Seraphim Academy 2: Sinful Things
Elizabeth Briggs
Contents
Free Books!
1. Olivia
2. Olivia
3. Kassiel
4. Olivia
5. Olivia
6. Olivia
7. Marcus
8. Olivia
9. Olivia
10. Olivia
11. Bastien
12. Olivia
13. Olivia
14. Olivia
15. Callan
16. Olivia
17. Olivia
18. Olivia
19. Bastien
20. Olivia
21. Olivia
22. Olivia
23. Callan
24. Olivia
25. Olivia
26. Olivia
27. Kassiel
28. Olivia
29. Olivia
30. Olivia
31. Marcus
32. Olivia
33. Olivia
34. Olivia
35. Kassiel
36. Olivia
37. Olivia
38. Olivia
39. Bastien
40. Olivia
41. Olivia
42. Olivia
43. Marcus
44. Olivia
45. Olivia
46. Olivia
47. Callan
48. Olivia
49. Olivia
Free Books!
Stroke The Flame - Excerpt
About the Author
For a limited time only, sign up for Elizabeth's newsletter to get three FREE books!
Click here to get them:
www.elizabethbriggsbooks.com
Chapter One
Olivia
Some days I forget I’m half demon and I live on light like any other angel. Other days I wake with a raging hunger for sex and remember there’s no escaping my succubus side.
Today is one of those days.
I held off for as long as I could, and then debated going back to bars to pick up strangers, but in the end, I contacted Bastien for help—again. I’ve been using him to feed over the last few months, and he’s never questioned or commented on my sudden requests. I’m sure he’s only here out of some sense of obligation to my brother, but I’ll take whatever I can get.
I suck all the lust and desire out of him as I stare at my soft yellow bedroom walls. Allowing myself to get into the feeding isn’t an option, so I turn off all my emotions, even the raging anger I feel toward him. It’s still a good meal because Bastien is incredibly powerful and damn good in bed, but there’s a reason I called him and not Marcus. With Bastien, sex is a quick and easy business transaction between two people, and nothing more. That wouldn’t be the case with Marcus—and sex with emotions is an entirely different experience.
For a second the emotions manage to creep back in anyway, and my heart pangs as I think about how it could've been if the Princes had been honest with me instead of trying to bully me off campus. Damn it, now I’m mad again.
Bastien must sense the change in me, because he stops pounding into me from behind and flips me over. He takes my chin and turns it to the side, then presses his face against my neck almost tenderly. He breathes me in deeply like he can’t resist, but then his cock plunges into me hard, and the moment is over. We’re back to business, and it’s a relief to lose myself in the feel of him thrusting in and out of me.
He never lets me go unsatisfied, even though it’s not part of our deal, and he reaches between us and finds my clit with his very talented fingers. I can’t help but groan as he strokes me in the right way to drive me wild. By now, he knows exactly what it takes to get me off, and he doesn’t hesitate or delay. I don’t want to feel, but for a few seconds all I do is feel, feel, feel, and my legs tighten around his hips to draw him further inside me. The climax ripples through me, and he joins me moments later, hitting me with a rush of power. His face is right beside mine, and I start to turn my head to kiss his perfect lips, before I remember who we are and what we’re doing and why I very much do not want to kiss Bastien.
When I've soaked up all the energy I can from him, I push him off me and straighten my clothes, avoiding his eyes. Bastien stands and pulls up his slacks, which we only yanked down to his knees in our haste. He buttons them as he walks toward the bedroom door, and I watch his tight ass as he moves away. At least the view is nice.
"I appreciate your assistance," I say in a stiff voice. Nice views don’t cancel out what he did to me.
"Are you sufficiently sated?” he asks, his voice equally stiff.
“Yes, thank you.”
He nods and then walks down the hall with his nose in the air. You think you're doing me this huge favor, you ass. But I don't say it out loud, because technically he is doing me a favor. Of course, he also gets to sleep with a hot succubus as part of the deal, so I think he’s doing pretty well for himself.
I open the front door for him, and the beautiful sunset streams through with the still-crisp air. It’s the beginning of March, which means school starts in a few weeks. I’ve been living in my father’s house in Angel Peak for the last few months over the break, and although it’s been nice to finally have a home, I’m eager to head back to Seraphim Academy.
Bastien pauses in the doorway, while the sun makes his black hair shine like raven feathers. "We’ll be in school the next time you need to feed. I'm sure Marcus will be willing to provide that meal."
I cross my arms. “Not going to happen.”
Marcus would want to grovel and apologize and tell me how much he cares about me, and I am so not in the mood for that right now. I’m far too pissed to give him an inch, and I doubt he’ll be okay with me using his body and sending him on his way, like I’m doing with Bastien now.
Bastien scowls. “We both know feeding on one person alone isn’t going to cut it.”
