Academy of the Elites: Broken Magic

by Alexis Calder

  "I'll have to take your word for it," I said, suddenly feeling very self-conscious about the amount of bare skin I'd show if I took off my jacket.

  "Don't worry," she said. "You're off limits. We have a rule here. Willing only. And guests are never to be propositioned. Ever."

  Before I could consider how I actually felt about the whole thing, Violet pulled my jacket off and tossed it to someone. Scarlett maybe?

  The next thing I knew, I was on the dance floor with Violet, moving to the beat of the music. As soon as I started moving, my body took over, feeling the music on instinct.

  "Have fun," Violet said just as the music changed.

  Without thinking, I moved until I was facing a new partner. I didn't even realize I'd turned to someone else. It was as if the music was driving my movements.

  A tall, thin blonde vampire wrapped his arms around my waist and the two of us danced together as if we had been a couple for years. We anticipated the other's move, dancing in time as if we'd rehearsed the steps. I laughed. "This is wild."

  "First time?" he asked.

  "Yes," I said. "How does it do this?"

  "It's the music," he said. "Siren magic. They might be crazy creatures, but they sure know how to make a killer playlist."

  Just then, the music shifted again, and I turned to my next partner.

  Luka smiled at me. "Wanna dance?"

  I narrowed my eyes. "I thought you didn't do vampire parties?"

  He shrugged. "I want to be where you are."

  How could I resist that? I took his hands. "How about we get out of here and finish where we left off?"

  He grinned. "I like that even better."

  14

  Raven

  Luka’s hands slid up my dress before the door even closed behind us. I lifted my arms, encouraging him to get the dress off me faster.

  As he tossed it to the ground, I pulled up his shirt. He took over and finished taking it off. It joined my dress on the floor.

  His mouth found mine in a hungry, passionate kiss with so much heat behind it that my skin felt like it was on fire. As his lips and mine moved in unison, I reached for his fly.

  Luka’s hands wrapped around my back, finding my bra strap. Just as he released the clasp, I had his fly open.

  Breathless, I stepped away from the kiss and slid my bra off of my shoulders. Then I hooked my thumbs under the waistband of my panties and pulled them down.

  I stood there completely naked but felt like I was burning up. I wanted Luka so bad it was as if my body and his were magnetically attracted to each other.

  He stepped out of his jeans and I glanced down to see that he wasn’t wearing any underwear. I smirked. He was prepared for tonight.

  I admired him for a moment. His lean, chiseled form. His strong chest that led down to washboard abs. Below that, the V of his hips pointed straight to his large erection.

  I didn’t stand a chance. He was a perfect male. The kind of partner I would have thought only existed in my dreams.

  Turns out, I was the lucky one who got to have him in my dreams, and I was about to finally have him in real life.

  Unable to wait any longer, I moved to him and took his hand. He grinned, that cocky playful grin of his that made my heart flutter. I’d made him wait and I was ready to make it up to him.

  When we reached his bed, I pushed him down.

  “Oh, I like where this is going,” he said.

  “Just wait,” I said.

  I crawled onto the bed, between his legs, then lowered my head. Using my tongue, I licked his cock from base to tip before pulling it into my mouth.

  Luka groaned and fell to his back on the bed.

  Gripping his upper thighs, I continued to lick and suck until his hips bucked and his moans grew more rapid.

  There was no way in hell I was going to stop here. I wanted more than this.

  I lifted my head and climbed over him so I was straddling his hips.

  “You are so fucking sexy,” he said.

  “Have you seen yourself in the mirror?” I asked.

  He laughed. “I’m not really my type if you know what I mean.”

  “I’m pretty sure you’re everyone’s type,” I said.

  “Well, that’s high praise, especially from you. The one who kept me waiting.” He sat up and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me on top of him.

  I could feel the head of his cock at my entrance and I held my breath in anticipation. After all this time, all this wait, it was finally real.

