Winter Term Read online

  I finished chewing and swallowed. “I’d like to, but I need to go see May.”

  “Isn’t she one of the witch teachers?”

  “Yeah.” I ate as quickly as I could.

  Lana studied me from across the table. “Are you okay? Your skin’s kind of blotchy.”

  “It’s been a rough start tonight. I…can’t really talk about it.”

  “That’s cool. I get that your life is super complicated, being a royal and all.” She shrugged, picking at the soupy spinach. “I was in the clubhouse the other night and overheard someone say the Academy has a new Trial Master this year. Have you heard that?”

  I frowned up at her. “Trial Master?”

  “Yeah, you know, to orchestrate the Trials for next term.” Lana read my blank expression. “You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you?”

  “No…”

  “Next term is our last before the Culling, so on top of regular classes, each first year student has to undergo three Trials. It always shuffles up who’s in the Culling at the end, at least that’s what I’ve heard.”

  “What are these Trials?” I asked.

  She glanced around the cafeteria. “It’s different for each person. The Trial Master’s job is to create each one so it’s unique to the student.” She shuddered. “I’ve heard they try to figure out your worst fears and use them against you. I want this year to be over, but I’m not looking forward to next term.”

  Given all of that, neither was I. “That’s seriously messed up.” I stood, gathering up my tray. “I should get going. See you in class.”

  She waved her fork at me. “See ya.”

  13

  Caprice

  I followed the well-lit pathway to Academy Hall and hoped May was in her office this time. We hadn’t really spoken much since my birthday party, and that was my fault. More guilt flooded my chest. Lana was becoming a good friend, but May had been with me since the beginning—she knew me better than anyone, except for the guys.

  She opened on the first knock. “Caprice. What’s up?” Her tone was light and friendly. I let out the breath I’d been holding.

  I shut her door behind me. “I need someone to talk to.”

  “Okay. You’ve caught me at a good time. Spill.” She sat down in one of the upholstered chairs, brushing her strawberry colored hair over her shoulder.

  I sat too. “Ms. Duinn attacked me in the hall a few hours ago. She caught me coming out of Jaxon’s office and threatened to tell the Tromara what we’ve been up to.” The story tumbled out. I’d lost the flowers and chocolates in the encounter, which seemed kind of silly to make such a big deal about. But this was my first Valentine’s Day with the guys, and Ms. Duinn had ruined it so thoroughly. I told May about the visit to the dean and how I couldn’t hang out with Jaxon and Liam anymore.

  When I finally finished, May was staring at her clasped hands in her lap. “I’m sorry she got to you, too. I know how that feels.”

  “I know you do, that’s why I wanted to talk to you.” I tried to catch her eye, but she wouldn’t look up. “You never really told me what happened with…you and Ms. Duinn and your boyfriend, and all that.”

  “I know it was her, but she never directly confronted me. She went to my parents instead with the letters from Josh.” May sniffed. “There’s something you need to understand about my father.” Her gaze lifted to mine. Her lips were set in a firm, straight line. “First, you need to promise to never, ever tell anyone else what I’m about to tell you, okay?”

  I warily nodded. I knew that both May and Liam didn’t get along with their parents—especially their father—so what as the big secret?

  May’s fingers clenched the hem of her sweater. “He never laid a finger on us when we were growing up.” Her voice hitched. “He made us do it ourselves. He’d use compulsion on us to punish ourselves, and he was always creative with whatever was around. Belts, rods, bricks…chains. Mother was always a gifted healer.”

  I sat rigidly in the chair, horrified. What could I say to that? Saying I’m sorry, seemed flippant.

  I reached for her hand, hoping physical contact would show my support. She didn’t react to my touch.

  “He made me break up with Josh,” she whispered. “He compelled me to do it. I’d hoped that all of that was over—I’m an adult for fuck’s sake! Yet he made me, just as if I were still a child.”

