Legacy Academy Year Four: Paranormal Academy Romance

by M Guida

  I ripped off my sports bra and pulled down my panties.

  “You’re so beautiful.” He tore off his clothes in record time.

  I turned on the shower and water pulsed down.

  Lucien slid my hair behind my ear. “One of these days, we’re going to have to do it in a bed.”

  “We will.” I clasped his cheek.

  He kissed me, holding me close, his flesh pressing against my thigh. Steam filled the bathroom. Lucien maneuvered me into the large tile bathroom where he poured shower gel onto my shaking body and washed me carefully. I took just as much time with him, running my palms over his raw muscles.

  We licked and kissed each other’s body, loving each other without words.

  I pressed my back against the wet wall, spreading my legs. He clutched my thighs and lifted me over his thick flesh, thrusting inside me again and again until I cried out in ecstasy.

  He picked up his pace and spilled his seed.

  Power flooded through me, and it replenished the weariness that had zapped my energy in the arena.

  He kissed my shoulder. “You always fill my soul.”

  “And you mine.”

  We stayed like that until the water ran cold and then untangled our linked bodies. After drying each other off, we tumbled into bed naked. I winced when I moved my arm.

  “Are you sore?” He dragged his fingertips down my spine, making me quiver.

  “A little.”

  “Let me help. Roll onto your stomach.”

  I drew my brows together. “What are you going to do?”

  “You’ll see.” He got out of bed.

  I was too tired and sated to ask him what he was doing and did as he requested. I clutched the pillow and closed my eyes.

  Something oily rolled onto my back. I jerked up. “What are you doing?”

  “I think you could use a massage, mate. Relax.” He slid his palms over my muscles, manipulating the oil across the ridge of my shoulders and into the crook of my neck.

  I shivered and sighed.

  “Are you cold?”

  “No, not at all.” My voice was barely above a whisper.

  He used his thumbs to push against the knots and tightness he found there. He was magic at smoothing out the tension in my spine. His gentle but firm fingers kneaded and stroked out every kink. It was sweet torture, and I groaned softly.

  He stopped. “Am I hurting you?”

  “Not at all,” I murmured into my pillow. I wasn’t even sure I finished my sentence as I drifted off…

  It seemed like I just drifted off when someone shook me. “Raven, wake up. It’s time.”

  I jerked up onto my forearms. “What? What’s going on?” My groggy voice sounded like I had one too many High Tempests.

  Rain tapped on the windows in a musical rhythm. A lamp softly glowed, shining on Lucien’s handsome face. Both hands on the antique clock on the nightstand pointed to twelve–midnight.

  Lucien knelt next to the bed. “The séance. The others are waiting. Anton and Montae are asleep.” He tilted his head. “Come on.”

  I flipped back the covers and shivered, wishing I could crawl back under the warmth and snuggle next to him.

  I yawned. “Why did you wake me up last?”

  He rubbed the back of my neck. “Because you were exhausted.”

  “Like no one else was.” I quickly got dressed into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

  “What’s in the bag?”

  “The spell book and a candle.”

  “As long as there’s not an Ouija board.” I was with Mina. They gave me the heebie jeebies.

  “Come on.” He clasped my hand. “Let’s go. I don’t want Anton or Montae to hear us.”

  “Not like either of them could sneak up on us,” I grumbled.

  He frowned, but didn’t argue. What could he say? Anton was a master popping out of nowhere and Montae could turn invisible.

  The Defenders were waiting by Anton’s desk, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the secret passage way. It was behind Anton’s desk and Lucien must have opened it. Some of the Defenders were looking down the sinister stairwell. Sconces fluttered on the walls and stairs, casting flickering shadows, down the creepy stair case, going into the dungeon. I remembered during my second year at Legacy, Bo, Rhys, and I discovering an evil presence down there.

  I just hoped we wouldn’t accidentally summon one.

  We quietly went down the stairwell one at a time. Cool air brushed over me and I rubbed my arms that were covered in a rash of goosebumps.

  At the bottom of the stairwell, the neatly swept cement floor and the long corridor that led to the prison cells brought back memories best forgotten. Ryker’s monster had been terrifying, and I defeated it because Bo had been had my side.