  Slowly, I lowered myself onto him, letting myself adjust as he filled me. When he was deep inside me, I leaned forward and the top of his cock hit me in just the right place.

  We both moaned at the same time and sparks seemed to explode across my skin. It was as if little bursts of electricity sizzled around us. Then, just as soon as it started, it stopped, and I was hit instead with the pleasure of his cock inside me.

  I leaned forward, pinning his shoulders down with my chest. My breasts pressed against his bare chest as my lips made contact with his.

  Slowly, I lifted and lowered my hips. The friction making me moan into his mouth.

  Luka slid his tongue into my mouth and I had to brace myself with my hands on the bed to keep from losing control. All the sensations combined were pushing me closer and closer to climax.

  I leaned back up so I was sitting on him and continued to thrust with my hips. When Luka’s fingers found my clit, I cried out as an orgasm crashed through me.

  Breathless, I didn’t even resist as he lifted me off him and rotated us so I was now on the bottom.

  He looked down at me with those blue eyes and I felt like I’d turned into a puddle. The man had a hold on me, that was for damn sure. He could probably do just about anything to me and I’d go along for the ride.

  Smirking, he parted my thighs and slid his hips in between them. Still holding my thighs, he lifted them so my legs were in the air. I could feel his cock at my entrance, and I held my breath in anticipation.

  He didn’t enter me right away, though. Instead he rubbed his cock against my clit, teasing me. Wetness grew between my legs and I whined. “Please.”

  “Wait,” he said, letting go of my thighs. He leaned forward and kissed me, sucking my lower lip into his mouth.

  I moaned again and bucked my hips against him. His mouth moved to my jaw, then down to my neck. He trailed kisses along my collar bone and then moved back up my neck to my ear. When his tongue hit my earlobe, I gasped. I had no idea that was a turn on.

  Again, I lifted my hips and this time, I was met with his cock sliding easily into me.

  He thrust slowly at first, then grabbed my legs, holding them up again. He picked up speed, pounding me hard.

  Grabbing fistfuls of sheets to hang on, I cried out with each thrust. The pressure kept building and I gasped for breath as I got closer to climax with each thrust.

  Finally, I tossed my head back and screamed as an explosive orgasm rippled through my body.

  Luka finished in the next thrust and then he collapsed, resting his head on my breasts.

  His warm breath came out as rapid as my own. I ran my fingers through his golden hair. It was damp with sweat and still sexy as hell.

  Sex in my dreams had always been amazing with him but this blew that away.

  He lifted his chin and smiled at me; his eyes hooded with desire. I knew exactly how he felt. The post orgasm haze had me feeling like I was drunk, but I was totally sober.

  He was just that good.

  15

  Ben

  Each time I saw Raven, it got harder to keep my wolf in check. She wasn't even in the classroom yet but walking by her usual desk was enough to send an involuntary growl into my throat. She wasn't even sitting there but her scent still hung in the air.

  I forced down the beast inside, maintaining control as best as I could. As we got closer to the wolf moon, I was struggling to contain it. I'd had to let my wolf run in the woods outside the school e
very night this week and it still wasn't enough.

  The human part of me was exhausted and losing focus with each passing day as the power of my wolf grew. I just had to make it to the wolf moon. It was the strongest moon of the year. The one that gave us shifters the most power. Our creatures within were at their peak on that night and gained power leading up to it. Once I survived that night, I was in the clear. I could control myself. Control my wolf. But it wasn't easy.

  We'd learned so little about mating bonds because it was rare. Most of us never came in contact with our mate. I'd heard the stories. Tales of forbidden love that usually ended in tragedy. I'd also heard how incredible sex was with your mate. Apparently, it was so amazing there was an ancient shifter word used to describe the orgasm that came with it. Furor. From the Latin word for Frenzy.

  My wolf rumbled low in my chest and I knew what that meant. Raven was here.

  I looked up to see her walking into the classroom, her backpack slung on one shoulder. She was in a white long sleeve shirt and a short black skirt today. All I wanted to do was push that skirt up around her waist and claim her.