  My horror was replace with anger. I squeezed her hand and she returned the gesture. Some how, one day, I was going to pay back both May’s father and Ms. Duinn. They couldn’t fuck with people’s lives like this and get away with it. I didn’t know how I’d get back at them yet, but being resistant to both compulsion and magic had to help.

  Lana and I strode into the woods behind Freeman Dorm. She morphed her head because her tiger eyes could see better in the dark. I shifted as well, coming to find that I could also see a lot better in dragon form. The deep black and greens of the forest around us transformed into a world of vivid detail. I could see the individual pine needles from several feet away.

  My senses expanded with my vision. The sweet and musky smell of decay filled my nostrils. The forest came alive with the small sounds of nighttime animals and bugs.

  “This seems like a good spot,” Lana said, stopping. “Why don’t you stand in front of that huge tree trunk and give this invisibility thing a shot.”

  I stood where she wanted me in front of the big maple. Ivy vines twisted along its trunk giving it a leafy texture and definition though the branches were bare.

  I closed my eyes, focusing inward. Jaxon’s strong magic, and the lesser power of those witch bullies, thrummed in my chest. I still didn’t know what to do with it.

  I pulled my attention outward from there, focusing on my limbs, then the scratchy sensation of my clothes against my scales. I willed my scales to turn me invisible—to blend with my surroundings.

  Lana drew in a sharp breath. “Holy shit balls!”

  My eyelids fluttered and I glanced down at myself. My clothes were still the same, still visible. But my hands were an undulating pattern of dark greens, brown, and black. I lifted my sweater to expose my stomach. The effect was the same across my scales.

  “Take a step forward,” Lana said, “I want to see how quickly your scales adapt.”

  I kept my shirt lifted and moved around the area. “Well?” I asked. It was hard to determine what was happening from my perspective.

  Lana’s lips drew back over her sharp tiger teeth, making her look hostile. “That’s fantastic. It’s pretty much instantaneous.” She stepped closer. “I can see a faint outline of you, but only someone in animal form would be able to pick that up.” She clapped her hands together. “This is so exciting!”

  I glanced down at myself again. This was exciting. This gave me more faith the rest of what I had read in that book was true. My chest swelled with anticipation.

  There was only one problem. Now that I was invisible, I didn’t know how to shift out of it. If my scales were the part that was affected, then getting rid of them seemed like the obvious solution. I morphed back to appearing human.

  “Am I visible now?” I asked. The world was a dark, indistinguishable place.

  “Sorry,” Lana’s voice reached me from my right, “I was nodding, but realized you can’t see me. You’re visible. Shift up again. I want to see if you stay visible.”

  Good idea. I made the transformation, immediately seeing that my hands were covered in their usual black scales with that red under glow.

  “You do realize that in order to be completely invisible you’ll have to be naked, right?” Lana had a practical, but strange mind.

  “Yeah, I figured that out. Good thing I’m not too shy,” I said as we turned toward our dorm.

  14

  Caprice

  Saturday had me reeling with opposing emotions. I didn’t have to get up early for my assistant job, and I could call Isabella soon, but there’d be no date with Liam tonight. My heart ache
d, partly from missing him, partly from finding out about his childhood. How could my sweet Liam have grown up with such a monster for a father? He never gave any sign that had been the case. I found it difficult to reconcile Liam’s past with the guy I’d known for months. I wanted to be around him, and there was only one way to do that—resolve this issue with the Tromara.

  I dressed in a hurry, impatient to talk to Isabella. She had to have heard back from the Tromara by now. Maybe she’d have news of my family in Cyprus too.

  In the Dean’s Hall, with my phone in hand, I jogged up the turret stairs. The phone lit up with a new text as it powered on. The message was from Isabella, asking me to call her. My chest hitched. She had news!

  “There you are. Hello, sweetie.” Isabella’s husky voice came through the speaker.

  I leaned against the rounded wall. “Hey, how are you? Any news?”

  “I’m doing fine, and yes, I finally have some good news for you.” Isabella paused, seeming to gather her thoughts. “The Tromara king has accepted my offer. You’re no longer claimed by or bound to him in any way. But, you still need to get yourself out of the Culling.”

