Ella's Masquerade: A Midnight Fae Academy Prequel

by Lexi C. Foss

  “Have they lost their minds? He should be locked up for doing that to her.”

  “They’re giving him the benefit of the doubt for reporting the crime.” Tray’s expression told me how he felt about that. “I suspect he did it on purpose.”

  “Why? Why would he do that?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine.” He blew out a breath. “So I suppose our final year is going to be an interesting one. They’re moving her to the Academy tonight.”

  I frowned. “But classes don’t start for another week.”

  “Headmaster Zeph is in charge of introducing her to the grounds and helping her settle.” His dark eyes locked on mine. “Gives us six or seven days to prepare for our inevitable introduction.”

  “And I’m supposed to live with her?”

  “You’re the only female in our suite,” he explained. “And my dad was pretty clear about her staying near me and Kols for protection.” He lifted onto his elbow and palmed my cheek. “We’ll figure it out, El. The Council just wants us to help her acclimate. That’s all.”

  “What if she doesn’t want to acclimate?” I asked, arching a brow.

  “Then it’ll be a good thing she has you.” He waggled his brows. “I’ve never met a stronger, more stubborn female in my life. You’ll be her greatest ally within days. I’m sure of it.”

  I snorted. “Or we’ll kill each other.” I didn’t get along with many of the fae on campus, which wasn’t surprising considering I grew up without friends. A few of them were okay. Most I avoided because they were either jealous of my mating to Tray or had an issue with my Halfling status. “I suppose we’ll have our rare histories in common.”

  What with me being the only one of my kind on campus and her being from another realm entirely.

  “That’s the spirit, love,” he murmured, nudging me onto my back and sliding a thigh between my legs. “Now I suggest we spend the next few days losing ourselves in the sheets, as we might not have as many opportunities once we return.”

  I narrowed my eyes up at him. “Uh-huh. Because having other people in our suite has stopped us before.”

  “Hey, this is a whole new entity. Who knows how this will impact our sex life?” He nuzzled my neck.

  “I think you’re just looking for excuses to fool around.”

  “I never need an excuse to fool around with you, El,” he whispered against my throat. “Or to bite you. Or to love you. Or to kiss you.” He trailed his lips up to my ear. “Or to fuck you.” His words caused me to arch into him, my body already primed just from his return.

  Nearly three years of knowing him and he still enticed me with a mere look. If anything, my attraction to him had only grown over time.

  My arms wound around his neck, holding him. “Make love to me, Tray,” I murmured. “Slow and meaningful. At least the first time.” The second could be as rough or intense as he wanted. But for now, I was in the mood to feel our connection, to know how much we loved each other.

  “It would be my pleasure, mate,” he said, his mouth capturing mine.

  I love you, I breathed into his mind.

  I love you, too, El.

  And he did.

  Over and over again.

  Until I fell into a deep sleep, wrapped up in his arms, with our entire future ahead of us. And as I dreamt, the name Aflora echoed throughout my mind.

  Something dark was on the horizon.

  I felt it in my bones, in the way my soul quivered.

  Change is coming.

  See you soon.

  This is the end of Tray and Ella’s story, but you will see them again in the Midnight Fae Academy Trilogy.

  Welcome to Midnight Fae Academy.

  Home of the dark arts.

  Vampires.

  And cruelly handsome fae.

  Learn more here

  Looking for more fae? Check out the Elemental Fae Academy series, featuring Claire and her five fated mates.

  Interested in more Academy books? Consider exploring J.R. Thorn’s Fortune Academy.

  Welcome to Midnight Fae Academy.

  Home of the dark arts.

  Vampires.

  And cruelly handsome fae.

  A forbidden bite led to my capture and recruitment.

  There are no flowers here.

  No life.

  Only death.

  I’m an Earth Fae who doesn’t belong here.

  They can play their little mind games all they want, but I'm going to find a way back to my elemental world. Even if it kills me.

