Ryker stepped forward, wanting to know what Bael had just learned. It took a lot to upset the incubus. “What?”
“Tell my friend here what your favorite perk is.”
Ryker narrowed his eyes on the dean.
Dean Felling licked his lips and dreamily said, “The girls.”
“Whatgirls?” Bael grabbed his blade and shoved it back into his pants pocket.
“The girls who pleasure me for the best grades. The girls who are willing to show me what good students they can be when they kneel at my desk and—”
Ryker’s fire spewed from his mouth, but he was too late. Too slow.
Because Bael had grabbed Dean Felling and disappeared into oblivion.
The papers of the dean’s desk burned as the fire grew from where Ryker breathed angry flames. What remained were the letters Bael had carved out, spelling BITCH.
Bael popped back into the room. One second, gone. The next second, he dusted off his wings and retracted them. Ryker always was envious of Bael’s transportation ability. Granted, the incubus could only transport between Hell and the Earth realm.
Bael shrugged nonchalantly. “Thought I’d help him get to Hell a little earlier than planned.”
Maybe Bael’s earlier suggestion of burning the school down and starting over had merit.
“He admitted some more things to me when he got shackled down to a platform.” Bael cracked his knuckles. “Apparently, council leader Kellan Oadess was planning to give a formal announcement to the academy in the auditorium.”
“To say what?” Ryker asked.
“Dean didn’t know.” Bael tugged on his school blazer, leaving his shirt on the floor.
Ryker pointed to the button-down. “I thought you were running out.”
Bael ran a hand over his abs, which were on display thanks to the blazer’s deep V shape neckline. “Nix will like me better like this anyway.”
“Should we find her?” What if the Oadess family tried to hurt her somehow? They knew she was a phoenix, so why had theyadopted her instead of having her hunted and killed like the rest?
Bael waved off the concern again. “Our girl is a freaking phoenix. She can handle herself around some shady swan shifters for a few hours. He said she would be back for the dance tonight. We will catch up with her then.”
Bael gripped the doorknob to exit the office and paused. “You think Stoney wants a promotion to dean?”
CHAPTER 22
“You look so much better, Nix,” Elle told her as they exited the car, back at the academy after a day of salon appointments and shopping. The sun set in the distance, warning that the night was almost here.
In a few hours, Nix would be dancing with Adar Oadess. This was everything she had ever wanted. Handsome and kind and witty Adar.
Elle continued babbling about Nix’s new look, “Much more like yourself. That red hair just didn’t match your skin tone. Doesn’t she look better now, Adar?”
Adar. The boy she had always loved growing up. The boy who had asked her to the dance. Her…dream come true. Right?
“You make a beautiful blonde,” Adar agreed, nudging her with his hip as they walked side by side toward the dorm building. “Sorry that our father had to miss lunch. That was a shame. He’s a busy guy, though—leader of the shifter council, after all. Apparently, there is a lot going on in the council at the moment.”
Elle snorted. “I’m glad we’ll never be council members, right, Nix? Sounds stressful.”
Right… Wrong? Nix rubbed at her eyes. Everything looked so…pink. Pretty. Sparkly pink.
“Hey, Nix, I know you and Elle were going to get dressed for the dance in her room, but what if you came to my room for a bit?” Adar asked, touching her back.
The warmth of his fingers seeped into her.