  “Everyone sit in a circle.” Lucien sat on the floor and opened the bag.

  We looked at each other with dread but followed suit. Uneasiness squeezed and twisted my nerves tighter and tighter until I thought they would snap.

  Lucien lit the candle and put it in the middle of the circle. He flipped through the spell book and then stopped. “This is what you need to read.”

  I took the book from him, but I couldn’t stop shaking. Every horror movie of people practicing the Ouija board or doing séances popped into my mind. I always thought they were the stupidest people and deserved what happened to them, but now my friends and I were the dumb-asses.

  He rubbed my back. “It will be okay. I promise.”

  I scanned his determined eyes, wanting to believe him.

  I opened my mouth to read the spell, but he held up his hand.

  “Wait.” He reached back into his backpack and pulled out a blade. “Remember, it’s a blood spell.” He gently took my wrist. “Ready.”

  I nodded. “Do it.”

  He sliced my palm and I winced, but I refused to show fear, even though my heart slid back and forth against my ribs like a hockey puck.

  After he had cut everyone’s palm, he slashed his own. “Hold hands.”

  I held his and Mina’s.

  He squeezed my hand. “Read the spell, Raven.”

  I took a deep breath, praying we weren’t inviting evil into Anton’s, but what if the spell could help Bo and Poppy? I couldn’t turn my back on them.

  Please, help.

  My silver dragon flashed in front of my mind and nodded. She didn’t say anything, so I assumed she meant she would.

  According to the spell book, I had to say the words three times. “Extiotis. Extiotis. Extiotis.”

  The minute I said the words, power burned in my chest and then tingling sensations burst from each of my palms. I cried out, arching my back.

  Wind swept around us, even though no doors or windows were open. The air turned colder and the lights flickered.

  Shit, just like in the dumb movies. The same movies that didn’t feel so dumb anymore.

  The flame of the candle wavered, but then it burned brighter and brighter. A thin stream of white smoke twisted up from the flame and split into two different forms.

  I gasped and blinked several times, not believing or more like not wanting to believe ghosts exist.

  At first the shapes were hard to make out, reminding me of thick pot smoke at a concert. A gaseous form rose higher than the other one. My eyes got bigger and bigger. The smoke changed colors and took on human shapes, one female and the other male.

  I covered my mouth with both of my palms and then realized I had released Mina’s and Lucien’s hands. I hoped breaking the circle didn’t rain evil on our heads.

  The male one had red hair, and the familiar handsome face with those beautiful blue eyes stared at me. He had on a black T-shirt and jeans, the same outfit he’d worn the day he died.

  He flashed me the same sexy smile that took my breath away. “Hey, beautiful. You’re a sight for sore eyes.” His sweet endearment stirred up those feelings I had for him that I had never lost. I missed him so much.

  But then I remembered
my horrible dream and rubbed my neck. A glimmer of fear seized me and I prayed Bo wouldn’t attack me again. “Bo. You’re here,” I whispered.

  Bo knelt down. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you. That wasn’t me who choked you or haunted your dreams. It was Cormac. My soul was trapped inside the Ubrunese Orb. I could see what was happening, feel everything that was happening, but I was powerless to stop it.”

  Mina gasped. “Oh, my god it worked. I can’t believe it.”

  Katona put her hands over her mouth. “Poppy, Bo.”

  “You did it, Raven. You brought them back.” Dante put his arm around Katona and she laid her head on his shoulder.

  “Not for long,” Poppy said sadly. “Cormac will know we’re missing soon. He’s always watching.”

  “Bo.” Zayne rushed toward Bo with his arms spread out wide, but he went right through his brother’s ghostly form and stumbled. He caught himself and then whirled around. “What happened?”

  Bo gave his brother a small smile. “Always the impulsive one. I’m a ghost, brother. I have no form and I’m bound to Cormac. Does dad know you’re here?”

  Zayne hung his head. “No.”

  “I’m proud that you picked up my cause to protect the woman I love.”

  Zayne raised his head, and his eyes were swimming with tears. “I’ll always honor you.”

