Bitten Magic (Bloodborn Academy Book 1)

by Emera Rose

  A soft gasp leaves her mouth. “I’m yours, Zev. I’d never deny it. Never.”

  I make my way into the training room and we drop to the floor. I kick my pants and underwear off as I crawl over her. She opens her legs wide for my large frame to fit against her. My entire body is shaking now, but it’s not because I fear I might shift but because I know what is about to happen. I’m about to claim my mate. My inner wolf howls in anticipation and all my senses hone in on her.

  “Roxana, you’re everything now. You’re my everything.”

  I drop my face to kiss her and the head of my cock presses against her opening. That small amount of contact is enough to send me into overdrive. I press a hand to her throat to keep her still and quickly line myself up with her. She sucks in a deep breath, and with a roar, I buck all the way into her with one violent thrust. I feel a strong resistance and then a quick pop as I drive my cock deep inside of her. I stop moving as her hands grip my arms like vises. The faint smell of blood comes wafting up to my nose.

  “A virgin,” I say in disbelief. My eyes roll back in pleasure as she starts moving her hips, the pain of me splitting her core for the first time diminishing by the second. “You were a virgin,” I say again.

  “Not anymore,” she replies as she looks up to me with that sly smile she has.

  I grip her hips and pull out slightly before I slam back into her. Her scent with the small tinge of blood is enough to drive me into a different mind frame. I pound into her like my life depends on it. We both growl and pant as our passion overtakes the both of us.

  “Roxana, fuck, so damn perfect. All mine,” I say as sweat beads and trails down the side of my face. I pound into her so hard, I swear I feel the ground shake, but she just eggs me on, pulling and rolling me inside her tight wet heat.

  “Yes, Zev. Yes.” She moans my name like a prayer.

  Her walls suck and pulse on my dick as she shatters under me with another orgasm, screaming my name loudly for all the world to hear. It’s my undoing. I thrust into her at breakneck speed and with more force than I should ever use with her.

  “Roxana, fuck. Oh fuck. Mine. Mate.” I growl one final time as lights flash behind my eyelids and wave after wave of pleasure shoots through me. With each pulse of my orgasm, it feels like the bond that I have with Roxana gets stronger and stronger. By the time I collapse onto her in exhaustion, it feels like our heartbeats have aligned and everything she is, is part of me. It’s a scary feeling, but one I welcome.

  I bury my nose in her hair and take a deep breath. It’s no longer me against the world. Now I have my mate, Roxana. I have my everything.

  Roxana and I had sex in that locker room all night, but when the sun came out, we both decided that it was best if no one knew we mated until we had everything figured out. I agreed, not because I was worried about what others would think, but I needed to find out more about my family line and what that meant for her. Now that she is my mate, her safety is paramount. I would never want to put her in harm’s way just because of who I am.

  Though walking through the building today, pretending that I’m the same kid I walked in here as, is getting old fast. Now that I know the power that runs in my veins, even the slightest look in my direction has me on edge. I’m done tolerating the disrespect in this place.

  I didn’t get a chance to meet up with Jasper this morning, but I knew that I would see him in Werewolf and Lycan History class. I hope he was able to find more information out based on what Reggie showed him.

  I walk into the class and my eyes immediately find Roxana. My body is completely attuned to her now. I start to make my way over to her when I’m bumped hard.

  “Fucking freak.” One of Barrett’s little lackies gets in my face.

  I see Roxana get up from her seat to come over here to stick up for me. I can feel her need to protect me clearly.

  Don’t you fucking dare. Sit down, I order her.

  I can hear her inner wolf whine, but she does as she’s told. I turn my attention to the boy who seems to have a death wish.

  “You better watch who you’re talking to like that.”

  “I don’t have to do shit. You’re the one who better watch yourself. You’re in my world, boy. You don’t even belong here. You should be licking the wolf shit off the bottom of my boots just as thanks for me letting you sit in the same classroom as me. Freak.”