  Except Headmaster Zephyrus is one step ahead of my every move.

  Prince Kolstov won’t stop cornering me.

  And Shadow—the reason I’m in this damn mess to begin with—haunts my dreams.

  My affinity for the earth is dying and being replaced by something more sinister. Something powerful. Something deadly.

  The Midnight Fae believe this is my fate.

  They claim that I was “recruited” for a purpose.

  To battle a rising presence.

  Or to die trying.

  I don’t owe them a damn thing. But if I have to pass their trials to find my way home, then so be it. I survived a plague and far worse in the Elemental Fae realm. An ominous energy? Please. What a joke.

  Give it your best shot.

  I’m waiting.

  And don’t you dare bite me.

  Or I’ll make you regret it.

  Author Note: This is a dark paranormal reverse harem trilogy with bully romance (enemies-to-lovers) elements. Despite Aflora’s opinions on the matter, there will definitely be biting. Shadow, aka Shade, guarantees it. This book ends on a cliffhanger.

  Preorder available now for Book One of the Midnight Fae Academy Trilogy.

  Chapter One

  Aflora

  Glacier was late.

  Again.

  This whole long-distance relationship thing where we met in the Human Realm for dates was just not working for me. The damn Water Fae never showed up on time.

  Instead, he left me sitting in this coffee shop in the middle of Orlando with a mouse-shaped mug of inky liquid. How humans stomached this stuff was beyond me. One sip and I wanted to puke.

  But I came here to make him happy. Because I hadn’t seen him in over a month due to summer solstice break.

  Things would be fine when we went back to the Academy in a few weeks. Maybe. Except we would always have this elemental problem hanging over our heads, what with me being the heiress to the Earth Fae throne and him being a regular old Water Fae.

  I blew on my steaming liquid, more to mask my frustrated sigh than to cool the liquid. Because yeah, I wasn’t going to drink this. I had some spritemead in my fridge back home, just waiting to be cracked open.

  Another glance at the clock had me shaking my head.

  “This is ridiculous,” I muttered to myself. I should not have to wait over an hour for a boy to arrive. Especially one who proclaimed to adore me.

  “It is,” a feminine voice replied as a puffy, blue-dotted, edible thing appeared beside my mug. “Have a muffin. On the house.”

  I frowned at the muffin before glancing up at the woman who had delivered it.

  My eyebrows lifted in surprise. “A Fortune Fae,” I said, glancing around to make sure no one heard my admission, before noting her vibrant green apron. “A Fortune Fae working in a human coffee shop?” It came out as a question because what kind of fae chose to reside in this realm? Particularly one of her heritage. “That must be a daunting job, what with people touching you all day.”

  I took an entire course last year about Fortune Fae. While they loved to deal cards—to tell the future—they hated to be touched. It inspired visions, typically unwanted ones. And I imagined humans would have the same impact.

  She tossed her long dark hair—similar to my own—over her shoulder and laughed. At least she didn’t tinkle like some fae preferred. That grew old quickly.

  No, this fae wasn’t afraid to express humor.
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  A trait that endeared her to me immediately.

  “Who are you?” I wondered out loud.

  Her smile reached her blue eyes. “Gina,” she replied, taking the seat across from me. “I thought you could use some company since your date is a no-show. Oh, but it’s not through any fault of his own, I assure you. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, it’ll be the least of your concerns very soon.” She blinked, her blue irises turning clear for half a second before returning to normal.

  A vision, I realized. A notorious habit of her kind, as was the cryptic commentary.

  I sighed. “I expected as much. I don’t think his parents care for our relationship.” I picked at the wrapping around the muffin, trying to figure out why a human would eat such a thing. It resembled fabric. “I’m Aflora, by the way.”

  “I know,” she replied, her expression lighting up. “Sole heir to the Earth Fae throne. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Highness.”