  “I know.”

  My heart swelled at the love between the brothers and all I wanted to do was to throw my arms around Bo and hug him for dear life.

  His gaze fell on me and he stuck out his hand as if he wanted me to take it, but when my fingers brushed over Bo’s I felt freezing air rather than solid flesh.

  “Poppy.” Xavier’s voice cracked and tears spilled down his cheeks.

  She went to touch his face, but her hand went right through him. “I’ve missed you.”

  Bo’s face turned grim. “Raven, listen to me. Like Poppy said, we don’t have much time.”

  Lucien frowned, looking between Poppy and Bo. “What’s happened?”

  “Cormac can slip into our bodies at will. He can visit you in your dreams or worse attack you in person. As long as he has control of our bodies and our souls are trapped in the Orb, Poppy and I can’t cross over. You have to help us. We’re not the only ones trapped inside the orb. Every time he raises the dead, he traps their soul in the Ubrunese Orb. You have to help us.”

  Anger chased away my fear and I wanted to thrust Cormac back into his dimension in a body bag. I gritted my teeth. “Tell us how.”

  He gazed at me with such a pleading look that I wanted to shift and fly to Mt. Elbert to destroy the orb. “You have to smash the green orb and then and only then will our souls be released.”

  “How big is the orb?” Rhys asked.

  Bo shrugged his shoulders and looked at Rhys with a glum frown. “That’s the biggest problem, it’s very powerful and very small, so small that Cormac wears it as a pinky ring on his left hand. The bastard never takes it off. You must retrieve the ring and then destroy it. You have three days to do this, or Poppy and I and the others will be trapped forever.”

  He stared at me. “That’s not the only danger. Raven, he’s after you.”

  “I figured that. Who isn’t?”

  He shook his head. “You don’t understand. He wants your blood.” His chilling voice sent an anchor of fear plummeting to my gut.

  For what seemed like an eternity, my tongue and my lips froze and I couldn’t talk. “What?”

  “You’re a silver dragon and you have different bloodlines, which according to Cormac, is what makes you so powerful. In this dimension, his power is draining. His dark magic is based in the Elder Dimension, but the veil prevents him from channeling his magic. You must close the portal. Once its closed, he’ll be easier to defeat.”

  Lucien asked, “Where’s the portal?”

  “I’m not sure. He keeps it hidden from us. I think there’s a protection spell around it. He can only get snippets of his magic. That’s why he needs silver dragon blood. It will make him more powerful.” His eyes sadden. “He’s been drinking your parents’ blood. They’re growing weaker, especially your dad. And he’s not the only one.” He looked at Mina. “He’s been feeding off your dad as well.”

  “Why? We’re pure bloods.”

  Poppy gave her a small smile. “Apparently not.”

  Mina covered her mouth. “Dad. No. Is he alive?”

  “Conjuula Horrifendo.” A foul male voice hissed.

  “Who said that? Anton?” Lucien demanded as he jumped to his feet.

  Their forms flickered. Bo and Poppy tossed their heads back and stretched out their arms and screamed.

  “Noooo!” I stretched out my arm to grab Bo.

  “Don’t go!” Mina reached for them, too. “What about my dad?”

  But they faded away.

  “What happened?” I put my hands in the circle trying to the feel their cold presence but only the heat of the candle warmed my palms.

  “That was King Cormac.” Anton stepped out of the shadows from the corridor. “It’s as I feared. Cormac is trapping souls in the Ubrunense Orb. To wake the dead, he must harvest their soul.” His voice echoed with sadness.

  Dante wiped his palms on his jeans. “How long have you been standing there?”

  Anton maneuvered through our circle and blew out the candle. “The entire time.” He turned up the corners of lips into a musing smile. “Lucien, You didn’t think I wouldn’t discover your plan, did you?”

  Lucien folded his arms. “You wanted us to perform this spell.”

  “I did. I was back up in case you needed me. There was always a chance that Bo and Poppy could have been evil. If they had, I had a counter spell to thrust them back. We know where the source of Cormac’s power lies. Bo and Poppy didn’t know where it is but we do. It’s hidden behind the glamour protecting the prison.” He gripped Lucien’s shoulder. “I am sorry for your friends, but we will free them.”

