Academy of the Elites: Unbound Magic

by Alexis Calder

  Ben moved closer to me and without hesitation, he held me with an arm around my back and dipped me before leaning down for a kiss. I threw my arms around his neck, matching his kiss with hunger of my own.

  He lifted me and broke free of the kiss, leaving me gasping. Everything felt a little fuzzy as a lust took over. Wetness spread between my thighs as the others closed in. Excitement shot through me. Was I really getting this lucky again?

  Zach slid his hand behind my head and pulled me into a kiss while someone’s hands went up my skirt, sliding my panties to the side.

  Zach’s fingers worked the buttons of my shirt and I shimmied out of it, hardly noticing it drop to the ground. Fingers slid into me and I gasped, closing my eyes as pleasure mounted.

  Someone’s hand slid up my arm and fingers brushed against my neck before guiding me away from Zach. I turned to see Luka staring at me. His blue eyes hooded with lust. I cupped the side of his face with my hand then slid my fingers into his blonde hair, moving his face toward me.

  He gave me a cocky smirk. The one that sent shivers down my spine. Instead of kissing my lips, he went for my neck. Kissing, nibbling, and doing something with his tongue that made me throw my head back and moan.

  His hands found my breasts and he teased my sensitive nipples. From behind me I could feel a cock rubbing against my hip. Someone was ready for more. I leaned into Luka’s chest, lifting my hips so my ass was in the air a little.

  Glancing behind me, I saw that it was Matt who was ready for me. He slid his fingers into my slit, making me groan. Then he gently slid a finger into my ass. I gasped in surprise, startled but not in pain.

  Luka’s hands moved away from my breasts and he slid a finger into my mouth. I sucked, watching Luka’s eyes grow wide. Getting an Incubus off was a huge turn on. I knew that out of all my mates, he was the most experienced and when I could do something to make his eyes bulge, it made me feel powerful.

  He pulled his finger out of my mouth. “Raven, the things you do to me.”

  I grinned, a thrill rushing through me at the control I knew I had over him. But it was short lived. His hand moved to my mound, his fingers finding my clit and I melted into him, all willpower gone.

  As Luka’s expert fingers worked magic, Matt’s cock pressed into my ass. He was slow and gentle and with Luka’s distractions, I didn’t feel any pain. Instead, I was gasping and moaning with each thrust as Luka slid a finger into me and continued to tease my clit. I had no idea how he was working such orgasm inducing skills. I was far too gone to pay attention. The only thing I knew was that I was screaming so loud, they could probably hear me several rooms over. I didn’t even care. It all felt too good.

  Another set of hands was on my breasts now and I leaned my head back, moaning as I was overcome with sensation.

  Matt grunted behind me as he came and I was gasping for air from the multiple orgasms Luka’s fingers had managed. Both men moved away from me, Luka with a sly grin. He knew what he did to me and damn it was amazing.

  Still breathless, I practically fell into Ben who was now standing in front of me. He lifted me and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me to the dining room table, using it as a seat. As soon as he sat down, he slid into me.

  I moaned as he stretched me. Out of all of my mates, Ben was the most well-endowed. He roughly grabbed a handful of my hair and pushed my head closer to him. His mouth claimed mine, his stubble rubbing on my face as we kissed furiously. My skin felt like it was on fire.

  We broke the kiss and I positioned my knees so I could ride Ben better. He leaned back as I moved my hips. His cock hit me in just the right place. My back arched and I cried out as each thrust drove me closer to another climax.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zach moving closer to us. I reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him closer to me. His erection was at just the right height for me and I pulled him into my mouth.

  He braced himself with one hand on the back of the chair and one on the arm rest. Ben grabbed my hips and lifted and guided me to continue riding him while I was licking and sucking on Zach.

  Both of my mates were panting now and I could tell they were close. Another set of hands slid up my back and I knew at once it was Luka. His erection pressed against my back, then went lower. I knew where he was going and I leaned forward on Ben to help him enter me easier.

  His cock pressed at my rear opening and Ben slowed for a moment, keeping me still. The fact that they were working together made me so hot. The pressure inside me was building to an explosion and as soon as Luka entered me fully, I released Zach and cried out as I came.

  Using my hand, I finished Zach while another orgasm built. I was so full with Ben and Luka both inside me but the two of them found a rhythm that had me gasping for breath at each thrust.

  I came again and again, losing track of what was even happening. Then, Ben grunted as he came followed by Luka.

  Sweaty and exhausted, I found my way to the couch and squeezed in between Matt and Zach. The twins cuddled up with me. Luka threw a blanket over us and after he tugged on his pants, he grabbed a seat on the couch next to Matt.

  Even Ben joined us.

  I was still naked between the twins when I woke the next morning. I had a feeling I was going to enjoy staying with all of my mates in the same room.

  30

  Raven

  Normal, it turns out, moves quickly. None of the other students knew what happened. It wasn’t even a topic of gossip. Other than catching up Makayla, I hadn’t even discussed the crazy weeks prior with a shadow fae after me.

  It was strange how easily we all settled into a routine. Strange and wonderful. Though, it did come with the downside of having to take my turn at the Spellcasting exam.