  I step further into this kid’s face. If he breathes wrong, I will rip his face off. “You’ve been living in your expensive bubble all these years that you don’t know anything about nothing. I warn you again, watch who you talk to like that because you may wake up to find yourself and your pathetic so-called elite Lycan bloodline at the bottom of the barrel. You wouldn’t want to piss off the wrong people now, would you?”

  He actually has the nerve to laugh. “Pathetic? You know what’s pathetic? A sweet piece of ass like Roxa—”

  It was all he had to say. The moment he mentions her, all my self-control goes out the window. I grab him by the back of his head and slam his face through the desk. Wood splinters explode around us as he falls limply to the floor, knocked out cold.

  “Oh shit! What the fuck!” The friends who were just at his back, laughing at all his little jokes, are now moving back with their hands up in surrender. “You’re a damn nutcase.”

  I take a step forward. They need to be taught a lesson too.

  Zev, stop. They all have deep ties in the community. They will get you evicted. They’ll take you away.

  I stop short at Roxana’s warning, only the threat of losing her enough to stop me from kicking their ass.

  They’d never kick me out, not when they figure out who I am, I think. Only problem is I forgot that Roxana can hear me. I didn’t want her to find out yet, especially not like this.

  Who are you?

  Roxana shoots a barrage of questions to me and I do everything I can to ignore them. I turn away from the bastards and walk out of the classroom. I don’t need to be around when someone finds the kid unconscious on the floor.

  I hear footsteps running behind me as I make my way toward the hallway. I already know who it is before she grabs me.

  “No way, you can’t just ignore me like that,” Roxana says, annoyed.

  “Roxana, not now,” I say and try to move away.

  She stands there with her hands on her hips as she glares at me. “Are we together, Zev? Are we bonded like I think we are or is this all a fucked-up joke to you?”

  Just the thought of her trying to deny what we are to each other pisses me off. “You know damn well this is real. You’re mine, Roxana, don’t you ever forget that shit.”

  “Yeah, I thought so, but that shit runs both ways. Don’t hide from me. This will never work if we can’t be a team, if I can’t depend on you to be real with me.”

  I know what she’s saying. I understand. Secrets will kill us both.

  “Roxana, do you know the true bloodlines of the first Lycan pack?”

  “Of course.”

  “Who was the alpha?”

  “My ancestor, Aloc Grim.”

  “No, you’re wrong. Your ancestor was a traitor and a mutineer. The blood of the one true alpha runs through my veins, the veins of a Bonovich.”

  Her eyes go wide and her mouth drops open in shock. She may not believe her family member betrayed the pack, but she knew the Bonovich name. Now she knew I was more than just some random werewolf she mated with. My family was an integral part of her history, and I can only hope the past doesn’t dictate the future we’re going to create together.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Roxana

  Heat fills my chest and I know this is real. What he’s saying can’t be some elaborate lie. If it was, we would’ve never mated. It wouldn’t have been possible. In all the history books, never has a werewolf mated with a Lycan. Sure, werewolves and Lycans may mate with humans . . . but we’ve never crossed our species. Hell, I don’t even think the Lycan infrastructure would allow it.
They’d do everything within their power to make sure we never crossed our species with theirs.

  Werewolves are essentially humans cursed by a cultist of sideways witches. They are much like us, but lack the same stamina, body structure, and overall control. My father never gave me their name for their organization, though I never asked for it either. It’s not my business to know, but now I’m growing more curious every day.

  At the end of the day, it’s only natural that Zev would be a Lycan, and that our connection would be this strong because of it.

  I’m not shocked at this discovery, but what I am surprised about is the name he’s given me. Bonovich. It hasn’t been said in many years. In fact, the last time I had a lesson with my father, I might’ve been fifteen or sixteen.