  The teasing quality of her voice had me snorting. “Yeah, somehow I doubt you mean that.” I narrowed my gaze. “Which tells me you’re here for another reason entirely.”

  “Oh, I am,” she agreed. “However, our paths crossing is just a coincidence of happenstance. I only became aware of your destiny recently when I sensed the balance disturbance. It’s going to be an interesting year for you, Aflora. Assuming you take the path left. Hmm, but if you go right, I suspect it’ll catch you eventually anyway. You’re in his thoughts now, after all.”

  “Uh-huh.” This chick was proving all my textbooks right about Fortune Fae and their penchant for telling riddles. “Well, that sounds fun.”

  “It will be.” She smiled again, only to falter as her gaze flickered once more. “Shit.” She glanced at the clock and pushed away from the table. “I’d offer some advice for the road ahead, but I’ve gotta run. My future keeps finding me despite my deviations from the trail.” She gave me a little finger wave and darted out of the cafe, still wearing her apron.

  I gaped after her, as did several of the patrons around me.

  From what I could tell, she was the only one on duty.

  And this is why hiring a fae is a bad idea, I thought at the owner. We’re not the most reliable sort in your world.

  Case in point, my late date.

  With a sigh, I pushed my coffee and muffin aside, done waiting. At least I’d understood that part of Gina’s prophecy—Glacier isn’t coming.

  Fine. I preferred my spritemead over a date with a boy anyway.

  Gathering my purse, I left my mouse-mug and the papery dough cake on the table and headed out into the early afternoon sunshine.

  Orlando at least had the weather right. Muggy, hot, and oh-so bright. I smiled as I wandered toward the portal, absorbing the elements along the way. The tropical plants here wouldn’t survive easily in my home world, but maybe I could manufacture a greenhouse to accommodate them.

  I paused to touch a particularly beautiful tree with large green leaves sprouting from the top. Mmm, this would be easy to—

  Pain shot up my side as something hard rammed into me, sending me several steps forward. “Sorry!” a human shouted as he pedaled by on a two-wheeled contraption.

  A bicycle, my memory supplied, recalling a course on mortal transportation.

  I glowered after him, ready to give him a piece of my mind, when a hand brushed my arm. “Are you all right?” a deep, masculine voice asked, the accent decidedly smooth.

  “Oh, I, yes. Thanks.” I glanced up into a pair of ice-blue eyes, the color and perfection of the irises stunning me into silence.

  “Are you sure?” he pressed, his fingers trailing up my arm and leaving a trail of goose bumps in their wake. His lips kicked upward, revealing a pair of dimples that didn’t seem to match his ruggedly square jaw or the dark brown stubble dotting his chin.

  A proper five o’clock shadow, I mused. Then blinked. Wait, why do I care about such a thing?

  “Careful, beautiful,” he cautioned, his arm sliding around my waist. “You’re swaying.”

  “I am?” I whispered, my throat going dry as his intoxicating scent surrounded me. Mmm, a dark spice tinted with an earthy aroma. I leaned into him, pressing my side into his hard torso.

  Melting.

  Falling.

  Ensnared by his masculinity and grace.

  That’s not right, I thought, frowning. I don’t even know this guy.

  I attempted to step away, only my feet refused my mental command.

  What’s happening to—

  “You’re bleeding,” he murmured, his hold tightening as his opposite hand drifted across my arm.

  I glanced down to see the trickle of red oozing from my skin.

  And blinked.

  “How?” I asked, trying to shake myself out of this daze, to force my legs to work. But I felt spellbound, lost to the stranger’s touch, as if being pulled into a dream.

  A part of me recognized the magic, felt the dark tendrils of it seeping into my pores. With it brought memories of the time I nearly died, how I’d fought to cling to the source of my existence in a futile effort to save everyone but myself.

  “The bike,” the stranger beside me said softly, drawing me from the nightmarish image threatening to capture my mind. “He clipped you as he took the corner. Clumsy fool.”

