At the end, the teams shake hands, and even from a distance it’s easy to see the tension. There is no happy banter, no real sportsmanship. It’s barely-veiled hostility between the two teams.
Darel runs over to Araceli and I smile up at them as he lifts her off her feet in a huge hug. Their fondness for each other is uplifting to see, but it also makes me feel like something of a third wheel. I can’t help but be jealous of them for having something I’ll never be able to have myself.
“Are you two coming to the party after this?” he asks us.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Araceli says.
“Cool, I’ll meet you there.” He gives her another kiss, and then runs back to celebrate with the rest of his team. My gaze follows him and then lands on Callan. Tanwen stands beside him in her cheerleader uniform, clutching his bicep, but his eyes are on me. I blow him a kiss, just because I know it will annoy him, and I’m rewarded with a sharp scowl.
“I think I’m going to head back to my room,” I tell Araceli.
“You’re not coming to the party?”
“No, I’m not feeling up to it. I think that hot dog didn’t agree with my stomach.”
“Oh no! Want me to try healing you?”
I laugh. “I’ll be fine. Seriously. Go have fun with Darel.”
“Ok, but if you feel better you should come over.”
“I will.”
I start to head back to the dorms, but I’m stopped by Marcus blocking my path. He’s wearing a black shirt that hugs his muscles, his gorgeous hair ruffles in the wind, and his mouth looks deliciously kissable. It hurts to look at him, because I know how good he tastes, and it takes all my power not to take more from him.
“Liv,” he says. “You haven’t shown up to work on our project. What’s the deal?”
I stare at the grass under my feet. “I didn’t think we needed to meet anymore. We’re pretty much finished with it.”
“This is about that kiss, isn’t it?” he asks. “You’ve been avoiding me ever since. Don’t deny it.”
I sigh. “Fine, I’ve been avoiding you. That kiss shouldn’t have happened.”
“Why not?” he steps closer, within dangerous touching distance. “I thought it was pretty amazing, and I’d love to do it again sometime.”
My heart squeezes painfully. “Look, Marcus, it was a good kiss, but I’m not looking for anything serious right now. I’m not in the right place for a boyfriend or anything.”
“That’s fine. I don’t want anything serious either. We can keep it casual.”
Except my idea of casual would be sleeping with him and a couple other people too. Not because I want to, but because I have to do it to survive. Somehow, even with his joke about a harem, I don’t think Marcus would agree to anything like that. Besides, I can’t tell him about that anyway, not without revealing my succubus side, and risking everything.
“I’m just not interested,” I say, with a nonchalance I don’t feel. “Sorry.”
His jaw drops, and I bet I’m the first girl who’s ever rejected him. He can’t even form a reply as I walk away. Score another point for Liv, I think, although it doesn’t give me any comfort this time, knowing I put another of the Princes in his place.
I make it back to the dorm room and settle down in my pjs with a cup of decaf coffee and my Angelic History textbook. We have a test tomorrow, and even though Kassiel and I meet regularly, I know he’s not going to let me off the hook if I don’t pass.
Hours later, our dorm room suddenly bursts open. Araceli stands there, obviously distraught. “Have you seen Darel?”
“No, I thought he was with you at the party.”
“He never showed up! I waited and waited and he never arrived!”
“That’s odd. Maybe he was tired and passed out after the game?”
“No, I checked his dorm and he’s not there. No one has seen him. He just…disappeared after the game.” She bites her nails, something she does when she’s nervous. “Do you think demons took him?”
“I doubt it. Why would they do that?”
“I don’t know!”
It tears me apart seeing her so upset, and even though I’m sure there’s a simple explanation, I stand up and grab my coat, then toss Araceli’s to her. “Come on, let’s go look for him.”
We spend the rest of the night combing the campus for Darel, but there’s no trace of him anywhere. It’s like he just vanished after the game…like my brother did.
Darel’s body is found the next morning in the forest.
Upon hearing the news, Araceli collapses against me, screaming and crying. I hold her as her body shakes, and I cry with her while hating myself a little for being grateful it wasn’t Jonah’s body they found.
Rumor gets out that Darel’s body was torn apart by what looks like animal claws, and there were fang marks in his neck. All signs point to a demon attack after the game, and people are out for blood, even though all Uriel says is that the investigation is ongoing. Darel was liked by everyone, not to mention he was the star of the football team, and his death hits everyone hard. Especially Araceli.
Her normal light has dimmed, and now she hides in her room most of the time. I can hear her crying through the walls. I give her some space, because there’s not much else I can do, and bring her her favorite tea and cookies whenever I can.
I find it hard to believe demons would kill Darel, but there doesn’t seem to be any other explanation either.
Two weeks after Darel was found dead, Araceli emerges and sits beside me on the couch.
“Oliva, I need to tell you something. Something secret.”
I put down my favorite mug and sit up straighter. “Anything.”
“You asked me one time if there was a secret society on campus, and I lied to you and said no. But there is one, called the Order of the Golden Throne, and they’re this fanatical pro-angel, anti-demon group. They invited me to join them, and at first I was so excited because I’ve always been such an outcast among the angels, and it felt good to be wanted and accepted. But then they had us do things I didn’t agree with. Like stealing from a professor.”
