"No need," he said. "You keep doing what you were doing and I'll heal just fine."
A hand grabbed mine and I turned toward Ben. He pulled me into him and pressed his lips against my shoulder, then up to my neck. His tongue teased my earlobe as his hands went around my back to my bra.
In a flick of motion, my bra was unsnapped and Ben leaned back, pulling the lacy garment off of me and tossing it aside.
Luka's hands came around from behind me and he caressed my exposed breasts. He squeezed my nipples before going back to feeling my body. A moment later, his lips gently brushed against the back of my neck.
I gasped as a shiver of pleasure moved down my spine.
Ben stood, then held his hand out to me just as Luka's touch left my body. I took Ben's offered hand and he pulled me to standing. Without waiting, he unbuttoned my pants and slid them down my hips.
I stepped out of them.
From behind, I felt Luka's fingers hook under the waistband of my panties and he slid them down.
I was naked now. Vulnerable and completely exposed. I should have been terrified but everything felt so right.
Standing on my tiptoes, I tilted my face so I could reach Ben's mouth. I gave him a quick kiss, then I turned back to Luka.
He looked better now but was still more pale than I'd like to see him. Plus, there was all that blood.
I went to work on his clothing, removing his soiled garments. Then I walked over to one of the showers and turned it on. I turned the next two showers on also. While they warmed up, I walked over to Ben and quickly stripped him of his destroyed clothing. To my surprise, he didn't object.
I guided him to the middle shower which was now nice and hot. A cloud of steam rose around our feet.
Filling my hand with soap from the dispenser, I went to work lathering up Luka's hair. He grabbed my arm, kissing the inside of my wrist. "Thank you."
"You're the one who charged after the dragon to save us all," I reminded him.
"Yeah, but I'm the asshole who took you all there in the first place," he said.
"We're okay, though," I said. "We're all okay."
He let go of my hand and leaned back in the hot water, rinsing the suds from his hair.
I turned to Ben, my hands still full of soapy bubbles and I spread the lather on his firm chest. He grinned and scooped the bubbles off of himself and rubbed them onto my breasts.
I grabbed more soap and got to work lathering up every inch of exposed skin I could find on him.
He laughed, doing the same to me.
When I bent down to get soap on his lower legs, I felt someone come up behind me. A hard cock pressed into my ass cheek and I stood quickly, startled.
Luka's arms wrapped around me and I looked over my shoulder at him. His head wasn't covered in blood anymore and his color had returned.
"You look better," I said.
"I feel better," he said.
His hard cock pressed against my hip as he held me in his embrace. I felt tension I didn't even know I was holding release. I'd been so worried about him and now I could relax. He was going to be okay.
Just then, Ben moved forward, the bubbles on his rock-hard body washing away under the running water of the shower. His huge cock pressed against my stomach.
Wetness spread between my legs as my body reacted to being between two sexy men.
He leaned down and kissed me. I moaned into his mouth, feeling intoxicated with lust. I didn't even care what they did to me. I just wanted them both.
Ben broke free of the kiss and Luka's mouth replaced his. I could feel the sexual energy radiating from him, filling the shower room. It was as if the three of us were in a spell we couldn't break free of.
Ben's mouth found my nipples and someone's fingers teased my clit. I gasped into Luka's kiss as an orgasm threatened.
A finger slid inside me, but I was too far gone to even notice who was doing what. Hands explored my breasts, while another hand cupped my ass.
A second finger joined, and I gasped as my pleasure peaked with each pulsing moment.
I came hard, breaking away from Luka's kiss to cry out. But they weren't about to let me have time to rest.
Suddenly, Ben lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist. Slowly, he lowered me enough to enter me. I bit down on my lower lip as I held my breath in anticipation. His huge cock slid into me quickly. "Fuck!" He felt so good inside me, hitting in just the right place to nearly take me to climax again.
Luka's hands caressed my ass and I panted hard as the little movements from Ben's cock sent me closer and closer to orgasm.
Then I felt pressure at my asshole and my eyes widened. I'd never done that before. Despite all my experimenting with sex, the back door wasn't something I'd ever explored. I wasn't sure it was a good idea and was just about to say so when Ben adjusted his position, thrusting in a way that sent chills through my whole body as I cried out in ecstasy.
That's when Luka's cock slid into my ass.
I gasped, feeling fuller than I ever had before. I turned so I could look back at Luka and he leaned closer, kissing my cheek. I rested my head on his shoulder for a second as I adjusted to the new sensation. Both males were still, breathing in time with me, as if waiting for my queue.
For a moment, I felt like I couldn't handle it. It was too much. Then just before I thought I couldn't take any more, my body adjusted. Taking a deep breath, I leaned forward, and kissed Ben.
Both males began to thrust slowly and the pleasure began to build again. I gripped Ben's back, digging my nails into him as I fought against the intensity as a rush of heat low in my belly began to surge through me.
It didn't take long before it exploded, making me scream as both males continued to thrust.
The orgasm rolled through me in waves, over and over. I'd never felt anything like it. Intense and overpowering, I was useless against it.
Finally, both males joined me in their release and they set me back down on the ground.