  These lessons were done in order to prepare me for what would be required of me, since I’m a highborn Lycan. The lower-class Lycans don’t need to have such instruction given to them, to prepare them for the world or what else might be coming their way. It’s where our world has its biggest differences. They can be anything they want to be, doing anything they might want, as long as it’s within reason of course . . . but Lycans like me . . . we barely get to choose our own destiny.

  Not today, though.

  Not ever again.

  Not when I’ve been lied to, straight to my fucking face by the one man in this world who’s supposed to protect me.

  He told me about the Bonovich line when I was younger, explaining they were all killed because of their choice to mate with humans. How taboo it was, extremely dangerous, and how other highborn Lycans were the cause of their untimely demise.

  My phone vibrates in my purse so I open it and see the date—September 9th. My father has a visit with Headmaster Rhodes scheduled for today, and if I’m lucky, I can go confront the vicious bastard while he’s still here.

  Why lie to me? What’s the fucking point in lying?!

  Deciding I need to move before Zev tries to stop me, to talk this out and convince me to be smart about what I want, I dart in the opposite direction and fly toward the main area of the school. Turning the corner, I place my hand on the railing of the stairwell before Zev starts speaking to me internally.

  What the hell are you doing, Roxana? Where are you going?!

  He doesn’t command me to stop, so I suck in a sharp breath and keep going. If he does, I’ll instantly submit to what he asks of me, though I hope he doesn’t. I’m too angry. Too livid. Too furious at my father for keeping things from me. He’s told me my entire life that we were the highest of the highborn Lycans. He’s told me what I needed to do to be a good daughter, to live up to his expectations. So, it begs the question yet again . . .

  Why lie?

  To handle something. My father’s here and I need to speak with him. Privately, I respond.

  I hit the top step and push past Headmaster Rhodes’ secretary, not caring how she’s telling me he’s busy. I couldn’t give a damn if he’s banging someone on his desk right now, I’d still barge straight in.

  Headmaster Rhodes stands up from his desk at the sudden intrusion, and my father whips around in the luxurious armchair he’s currently sitting in. His eyes go wide at my arrival, obviously not expecting me.

  “Roxana, what’re you doing here?” he questions, cocking a brow.

  “We need to have a chat, Daddy,” I state so matter-of-factly.

  He scoffs, ignoring me and looking to Headmaster Rhodes. “I’m so sorry for her intrusion. You know how kids can be.” Turning his head back in my direction, he looks me sternly in the eyes. “Now isn’t the time, Roxana. I have business to tend to.”

  “And I have a bone to pick with your lies,” I snap, not giving a damn about his business. I can feel my heart beating in my head, my veins pulsating with blood. I’ve never been this pissed at him. Sure, I’ve been disappointed . . . but nothing like this.

  “I . . . I’m going to take a break and grab some coffee. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes, when hopefully this is resolved,” Headmaster Rhodes says with an aggravated look across his face. He quickly leaves the room and shuts the door behind him.

  “What is this about, Daughter?” my father practically hisses, rising from the chair. He stalks toward me, assessing my reaction, trying to figure out why I’m so upset with him.

  “You told me the Bonovich line was dead. Why’d you lie about that?” I crane my neck to the side, looking right into his eyes.

  I wait for him to lie to me again, trying to search for some sort of tell, but what happens isn’t what I expect. He bursts out into laughter.

  “I don’t understand what you’re going on about, but if you’re here to bring up a dead Lycan family, I . . . I simply don’t have the time for your nonsense right now, Roxana.”

  “They’re not dead! So tell me, why have you lied to me? Why did you tell me we were the highest born Lycan family when the Bonovich line is alive and well?”

  He shakes his head, still in disbelief, and glares at me. With a clenched jaw he speaks sternly. “Roxana . . . they are dead, and if by some chance they’re not, they will be soon.”

  Chills run over every limb of my body at his words. I’ve heard of how callous my father can be from the mouths of other kids in school . . . heard how he’s been nasty to their parents in their business dealings, how he’s made harsh decisions . . . yet this is the first time I’ve personally experienced it.

