Geordie gave him his full attention. “You play a dangerous game, gargoyle. Your fate is tied to his, yet you keep your secrets. So shall I keep mine.”
“Is that all you have for us?” Caulder demanded, smoke pouring from his nose.
“For now.” Geordie shrugged.
“Then we don’t have any reason to linger,” Caulder snapped, storming from the shack.
The fae lifted a hand and waggled his fingers at the dragon’s back, tilting his head for us to follow.
“Fucking useless seers,” the dragon grumbled as he stripped off his clothes. “Their visions rarely ever matter because they’re always meddling, steering things the way they want them to go.”
I didn’t speak as he shifted into his dragon form and flew us back to the academy. Caulder wasn’t wrong. Seers meddled and altered the future in ways even they couldn’t foresee. That knowledge didn’t stop the dread that started simmering in my gut the moment the seer mentioned my mate.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Bechora
To my surprise and delight, Gabriel was leaning against the outer wall of Magus House, waiting alongside Zypher the next morning. We hadn’t spoken since he’d deposited me in Zypher’s bathroom, and I wasn’t sure he’d behave any differently than before the bond was completed. Shadrie filled me in on the details about Gabriel’s father after she’d finally calmed down from her confrontation with Vallynn. Knowing the sort of cruelty my mate endured at the hands of a man who should have loved and cared for him left me with a deeper understanding of his motivation to push me aside.
Zypher smiled and handed me a cup of coffee in silence while Shadrie hung back, and I continued to stare at Gabriel in disbelief. My vampire mate pushed off the side of the building, his shoulders slumped as he crept toward me. Uncertainty filled his face, mirroring my own.
“I didn’t think you’d be here,” I said quietly.
Gabriel shrugged. “Where else would I be?”
“I thought you might be somewhere regretting things and planning your next move to push me away if I’m being honest. Shadrie… she told me about your family, what she knew at least. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t blame you if you went back to pretending our bond doesn’t exist.”
“No,” Gabriel hissed, shaking his head sharply. “I was wrong to ever do that, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make it up to you.”
“But your mother—your sister. Won’t your father—”
“I spoke with my brother. I don’t know what he hasplanned, but he assured me he will see to their safety. The only thing left in this world my father can use against me is you, and you’re too damned stubborn to let him do that.” His lips curled into a smile, and Zypher laughed.
“Well, I guess if B forgives you, I do too,” Shadrie piped in. “But just know, Dreadgrave, if you hurt my bestie, I will end you.”
“Your friends are vicious, Dilectus. I quite enjoy it,” Zypher interjected, causing me and Shadrie to laugh. Gabriel shook his head with a soft smile, and we made our way to the dining hall for breakfast.
The massive space went silent as soon as we stepped through the door. Every head turned to face us, studying me before returning their attention to a table in the center of the room. Daena sat perched there like a queen, her perfectly styled hair spilling over her shoulder as she leaned close to Vallynn. She’d wedged herself at his side, her hand brushing his arm as she laughed at something only she seemed to find amusing. Her merry band of harpies clustered around her, smug expressions fixed as they hung on her every word.
“Poor little Bechora Knight.” Her voice lifted above the soft din. “You should have seen her. Absolutely trembling. One teensy bit of magic and she pissed herself, right there in front of everyone.”
Shadrie snarled at my side, and I glanced at her. My friend’s gaze was pinned to Vallynn as he sat there in brooding silence. Gasps and laughter answered Daena’s words, her friends eating them up. I felt Gabriel tense beside me and reached for his hand.
“You really should have seen it. It was just meant to be a fun little test, you see. Something to determine if the pathetic little mage from the human realm was really worthy of the academy without her demon interfering. Poor dear was like a frightened little bunny. If I’d pushed her any harder, I suspect her heart might have given out. Not what I’d call academy material. Notat all.” Daena’s words marked me as prey among predators, something I knew couldn’t be left to stand if I didn’t want the entire academy out for me.
“If anyone isn’t worthy of being here, it’s you, Daena.” Shadrie’s voice rose above the cruel laughter before I could defend myself, silencing it and dragging everyone’s attention back to us. “You interfered with a mating bond.”
The words hit the hall like a thunderclap. The scrape of chairs, the sharp intake of breath. Gasps rippled through the crowded space as the weight of the accusation sank in. Dozens of eyes swung toward Vallynn, seeking the reaction of their crown prince, expecting him to condemn Daena. His dark gaze swept across the dining hall, lingering on me with disdain before cutting to Shadrie.
“Daena didn’t commit a crime. She did the kingdom a service. My father would have approved of my betrothed’s methods of culling the weak; he may still reward her for it. If Ms. Knight truly can’t stand on her own without the help of her bond, then she is neither worthy of this academy nor her demon mate.”
He spat the word mate like it disgusted him, and I couldn’t help my involuntary flinch. My heart seemed to rend in two alongside it. Neither reaction was something I could understand or wanted to dig into. Shadrie took a step toward them, the temperature dropping rapidly as the males at my side snarled. I grabbed her arm and shook my head before deliberately moving my gaze across the dining hall.
“It’s funny you call me weak, Daena, but I’m not the one who has to pretend the male at my side enjoys my company. Maybe if you pet his arm a little harder, he’ll roll on his back and let you cuddle.” I lifted my chin defiantly, my eyes sliding to Vallynn. I could have sworn his lips twitched as if he were fighting a smile before his arrogant mask fell back into place. “And I find it strange how you,my prince, talk about culling the weak, while hiding behind a female who needed her friends to help take me on.”
Daena’s face flushed crimson, her mouth flapping open and shut like a fish as the cruel laughter turned on her. Vallynn held my gaze, his jaw ticking as I stared him down. It felt like an eternity stretched between us, though it was barely seconds, before his chest heaved and he turned his face away.
“Come on, let’s find somewhere else to eat this morning. The dining hall reeks of desperation and cowardice,” I snapped, turning on my heel and striding through the doors.
