We had jobs to do … roles that we had to play to keep the supernatural world functioning. Turned out, being a god was more than just zipping around on a cloud of golden energy.
Even Asher and me, with our new roles in Atlantis, had a lot more going on than most.
Despite my hectic study load, I’d managed to get back a few times to find a group of thriving and bustling people, all of whom were adjusting better than I could have dreamed of.
It helped that we’d banned all supernaturals, outside of the Atlanteans, from disturbing them while they adjusted. Right now, the supe world wanted to study our ancient and powerful race, but the last thing they needed was to be a sideshow attraction.
Everyone would just have to wait, just like they did when they wanted some attention from the gods.
Us. We were gods. It was fucking weird.
A heavy body landed next to mine on the floor of the classroom and I laughed as Asher traced his fingers across my side, right in the most ticklish spot.
“I will smite you, asshole,” I gasped.
My threat did not deter him at all, so I used my power to send him shooting across the room, taking out a bunch of tables and chairs as he went.
He was back at my side in seconds, hand held out to help me up. “Come on, Maddison James. It’s time for you to check the list.”
“It’s up?” I asked him when I was on my feet. My energy wrapped around his like it had been days since we’d seen each other rather than hours. Our powers were almost fluid now, shifting between each of us.
He nodded. “Yep, but I didn’t look yet. I wanted to wait for you.”
“Aw, that’s sweet. What if I failed though?”
Lacing our fingers together, he led me out. “I doubt you did, but I’m proud of you either way.”
The wall was near the Princeps’s office. I’d never worried about this wall before—it was strictly for those graduating.
I was finally understanding the stress of it all.
The list was long, the writing small, so everyone crowded close to see better. Up top was the list of academic excellence, and I wasn’t at all surprised to see Axl was top of the graduating class. He’d worked hard for that honor, and no one could take it away from him.
He’d been there long before he was a god.
There were so many students around us, and for once none of them were paying us any attention. Today they only cared about graduating and moving forward to the next part of their lives.
Scanning along the list, I saw Asher’s name. He was in the top ten of all graduates and had the highest marks in water magic and combat. Continuing on, the rest of my family were all there too. Every single one of them graduated, and they had fantastic grades despite everything we’d been through over the past year.
That left just me.
“You did it!” Axl shouted, wrapping his arms around me and hauling me up.
I saw my name at the same time he reached me. Maddison James. Passed.
Relief crushed me. There had been a few tricky final exams, and I’d messed up more than once. None of my classes had spectacular grades, but that didn’t matter. I’d passed. I’d achieved what I needed to, and now we could move forward.
“Woohoo!!” Larissa screamed, barreling into me. “Party time…”
Before she could say another word, Rone wrapped his huge hands around her biceps. I saw a moment of shock on her face before he pulled her toward him and lifted her high enough that he could crush his lips to hers.
All of us blinked at them, and when my brain caught up to my eyes, I couldn’t stop my heartfelt smile. Yes. Finally. Finally they were going to give it a shot.
Before a single suggestive remark could even leave Calen’s mouth, Rone was gone, chest rumbling, fangs out as he kissed the hell out of Larissa.
“I’m guessing we won’t see those two for a while,” Ilia said with a snort, striding over. She fist-bumped me. “Great work, dude. You’re officially an Academy graduate.”
It was surreal.