  My palms were sweaty as I stepped into the familiar room. I was here twice a day for lessons. But every time I entered, I had to shake off the ghosts of what happened in here.

  Today, though, I was far more focused on what this test would bring me than what had occurred in the past. In an odd way, it was sort of comforting. It was probably the first time I was in the Spellcasting room thinking about my exams and my classes without the nagging dread of the showdowns with two different fae.

  “I assume you’re prepared for today’s exam?” Professor Flora asked.

  “I hope so,” I said.

  “Good,” she crossed the room and set a single black stone down in front of me.

  My chest tightened. Maybe I hadn’t let go of the past as much as I thought I had. Memories of using the stone to help Professor Halifax open the portal flooded through me.

  “What exactly are we doing?” I asked.

  “First, I’m opening a portal, and you’ll close it,” she said. “On your own this time.”

  “Not to Faerie, I hope,” I said.

  She smiled. “No, not Faerie.”

  I blew out a sigh of relief. After the stories I heard about Matt and Zach’s tests, this didn’t seem so bad. “I think I can handle that. It’s just an illusion after all.”

  “Not for you,” she said. “The others got an illusion. Your magic needs proper training. You’ll be closing a real portal. Then, you’ll be opening one of your own.”

  “Wait,” I said, my pulse racing. “I’ve never done that. And it’s supposed to be really dangerous.”

  “Do you know why the time thief wanted your magic?” Professor Flora asked.

  “To get stronger and open a portal,” I said.

  “Yes, but do you know why?”

  “I was told it’s the strongest magic there is,” I said.

  “Time magic is especially important with portals because when you go into another realm, you’re not just opening a space, you’re affecting time. Time moves differently in other realms. Spend a week in Faerie then return here to find you were only missing for an hour.”

  “Wow,” I said. “I didn’t realize.”

  “Your specific type of magic doesn’t necessarily make it easier
to open the portal, it makes it more accurate. Less dangerous. It’s like using a key instead of picking a lock,” she said.

  “So that’s why she wanted it?” I asked. “It wasn’t about power it was about accuracy?”

  It sounded so foolish. Was it worth years of stealing magic just to make your portal?

  “More than accuracy,” she said. “If you open a portal and it’s not stable enough to handle the time shift, it can collapse. Often with the caster inside of it.”

  “That’s why they’re so dangerous,” I said.

  She nodded. “Most humans and similar creatures are so focused on power that they ignore nuance. It’s not that the stronger magic users can do this better, it’s the type of magic. The ability to hone it so it’s more accurate. It’s a subtle art that isn’t taught and isn’t appreciated. It lacks the showmanship that some other magics have.”

  “Why is it forbidden, then?” I asked. “I mean, I get why stopping time isn’t allowed. I’ve seen the damage it can do. But why not teach or cultivate time magic if it helps with travel between realms?”

  “Because once again, it’s about power. Only this time, it’s about the type of power that comes with control. The ley lines and the methods of traveling between realms are heavily policed by the various government organizations. If individuals could travel between at will, they’d lose that control,” she said.

  “Wow.” I was still new to supernatural politics but it sounded similar to what I’d experienced in the human world. “Alright. So what does that mean for me?”

  “It means that you have a gift,” she said. “Which I assume will come in handy considering the fact that one of your mates is from another realm.”

  My gut twisted uncomfortably. I didn’t like to think about Luka being so far away from me. Ever. I wanted him by my side always. I wanted all of them by my side. And for the last several days, we’d all been sharing the Obscura suite. Granted, it was larger than any home I’d ever lived in so it wasn’t exactly like we were on top of each other. But they were all there. I could call to any of them and they’d hear me. It was perfect and it made me feel more at peace than I ever knew I could feel.

  “Alright, how do we do this?” I asked.

  “That’s your test,” she said. “You’ve been studying it for weeks now. I can’t tell you how to do it. You have to show me what you know.”

  “But this is real,” I said. “What if I screw it up?”

  “Then we’ll learn quickly just how effective your magic is,” she said.

  “Let’s begin.”

  Bursts of yellow sparks exploded from Professor Flora’s fingertips and I jumped back. The sparks grew, extending toward the rock. Or maybe they were coming from the rock. Either way, the bursts of light intensified until a shimmering circle of gold light expanded into an oval shaped portal.

  I could see water beyond. Angry gray waves splashing as if caught in the middle of a storm. The scent of salt hung in the air and spray from the ocean landed on my skin.

  “What is that?” I asked.

  “Where is that is the more appropriate question,” Professor Flora said.

  “Where is it?” I asked.

  “The Realm of the Sea,” she said. “Some humans call it Atlantis.”

  My jaw dropped. “Atlantis?”

  The waves crashed, sending a huge surge through the portal. It splashed out onto the floor, soaking my shoes.

  “Are you going to close it or will I have to fail you?” Professor Flora called over the sound of the surf.

  I blew out a breath and returned myself to the task at hand, trying to clear my mind of the initial shock of the whole thing. Though, I had to admit that hearing her tell me there was a portal to Atlantis brought up a whole lot of questions.