“You did that?” I ask. Even though I know this was the first task, I find it hard to picture Araceli stealing anything.
“Yeah, I stole Professor Kassiel’s underwear cause I thought it would be funny, although I felt horrible doing it. I passed that test, but then they said we had to get a human to confess to something on camera, and then expose them. I refused and walked away.”
Oh shit. She’s the one who left that night—and the one they said they needed.
“Since then, I’ve been getting notes telling me to come back, and I got one again after Darel died. It’s obvious it was a demon attack, but the authorities aren’t doing anything so far. The Order says they can help me get revenge against the demons who killed him, but only if I complete the second test and join them. And I do want justice for Darel, I really do, but I don’t know if I want to get involved with the Order again.” She turns her big, kind eyes on me. “What do you think, Liv?”
I take her hands in mine and give them a squeeze. “I think you were right to walk away from the Order when you did.”
She bites her lip. “But should I join now? For Darel?”
“No, I don’t think you should. He wouldn’t want that.”
“He wouldn’t?”
“No, he wouldn’t. Uriel will make sure that the people who killed him are brought to justice, I’m sure of it. Meanwhile, you can honor Darel by living your life the best you can and staying true to yourself. That’s what he would want.”
She throws her arms around me. “Thanks, Liv. I knew you would understand. And I’m sorry I lied to you and didn’t tell you about the Order. I just wanted to protect you from them.”
“It’s okay.” I feel a pang of guilt, knowing how much I’ve lied to her about, including this. I’m tempted to tell her I was invited too, but decide against it. That would only open me up to even more questio
ns, and I’m not ready to confess everything to Araceli yet. Besides, it’s better for her if she’s kept in the dark about all of this. Araceli’s heart is so big and pure, and I can’t let her get corrupted by the darkness inside the Order. That’s my job—and I’ve already got plenty of darkness inside me anyway.
“I’m going to go make your favorite tea,” I tell Araceli. “You just relax here and watch some TV.”
She sniffs. “Thanks.”
As I head into our mini-kitchen and heat up some water, my mind wanders back to that night I snuck into the cavern below the lake.
“We’ll have to convince her to join after all,” the leader said. “Perhaps we’ll remind her of the evil of demons, and show her that the Order is the only way to stop them.”
“What do you have in mind?” another person asked.
“I have an idea. We’ll take action at the football game against the demons.”
My hand trembles as I clutch Araceli’s mug, and I nearly drop it. Could the Order be responsible for Darel’s death? Would they really do something so extreme as to kill one of their own? Thank goodness I steered Araceli away from them. But why do they need her? The only explanation is because she’s part fae, and they think that will help them find Jonah somehow. Could he be in Faerie?
I need to pass this next test. The camera arrived a while ago, but I’ve been putting the task off because I don’t want to do it. It’s time to suck it up and get it over with, especially because I only have a few more weeks before the deadline. I feel it in my gut, all of this is connected, and I’m getting closer to the truth. The Order is the key to this mystery—and I’ll do whatever I have to so I can join them.
Chapter Thirty-One
Olivia
As soon as night falls, I double-check the map and take off from my balcony, using my necklace and inborn abilities to leave campus undetected. It’s almost summer now, and the air is warmer as it filters through my black feathers. I stretch them wide and savor the feel of flight. I’ve never traveled this far before, but all that practice in Flight class has been paying off, because it isn’t a problem.
The church is empty by the time I get there. I step up to the door and push, finding it unlocked. The large wooden door creaks as I push it open. “Hello?”
Nobody responds, so I walk farther into the sanctuary. Contrary to what you’ve seen in the movies, demons won’t burst into flames in a church. Lucky for me.
“Anybody home?” I look up at the beautiful stained glass as footsteps echo off the stone walls. The church is pretty old, and for a second I feel like I’m in a horror movie or something, walking to my doom. I shake the thought off and steel myself for what I have to do.
A small man in a black suit walks out of the back. “Can I help you?”
“Are you Father Abram?” I ask.
“Yes, I am.” His eyes travel up and down my body, and I can feel a hint of his lust. It makes me want to vomit.
“Can I speak with you somewhere privately?” I ask.
“This way.”
He leads me into a back office and shuts the door. “What is this about?”
I set the camera down on the desk and turn it on. There’s no reason for me to hide it. Abram gives it an odd look, but then he’s distracted when I open my trench coat. Inside, I’m wearing a stereotypical schoolgirl uniform, and with my hair in pigtails, it makes me look younger than I am. Closer to the age this monster likes.
Last time I went to feed, I tried to get people in the bar near the academy to confess, but none of them had done anything terrible enough to warrant exposing them for. Then I met a man who was distraught, nearly drinking himself to death, because his daughter claimed a priest had touched her. No one else believed her, and I silently swore to that man that I’d make things right for his little girl.
“I need to ask you a few questions,” I say, as I run my hands down my tight white shirt, which clearly shows my pink bra underneath. I let my powers unfurl, and I’m disgusted by the way his lust tastes. It’s rotten and vile, and I can’t wait to get out of here.
