by Lucy Auburn
And we can. Forming a group, with me at the front, Sebastian and Lynx at the rear, Ezra to my left, and Mateo to my right, we charge into the fray. I throw fireballs at demons, and wrench control of them with my Grim powers. Mateo shoots things and throws explosives into the crowd. Ezra cuts off limbs, Sebastian throws poison knives, and when all else fails, Lynx punches evil in the face.
At one point, Mateo shoots one demon through another demon's head. Sebastian cuts the innards out of something that doesn't look like it should have any. My beloved, gloriously geeky Lynx tears a demon apart with his bare hands and brushes the gore off himself. And Ezra cuts through three smaller demons at once, his sword turning them into pieces of demons, a shit-eating grin on his face.
The only thing that tops it is the moment when Sebastian severs two demons dicks from a double-dicked demon. Now that's a sight to behold.
After everything we've been through, the biggest, baddest, grossest demons in Hell are nothing. I'd cut off all dozen heads of a dozen-headed monster if it meant my guys and I could be together forever.
Soon, we're at the end of the path. I can feel that the door is near. Taking a step forward, I find myself in the hedge maze again. My quartet soon follows, tumbling through covered in demon blood.
Mateo exclaims, "Fuck, that was fun!"
"It's not over yet," I warn him. "We've still gotta let Auerbach know it's time to wake me up. Once we do, I'll summon you guys back to the mortal realm, and we'll shove the door the rest of the way shut." Eyeing them anxiously, I add, "Your contracts are really severed, right? And you have all your memories back. So when you come to the mortal realm—"
"We won't forget you," Ezra says, grabbing me and kissing me despite the terrible among of demon blood, guts, and gore we're covered with. "No matter what, Dani, we're with you to the end."
Mateo jokes, "All the way to graduation, assuming the academy survives that long."
"Tell me about it. At this rate I wouldn't be shocked if it's turned into a pit of evil by the time my graduation date comes around." Reaching into my blazer, I pull out the magical ring Auerbach gave me to follow my spirit here and alert him when I'm ready to be pulled out. "See you in a minute or two."
"Bye for now," Lynx says.
I shove the ring on my finger.
A moment later, I gasp as I wake up back in my body, lying in the grass, no longer covered in demon guts or blood. The world is quiet. Auerbach is standing next to me, watching me anxiously.
"It only took a minute," he says. "Did you really get all of the spell? And manage to get your demons through and back again?"
"Let's find out."
I push up to my feet, my body stiff from the whole being-partially-dead thing. One of these days I've really got to stop dying. Maybe when the academy is no longer in constant danger.
Once I'm standing, I close my eyes. The campus is tense around me; I can feel the demons at the edge of the gate, about to push through and bring the wards down. We have to finish the rest of the spell to close it all the way.
Breathing in, I think about my guys.
I think about how Lynx was so broken by his sister's death that he did unimaginable things, but still turned into a kind, sweet man who has a thirst for knowledge and an endless curiosity, with warm golden-brown eyes and strong hands.
I think about Mateo, careening through life with zest and zeal, always wanting more, never satisfied, who even in the afterlife finds the spark of humor in everything, and can turn a paperclip and a bottle of rubbing alcohol into a weapon.
I think about Ezra, whose life was ruined by the person he should've been able to trust most, and who took the burden of that onto his own shoulders. He deserved better, and should've gotten to grow up with a mother who was around and a father who cared enough to be kind. Somehow he turned into a fearless leader and a courageous fighter even without their guidance.
And I think about Sebastian, whose life was a series of mistakes, but who wanted to do better in the end, even though it was too late. His bitterness follows him wherever he goes, but he doesn't let his own pain cloud his eyes. When he can have mercy, he does. Wherever he can take away other's pain, he lays his hands down to guide them, because he's always trying to make up for the one whose pain he couldn't take away.
I tug on the bond that unites us, the one we've fought for and died for, that's written into my skin permanently and settled onto my bones. When I open my eyes, they're here, looking at me with love, and I realize that I never expected anything less.
