Legacy Academy Year Four: Paranormal Academy Romance

by M Guida

  He looked up at his chains and let loose a bitter laugh. “I was punished for trying to stop Cormac from taking my little sister to the Elder Dimension.”

  “Montae, open his cell.”

  “Are you kidding? He’ll kill you.”

  “You can’t help me. The chains are enchanted. Only my dad can free me. Go before they come back.” He smirked. “Don’t worry. They won’t kill me, but I can’t say that’s true for your parents.”

  As much as I wanted to help him, I couldn’t let my parents die. We all three raced down the hallway, hoping Gunnar wasn’t setting us up.

  Montae unlocked the door and we ran down a dimly lit stairwell that led down into the mountain. The air was so dim and thin I could barely breathe.

  Please be alive. Please be alive. Please be alive.

  When we reached inside, I skidded to a stop. Beaten, my dad was strapped to chains that dangled from a wall. He was half naked and his head rested on his chest. What looked like fresh and dried blood stained his stretched out arms.

  Mom was strapped to her chair with her bent back. Blood stained her shirt and she had bite marks on her neck. She looked so thin and frail. I wasn’t sure if she was even alive.

  “Mom?” My voice cracked.

  She slowly raised her head with confusion in her brown eyes. “Raven? This can’t be real. Please, Cormac, stop this illusion. Please.” Her voice was so tired and hoarse that I wasn’t sure she would survive.

  Tears blinded my vision. I knelt in front of her and put my hands on her sunken in cheeks. “Mom, it’s me.”

  “Raven, you have to close the portal. Cormac won’t be able to draw on his magic.”

  “Where’s the portal?”

  “It’s here. The thing over there that looks like an oval mirror. That’s the portal.”

  I don’t know how I missed it but across the room, there was a black oval mirror. Nothing reflected through it. The hair on the back of my neck stood straight up. I could feel the evil. Maybe it was reflecting the Elder Dimension, not ours.

  Montae unlocked Dad’s chains and caught him when he collapsed. He looked up. “Montae?”

  “Yeah, it’s me. I’ve got you.” He carried him over to us.

  Montae unlocked Mom’s manacles.

  “Get your Mom out of here,” Dad whispered. “After the battle––”

  “Yes, we plan to kill you.”

  I whirled around at the cruel voice.

  Cormac came down the stairs, holding a jagged dagger. He had deep scratches on his face and his clothes were ripped. “Unfortunately, the battle isn’t going as I planned. I need more power.” Greed glistened in his black eyes. “Your power, silver dragon.”

  He wasn’t alone and Bo and Poppy were with him. My stomach clenched at their sight.

  “If you come to me willingly, Raven, I will set both of their souls free.” His voice sounded sincere, but he wasn’t fooling me. He was a liar and evil.

  I thought of the Path of the Burning Flame needed a sacrifice, but what if it meant something different. Everything we practiced for so long rolled over in my mind. The different blood lines. We had all of them.

  I held out my palm. “Montae, give me your blade.”

  “Why?”

  Cormac, Bo, and Poppy approached us. There was no escape, but escape wasn’t my plan.

  Wariness flared in Montae’s eyes as he handed me his blade. Without hesitation, I grabbed my dad’s palm and sliced it.

  He winced. “What are you doing?”

  “Trust me.” I picked up my mom’s limp hand.

  She nodded slowly and like dad’s, I sliced hers.

  “Seize her.” Panic rose in Cormac’s voice.

  Once again, I sliced mine. Lucien grabbed the knife, slashed his palm, and then grabbed my hand.

  Without taking my eyes off Bo and Poppy, I said in a firm voice, “Dad, hold Mom’s hand.”

  Cormac rushed with his dagger over his head.

  “Fiero Candelero.” My strong voice brought him to a halt.

  Adrenaline pumped between Lucien and I, strengthening our power. The weariness I felt vanished. Our auras burst from us and lit up the dungeon, brighter than the sun. Bo and Poppy shielded their eyes.

  Pop Pop Pop

  The darkness gripping me fell away and I shifted, ripping through my clothes. My sweet dragon flashed in my mind.