He stares at me, his tongue practically hanging out of his mouth as he ogles my body. I’m sure the camera is getting a great view of my ass under my short plaid skirt.
Abram is evil, every bit of him, from his shaggy brown hair to his sensible brown shoes, but he has the nerve to say to me, “You’re a sinner.”
If only he knew.
“I am,” I say, tugging on my skirt, which barely covers my thighs. “I need you to help me.”
Abram steps forward, clasping his waistband now. The evidence of his desire is bulging against his pants, and I have to say, it’s not impressive. “I can help you.”
“Do you want to hurt me, Abram?” Trailing my hands up my waist, I throw my hair back and moan. “Do you want to make me pay for my sins?”
“I do.”
“Except I’m not young enough for you, am I?” I can’t bring myself to touch him where he wants me to, but I reach out and touch his hand, and my power latches onto his lust and draws it out.
“You’ll do for tonight,” he says, as he pulls out his cock.
“You want me, Abram?” I slide a hand under my skirt, pushing it up, revealing more of my bare thighs. “Then tell me the truth. You touch little girls, don’t you?”
“They need it,” he says, stroking his cock as he stares at me. Ugh, he’s disgusting. “Someone has to punish them for their sins.”
“And it has to be you, of course.”
“I’ll punish you too, you little demon.”
I laugh, and the sound is evil. “Oh, I’m so much more than that, Abram.” My voice lowers. “I’m an angel.”
He falls to his knees and reaches for my legs, his desperation to have me so strong he can’t help himself. “Please, demon, angel, whatever you are. Let me punish you.”
“Tell me the girls’ names first.”
“Caroline. Melody. Amanda.”
I nearly barf with each confession, but this is what I need for the video. When he’s done, I reach over and shut it off.
Then I reach over and wrap my hands around this monster’s neck. I want to squeeze the life out of him, but instead I throw more of my power into him. He jerks on his cock, unable to stop himself, until his orgasm shoots out of him. I needed him to come, but I was definitely not fucking this guy. Just touching him for a second is horrifying.
“If you want more, you will get up, put your dick back in your pants, and go straight to the police station. Confess everything you told me tonight to them.” His eyes are on mine, and my power has done its job. He’s glassy-eyed and totally in my thrall. “Do that, and I’ll come to you again.”
He nods and as soon as I let go of him, he jumps up, running for the door as he stuffs his dick in his pants. I grab my coat and camera and follow, unfurling my wings and going invisible. He’s already in his car and pulling out of the parking lot. Damn. I’ve never unleashed my magic like that before—I usually try to hold it back, so that humans won’t be harmed by it. But once I let the magic work, it really did.
I follow Abram to the police station, and when he disappears inside, I creep to the window and turn the camera back on. As it records, I watch the priest speak to a police officer behind a desk. His face goes from bored to pale to furious.
Mission complete.
I need to go home and have a long, hot shower to get the feel of his desire off of me. The Order had better let me in after that—and now there will be one less predator out in the world too.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Marcus
During second period, we head to room 302. Bastien unlocks the door with the key he swiped from the office, and I glance around warily. He shut the cameras in the dorms off, and even if someone was here, they wouldn’t stop us or question us. Why would they? We do what we want without any consequences. Olivia’s the only one who ever gives us any grief at all.
Maybe that’s why I can’t stop thinking about h
er. She’s the only woman who’s ever rejected me before, and it stings. I know she wants me too, but she’s holding back, and it drives me crazy. For once, I don’t know what to do about a woman.
I’m pretty sure breaking into her room isn’t it, but the guys never listen to me on these things. “This is a really bad idea,” I say anyway. “We shouldn’t do this.”
“Nothing else is working,” Callan says. “It’s been months and she’s still here. We have no other choice.”
Bastien pushes open the door, and Callan pushes past him and stomps inside. I pinch the bridge of my nose and follow behind them. It was bad enough when Callan was just sending her notes and being rude to her, but then he went and trashed her car. Now this.
But maybe he’s right. Jonah made us promise him we’d keep Olivia away from the school for her own safety, and I trusted my best friend to my core. She was obviously important to him, which makes her important to me. If this is how we keep her safe, I guess we have to do it. I just don’t like it. At all.
The living room is neat and unadorned, except for a few cozy pillows they’ve added, plus some art on the walls with splashes of paint. There are textbooks stacked on the coffee table and a few dirty plates in the sink. Both Olivia and her roommate Araceli have class right now according to Bastien, so we knew they’d be away, but it still makes me feel like a total creeper for being in their room uninvited.
Callan and Bastien don’t seem to be bothered by it though. They find Olivia’s bedroom and get right to work, first closing her curtains so no one will see. Meanwhile, I keep glancing at the door and wondering if I can sneak out.
Olivia’s room is surprisingly boring. There’s nothing on the walls, and her bedspread is plain gray and from the student store. Even so, her presence is imbibed into its fabric, and I can practically smell her in the air. Knowing how she affects me, I don’t give her unmade bed a second glance, besides thinking how typical it is that she doesn’t make her bed.
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