  Calling my magic, I focused on the opening in front of me. A familiar sensation bubbled up within me. Rolling through me like a comfortable old friend. My time magic was still there, waiting for me to call it. Though, this time, I wasn’t trying to stop time, I was trying to close a portal. It wasn’t something I even thought of doing until the conversation we just had.

  My whole plan had been to destroy whatever the source of the portal was. The rock, in this case. Or disable the individual who was keeping the portal open. I never thought about trying to close it on my own.

  Something else joined my time magic, something I didn’t recognize. A seething, dark sort of magic that sparked and popped and sputtered like a burning fuse. It was wild and careless and it wanted out.

  Adrenaline coursed through me and I grabbed hold of the new sensation, guiding it through me, letting it mingle with my time magic. This new feeling burned brighter, as if latching on to my time magic.

  It felt good. It felt right.

  It felt powerful.

  As it surged to a peak, I channeled it through my hands, guiding it to the portal. It flowed from me in a stream of blue light, surrounding the portal with an intense brightness that made me turn my eyes away.

  As the magic enveloped the portal, it hissed then sizzled. I glanced back, squinting into the light just in time to see my magic swallow the portal whole. The lights went out in the classroom and the emergency light buzzed slightly, casting the room in its odd glow.

  Breathless, I lowered my hands and stared up at Professor Flora. Her lips parted and her eyes widened.

  She looked honestly surprised. I wasn’t even sure that was possible. She’d always been so difficult to read. So composed.

  An electric charge hung in the room, leaving the scent of magic lingering in the air. Professor Flora walked over to me and without a word, she took hold of my hands. “How did you do that?”

  “Do what?” I asked. Wasn’t I supposed to close the portal?”

  She locked her silver eyes on me. “I haven’t seen magic like that since I was home.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say. My magic had felt different, but it felt right. Like it was supposed to be that way.

  “Somehow, you tapped into your magic that has been dormant in this realm,” she said. “Your fae magic is no longer untamed. It’s unbound; it’s free.”

  “How?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “My guess is that whatever was in that book was strong enough to overcome the lack of magic in this realm.”

  I sucked in a breath. That wasn’t supposed to be possible. “If that’s the case, I guess it’s good that we got rid of it.”

  “The question is, what will it do to your mates?” She looked more serious than I’d ever seen her.

  “It won’t hurt them, will it?” I asked.

  “No,” she said. “But it will impact their magic.”

  I swallowed hard. “What does that mean for us?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “But right now, we need to finish your test.”

  “You seriously want me to open a portal?” I asked. “I’ve never done it before.”

  “You have to find out what you’re capable of,” she said. “And you have to find ways besides freezing time to channel your magic.”

  “I can’t exactly go around opening portals to other realms,” I said. “I might as well just stop and start time.”

  “Except for the fact that opening portals isn’t illegal. Stopping time is. At least in this realm,” she said.

  “Alright,” I said, giving in. It was clear I wasn’t going to win this. “Just go for it?”

  She nodded and stepped away from the stone. Last time I’d opened a portal, I’d had some help from a fae who was using my magic. This time, I was on my own.

  From my research, I knew the stones were attuned to the location that the portal was to open. So I already knew this portal was tuned to open in the middle of the ocean in Atlantis. Which was crazy. But that wasn’t the point. The point was, it was clear that Professor Flora didn’t want me to take her anywhere. Why else would she choose the middle of the sea?

  It actually made me feel more comfortable knowing that the portal went basical
ly nowhere.

  Taking a deep breath, I called to my magic. It surged through me. The time magic once again mingling with the newfound magic. I felt more powerful than ever before and I felt like I understood how my magic was supposed to feel. This was the real me. The magic I had before was muted and less capable. This was a force of nature.

  The magic coursed through my veins, moving like fire. Tiny shocks burst on my skin sending a tingling across my body. I never felt more alive than I did right now.

  Bright blue energy surged from my fingers, moving toward the rock. It spread upward and expanded, creating an opening like I’d seen from Professor Flora. The portal sparkled and flashed as it stabilized.

  I lowered my hands a little but kept hold of the magic. In front of me the gray ocean waves crashed, sending a spray of saltwater through the portal. It coated my arms, making them damp. Laughter bubbled up from within and I cackled like a mad woman. Using my magic like this felt right. It felt like I finally had control. It felt like nobody would ever be able to hurt me again.

  “Well done,” Professor Flora said. “You may release it.”

  I nodded and then lowered my hands before closing my fingers into a fist. The magic ceased and the portal shrunk until it was gone.

  “I’ve repaid my favor,” Professor Flora said.

  “What exactly was your agreement?” I asked as I wiped the water from my arms with my hands.

  “I told Dr. Green I would help you until you were capable of taking care of yourself. Today, you showed me that you are ready,” she said.

  I grinned. I’d felt that too but it was nice to hear it from someone else. “Thanks.”

  “Those trials they’re putting on for you in a few weeks won’t be any concern for you,” she said.

  My stomach twisted. I wanted to believe her, but it was just one more thing standing between me and my own happily ever after. Whatever the hell that was going to look like.

  “Go on,” she said. “You’re excused from independent study.”