  Please, help.

  She nodded and spread out her wings and shrieked. Lucien clasped my mom’s shoulder and Montae put his hand on my dad’s back.

  Fear flashed in Cormac’s eyes and he rushed for the stairs.

  In my mind, I said, “Puriforgio Virtueus.”

  Streams of silver swirled around Cormac and pinned him against the wall. The oval mirror cracked.

  He shrieked as black mist pulled out of him.

  I opened my mouth and inhaled, sucking his magic harder and harder. It was fouler than the shadow demons’ but something inside me was stronger. I could feel my wounds healing. Cuts closed up and the pain faded.

  He collapsed onto the floor, moaning.

  I wasn’t done yet. I shifted and pulled on the ring on his finger as hard as I could.

  He gave me a surly smile. “You can’t get it off. Their souls are mine forever.”

  I narrowed my eyes and grabbed his blade that had fallen on the floor.

  “We’ll see about that.” In one swift stroke, feeling no pity, I cut off his finger.

  He howled and blood gushed onto his pants and the floor. I smashed his ring finger onto the floor.

  Crack

  Bo and Poppy faded away.

  Cormac held his bleeding hand against his chest. “You’ll pay for that.”

  I lifted my head. “No, you’re the one who will pay for your crimes. You’re going back to where you belong.”

  “You’ll regret that.” His threat only made me stronger.

  He’d created so much pain and I wanted him out of my world.

  “Damn, girl.” Lucien put his arm around my shoulder. “How did you know the spell would work?”

  I smiled. “Our bloodlines. We possessed all the powers of the Defenders, but we had the greatest weapon of them all. Love. Anton said that Cormac never understood love and underestimated its power. The Fiero Candelero spell bonded us to our mates and the Puriforgio Virtueus spell thrusted our power of love toward him.”

  “That was taking a big chance.”

  I shook my head. “No, it wasn’t. I had faith in Montae. My parents.” I kissed him on his lips. “And you.”

  Heavy footsteps rushed down the stairwell. We braced ourselves for another battle, but Anton, Rhys, Dante, and Katona burst out into the middle of the dungeon with their weapons drawn.

  Anton scanned the scene and a huge smile spread across his face. “You figured it out, didn’t you?”

  I winked. “Yeah, I did.”

  He clasped my shoulder. “You completed the Path of the Burning Flame.”

  Relief flooded through me and I wondered if the Archangel Azrael was smiling down on us. Or did he have a hand in this that none of us knew about. Something we might never know.

  “We released the other prisoners,” Rhys said. “Including Professor Tuamma. She’s not in very good shape, but my father thinks she will heal.”

  Professor Tuamma had been captured over a year ago. I had fought her doppelgänger, but we were never able to find her.

  I frowned. “Did you find Mina’s dad?”

  Cormac sneered. “He’s someplace you’ll never find him.”

  Montae grabbed Cormac’s hair. “Tell us where?”

  Cormac only spat on his feet and refused to speak.

  Lucien pulled out another pair of sweats and shirt. “It’s good thing you had two pairs of clothing inside here.”

  “Let’s get the hell out of here. I have enough of Cormac’s and Ryker’s hospitality.” Dad lifted my mom into his arms. The bruises on his face and body had started to heal.

  Anton picked
up Cormac’s severed finger. “The souls are still trapped. We need to take this outside to free them. Too many wards are inside this place.”

  Montae grabbed Cormac’s arm and forced him up the stairs, ignoring his curses.

  Once outside the smell of death and burnt flesh made my stomach tightened and bile rolled up my throat, threatening to burst through my tight lips.

  Twisted and burnt bodies of both sides were scattered on the mountain.

  Fae that will never sing again. Dragons that will never fly and wolves that will never howl.

  The kings approached us. We’d won the battle but it cost us many lives.

  Ryker, Faas, Ari, and Gunnar were on their knees. I didn’t think Gunnar should be with them, but the fierce looks of the kings told a different story.

  King Gregori gestured toward them. “We will be opening the portal to send our enemies back to the Elder Dimension.”

