I knew loss of control. When my power awakened, I didn’t hesitate. Idevoured. She may have deserved it, but I didn’t want to lose control like that again. I wanted to maintain control and seek souls on my own.
“I want everyone to give me an example of when you lost control of your powers, and I want you to identify the consequence of it.” He pointed toward a demon close to him. “You all need to understand the gravity of why feeding and keeping our reserves filled is so important. Go on.”
“I fucked my dad’s best friend, who was like family to us when I was like…eighteen,” the girl admitted, cheeks burning bright. Shame was clear on her face, and I had to respect that. Any other succubus I’d met wouldn’t feel ashamed. “My pheromones leaked out until my reserves overfilled. My, uh, Dad walked in on it. The consequence was breaking up a marriage and destroying the man’s relationship with our family. I haven’t let my reserves get that low since.”
That story there was part of the reason I wanted my fated mate. After a demon meets their fated, they didn’t find interest or temptation with anyone but them. Pheromones didn’t do anything but increase their attraction for their mate. They would get violently sick with the idea of being with anyone else.
Ashenfell nodded, his gaze softening in understanding. “Losing control isn’t something anyone wants.” He nodded to the next demon to tell their story.
A sense of unease gnawed at my gut as the class moved on, story after story. None had ended in death like mine had, though, and I only had one story of losing control. It was the only time I’d used my powers. Theonlytime I’d filled my reserves.
When attention fell on Hemlock, he chuckled. “I let chaos loose all of the time. I’mneverin fucking control. My magic goes wild every time my reserves aren’t filled up.”
With those words, the atmosphere in the chamber shifted, crackling with chaos. Hemlock's chaos magic erupted with the ferocity of a sandstorm.
The unrestrained power of chaotic energy snaked through the air, striking and forming like his wolf, hungry for destruction. The ground quaked beneath our feet, and students cried out in alarm, scrambling to shield themselves from the chaotic onslaught.
“Typical.” Reed’s fingers tangled with mine, and I sought comfort in the hold of his hand.
“This istypicalfor him?”
“Unfortunately,” he murmured as we stayed standing next to each other, trying not to fall into the chaos around us.
Hemlock showed no sign of remorse, his laughter echoing through the hysteria. He reveled in the havoc he had created, his eyes gleaming with a manic edge as he danced amidst the swirling chaos.
It was only when Ashenfell grabbed his shoulder, his voice cutting through the craziness like a blade, that the chaos stilled. With a stern gaze, he gave Hemlock a look of disappointment. “Hemlock, this is unacceptable. Your recklessness with magic endangers not only yourself but your classmates as well. Chaos magic is powerful and must be wielded with care and discipline. You will stay behind after class for extra practice, and we will discuss the consequences of your actions.”
Hemlock's laughter faded into a scowl. “Yeah, right.”
“After class,” Ashenfell barked, all seriousness in his tone. “If you won’t, I’ll have you petitioned to be removed from the academy.”
“Please do,” he all but purred out. “I’d love to leave this fucking place.”
Ashenfell exhaled a quick breath before turning to Grimshaw. “Your turn.”
He shook his head, black and white hair swinging back and forth as his pipe crackled. “I won’t do that.”
Ashenfell hissed out another breath, planting his hands on his hips as he nodded. “With the reason you’re here being for the loss of control, I know you understand the consequences. Shadowheart?” He glanced at Dex. “Care to participate appropriately?”
“Love to.” His lips curved into a twisted smirk, and his gaze locked on me. “The last time I lost control, my shadow tendrils had a mind of their own…or maybe I just lost mine. Either way, a random demon walking home from some pub ended up hacked into little cubes, bones and all. It was amazing, really. The symmetry was impeccable.”
“That’s quite the story,” Ashenfell mumbled, blinking at him with caution.
The rest of the students had small stories,nothing like that. Though, mine would be considered worse since the target was my own mother.
“Quite,” Dex mused, tapping his tongue ring against his teeth. “All I had been doing was wondering if cubing a body up like that was possible, and then my magic took control before I could stop it.”
“That must’ve been very difficult for you to come to terms with,” Ashenfell said gravely.
Dex just blinked at him. “Uh, why? I mean, impulse control lapses every time my head’s cut off. I don’t really think about that shit.”
A shiver of fear crept down my spine at his answers.How many times had his head been cut off?
Grimshaw’s pupils blew wide as he stared at me, and a moan hummed in his throat. “Fates, thefear.”
“I’m sure a few demons in here are a bit afraid of how casually you speak of killing, but sure. Enjoy the fear.” Ashenfell looked at Dex like he was crazy before shaking his head and moving on. “Nyx, let’s hear yours.”
Reed tensed and let go of my hand with a sharp pull as he nodded. “Sure.”