I knew we'd make it through this, even though I doubted sometimes, in my darkest moments.
We're made for each other.
Nothing can change that, or break our bond.
"Let's do this," I tell them.
Walking towards the gate with Auerbach, we let him remind us of the rest of the spell.
"Push on the gate together," he says. "The blood you spilled is on the ground in front of it, which unlocks the first part of the spell. As you close it, say the words igorus leheim. Just like that."
Mateo says, "Ignoramus Luigi. Got it."
Auerbach shoots me an anxious look, and I just laugh. "He's fucking with you. Don't worry. We'll close the gate. Let us through the wards."
Raising his hands, Auerbach drops just enough of the wards to let us through. We walk to the gate, over bits of dead demon bodies, and... to the edge. Where there's enough blood for four demons to have given their lives, but no signs of my guys' bodies.
"They turned to dust," Sebastian says at my quizzical look. "If we'd been reborn, we would've woken up in new bodies in coffins, and had to change them to look how we wanted. Thankfully that didn't happen, because we're free now. We can go where we want, do what we want, and even die the right way, when the time comes."
"Let's make sure it comes later rather than sooner," Ezra says, motioning towards the door. "All together now."
We set five hands on the door, from top to bottom, Mateo crouching to push, Lynx reaching up above his head. Together, we step forward and lean our combined strength into it.
"Igorus leheim!"
Magic is a trip, because the nonsense words make the gate swing shut all at once. I stare at it as the magic of it being closed makes it fade away. All around us, the bits of the destroyed demonic horde fade away into nothing, until we're just standing on the opposite side of the campus gates, somewhere between here and there, nowhere and somewhere.
"What now?" Mateo asks.
Groaning, I tell him, "Finals."
Epilogue
Her breathing is so deep. You'd think it would be shallow, but as Auerbach keeps reminding me, she's not dead. Just in a magical coma, whatever the fuck that means.
Staring at her, I know that I shouldn't do what I'm about to do. But I'm Dani fucking Carpenter. I do what I damn well want. And while Headmaster Towers may have plans for Gaugin's bracelet, I don't really see why I should do what she tells me to do, when I'm the one who fought so hard to get the damned thing.
"I wish I had blue hair," I tell Ari, pushing her hair back from her forehead. "It must be cool to be a witch. I mean, not that I'd trade or anything. No offense, but those three familiars of yours are kinda whiny. I like my demons better. Plus, I can't tell the twins apart."
Reaching down, I pull her free arm up off the sheets. The other one has an IV running into it—not that it really matters, since she's in a magical coma. For all I know though, Auerbach is going to inject her with pixie dust.
The shit that happens around here.
I swear, no one would believe me if I wrote a tell-all book.
Especially given that it all started with a—well, you know.
"This probably won't work," I tell Ari, but I pull a sharp knife out of my blazer anyway. "I'm kinda dumb, though. I do shit that doesn't work all the time."
Slicing open my hand at the base of my thumb, I drip the blood onto her elbow. The wound closes quickly, but it's enough to get things started. Smearing it onto
her skin, I draw a rune I stole from one of Auerbach's books—what can I say, a sneaky bitch stays sneaky. I wanted to know what he was hiding, and all I found was a bunch of textbooks full of nerdy shit.
At least this one will help me on my little secret mission. The rune is meant to bind blood, at least temporarily. In this case, I'm hoping it'll bind my blood to Ari's, so I can do what I plan on doing next.
Reaching over, I yank the bracelet off my elbow. It takes some effort to do it, but I've been working on taming the thing. No way am I wearing it forever, after all.
Headmaster Towers wanted me to give it to her as soon as I figured out how to take it off, which is why I'm doing this in the middle of the night.
What's she going to do, expel me? As if.
Putting the bracelet against Ari's skin, I wait for it to protest. But it gloms onto her just like it did me, tightening around her elbow in the blood I spilled, convinced she's a little bit related to Meyer.
I still haven't figured out how the Manslayer put the bracelet on, without Meyer's blood in him. I could ask the Dear Old Asshole in question, but I've decided to just leave well enough alone.