  Ryker glared. “You can’t keep us there forever. We’ll find a way back.”

  “Not for a long time,” King Gregori promised.

  “It’s time to set the dead free.” Anton ripped the ring off Cormac’s severed finger, and he smashed it against the prison wall.

  Crack

  The orb split and white streams of light slipped out of the orb. The lights swirled around me and I sighed.

  Someone whispered softly in my ear. “Goodbye, beautiful.” I inhaled smoke and Sulphur, and I clutched my chest, trying to keep my heart from breaking. “Bo.”

  Lucien put his hands on my shaking shoulders.

  The same light danced around King Jackson and Zayne. Tears glistened in both their eyes.

  Another light swept around Xavier who sat on the ground. He openly wept and his father clasped his shoulder.

  Both of streams jetted into the sky. Dark clouds turned white and then a circle formed within one cloud. Bo and Poppy stared down at us and smiled. A diamond tear fell from Poppy’s eye. They held hands and disappeared into the sunlight.

  Anton gazed up. “They’re finally at peace, and their souls can move on.”

  I was happy Bo and Poppy could move on, but it was like losing them all over again and I balled my fists into Lucien’s shirt. He stroked my hair. “It’s over. It’s finally over.”

  Epilogue

  It had been three weeks after the battle and the armies had gone home to heal. Legacy was going to reopen in the fall, and for now, the supernaturals were at peace.

  Mom and I had spent hours together laughing and remembering old times and planning new ones. She only had to be in the infirmary a short amount of time and I blamed it on my dad. His presence healed her wounds faster than any of Dr. Greenwood’s medicine.

  Anton had decided to throw a party for the Defenders and the kings before we departed.

  I never thought I’d get the grime of the battle off me. Our enemies had been sent to the Elder Dimension. The only I felt sorry for was Gunnar. I felt the good in him, but based on his sins, he received no mercy.

  The gates had been open and Mina, Katona, and I had gone shopping for sundresses for the party. Mina was still broken hearted over her dad and had cried to herself to sleep every night. I tried using the Magic Orb but had no luck.

  Mina sat on the bed in a pretty purple dress that matched the streaks in her hair. She had a broken arm where the Unseelie had stabbed her wing and had on a cast.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  She shrugged. “I guess so. I can’t stop thinking about my dad. I have to find him.”

  I looked at her furlong face. “You’re going after him, aren’t you?”

  She braced her shoulders. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

  “Alone?”

  She got up. “I can’t go back to the Ember Kingdom. Not until I can prove my dad’s innocence.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  She shook her head. “No. You have a mate and from what I understand Lucien and King Gregori want you and your parents to go back with them to Havenwood.

  “Didn’t I tell you? After visiting Havenwood, dad is going to take my mom on a Hawaiian cruise. He says it’s their second honeymoon.”

  “Good.”

  “But after they leave, Lucien and I will go with you.”

  “No, this is something I need to do by myself. Besides, you need to find Lucien’s brother Armond. We might not have lost so many if he’d been here.”

  “I don’t like thinking about you going off by yourself.”

  She gave me a simple smile. “I might not be a silver dragon, but I am a dragon.”

  “True. You’re a badass.”

  We looped our arms together as we left our room and headed for the barbecue. Once again, Anton hadn’t spared any expenses. This time the professors didn’t have to cook. Anton had the final dinner catered. Through the white tent, there was a table with barbecued chicken, barbecued ribs, roasted corn, potato salad, macaroni salad, vegetable plate, homemade rolls, and every kind of pie. He even had a band like he usually had at all the other dances.

  The kings, the professors, Montae and Anton were all seated at a long white table. Luckily, we had our own table. I’m sure Lucien had something to do with it.

  White lights were streamed over a wooden dance floor. My parents were slow dancing, gazing into each other’s eyes. The band hadn’t even started playing yet.

  Mina gestured toward them. “They really do love each other, don’t they?”

  It was so strange to see them together like this, but it was something I was getting used to. “Yeah, they do.”

  Lucien met us and my desire flared for him. He had on a white shirt that was half way open and I wanted to slip my fingers inside and feel his muscles again.