“Have a good night,” I say in my coldest voice, and begin closing the door on him. He’s right, of course, even though I hate to admit it. I’ll have to find another solution soon, or risk draining Bastien dry.
He clamps his mouth shut and walks outside. Finally. I watch him head down the porch steps, where he spreads his dark silvery wings and launches into the air in the direction of campus. When he’s gone, I breathe deeply, trying to calm myself down. My anger is hard to swallow when the Princes are around. Even though Callan was the true instigator of the events last year, Bastien and Marcus were just as complicit. I won’t let them off easily, if at all.
Over the break, I’ve been plotting my revenge. I have several tricks up my sleeve for the coming school year to get payback for what the Princes did to me. All three of them need to be knocked down a peg, not just for my own pleasure, but because they have to realize they don’t rule the school anymore. And forgiveness? That’s not in the cards. Not unless they convince me they’re really sorry. The only one who might succeed is Marcus. Bastien is good for a quick meal, at least. But Callan? He’s a lost cause. I picture him on his knees, begging for my forgiveness. Not a chance.
They deserve what I have planned for them.
Other than plotting my revenge, I’ve spent my winter break trying to figure out how to rescue Jonah. He’s been missing over a year now, and my heart aches every time I think of him, but I refuse to believe he’s dead. By infiltrating Seraphim Academy’s secret society, the Order of the Golden Throne, I learned that Jonah went into Faerie to find the Staff of Eternity, the magical object used by Michael and Lucifer to end the great war, close off Heaven and Hell, and bring all angels and demons to Earth permanently. The Order wants to use the Staff to send all the demons back to Hell and
reopen Heaven so they can try to rebuild it. I have no idea why my brother volunteered to get the Staff, but something bad must have happened once he got to Faerie, or he would have returned by now. My guess is the fae found him and have him locked up somewhere—and I won’t rest until I bring him back to Earth.
Seraphim Academy has a spectacular library, and over my break I spent much of my time there searching for information on how to get to Faerie or on the Staff of Eternity. Sometimes I ran into Kassiel there, but I tried to avoid him as much as possible. After the kiss we shared at the end of last semester, the sexual tension between us has only grown stronger. The attraction popped and sizzled between us whenever we were in each other's presence, but we’ve both agreed we can’t give in to our lust again, not until I graduate anyway. Teacher-student relationships are forbidden at Seraphim Academy, and I don’t want to do anything to put his job in danger. Especially since he’s my only true ally at the moment, and I’m going to need his help if I’m going to find Jonah and stop the Order.
I have a huge journal full of notes, but no clear plan yet. I’m hoping that once I take Fae Studies this year I’ll be able to fill in all the gaps in my knowledge. It might take me some time, but I won’t give up until I find my brother and bring him home. I’m coming for you, Jonah. Stay alive for me. Please.
I take a quick shower to wash Bastien off me, and put all the Princes and Kassiel out of my mind. The less I think about them, the better.
Chapter Two
Olivia
In the morning, I head into the kitchen to fix myself something for breakfast, but groan when I open the fridge. Almost empty. I’ll have to head to the store for one last supply run before it's time to return to campus. At least I still have plenty of money left from the allowance Aerie Industries provides students for attending Seraphim Academy. I barely spent any of it last year, so most of it is hidden in my bedroom here under a loose floor board. I keep my new golden robes from the Order in there too.
I grab a slightly stale croissant off the counter and munch on it as I walk into my bedroom, then look around with satisfaction. My room was pretty sparse when I moved in, and I’ve managed to decorate it on a tight budget with some cute pillows, flowing curtains, and a few little trinkets here and there. The room feels like mine now. For the first time, I belong somewhere. I just wish Jonah could be here too.
I dig my boots out of my closet, where they've been buried under a few days of laundry. With a sigh, I pick up the clothes and drop them in the hamper. No reason to be a total slob just because I'm here on my own without anyone popping in to judge me.
Gabriel comes to visit me every few weeks, but things are always a little awkward between us. We spent Christmas together, but it was a sad affair, between the lack of Jonah and the fact that Gabriel and I have barely had anything to do with each other for the last twenty-two years. He did get me a new winter coat though, which was nice, and I could tell he was trying, at least. He stayed for a week then, and it was almost a relief see him go at the end of it. I appreciate that he’s claimed me and is making an effort to be a true parent for once, but we'll need some time to figure out how to be a family.
Especially since Gabriel still doesn’t believe me about Jonah being in Faerie. I explained everything about the Order—which he knew about, of course, and said he’s been monitoring for years—but he claimed he already spoke with the High King of Faerie, who assured him Jonah wasn’t there. Which means the king doesn’t know, or he’s lying.
Honestly? I think it’s easier for Gabriel to believe Jonah has run away, rather than to face the truth that he might be imprisoned…or worse.