  I wiped the tears off my cheek. “How are we going to get the ring off King Cormac’s finger and save my parents and Mina’s dad?”

  Anton lifted my trembling chin. “We must overpower him with the Puriforgio Virtuesus spell.”

  “What if that doesn’t work? Won’t Cormac have a counter spell?” I couldn’t keep the anger out of my voice.

  “I suspect he will try. To free your friends, it must. The power resides in you. Remember love is the greatest weapon of them all. Neither Ryker nor Cormac understand this.” He released my chin and gave me an encouraging smile that landed dead at my feet.

  I sighed miserably.

  Lucien wrapped his arms around me. “We’re the Defenders. We’re a family. Cormac won’t know what hit him after we’re done.”

  I rested my head against his chest, praying that he was right. But so far, Cormac had proven to be a cunning adversary, even more dangerous than Ryker. What if everything we had in our arsenal proved to be paltry against Cormac? Then what? Anton didn’t seem to have a backup plan––a very, very bad idea.

  Chapter 23

  After the séance, dawn came too early. Today was I going to face a new enemy and an enemy powerful enough to destroy us. But we had no choice. If we didn’t try, all the people we loved, including Bo, Poppy, my parents, would be enslaved and then what of the human world? I couldn’t bear to think of Julie being turned into a zombie and her soul captured in the Ubrunese Orb.

  Lucien put his hands on my shoulder. “Promise me you’ll not play the Lone Ranger.” His grip tightened. “Cormac wants your blood. I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

  “I promise, but that promise works both ways.”

  He brushed his lips over mine, easing some of the tension in my chest. “I’ll never leave you.”

  Lucien sheathed his sword and picked a backpack. I stuck a change of clothes and my trusted crossbow inside. I strapped the quiver of arrows over one shoulder.

  I gazed up at his handsome face. “This is it. The battle is he
re.” I put my hand over his beating heart. “Don’t die on me. I can’t lose you.” My voice choked and I had barely gotten the words out.

  He threaded his fingers through my hair. “I won’t.” I wanted to believe him so desperately, but despite his arrogance, what if he was wrong?

  We walked out of the bedroom, holding hands.

  Dante rushed over to us, excitement flaring in his eyes. “You’re not going to believe it. Come on hurry.”

  Lucien and I glanced at each other uneasily but followed him outside. My eyes widened and I sucked in my breath. King Finbar, King Gregori, and King Nico were back, and they were talking with Montae and Anton.

  King Gregori stepped away from them and had a big grin on his face. “About time you two decided to join the party.”

  “Dad, what are you doing here?” Lucien put his hand on my lower back and maneuvered me over to him.

  His dad gripped his shoulder. “You didn’t think I would let you fight this alone, did you? I brought my finest warriors.”

  “But what of Havenwood? And Mom?” Alarm mounted in Lucien’s voice.

  “Don’t worry. I left a small garrison.” He dropped his arm and his eyes darkened. “But to truly keep them safe, we have to face Ryker and Cormac here.”

  A tall burly man with a beard and long hair was talking with Xavier. He reminded me of a mountain man with his checkered red shirt and tight jeans. He hugged Xavier in a bear hug that I swear sucked the air out of him.

  King Gregori followed my quizzical gaze. “To answer your question, that’s King Erick of the Timber Kingdom. He’s come to make amends with his son and fight alongside him.”

  My heart warmed. “Good. No matter how much he pretends, Xavier is not a lone wolf.”

  Another man with long red hair that matched the exact color of Zayne’s approached us. Zayne was at his side with his chin held up high.

  “Oh, shit,” Lucien grumbled. “I don’t believe it.”

  “Lucien.” King Gregori frowned. “Be nice.”

  Instantly I knew who that was. Lucien slipped his arm around my ribs and my back rested against his chest.

  King Gregori bowed slightly. “King Jackson.” He gestured toward Lucien and I. “I think you my son, Lucien, and this is Raven, my son’s mate.”