  But I had to resist.

  My dad was still breathing down my neck and I knew he was paying at least one professor to keep an eye on me. If I made a move on Raven, he'd know.

  And as much as I wanted her, I needed her to be safe even more. Especially since she was without her magic. Thankfully, Makayla kept me updated on her progress. Or lack of progress.

  Part of me wondered if we could get away with hiding in a dark corner. But this was my mate, not some one-night stand.

  She waved to me and smiled. It was a smile she didn't use anywhere else. It was my smile and I knew it. Despite my ignoring her, she hadn't stopped being kind to me. It made me feel even worse.

  I inclined my head, acknowledging her but looking away quickly so I didn't invite her to come over.

  A rush of her honeydew scent filled my nostrils and I knew she took her seat nearby. I didn't have to look up to feel her gaze on me. She was probably waiting for me to give in. Even if she didn't know what we were, she had to be feeling a pull to me. I was lucky she'd been raised in the human world and didn't know the mating bond when she felt it stir inside her. If she came to me, I wouldn't be able to stop myself.

  My wolf growled again and my cock twitched, he wanted to claim his mate. And I couldn't blame him.

  I'd have to run again tonight. It was the only way to try to wear down my wolf. Keep it distracted. Give it some freedom while denying the only thing both of us wanted.

  Once class started, I risked a few glances at her. She was as stunning as ever. Her long red hair hung down to the middle of her back. I wanted to run my fingers through it. I wanted to grab it and tug her to me. I wanted to do everything to her.

  Breaking myself away from the thoughts of her lips around my cock, I looked up at Professor Herd. He was droning on and on about portals and magic history. I couldn't concentrate. All I could think about was Raven.

  The Wolf Moon couldn't come soon enough. I just had to make it through and then things could return to normal.

  16

  Raven

  Ben still wasn't talking to me but at least he wasn't pretending I wasn't here. His little nods hurt, though. We'd been at the start of something good, I knew it. That night playing strip poker wasn't an accident. And somehow, I knew he still wanted to get to know me better.

  I sure did.

  I was pretty sure that if he walked up to me and kissed me, I'd kiss him right back. And we wouldn't stop there.

  None of it made sense. He'd been ignoring me for weeks, but I couldn't help but feel like I broke him. Something happened that night with the thief when he saved me. Whatever he was working out needed more time, but I hoped it wasn't much longer.

  If not for the distractions of tutoring and researching with Luka, I'd probably be driving Ben crazy with questions. It wasn't like me to let something go this easily, but I somehow knew he needed the time and space. There was a part of me that wanted him to heal, no matter what the cost was to me. We hardly knew each other, but I was pretty sure that I would sacrifice my own happiness if it meant he could recover from whatever he was going through.

  I glanced behind me to get another look at him. He was facing the professor, seemingly interested in the lesson. We were still learning about portals, despite the fact that we'd been told to never use them. It seemed like a waste of time to me, but I guess it must be on some supernatural curriculum checklist or something. One of those things they make you learn even if they have zero real life applications. Like existential poetry.

  With a sigh, I turned back to the lesson, trying to get anything I could. Nothing stuck. Instead, I doodled flowers and vines all over my notebook till the bell rang.

  As usual, Ben was out the door before I even zipped up my backpack. Feeling a bit defeated, I left the classroom. I wanted to catch him to tell him my magic was starting to return, but I knew he'd just avoid me.

  I hadn't told anyone yet, but I thought Ben would understand what I was going through. He'd been without his ability to shift for a few days. He knew what it felt like to have your magic stolen.

  Soon I'd tell Makayla and Luka. But right now, I was still a little too nervous that the candle had been a fluke.

  I walked into Spellcasting, expecting to check in before going to the library but as soon as I saw the familiar faces next to my seat, I realized plans were about to change.

  Matt and Zach both wore grins on their identical, handsome faces when they saw me. "Hey little mage," one of them called.

