Pandora was up first, and she stood on a red mat in the front with her hands clasped in front of her and a hesitant smile on her pretty red lips. I couldn’t focus on anything when she was in front of me. All I could think about was her on top of me as I pounded into her last night with Dex behind her and Hunter fucking her mouth after Reed and Bram had finished with her.
Fuck me.
She was perfect for us.
“I’m not entirely sure what I’ll do when I graduate, but I know I want to help better the Demon Capital the same way my dad has.” She ran a hand through her long, glossy black hair. “I’ve talked with him about possibly joining the council in his spot, but I’m not sure yet. I’ve also debated becoming a demonic agent. I believe the Demon Council should have agents the same way the Supernatural Council does, but I’d have to speak with my dad about it. I’ve put a lot of thought into my future, and this academy really did prepare me for life afterwards.”
Ashenfell nodded. “Thank you, Gravesend. Bram, you’re up next.”
Bram swapped spots with Pandora, gently brushing his fingers against hers as they passed, and I felt love through Pandora’s matebond as he did so.
“I’ve thought about maybe disaster response to aid incalmingchaos,” he stated. “But if Pandora manages to make demonic agents a thing, I’d like to do that.” He shrugged. “Yeah, that’s it.”
“Has the academy helped you better yourself?” Ashenfell asked, checking off a list.
“Pandora has. Not the academy.” He rolled his eyes. “But I guess I did meet her here, so.”
“Of course,” Ashenfell said as Bram smirked and walked off the mat. “Shadowheart?”
“Ditto with Bram on Pandora making me better.” He winked at Pandora as his feet planted on the mat. “Honestly, I’m pretty great at torturing and killing, so if demonic agents do that, I’d jump on it, too. Maybe I’ll even apply to the Demon Council since the last shadow demon rep was a traitor.”
“Let’s keep our expectations to jobs currently available since we have no demonic agents as of now. Nyx?” Ashenfell gestured.
Reed walked up and locked his gaze on Pandora as Dex walked back to his spot. “I’d like to do something with sleep therapy, but working with the council would be cool, too. The academy has been helpful, but Pandora was more so.”
“Grimshaw, you’re up.” Ashenfell nodded.
I strolled up and high-fived Reed before stepping onto the mat. “All of my mate’s mates and my mate are thinking about the council, and I fucking love that. Anyway, I’ve already signed a contract. I’ll be on the Demon Council when I graduate as the fear demon rep. The academy was fine, but meeting my mate really made me better.” I walked off as Ashenfell called up Jenni.
“My mates and I plan to open a restaurant after graduation,” she sighed dreamily. “It’ll be so romantic, so make sure you visit! The academy was great. I met my mates and my best friend, and the courses were cool too.”
“Thank you, Inferno,” Ashenfell said. “Fester, you’re up.”
Fester waved to Jenni on his way up and fidgeted with his hands as he stood there. “Honestly, I never thought I’d live until graduation.” He chuckled weakly. “But I want to help society, too. I’d like to enforce laws. Maybe I’ll be a supernatural agent or a demonic one, if that ever does happen.”
Ashenfell called up the rest of the class, and once the last student spoke, he took the mat at the front. “Great job, everyone. You passed. This year has been challenging. I’ve never lost so many students before, but I’m proud of those of you who have made it. Gravesend, if you and your mates did end up on the Demon Council, I have high hopes that it would better our society.”
“But what about bias?” a student called out.
“There would be my mate, Joel, and a drude rep to balance it out,” Jenni explained. “Plus the Supernatural Council could make sure they wouldn’t lean into bias.”
“As long as there would be restrictions in place, I guess,” the student said.
I smiled as we surrounded our mate, and our matebonds swelled with hope from Pandora. Hope that once graduation was over and Sybil Shaw was defeated, we could live a normal, happy life.
48
BRAM
Several supplies lay scattered across the desk in front of the classroom, an appreciatively chaotic arrangement that, unlike Ironwood’s usual perfect setups, was actually designed for us to use the skills we were being tested on.
This was practical applications of ceremonial magic, where precision and intent mattered more than anything else, so Hunter said, at least. I didn’t listen to shit when Ironwood spoke about it.
“You each need to do this individually,” Hunter announced, his voice calm but authoritative as he settled into the chair behind the desk. “Gather your supplies and perform the ritual. I’ll be watching all of you, so good luck.”
Rustling filled the room as we rose and moved toward the desk, collecting what we needed.
My eyes drifted to Pandora as she grabbed her materials with confidence, her movements graceful in a way that I used to think was because she was nobility. In reality, it was because she was so fucking ethereal that it made my heart hurt.
