Ilia’s return grin was broad and satisfied. “Oh yeah, I know all too well.” Her smile faded. “But it’s starting to get a little … tangled. Maybe I’d be better off searching for someone with fewer friends in common for this year. And definitely no Josh.”
Ilia had fallen pretty hard for a shifter last year, but their differences had torn them apart. She said she was over Josh, and I believed her, especially since she’d spent the last half of last year sleeping with Calen, one of the Atlantean-five and Asher’s best friend.
But now Ilia was running from him too. I was starting to see that it was my best friend with the commitment issue, bailing whenever things got serious. All this time, I’d thought it would be Calen—who loved to hit on anything with two legs—who would fuck it up. But nope, he was somehow more into Ilia than I’d ever seen him be into anyone. At least in the twelve months I’d known him.
“We should get to the party,” Larissa reminded us. The Atlantean-run New Year’s Eve party was raging somewhere in the Academy. School had been over for almost two weeks, and we were due to start classes on the second of January. I was excited for all the new learning and for the next adventure that would take us back to the waters off Greece.
Sure, we were heading there because the mythical Atlantis was supposed to “rise,” bringing with it unknown dangers and misfortune, one of which was a possible sacrifice on my part, but hey, whose life was perfect?
2
Asher and I didn’t stay long at the dance, despite it having an awesome live band, flowing alcohol, and Calen doing the Macarena on the stage. They’d been studying human dances, trying to create a birthday-slash-New Year’s Eve party that felt familiar to me, and I didn’t have the heart to tell them that I’d never been much for dances in my old life. However, it was well worth the entertainment value to watch the ‘90s reappear.
Asher wrapped his arms around me as we headed toward the exit. “I have a surprise for you,” he said, voice low and rumbly. “I haven’t had a chance to give you your present yet.”
I shook my head. “You know I don’t need anything. I’ve never even celebrated a birthday before. Trust me, this has been more than enough.”
His strong arms all but swept me off my feet as he pulled me closer. “Listen up, water baby, you will get used to presents and birthdays and surprises. Because I’m not ever going to stop.”
He’d taken to calling me water baby because my newly-unlocked powers had me all fish-like. I was obsessed with water. I could swim faster than any of the guys, breathe under there, see in the darkest of nights, and manipulate the water to do my bidding. All the power was taking some getting used to, and I was damn glad that I had Louis’s pendant to temper it, but I was a big fan of not being vulnerable ever again.
Pushing myself higher, I pressed my lips to Asher’s and groaned softly as his fresh ocean scent invaded my nose. His taste in my mouth and his body molded to mine was my happy place.
“Does this present involve nudity?” I asked breathlessly.
Asher’s lips kicked up in a small smile, dimples popping out, visible even through his five o’clock shadow. No matter how often Asher magically removed his beard, there was always this hint of darkness, and he rocked that better than anyone I knew. “It just might.”
Sold.Sign me the fuck up!
We were at the edge of the room now, and I turned to blow kisses to Ilia and Larissa, then Jesse, Calen, Rone, and Axl. Ilia smirked at me before her right cheek bulged in the mime of cock sucking. Dirty bitch. Dirty, accurate bitch. The guys just shot us knowing looks but didn’t look surprised as we bailed from the party.
The moment we were back in the main walkways of the Academy, I ditched my heels, relieved that those assholes weren’t on my feet any longer, even if it did drop me back to my five-foot-ten height—a hell of a lot shorter than Asher.
“Were the Atlanteans all tall?” I asked as we strolled along, hand in hand. All of the ones I’d met were tall, and I was not short for a chick.
He lowered his head to meet my gaze, like he was deliberately proving my point. “I’m not sure. Judging from the Atlanteans I’ve met, I’m going to say yes. But we’d know for sure if we could ever figure out where my ancestors buried the library.”
Somewhere on the Supernatural Academy or Demi-fey Academy grounds there was an Atlantean library. It had the rarest collection of books and information on the long-lost civilization, and it had been passed down through Asher’s family line. His parents had been killed before they told him of the location, and no matter where we searched, we couldn’t find it.
“I wonder if I might be able to find it now. My senses are so much stronger.” I followed Asher through an archway and into the commons. “Maybe we should go back to the Demi-fey Academy and I could have a sniff around.”
“Couldn’t hurt,” Asher agreed. “I’ll contact Mossie and see if he can arrange another inspection. This time I’ll be there to help as well.”
Asher’s family was rich and powerful. Upon his parents’ deaths, he’d inherited their company and legacy. I’d rarely seen him throw his power around, but from what I knew, Asher could buy and sell the world with ease. Hopefully between him and Mossie, we could get back into the other academy.
The Clovers’ table came into sight, and even though it was empty right now, I still remembered to ask, “What’s happening with Kate and Chellie? Did the trial go ahead yet?”
Asher shook his head. “Not yet. Apparently they were waiting for my return before pressing charges. Since I’ve made my statement, they’ve been moved to a new facility to await their trial. They’ll face the supernatural council sometime this year.”
I’d been warned that I might have to testify. Now it was just a waiting game to see what would happen. Their families were powerful as well, and they were fighting to keep their daughters from the prison system. Even though Asher had already stripped those families of their high-paying jobs, they had still rallied together to try and take him down.
It was a shit fight, and I really just wanted to forget all about it. But those bitches needed to learn their lesson about kidnapping. Sure, it had all worked out in the end, but maybe it wouldn’t next time.
I’d expected Asher to take me to his private house at the back of the Academy, but instead he led us into the water world, a quadrant of the school where all water magic lessons were held. “This is where the surprise is?” I asked, amused. “Are you going to teach me some new water magic?”
Asher was the teacher for this class last year, but it got cancelled when he was taken by the crazy assholes trying to bring about the rise of Atlantis. Which meant no one got to take the final test of making it through the doorway.
“Or is this about the doorway?” I pressed, chuckling to myself. “You want me to prove I’m one with the water.”