I grab the coat he got me, which is bright, lipstick red with white fake fur trim around the neck. It’s big and loud and practically screams, I’m done hiding, deal with it. I love it, especially because it shows Father does know me, at least a little bit.
Not having to hide who I am has been a welcome change, along with all the snow over the winter. I was in no way prepared for living in the mountains of northern California, but loved it all the same. Every time I wanted to go out, I layered on pretty much all of my wardrobe, but the coat helps with that.
There’s no snow now though, and the sun is shining high, filling me with light as I fly into the main part of Angel Peak, the small town near Seraphim Academy that only angels can visit. It’s been pretty empty all winter, since angels hate the cold and tend to migrate into warmer climates like birds. But with Seraphim Academy starting in only a few days, people are returning to town, and the quaint little shops are busy again.
I land on the sidewalk and retract my black wings into my back. The entire street seems to pause all at once in order to stop and stare at me, and I can’t tell if the looks are angry or fearful. Now that everyone knows I’m both half-demon and the daughter of an Archangel, people treat me differently. No one is outright rude, because no one dares to insult Gabriel’s daughter, but some move out of the way quickly to avoid me, and others cast me hateful glares, like I’m tainting their town by being in it. I can’t decide which is worse.
I quickly hurry into the local coffee shop, and it’s probably my imagination, but I think I hear a collective sigh of relief from the street as the door shuts behind me. It’s a relief to be away from their judgmental looks too, except when I move to the counter to order, I see someone who makes me nervous all over again. Araceli.
Things didn’t end great between us last semester, and I’m still riddled with guilt over that because I know it was all my fault. Araceli was my roommate and my best friend—sometimes my only real friend—during my first year at Seraphim Academy, but when she found out I lied to her the entire time about who and what I am, she was pretty upset. I tried to mend the relationship as best I could, but she said she needed space, and I respected that.
I debate rushing out of the place, but then she spots me, and it’s too late. I have to face her now. She’s wearing her lime green combat boots, and has that purple streak in her dark brown hair, and I have to admit, it’s really good to see her. I just don’t know if she feels the same about seeing me.
I approach her at the counter and we stare at each other awkwardly, before I finally ask, "How was your break?"
Araceli surprises me by throwing her arms around me. I instantly have tears in my eyes as I hug her back. “Oh, Liv,” she says. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” My voice only cracks a tiny bit. “Are we…good?”
She pulls back and smiles at me. “We’re good. Like I said, you’re still my best friend. I just needed some space.” She pokes her finger at my chest. “And you better not lie to me ever again.”
I let out a long breath as the tension leaves my body. “I won’t. I promise.”
“Good. I’ll get a table so we can catch up.”
She grabs her coffee and heads off to a round table in the corner, while I step up to the counter. The barista doesn’t meet my eyes, even though I’ve been coming here once a week for months now. She knows my order by heart though, and hands it to me immediately, then takes my payment quickly before darting off to be anywhere else. I give her a big smile and drop a few coins in the tip jar anyway.
With my giant cup of liquid heaven—yes, the coffee here really is that good—I sit down across from Araceli. “How have you been?” I ask, with more confidence this time.
“Good. I spent the break with my mom, and that was nice, but I came back a little early to get settled in before school starts. I’m staying with my aunt now. She has a five-year-old, and he’s cute, but a total monster, so I came here for an escape.” She takes a sip of her coffee. “What about you? How was your break?”
I shrug as I warm my hands on the coffee mug. “It was okay. I spent a lot of time researching and learning about the fae. I don’t feel like I’m any closer to finding my brother, but I should ace Fae Studies this year at least."
She laughs. "You better, with me as your roommate. I took that last year to see if I c
ould learn anything new about my heritage.”
“And did you?”
“A little, yeah. My dad told me some things of course, but he left out a lot. It was good to have an outside perspective on it all too.”
Araceli rarely mentions her half-fae dad, and I guess I was too self-absorbed before to notice that. Worst. Friend. Ever. But I’m totally going to do better this year—it’s one of my goals, along with getting revenge on the Princes and finding my brother. “You don’t talk about him much.”
She stares into her coffee mug. “My parents separated a few years ago and things got weird after that. At first he came to visit me every weekend, but then it became more like every month, and now it’s like once a year.”
“Does he live in Faerie?” I ask. “Have you ever been there?” The Order wanted to use Araceli to get into Faerie to find Jonah. I won’t use her like that, but she did offer to help me however she could.
“No. Dad was a messenger between the fae and the angels, and both sides grudgingly accepted him because he was useful. Then he met mom, they fell in love, and then I was born. The fae excommunicated him after that. I guess having a child with another angel was the final straw for them. He can’t go back to Faerie without being killed, and I’m not welcome there either.”
Seraphim Academy 2: Sinful Things Page 1