  As I got closer, I checked for the freckle. "Hi Zach." Then I turned to the other twin, "hi Matt."

  "I told you she can tell us apart," Zach said.

  "It's impressive for sure," Matt said.

  "Did you miss us terribly?" Zach asked.

  "I actually did," I said, feeling a comforting warmth spread through me. I was really, really glad they were back. I didn't realize how much I'd missed them until now. I wondered if it was the bond we'd forged from our magic meld that made me feel that way.

  "It seems we missed some action," Matt said, his brow furrowed in concern. "Are you okay?"

  "I guess," I said, not really sure how to answer. I'd repeated the story so many times I wasn't in the mood to tell it again. "I'm sorry about your grandfather."

  "Great-grandfather," Matt said.

  "He was a dick," Zach said.

  "He was still family," Matt said.

  "Which is why we couldn't get out of the twenty-one days of mourning. I think I'm good with family visits for the next decade or so," Zach said.

  "Until parent's weekend," Matt said.

  "Shit," Zach said.

  "Speaking of parents," I said. "You two want to tell me something?"

  Both of them pressed their lips together, obviously aware of what I was asking.

  "You'll have to thank your mother for me," I said. "For paying my tuition and all."

  "You'll be able to thank her yourself," Zach said. "She wants us to invite you to tea on parent's weekend. Thankfully, you have a few months to prepare for that."

  "Huh. No denial. So you both knew but didn't think I'd be interested to know your parents were footing the bill?" I put my hands on my hips, annoyed.

  "Just our mom," Matt said. "Our dad passed when we were babies."

  I dropped my hands to my sides. "Sorry."

  They shrugged.

  "Class, in your seats," Professor Halifax said.

  We quickly sat down and I faced the professor. Today she was wearing a pair of tight black slacks and a gray sweater. It was by far the most causal thing I'd ever seen her wear. Her hair was pulled up in a hasty ponytail and she didn't have her usual impeccable air about her. I wondered if she'd overslept. The thought made me smile. I supposed professors weren't that different from us.

  "Today is your last day to prepare for the group presentations," she said. "You'll begin presenting tomorrow,
beginning with Malakai's group. Wednesday will be Joanna's group, and Thursday is Hunter's group."

  She moved closer to us and locked her eyes on me. "Your group will present on Friday, so I suggest you three figure out how to demonstrate your use of elemental fire magic before then."

  My jaw dropped open. I had managed to make one candle light with the help of some kind of weird fae portal magic. How the hell was I supposed to do anything more exciting than that? "Professor, I..."

  She stared at me, her eyebrows raised. "You have a week."

  The whole thing seemed completely unfair. She'd worked with me on Saturday. She knew my magic wasn't there. Suddenly I remembered what she'd said, and I glanced at the twins sitting next to me. She was pushing us all and forcing us to use that bond to bring my magic back.

  "Guess we have some work to do," Matt said, then he lowered his voice. "I heard your magic was taken that night."

  I swallowed then nodded. "It was but I worked with Professor Halifax on Saturday and she got some of it to come back. And she told me you two might be able to help me."

  "The magic meld," Zach said.

  I nodded again. "Yes. I'm not sure how, but I think it might work."

  "We connected our magic when we did that," Matt said. "If we try it again, it could jumpstart yours."

  "It's worth trying," Zach said. He shot his hand into the air.

  Professor Halifax walked over to us. The rest of the room was a hum of conversation as students talked through their projects and practiced their magic. I felt so out of place, like I didn't belong here. It was an awful feeling.

  "Yes, Mr. Obscura?"

  "Permission to go somewhere more private to practice?" he asked with a cheeky grin.

  "Fine," she said, almost too quickly. It was as if this was what she expected. Without another word, she turned and walked away from us.

  "Our room?" Zach asked.

  I shook my head. "Not this time. My turn for the home turf."

  "In the shifter dorm?" Zach asked. "You can't be serious."