  “Don’t you girls look beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” Mina said. “If you excuse me, I’m going to go talk with Anton.”

  Lucien took my hand. “She’s planning on going after her dad, isn’t she?”

  “Wouldn’t you?”

  He led me to a table where Rhys, Dante, Katona, Zayne, and Xavier were all seated. Rhys was busy pouring Midnight Shadows into flute glasses.

  “Good, we’re all here.” He handed a glass of the purple liquor to both Lucien and I. “We’ll have a toast as soon as Mina returns.”

  I looked over the rim of my glass. “I think she’s going to be busy talking with Anton.”

  Xavier frowned. “Why?”

  “She’s leaving tomorrow,” Lucien said. “She’s going to look for her father.”

  Katona’s eyes widened. “Alone? Do you think that’s wise?”

  I smiled widely. “Mina’s strong. She can take care of herself.”

  “If it wasn’t for her, my guts would be spilled all over Mt. Elbert.” Xavier turned his purple glass alone. “She’s a great fighter and a good friend.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Are you really that dense?”

  He gazed up at me with a surprised, dumb look on his face. “What? I was giving her a compliment.”

  Katona slapped his arm. “You’re an idiot.”

  He lifted up his arms. “What? Why am I getting picked on?”

  I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Xavier, she saved your life, because she’s in love with you.”

  He opened his mouth and then shut it. He turned around in his chair and stared over at where Anton and Mina were speaking as if seeing her for the first time.

  The band set up behind my parents who didn’t seem to care. My mother had gained weight and the dark circles under her eyes had gone. She had on a long black dress that flowed back and forth as she danced. The white lights made Dad’s pink Hawaiian shirt and white pants glow, but it was the serene smile on his face that gave me a warm feeling.

  Lucien pulled me close. “I don’t know if you should have told Xavier that.”

  I put my arms around his neck. “Sometimes you guys are dense.”

  He tilted his head. “We are?”

  I kissed him and leaned into him. “Yes. You are.”


  He grinned. “I have a surprise for you.”

  “You do?”

  A woman grabbed the microphone on the stage. “We have a special dedication.”

  Lucien clasped my hand and led me to the dance floor.

  The music started and the woman sang, “Think of me, think of me fondly. When we’ve said goodbye. Remember me, once in a while…”

  Goosebumps broke out over my arms. Lucien took me in his arms and swirled me around on the dance floor. Nothing mattered but him. We swayed back and forth, working as one.

  I threaded my fingers through his hair. “I love you.”

  “And you’re mine, Raven Erickson, now and forever.”

  I laughed. “Yes, I am.”

  After the dance, Lucien and I disappeared to the arena where he proved to me over and over again how much he loved me.

  Grab the next book in the series: Before Legacy: Armond

  Do you want to read more about Legacy Academy? Get a free book: Legacy Academy the Early Years and find out about Raven’s parents’ love story and sign up for my newsletter! You’ll find out news about Raven’s sister, Ebony, Armond, Zayne, and Gunnar! They will be in the next books! Raven’s adventure has to come to a close, but her sister hasn’t and neither have the boys!

  Can’t wait to binge read?

  Legacy Academy Year One

  Legacy Academy Year Two

  Legacy Academy Year Three

  Before Legacy: Armond

  Before Legacy: Gunnar

  Ebony’s Legacy: Year One

  If you want to find out more about Armond before he attends Legacy turn the page and get a sneak peek….

  Before Legacy: Armond

  Prologue

  I got my application today to apply for Legacy Academy. My twin brother, Darius, got one, too. Legacy Academy is a supernatural academy where Golden Demons, wolves, Fae, vampires, dragons, and now, dark demons can attend. Well, actually, one dark demon: Gunnar.

  Headmaster Anton has a new requirement. He wants us to write a coming of age essay on how we became who we are. I’m not sure why, but he’s the Headmaster. According to my parents and my older brother, Lucien, Anton’s always pulling stuff like that. Darius has been moaning all morning about having to write. Writing isn’t his thing. Winning races and being the fastest Golden Demon on the planet is his jam.