My legs wobbled and the room was spinning. I lost track of how many times I'd come. "Wow."
"I get that a lot," Luka said.
"Don't think it'll ever happen again," Ben said.
I knew Ben had done this for me and I knew how hard it must have been for him to do considering the way he felt about Luka. But I had to admit, I was hoping it would happen again.
33
Raven
Despite the excitement the night before, the practice trials were going on as planned.
I paced the locker room, waiting for my turn. Makayla and Violet had both already taken their turns, making my wait feel even longer.
"Hey little mage," Delores called.
I let out a sigh as I turned to face her. I wasn't in the mood today. "What?"
"You have a plan to get through this thing alive?" she asked.
"Same as you," I said. "Go through it and do my best."
"Right," she moved closer to me, "except for the fact that you saw it last night. I know you did. Zach may have mentioned it. You know, pillow talk."
My insides seized, then twisted until I felt like I was going to throw up. I couldn't stand the thought of Zach curled up with this bitch. "You're bluffing."
"Wanna try me?" she asked. "You do know what my magic does, right? I have the ability to get people to sing."
"You wouldn't," I said.
"Not if you give me something I can work with. Otherwise, you'll be confessing your sins to Coach Miller," she said with a grin.
I rolled my eyes. What did Zach see in her? And how was I ever going to look at him the same way again?
Really, all I wanted to do was claw her eyes out but that was irrational. I had zero claim on Zach. If anything, I should be thrilled that he was done flirting with me. Instead it felt like a punch in the gut.
"What do you have for me, little mage?" she asked.
"Fine," I said.
She leaned in so her ear was near my lips. "I'm waiting."
"
There are two dragons out there," I said.
She pulled away, her eyes wide. "Are you serious?"
I nodded. "We nearly died. Did Zach fail to mention that part?"
Her brow furrowed. "He might have."
"Well, now you know."
"Raven Winters, it's your turn," Professor Halifax called from the doorway.
"Good luck," Delores said.
"You too," I said, calling it out on reflex. I kind of hoped the dragon swallowed her whole.
Professor Halifax closed the door behind me, and I stood next to her facing the gym. The scorch marks from last night were gone.
"I'm proud of you," Professor Halifax said.
I turned to look at her, confused. "I haven't done anything yet."
She smirked. "Last night you faced down a dragon and you didn't resort to your time magic. Do that again today. You can get through this while keeping yourself in check."
My cheeks heated. Did everyone know about last night?
"Go on," she said. "You have to ring the bell on the other end. However you get there is up to you."
Taking a deep breath in through my nose, I squared my shoulders, staring out at the ladders and ramps and rock walls ahead of me. The whole room was a mess of obstacles.
However, she didn't tell me I had to use them. She just said I had to get to the bell. "Just ring the bell?"
She nodded. "That's the only rule."
It seemed too easy. Why the hell would anyone choose to climb all the obstacles if they didn't have to? Feeling like I was missing something, I walked out onto the gym floor.
A low rumbling sounded behind me and I knew the dragon was on its way. I didn't look back. I ran.
Going around the climbing wall, I ducked under a bridge just as a wall of fire hit the ground next to me.
The room smelled like burning paint and campfire. Did they clean it up after every candidate? It seemed like a lot of work to go through every year. But then again, they had magic.
The dragon swooped past my hiding spot, then landed nearby. Its claws tapped along the wood floor as it moved closer to me. In a few seconds, it would sniff me out.
I glanced behind me to find that I was in an enclosed space. Fuck. I might have been spared for a few minutes, but now I was totally screwed.
I needed a plan.
My magic seemed to respond to my being trapped here. Heat flowed through my veins, reminding me of the way I'd summoned fire in the past. But would fire be helpful against a dragon?
Thinking fast, I remembered how I'd knocked the test booklets out of Professor Hurd's hands. It wasn't enough to do damage, but it had sure given me a distraction.
Channeling air, I pulled all my magic inside and held it tight like a spring ready to explode.
The dragon stuck its large head into my hiding space and blew out a burst of air from its nostrils. It smelled like brimstone. I honestly wasn't sure what brimstone even was, but I was sure it smelled like dragon breath.
With a yell, I released the magic, sending a huge rush of wind right in the dragon's face.
The creature roared and pulled its head back. Then, it stumbled and landed on its back. It howled.
It was pissed.
Really. Really. Pissed.
But it was down.
Not waiting to see if a dragon on its back could get up quickly, I ran from my hiding spot and darted around a few more obstacles.
I could see the bell.
It was on the top of a tower that was connected to a second tower via a zipline.
There was no way up except for the zipline. Fuck. I cursed under my breath and spun around to follow the zipline.
And there was dragon number two.
This one was quiet, creeping on all fours toward me like a fucking cat. "What the hell?"
Whoever heard of a stealthy dragon.
My magic bubbled below the surface, calling to me. It wasn't the same magic I'd used before. This was darker magic. Something that was urging me to claim its power.
I'd used this magic once before when I attacked the thief. I didn't know how it worked or what it was, but I was pretty sure it was connected to my time magic. Which meant, it was off limits.
Pushing the magic back down, I looked around for somewhere to go. The dragon growled and broke into a run.