  The first time I’ve seen him for what he really is—a monster.

  He would really kill to keep us at the top of the food chain and it’s blatantly obvious.

  “You won’t touch a hair on his head,” I hiss while I ball my fists at my sides and glare at my father. He can stand here and make his idle threats, but when it comes down to it, he won’t take any action against Zev or I’ll rip his throat out myself.

  He cracks a smile and licks his lips before smacking his hands together. “It’s adorable how you’ve grown into such a . . . ah, what’s the word for it? Passionate. Yes, a passionate woman. But know your place, little girl. There are much higher things here than you, and your . . . Bonovich friend, if he’s even alive. Like I said, I’ll make sure he doesn’t live for much longer. The Grims will stay at the top of the hierarchy. I won’t have my life’s work destroyed because one of them managed to get out.”

  I open my mouth to say something, but he puts his hand up in the air and raises a finger. “Ah. Oh, how you surprise me, Roxana.”

  Narrowing my eyes in on him, I’m not sure what he’s getting at. “I shouldn’t. I am your daughter after all, Daddy.”

  “The boy Jasper Abbott brought in. He’s the Bonovich.” He cackles while his eyes shift to the door and then back to me. “You reek of another. I couldn’t place the scent until he started coming up the stairs.” He flares his nostrils and breaks the distance between us until he’s directly in front of me. Out of nowhere, he wraps a hand around my throat and slams my back into the wall.

  “I will tell you this once, and one time only, little girl. Don’t meddle in my business. Not now, not ever. I’m not someone you want to piss off. You know I’ll do anything for power, even kill entire families.”

  His last words mark me like a cold slap across the face. He releases my throat and I immediately go toward the door, needing to get out of here while my thoughts run through my mind.

  I know exactly what he’s saying.

  He’s the reason the Bonoviches are dead.

  He gave the order.

  Chapter Twenty

  Zev

  Jasper, Roxana, and I sit in her dorm room. It’s the only space I know where no one will be listening. Especially now that Kori spends most of her time over with Paola. I don’t know what’s up there, considering Roxana and Kori are usually joined at the hip, but I’m not asking. Now, Roxana has this whole dorm room to herself.

  I sit back on the bed while I try to focus on Roxana’s legs draped over mine. Anything to keep me calm. She told me what happened with her father. It�
��s her family who has been killing off mine since the split between the two packs. Part of me is angry, pissed that I’m even in the same vicinity as someone with the last name Grim. The other part of me can’t help but realize how ironic the whole situation is. Now that Roxana and I have mated, the next alpha will have both Grim and Bonovich blood. Our union should end the blood feud. At least, in theory it should.

  “I don’t understand.” Jasper sits back in his chair. “Your father was my dad’s best friend. Why would he help get rid of him?”

  Roxana scoffs and kicks her legs off my lap. “Are you kidding me? My father has so much dirt over your father. Enough that even I know about it. My father could persuade your father to do pretty much anything he wants. Sorry to say it, but your pops is nothing more than a lackey,” Roxana says with venom on her tongue.

  “Look, Roxana, I’m tired of you shit-talking everyone who isn’t your family. In case you haven’t noticed, you’re not as far up on the totem pole as you thought.”

  I can feel the tension between the two rising and I don’t have the energy to deal with their shit right now. I’m coming for my rightful place. Right now, I need a plan, not to listen to my mate and my beta bicker.

  “Oh, you piece of sh—”

  “Enough!” I speak softly but the command is heard and heeded instantly, as if I had screamed at the top of my lungs, both of them at attention and waiting for my next directive. “I don’t care where either of you were before. Now, you are with me. If I’m to lead our kind, I need both of you to be on the same page. This won’t work if we’re divided. We’re family now. It’s about time that you both figure that out.” I look between the both of them.

  Jasper squints his eyes at Roxana for a second before he reaches for her and pulls her under his arm, squeezing her into his side.