She braced herself for violence, only to find the place deserted.
The rest of the students spread out cautiously. MacGregor and Mistress McKay issued orders to secure their location that sent the students scattering to obey.
Morgan glanced up at the castle and knew it was empty. She tentatively touched the magic imbued in the walls, which allowed her to see the interior. The Academy stood forlorn, rooms gutted, windows and doors smashed, but the building was still standing. The magic had gone dormant, waiting for their return. “They ransacked the place and left. Why?”
“Someone obviously knows the truth about you.” Ascher’s expression was grave. “While they didn’t expose you directly, they obviously knew you were the only one capable of ridding the realm of the plague. They set you up and attacked the school in order to get you to do what they wanted.”
Ward and Shade had both agreed to train her, and Morgan feared she would need their help much sooner than expected.
Something was coming, and she would need to learn all she could get before she faced the next challenge.
For now, they had a school to repair.
As they walked up the steps of the Academy, Morgan was surprised to find the students who had been evacuated to the covens had already returned and were putting things to rights.
“What happened to the army?” It was eerie to find the place abandoned, the enemy not even bothering to take up residence.
“No doubt they scattered as soon as they managed to overrun the school.” Atlas touched the cracked bannister, turning to them with a determined look. “They did their job and earned their freedom. They beat a hasty retreat, knowing they would be hunted down when we returned.”
It was a vow, and they all nodded in agreement.
“But first, time to make this place livable again.” Kincade ran toward her, then tossed her over his shoulder and carted her into the Academy. Morgan laughed when he tickled her, and the rest of the guys followed with smiles on their faces.
Her heart was full—they were finally home.
After a long day of putting the Academy back to rights, Atlas watched Kincade and the guys guide Morgan up the steps.
“Why are you dragging me to the roof? There’s much more work to be done,” she groused, but the smile playing about her mouth revealed the truth…she would do anything for them simply because they asked.
Kincade covered her eyes with his hands while Ryder and Ascher held her hands and guided her toward the edge of the roof.
When Morgan visited the stone garden after they arrived, a terrible sadness had taken hold of her. She sat on the bench and didn’t move for a full hour. When Atlas came to the rooftop, he knew he found the cure for what bothered her, and the guys agreed.
“Are your eyes closed?” Kincade asked.
“Yes.”
Atlas could actually hear her roll her eyes in her tone of voice and squelched his smile.
When Kincade dropped his hands, the guys stepped back, each of them watching her face.
“Open your eyes.”
When Morgan opened her striking blue eyes, her smile faded, and her gaze locked on the gargoyle statue crouched on top of the baluster, as if the gargoyle had been waiting and watching for her return. The old guy was banged up a bit, chips and shards of him missing, but he had survived.
“He’ll heal,” Kincade said when he saw her concern. “Give him time.”
She stepped forward hesitantly, reaching out to brush her fingers over his wing, tears making her eyes shimmer like gems. Then she whirled and flung herself at Kincade, turning to hug each of them in turn. “Thank you! Best surprise ever.”
“Atlas found him,” Kincade admitted as he released her.
When Morgan approached, Atlas held himself still. When she wrapped him in her arms, it was all he could do not to hug her close and stake his claim. After the infection, his impulse control was gone. He kept himself away from her, never allowed himself to be alone with her. He couldn’t take the risk that he would hurt her.
“We have another surprise for you.” Kincade and the others headed for the door.
“Really?” Morgan stiffened, and he suspected the surprises of her past had not been kind. He involuntarily tightened his hold on her, wanting to protect her, then reluctantly set her away.
“It’s a picnic.” Ryder added, easily reading her reluctance. “Harper and Kalvin are setting it up on the front lawn.”
A grimace crossed her face. “Are you sure it’s not poisoned?”
“You located her mate and didn’t ask anything in return. She thinks she owes you and is determined to repay you.” Ascher grinned at her horrified expression, and they disappeared down the stairs.
“You coming?” Draven paused as he followed them.
Atlas studied the siren for a moment, then turned to look out over the castle grounds. “You’re going to have to tell her the truth eventually. She’s smart. She’s going to figure it out, and she won’t forgive you if you don’t tell her first.”
Draven came to a stop next to him, the happiness and relaxation he’d gained the last few months, thanks to Morgan’s attention, vanished, revealing the hardened assassin who was slowly losing himself to darkness. “You going to tell her?”
“Not my place.” Atlas shrugged, but when Draven turned to leave, he couldn’t hold his tongue. “But if you care for her, tell her about your mate.”
“That bitch is not my mate. I don’t bear her mark.” Hatred darkened Draven’s face, but Atlas refused to back down. “If I tell Morgan, I will lose her. I can’t take that risk.”
“You were in the water. You used your powers. She will come for you now and demand your return. She won’t fail to mark you this time,” Atlas warned. “You must tell Morgan before it’s too late.”
“I had no choice—we almost lost her. I couldn’t let Morgan drown.” Draven scowled defiantly. “Saving her life was worth the risk.”