Time's up.
Running as hard as I could, I race toward the tower.
Ring the bell.
Ring the bell.
Reaching inside, I called to whatever magic I could find. The dark magic happily rose up to the challenge. I didn't care. I didn't want to be eaten. Or burned alive.
I threw the magic at the ball, urging it to ring.
Like an invisible curve ball, something hit the bell and it sounded clear and strong, ringing out through the gym.
I dove behind the bell tower, panting.
Other than the sound of the bell, the gym was silent.
I wiped the sweat off my brow then risked a glance around the tower. No dragons.
My heart was racing and my breathing was still too fast, but I was alive. For now.
"She didn't ring it herself, it's not over," Coach Miller said.
"The rules are clear, she has to ring the bell, she rang it," Professor Halifax said.
I walked toward the sound of their arguing, still breathing too fast to speak.
"She cheated. That's never been the intention of the trials. Otherwise a student could use magic to ring the bell the second they step foot in the gym," he said.
"And there's no rule that says they can't," Professor Halifax said.
"She's right," Dr. Green said. "Congratulations, Raven. You passed the practice trial."
The whole thing felt surreal. I did it? I passed? I had to admit, I sort of agreed with Coach Miller. I did feel like I cheated, but I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Thanks," I breathed.
"You won't get so lucky at the real trials," Coach Miller said.
"I guess we'll see, won't we?" I asked, then I turned and walked away before he could say anything else. I probably just ensured that my next week in gym was going to be hell, but it was worth it.
34
Raven
I knocked on Makayla's Door. "You ready?"
The door opened and Makayla stepped back, spinning in a slow circle. "What do you think?"
Her long, red dress hugged her curves in all the right places. Her cropped brown hair was dusted with something that sparkled in the light and her fire engine red lipstick was perfect.
"You look amazing. Jonah isn't even going to know what hit him," I said.
"I'm still mad as hell that he didn't ask me," she said as she walked out of the door. "But at least I know he's going alone so he has a chance to make it up to me."
She stopped in the hall and put her hands on her hips. "Did you even attempt to make yourself look good?"
I scoffed. "Wow. You're the best ego boost I've ever had."
"No, seriously. The dress is perfect. I told you you'd be hot as hell in it. But the makeup and hair are just sad. It's a ball, not a trip to a bowling alley or whatever the hell you did in the human world."
"I haven't been to a bowling alley since I was a kid," I said defensively.
"Well, lucky for you, I'm here to help." She swiped her key card then pushed me toward her door. "Come on."
Knowing it was easier to just go along with her, I let her push me into her room. Makayla's room looked like a tornado had torn through it. There were shoes and clothes all over her floor and bed.
She steered me toward her bathroom. The counter was covered in round powder compacts, lipstick tubes, liner pencils, brushes, and liquids I didn't recognize.
I took in my reflection. I didn't think I'd done too bad. I had pulled half of my hair up and pinned it with a sparkly clip. I'd even put on some blush and lip gloss. Wasn't that enough?
"Sit," Makayla commanded.
I took the chair facing the mirror. "I'm no
t a big makeup person."
"I know, but it's the Yule Ball. It's once a year. And it's a big deal. Besides, it might be your only one if you pass the trials in the spring."
"I doubt I'll be that lucky twice," I said.
She laughed. "None of us would survive if you got that lucky twice. I'm so tired of running up and down that tower."
"Same." Coach Miller had made us run the obstacle course the way he wanted it to go all week for gym. That final tower to get to the zip line was only accessible through a hanging rope. You had to climb it while sliding down the glossy tower if you tried to use it for leverage. People who had better upper body strength just climbed the rope. I had to use the side of the tower and ended up falling on my ass more times than I could count.
"I sure hope he's over that by Monday," I said.
"That's the best part," she said. "Monday starts the holiday break. Solstice. Some of the students go home and others hang out here. It's basically a week of nonstop parties."
I sunk a little deeper into the chair as relief washed over me. I could use the break.
Makayla sprayed something in my hair then went to work with a brush and a curling iron. Ten minutes later, I had to admit, my hair was a gorgeous cascade of loose curls. "That looks amazing."
"You're welcome," she said cheerfully. Then she spun me around so I was facing her. "Now close your eyes."
I obeyed, nervous about what she was going to do. She didn't spend long applying makeup, but it was more than I usually did.
"All done," she said. "Now that date of yours is going to lose it when he sees you."
I turned to look at myself in the mirror. She'd kept the makeup subtle compared to hers, but gave me a muted smoky eye and a pink lipstick that enhanced the color of my lips. I looked like a better version of myself and I felt beautiful. "Wow. Thanks, Makayla."
"Now, we're ready," she said.
I stood and admired the finished product. I'd stuck to my standard black dress but this time, I'd gone a bit more dramatic in the cut. It was long and form fitting with an open back. A strand of rhinestones across my shoulder blades kept the straps from falling down. It belonged to Makayla and I had a feeling she'd ordered it for me and pretended it was hers. I was several inches taller than her and wore a size larger, but this dress fit me like a glove.
Academy of the Elites: Broken Magic Page 15