  A smile split my face. “Oh my God, thank you so much.” My relief died as quickly as it had come on. “What was your offer?”

  My unspoken question was, how many people had to be sacrificed in my place?

  “I own some very valuable artifacts that King Sebastian will take in trade. And I give them willingly, so don’t feel bad about this.”

  My stomach unclenched a little. Artifacts? That was all? Not that I was going to complain.

  “Thank you,” I said again. The enormity of the moment struck me then. I was free to be with Jaxon and Liam. And Angel, if he ever came back. I had only one goal now: Get out of the Culling Club.

  “That’s all the news I have,” Isabella said. “The European Council hasn’t gotten back to me. Which reminds me, how are you finding that book?”

  I grinned into the phone. “Very insightful. I turned invisible the other night. Isn’t that cool?”

  “Ah—yes, that is fascinating. So, the information in the book is accurate?”

  “So far,” I said.

  “One of the first pages I read said that dragon-shifters were resistant to magic. Is that true?”

  I hesitated. “Not completely. Only when I’m in dragon form.”

  There were other things I wanted to tell her about, but I couldn’t. Not yet. Maybe not ever. If the Tromara king knew the full extent of what I could do, not even those artifacts would be a substitute for owning me.

  “Well,” Isabella said, “that’s certainly a unique ability. I think we should keep that quiet.”

  “I totally agree.” I realized that I might not ever be able to show my true self to many people. Involving Lana was probably not the best idea either. It felt so good to have a friend my own age, going through the same crazy, fucked up school as me, I didn’t want to have to make her life more dangerous.

  “Is something on your mind, Caprice?”

  I had been quiet for too long. “Sorry. Uh, nothing out of the ordinary. Are you really doing okay?”

  “Oh yes, same old here. Lots of Council business. I’ll be snagging Jaxon for most of spring break, I’m afraid. He’s asked me to tutor him.” She sighed. “I have a call coming in I need to take. You get those points up, and I’ll talk to you later. And tell me you’re wearing that necklace.”

  “I am. Every day.”

  “Thank you, that makes me happy. One less detail I need to worry about.” Isabella sounded tired. “Bye now.”

  I pressed the end button. Did she usually have this much going on with the Council? I assumed so, having nothing with which to compare the past few months.

  Scrolling through my messages, I stopped on Elena’s last one. It had been sent weeks ago. I’d replied, but she hadn’t. Was she still dating that fae? Did she know how dangerous that was? Probably not.

  I sent a quick text: Hey, how are you?

  There was a lot I couldn’t tell her about my life now, but I didn’t want to lose that friendship altogether. Once I was out of this shit-show, maybe I could visit her regularly. Hell, I might go back to the east coast and attend university with her as a junior. I certainly didn’t want to stick around this part of the country with the Tromara breathing down my neck. However, with the guys stuck at Academy Obscura, moving out of the area was unlikely, but who knew what the future would bring.

  A thrill ran through me. I could go see the guys.

  I turned in my phone to the dean’s receptionist and hurried over to Academy Hall. Everyone seemed to gravitate toward Jaxon’s apartment, so that’s where I went.

  When he opened the door, I jumped into his arms, drawing his head down for a passionate kiss. He stiffened, and I thought he might pull away. Instead, he pulled me into his apartment and closed the door while kissing me back.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, breaking his lips from mine. “Are you insane?”

  I grinned up at him. “I’m free! The Tromara accepted Isabella’s offer.”

  “Really?”

  “Really!”

  Jaxon claimed my mouth fully, his tongue slipping past my teeth. I moaned, molding my body to his. I’d missed him. I wanted him. Needed to feel his strong arms around me, feel him in me.

  “That’s great news,” Liam said.

  Startled, I broke away from Jaxon. Liam stood in the living room, hands casually placed in his jeans pockets. The heat in his gaze belied the relaxed stance. I reached out to him, while keeping one arm wrapped around Jaxon’s waist.

  Liam meandered over. Taking my hand, he brought it to his lips. “Does this mean we have a date tonight?”

