My blood ran cold.
I’d heard the stories about the war and remembered hearing about the dark magic-infected wolf shifter. That wolf had been infected because of a rejected bond that was broken by dark magic. A witch and the mate that he rejected had performed the dark ritual, and the dark magic consumed him entirely. He even became Roak’s second-in-command at one point.
Roak was the dragon tyrant who started the war, and he was a scary bedtime story that supernaturals would tell their kids to keep them well-behaved, but dark magic wasn’t spoken of in a similar manner.
Dark magic was forbidden even more now than what it had been back during the war.
“He caused a lot of damage, and he was the only one infected with it. There were seven demons with traces of dark magic found on them, Darkmore. Their supernatural bodies were rotted from the inside out. Do you know what this means?”
“I thought only witches and warlocks could wield dark magic, though? Without being infected, I mean.” I reached for the cup with thecaramel fae wine and tossed it back, relishing in the fae magic tingling down my throat and spreading through my body.
“It seems that theory is being tested,” he spat. “I need you to keep an eye on my daughter. Protect her by any means necessary.”
“I will,” I promised, setting down my mug with a dull thud. “You don’t have to ask, Death. I will do everything I can to watch over Pandora.”
I would’ve protected her even if he hadn’t asked.
7
PANDORA
“So, then, the freaking asshole told me that since we weren’t fated, he wouldn’t screw me anymore,” Dreadful rambled on and on about some drude that didn’t want to sleep with her anymore. From what I gathered, she had an addiction to sleeping with pretty much any demon except others of her sub-species. “Which is fine because he was a shitty lay anyway.”
“Uh, huh.” I fumbled with the strap of the bag slung over my shoulder. I’d tossed in my tablet and Nebula before leaving the dorm, and Dreadful had added her two cents about bringing Nebula.
It wasn’t positive.
I didn’t know how her throat could withstand all of the talking she did, even without her having an injury. I mean, she hadn’t shut her mouthexcept for when she was asleep. I wasn’t being rude, either. She actually talked that much.
My head throbbed painfully as she continued her rant.
The walk from Bound Dormitory to Reform Hall was short, but I reveled in the feeling of the sun’s warm rays as a light morning breeze brushed against my skin.
“Oh, and don’t think I’m not going to borrow that dress.” She paused, giving me a once over. “Your dad killed the wardrobe choices. The fact that the Death picked such fancy clothes is beyond me.”
“Technically, he hired someone to choose them,” I mumbled the reminder. “And I would’ve loved some type of pants.”
I’d opted for a silk ivory dress today that draped over my shoulders and skimmed over my body without clinging too tightly, and the embroidered pearl neckline came up to my collarbone. The skirt of the dress fell to my knees, and it swished with every step. I kept my thigh wrapped to hide the scars since the dress showed glimpses of my thighs when I walked. It had taken a lot of effort to convince Dreadful to let me have a minute to myself to go to the communal bathrooms down the hall and secure a stall, but I was, thankfully, able to secure the wrap before she barged in on me.
She’d already talked about my voice…I didn’t want her to see my scars, too.
“Whatever.” She waved her hand back and forth. “By the way, the leg wrap is an…interesting fashion choice. Don’t think it’s gonna stick for others, though.”
“It’s not a fashion choice,” I snapped quickly, smoothing my dress down. “It’s…covering something up, okay?”
The morning sun cast a golden hue across the arid campus, painting Reform Hall with a warm tone. Red flags blessed the stone, and I caught a glimpse of a large spider on the roof and sent a spine-tingling chill through me. I’d read all about the wildlife of the Demon Capital, and since we weren’t in the heart of the city, the academy was exposed to more of the…scarier creatures.
Dreadful’s laugh pierced the air. “Let me guess, a mate mark or a bad tattoo?”
My breath caught on the denial of both as I noticed two men standing close to the entrance of Reform Hall, leaning against the building. They were the two demons I’d noticed yesterday. The ones that made my ring turn black and my blood feel warm.
My heart quickened, and I couldn't help but steal glances at them as we approached. I was captivated by them.
The demon that smelled like vanilla andsmoke had his black hair parted to one side, framing his face in an effortlessly rugged manner. Striking white streaks ran through it, and Ilovedthe contrast. His red-rimmed green eyes met mine, and I realized that the scar was worse than I’d noticed yesterday over his eye. I really wanted to know how he got it, even if it wasn’t my business. He brought the purple pipe to his lips before inhaling deeply. There was a silver ring adorning the bottom of his lip that I hadn’t noticed yesterday. The tattoos of intertwining snakes slithered up his arms, and the spider inked on the back of his hand looked like the one I’d seen on the roof.
Fates, he screamed danger, but I couldn’t help wanting to know more about him.I wanted to know everything about him.
Beside him stood the second man I wanted to know more about, and he exuded an entirely different energy but was equally captivating. The spicy aroma of bourbon lingered around him, giving a warm and inviting quality to the desert air. Despite being an inch or so shorter than the other man, he possessed an all-consuming presence. His bleary red eyes drew me in with their intensity. His tousled black hair fell in loose waves around his face, giving him a disheveled look. The tattoos that decorated his arms depicted hawks in flight and a wolf prowling, along withthe skull inked on his neck. I had to admit that I loved the tattoos. The gauges and septum piercing on his features added a rebellious edge, contrasting with the warmth of his scent. He leisurely drank straight from a bottle of liquor, again.