  “Oh.” I swallowed. “I’m… okay.”

  Minus the daydreamy state I’d lost my senses to.

  The world shifted as he moved us into the doorway of a building, one I recognized as my destination. Odd. I could have sworn that was a block away.

  Who is this guy? Why is he holding me?

  His arm loosened, giving me a chance to flee, but I found my back pressed up to a wall instead, my vision lost to a haze of momentary darkness.

  Something’s wrong. A thought that had tried to appear moments ago, only to disappear beneath this strange magnetism. Whatever spell he’d cast over me had my mind short-circuiting, my body bending beneath his command.

  Must… stop… this…

  “He warned me you would be beautiful, Aflora,” the voice whispered, his face far too close to my neck. “But I didn’t expect you to be such a delicate little flower.”

  My lips curled down at the phrase. “Wh-what?” I stuttered, my breath seeming to escape me as he kissed my throat. What are you doing? I wanted to demand, but my mouth rejected the words, choosing to moan instead. How do you know my name?

  This can’t…

  Oh…

  His mouth touched my skin, causing my knees to buckle.

  Holy Elements…

  This was bad. I felt the illicitness of it crawling inside me, igniting my instincts, only to be tampered down by a seductive, dusky cloud.

  Dark magic, I recognized, my heart skipping a beat. It swam all around us, infiltrating my ability to reason. To think. To run.

  “Stop,” I managed to say, my demand lost to the raspy quality of my tone.

  He chuckled against my neck, his tongue darting out to tease my racing pulse. “I wish I could, delicate flower. But I’ve been given a task. You.”

  My fingers curled into fists, my limbs locking up as I fought to break the spell he’d woven over my form.

  Which only earned me another chuckle from the powerful Midnight Fae before me. “Mmm, yes. More of that, please.” He nipped the tender skin behind my ear, his amusement palpable. “I was beginning to wonder if perhaps I’d found the wrong fae, what with your easy acquiescence and all.”

  Easy acquiescence.

  I’d show him easy acquiescence.

  Just as soon as I could find my will to fucking move.

  But his magic swathed me in a sea of black, cutting off my access to the element I relied upon for survival, and sank harsh claws into my soul.

  I gritted my teeth, furious that I’d allowed him to trap me so effortlessly. That bike had momentarily stunned me, allowing this Midnight Fae jackass to hook me in his dark web.

  Fortunately, it was
n’t my first date with his kind of magic.

  Closing my eyes, I ignored the inky strands floating around me and focused on finding the core of my strength.

  Earth.

  It was dangerous to access the source of my element, but my royal bloodline enabled me to seek it out, to see the original World Tree. Its massive roots resembled a tangle of life reaching out to every living Earth Fae, the thickest band connecting to me—the last Earth Fae heir.

  I crawled along it, absorbing its strength and readying my attack.

  The Midnight Fae wouldn’t know what—

  His canines sank into my flesh, eliciting a scream from my throat. Dread, darkness, and desire flooded my senses at once. A denial parted my lips. My soul screaming at the wrongness of his bite. While my body melted into him in a stark betrayal of my mind.

  A tear slid from my eye, the pleasure from his embrace cutting deep into my spirit while my mind recognized the absolute horror of what this meant.

  Midnight Fae were not meant to consort with other fae in any capacity. And that included tasting the blood of an elemental or any other fae.

  This defied every rule I’d ever learned, and not just because of his teeth in my neck, but because of the very visceral need his touch elicited from within me.

  “Stop,” I demanded, but the moan underlying the word belittled my intention.

  He captured my hip with one hand, his chest a solid wall of muscle at my front. How could my assailant feel so good? Every part of him seemed to line up perfectly against me, including the impressive erection digging into my lower belly.

  Wrong, I reminded myself. But feels so good.

  I wanted to crumple into a pile of agony and ecstasy at the same time. But with every pull, I felt my connection to the elements faltering, the life energy I adored slipping from my grasp.