory glance. It seemed like I should wield a gavel or something.
“I still think we should have called it the Supernatural Council,” Zadkiel said.
“Because then we’re not being inclusive of bounders,” Liesel shot back. “We’re having this meeting in Independence Hall in the mortal realm. It seems only right to represent their interests as well.”
“We’re founding a new beginning for the realms,” Rafe added. “I think it’s a perfect name and the perfect place to host the meetings.”
“These four walls were good enough for the Founding Fathers of this country, so they’re good enough for us,” I said. “Let’s get started. I know some of you would like to return to your respective realms before dawn.”
“Not me. I intend to stay overnight and have breakfast with my daughter.” My father winked at me from across the room.
“Is this your way of saying the Nether is present and accounted for?” I urged.
He held up a paper. “And I have the report from Crest that you requested. He’s in the furthest reaches of the Nether right now, working amongst the lesser demons on my behalf.”
“You might want to start by not referring to them as lesser demons anymore, Your Majesty,” I said. My father had wanted to ditch the throne and become an elected chancellor, but the decree by the gods made that change more difficult to achieve than he realized. Difficult, he’d told me. But not impossible. So it was a work in progress.
“Duly noted,” he said.
“I thought the agreement was to keep these meetings casual,” Liesel said.
My father held up his hands. “I have no intention of standing on ceremony. In fact, I’ve left my entourage at the hotel.” He lowered his voice. “To be fair, they’re only here for the soft pretzels.”
“Mine are here for the cheesesteaks,” Zadkiel said. “They’re obsessed with that bright yellow cheese. Seraphim are present and accounted for, by the way.”
“Nephilim are present and accounted for,” Rafe said. As a reward for his role in thwarting August’s plan, he’d been promoted from Watcher to the Celestial Task Force, the official representative of the nephilim in the mortal realm.
“I proudly represent the fae,” Aislinn said. She’d been eager for the first meeting ever since the inception of the council. Any excuse to visit her favorite city. “We are honored to be a part of this momentous occasion.”
“Humans are present and accounted for,” Madam Maxine said. As a human with the Sight who was directly impacted by the attacks, she seemed an ideal choice to represent bounders’ interests.
“And I see our representative Watcher is here to give us an update.” I nodded to Liesel. After some lengthy negotiations with species representatives, the Watcher had been appointed to speak on behalf of other supernaturals in the mortal realm such as vampires and witches.
“I’m ready when you are,” Liesel said, rising to her feet.
The faerie jumped back from the table, knocking over her chair in the process. “What on Mother Earth?”
I peeked under the table to see a familiar creature scavenging for crumbs. “Liesel, I think you brought a hitchhiker.” I made kissing noises. “Jiffy, come out from under there.” I popped back up. “Does anyone happen to have any peanut butter crackers?”
Everyone in attendance reached into their pockets and rifled through their bags in search of an appropriate snack for the dweller demon.
The seraph’s hand shot into the air, clutching a handful of brown shells. “I have actual peanuts.”
“Perfect.” We were already cooperating on behalf of a lesser demon—I mean, a demon that required assistance. The meeting was off to a great start. If this was any indication, there was nothing but blue skies ahead.
Also by Annabel Chase
Thank you for reading Demonspawn Academy: Trial Three. If you enjoyed the story, please consider signing up for my newsletter here http://eepurl.com/dsug5j and receive 2 FREE short stories-one set in the Spellslingers world and one in the Magic Bullet world. You can also like me on Facebook.
More urban fantasy books include:
A Magic Bullet series:
Burned
Death Match
Demon Hunt
Soulfire
Spellslingers Academy of Magic
Outcast, Warden of the West, Book 1
Outclassed, Warden of the West, Book 2
Outlast, Warden of the West, Book 3
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Outfox, Sentry of the South, Book 2
Outbreak, Sentry of the South, Book 3
Outwit, Enforcer of the East, Book 1
Outlaw, Enforcer of the East, Book 2
Outrun, Keeper of the North, Book 1
Outgrow, Keeper of the North, Book 2
Demonspawn Academy: Trial Three Page 20