Some things are better off remaining mysterious.
Sometimes it's better to be in the dark.
I've learned a lot in my time here, but the one thing that's stuck with me the most is that I need to be patient. Jumping in without looking has gotten me nowhere. It's better to think before you leap.
There are still some things I'll do rashly, though. Like give an incredibly powerful bracelet to a friend and fellow phoenix to help her escape from Hell. I might be older and wiser, but that doesn't mean I won't stick my hand into the fire for someone I care about.
As the bracelet settles against Ari's skin, her eyes flutter, and I watch her breathing hitch. Something is happening for sure. Deep in that part of Hell she and her guys are stuck in, things are changing.
I'd tell you what's going to happen next, but that's not my story to spill.
It's hers.
Mine is over with—for now, at least.
Until the next dick needs severing.
Ari’s story will end in Phoenix Academy: Mayhem! Dani will make appearances.
Looking for another adult-age paranormal academy series? Check out Cain University!
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Read Next: Cain University
Want humor, steam, action, mystery, and an adult level paranormal university? I’ve got your next read!
I'm Ellen Arizona, and I'm a murderer.
I know you've heard my name. They're all talking about what I've done. But no one really understands why I did it. And no one understands me.
Except for the other killers at Cain University.
The Cain graduate program for killers is the only safe place left for me. But it comes with a catch: leave, and the consequences are deadly.
I need to stay. I have powers to train, and someone to kill next: the man who murdered my mother in cold blood. To get him, though, I'll need to survive the first year program.
Easier said than done. Especially when I find out the four men I loathe, who hunted me and petitioned to kill me, are somehow connected to my powers. If we don't learn to get along, it could spell doom—for them and for me.
First Kill is a brand new university-age first in a series, similar to The Magicians and Villain Academy. It has blood, gore, mature scenes, laugh out loud comedy, and a reverse harem enemies-to-lovers romance that will scorch off the pages. For readers 18+ only; please read the trigger warning inside.
Read First Kill (Cain University 1) Now!
Read Next: Fae Like Me
If you like new adult romance, especially urban fantasy and paranormal romance with a kick, check out my Selena Pierce series!
I just learned I’m a part fae succubus. And I need to find the men to sate my sexual appetite...
Here I thought I was a normal college girl with a high libido. Turns out that’s wrong—I’m so much more. I have powers, and if I don’t learn how to control them, I’ll wind up killing someone.
Baton Rouge has never been so hot as it is when I meet Leon and Naomi. And Tae Min, Petyr, Elah, Vincent: all fae. Here to guide me into my new life.
A life that includes hunting down the demon summoner who framed my best friend for murder. Catching bad guys, meeting dark fae, making a harem—my new life is different.
Worst of all, now I know my parents lied to me. I was never theirs. And my real parents?
Well, they’ve got a hell of a surprise in store for me.
Life isn’t easy for a fae like me.
Read Fae Like Me now!
Also by Lucy Auburn
Phoenix Academy
The First Years
Phoenix Academy: Awaken
Phoenix Academy: Unbound
Phoenix Academy: Forged
Phoenix Academy: Reborn
Phoenix Academy: Freed
Blue Phoenix
Phoenix Academy: Madness
Phoenix Academy: Mayhem
Cain University
First Kill
Kill or Be Killed
Final Kill
Coleridge Academy Elites
The Snake in the Grass
The Pawn
The Knight
The King
Selena Pierce
Fae Like Me
Hell Sucks
Godspring
Seven Trials
The Black God
Wild Heart Chronicles
Primal
Feral
Savage
or… get all of the above as the
Wild Heart Bundle (free!)
Standalones
Three for a Witch
Queen Sector
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About the Author
Lucy Auburn is an urban fantasy/paranormal romance writer who lives in the Southwest. She loves writing interesting stories about strong women. Some of the writers who inspire her include Patricia Briggs and Sarah J. Maas.
She values her privacy and does her best to keep her online life and her real life separate.
Catch up with her…
www.LucyAuburn.com
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