  “It sure does.” My lips twisted into a devilish smile. “But right now, I want—”

  “I know.” Liam cupped my chin. He claimed my mouth with his in a deep, hot kiss.

  Jaxon slipped from my grasp, coming to stand behind me. His lips trailed over my neck and shoulders. He took my hips in both hands to grind his growing erection against my butt.

  Heat swirled in my lower stomach. I took Liam’s face, kissing him hard, as I pressed my breasts against his chest. He moved forward just enough to sandwich me between him and Jaxon. Having two strong, hard bodies making friction with mine made me groan with pleasure.

  “I want you both,” I murmured.

  “Liam, sit down,” Jaxon’s said, his voice hoarse.

  The fae released my lips, a slight frown on his face as he gazed at Jaxon. Clarity replaced confusion in his moss-green eyes. “Right.” He nipped at the corner of my mouth before backing up to sit on one of the sofas.

  I turned, gazing up at Jaxon in question.

  He lowered his head to my ear. “You want both of us together, don’t you?” His whisper sent a thrill to my core.

  I nodded.

  “Good. How about you take him in your mouth, while I take you.” His warm breath tickled my neck. The thought of having both of them in me made me shiver with anticipation.

  I kneeled in front of Liam, searching his face. My hand roamed over his chest, sinking lower and lower, until I had my fingers tugging at his waistband. The bulge in his jeans told me he was turned on, but his body had responded that way several times and he’d still refused to go any further with me.

  “Do you want this?” I asked him, playing with the button to his fly.

  He sucked in a breath. “Yes.”

  That was all I needed to hear. I popped that button open and eased the zipper down. Liam lifted his hips, allowing me to tug his jeans and boxers to his ankles. His cock was long, and smooth, and topped with red curls—just like the rest of him. I gently gripped it and his breath hitched.

  Jaxon kneeled on the rug behind me, lifting my sweater up. “You’re wearing far too many clothes, cupcake. Let me help you.” He made quick work of divesting me of my sweater, jeans, and underwear. When his body rubbed up against my back, I realized he was already naked.r />
  I turned my head, catching his lips with mine in a lingering kiss before turning back to Liam.

  The heat in his eyes had intensified, his chest rising and falling rapidly with each breath. I stroked his cock up and down. He closed his eyes, leaning his head back. I dipped, taking his smooth head in my mouth. A gasped moan escaped his lips.

  Behind me, Jaxon trailed his fingers over my spine, making my skin pebble. He held my hair twisted in one hand, while he left searing kisses over my neck, shoulders, and back. His other hand came around to caress my clit. My core flooded with heat, becoming slick. Jaxon’s fingers slipped over my folds and entered me. I let out a moan of my own over Liam’s cock.

  Jaxon whispered the protection spell and eased inside me. He started with a torturously slow pace. I echoed it on Liam’s smooth hardness, taking him all the way in my mouth before slowly withdrawing to the tip, then repeating that action over and over.

  Pleasure filled me from my chest to my toes. I wanted more. Needed more. I bucked against Jaxon’s hips, asking him to move faster. He replied by thrusting in hard and fast. He caught my hips, holding me to him as he took me the way I wanted him to.

  I gripped Liam’s shaft, stroking as I bobbed my head. His hands twisted in my hair. He opened his eyes, watching me pleasure him. Soon, his hips were lifting to meet my mouth.

  Jaxon rubbed my clit and my world burst into stars. I let out a long moan. With a couple of powerful thrusts came Liam’s release. I tasted the salty tanginess of him. He caught my face, bending forward to claim my lips. His tongue tangled with mine as he deepened the kiss. He caressed my breasts, pinching my nipples between his fingers.

  I came again, my core spasming as Jaxon thrust into me one last time. He let out a low groan. His forehead came to rest against my back. I reached behind me to run my hand through his soft hair.

  Liam straightened and scooted forward to cradle my head against his chest. Jaxon wrapped his arms around my waist. I held on to both of them, soaking in our collected bliss.