“But you will now have to pay the consequences. Morgan cares for you. She can deal with problems that can break others, but your lies will hurt her. Don’t do what I did. I lied to protect her and nearly lost her.” Atlas gripped the baluster to stop himself from beating the stupid out of Draven. “Tell her.”
Draven looked as if Atlas had just killed his dog. “I will…just give me time.”
Atlas said nothing more as Draven left.
While the rest of the team sat to enjoy the picnic, Morgan was playing with Loki. Ryder was in wolf form, nipping and chasing them, her delighted laughter dancing on the air. Atlas watched her hungrily, her joy making him crave her nearness.
But he knew her happiness wouldn’t last.
Things were going to get worse before they got better.
Word was already spreading about her lineage and goddess status.
As the sun set, he watched his skin take on a lavender sheen, as if absorbing the darkness. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the monster was a part of him. His eyes had changed, become sharper, allowing him to sense magic in those around him.
Even though she might not be able to access it, Morgan was imbued with magic, the power giving her a beautiful glow that drew the eyes and made one stare in awe. The magic was pure, not tainted with darkness, and every power-hungry megalomaniac would crave to take her for their own. The darkness inside him was drawn to her light, and he had no intention of giving her up to anyone else.
He would use every ounce of the destructive force at his disposal to shield her.
She was theirs, now and forever.
They would fight others to the death to keep her, and he was determined to shield her for as long as possible.
He self-consciously reached for his shorn hair, then dropped his hand. Morgan didn’t see his actions as dishonorable. She claimed she liked the changes, but he hadn’t believed her until she touched him. He wasn’t proud of it, but he used the mating marks between them to read her true feelings.
May the gods help them, but she spoke the
truth.
He had been her willing slave since the moment they met, but with that one innocent touch, she won his heart and soul as well.
The dark possessiveness in him was growing, and he marveled that Morgan had no problem with his transformation. She accepted him immediately when his own people looked at him with horror and revulsion.
It was because of her that the darkness hadn’t consumed him completely.
She’d saved him in more ways than one…she spared his life and gave him something to live for.
Morgan collapsed on the blanket they spread out for her, sitting between Kincade and Ascher. Kincade had finally lost the stick out of his ass, stopped trying to control her, and allowed himself to relax and simply enjoy being near Morgan. While Ascher remained leery of touching her for fear of hurting her, he was adapting. He would brush his fingers against her and stare in awe at the unblemished flesh, and Morgan would just smile at him, not really understanding the magnitude of such a gift.
Ryder changed to human form and dropped at her feet. He blushed when he caught Morgan ogling his bare chest, but didn’t get up to put on a shirt.
The bastard found her weakness and was exploiting it.
Not that Atlas blamed him.
He would strut around naked if it meant that she would look at him with such hunger.
But she was shy around him, and it was his fault.
He’d been a dick and nearly destroyed things between them by hiding their mating marks. While she pretended everything was fine, he knew he had a long way to go to earn her forgiveness and, even more, her trust.
She might not notice, but the whole team worshiped the ground she walked on.
They had literally walked through hell for her and would do it again.
In only a few short months, she had become the heart of their group.
While she protected the world, the team’s sole job had changed to protecting her.
But there would be consequences for releasing a demigod into the world, and he worried what price she would be forced to pay.
Determination filled him—he would protect her no matter what came.
As if she sensed him watching her, Morgan looked up and their eyes connected…and pure possessiveness tightened his chest.
She was his, now and forever.
She waved at him, beckoning for him to join them, and he knew he’d finally found his home. He leapt over the baluster, then came toward her, warmth filling his heart, both the light and dark in him in agreement…she was his everything, and he would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
Acknowledgments
To my readers—
Thank you for all your encouragements.
Your kind words mean everything to me.
A special thanks to my beta readers, especially Christina for all her hard work.
You Rock!
To Lucy — thank you for reading everything I write and loving it.
And to my husband, as always.
About the Author
Stacey Brutger lives in a small town in Minnesota with her husband and an assortment of animals. When she’s not reading, she enjoys creating stories about exotic worlds and grand adventures…then shoving in her characters to see how they’d survive. She enjoys writing anything paranormal from contemporary to historical.
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www.StaceyBrutger.com
OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR:
Paranormal Romance
BloodSworn
Coveted
* * *
An Academy of Assassins Novel
Academy of Assassins (Book 1)
Heart of the Assassins (Book 2)
* * *
A Druid Quest Novel
Druid Surrender (Book 1)
Druid Temptation (Book 2)
* * *
A PeaceKeeper Novel
The Demon Within (Book 1)
* * *
A Raven Investigations Novel
Electric Storm (Book 1)
Electric Moon (Book 2)
Electric Heat (Book 3)
Electric Legend (Book 4)
Electric Night (Book 5)
Electric Bundle (Books 1-3)
* * *
Coming Soon:
Electric Curse (Book 6)
Claimed by the Assassins (Book 3)
* * *
Heart of the Assassins (An Academy of Assassins Novel Book 2) Page 30