School for Stolen Secrets: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (Academy for Misfit Witches Book 2)

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School for Stolen Secrets: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (Academy for Misfit Witches Book 2) Page 19

by Tara West


  After disrobing, she crawled into bed beside Thaddeus, snuggling naked against him, loving the feel of his warm skin pressed against hers. If his brothers liked her, too, she would enjoy three times the warmth. This life wasn’t the one she’d planned, but it didn’t matter as long as she had Thaddeus.

  “VIOLET MYSTIQUE AND Thaddeus Firesbreath!”

  She sat up with a start, pulling the blanket over her breasts. “Yes?” How long had she been sleeping, and who were these men standing in her bedroom? The morning sun spilled in from the main cavern, illuminating their ugly faces. Dressed in black, chains hung from their belts, and they carried wands the size of clubs. These weren’t ordinary witches. They were mercenaries.

  “You have been summoned by Sir Goblingout,” said the largest one, who had a long, scraggly black beard and an eye patch that made him look like a pirate. “You are to come with us.”

  Thaddeus jumped out of bed in all his naked glory, his corded muscles stretching across his broad back as he stood protectively in front of Violet. “We’re not going anywhere.”

  The other mercenary, who had a bald head as shiny as a marble and flame tattoos trailing up his arms, let out a deep chuckle and held out a piece of parchment with a wax seal. “You cannot ignore a summons from the leader of the third realm.”

  “We can’t?” Thaddeus stormed over to him and snatched it out of his hands. Without reading it, he ripped it to shreds. “I suggest you leave before you make me angry.”

  They backed up, pointing their wands at Thaddeus. “We will take you by force if we must.”

  Violet slowly reached under the blankets for the Pegasus feather wand.

  The mercenaries turned at a loud roar from outside, followed by a stream of fire that licked at their heels.

  King Tormung stormed through the cavern, tucking his wings behind him as he ducked his head inside their room. “What is the meaning of this?” He glared at the mercenaries, who aimed their wands at him. “Go ahead.” He chuckled. “Try it.”

  The bearded one backed up, stumbling into naked Thaddeus with wide eyes. “They have been summoned by—”

  “Your prime minister has no jurisdiction in my realm!” Tormung hollered, pelting them with spittle and what appeared to be a goat hoof. “Now go!”

  “We were given strict orders to—”

  “Don’t provoke me, witches!” Tormung blew a stream of fire over the tops of their heads, showering them with smoking embers.

  Yelping, they jumped from foot to foot, swatting fire off their clothes before ducking under Tormung and racing out of the cavern. Wrapping the blanket around her, she jumped to her feet in time to see them run to the ledge and jump on their brooms without a backward glance.

  “There are no guardians at the gate.” The dragon king frowned. “I’m gone for a day, and my realm descends into chaos. I can assure you it won’t happen again.”

  “Thank you, King Tormung,” Violet said, clutching the blanket.

  “How did they know we were here?” Thaddeus asked, slipping into a pair of boxer shorts.

  “I’m not sure.” Tormung stuck his head outside and sat on his haunches, picking fur out of his teeth. “They must have spies.”

  “Do you think they know I used the curse?” she asked, her innards churning. Why else would they have sent mercenaries?

  “Doesn’t matter.” Thaddeus took her hands in his. “I won’t let them harm you.”

  She looked into his eyes, knowing he believed his words, but fearing he could be overpowered by enough witches, which meant they might be stuck in Valhol forever.

  The king sniffed the air. “Someone’s coming.”

  Violet reached for her wand with a trembling hand. “Who?”

  Tormung turned up his snout, nostrils flaring. “Dragons.” He gave Thaddeus a pointed look. “They smell like you.”

  Thaddeus’s scowl instantly turned into the widest grin she’d ever seen. “My brothers!”

  Butterflies fluttered in Violet’s chest. He referred to his hatchling brothers and possibly her future mates.

  King Tormung glared at Violet. “I did not sleep, witch. Tonight, I expect you to attend me with your healing potions.”

  “Y-yes, your highness,” she said, nervous about the upcoming meeting.

  The king broke into a grin. “I’ll leave you alone with your mates now.” He leaped off the ledge and disappeared.

  Thaddeus ran out, wildly waving his hands. “Hector! Bastian!”

  She heard twin roars in the distance and was suddenly self-conscious about being wrapped in only a blanket. Scrambling across the bed, she wrapped her robe around her as the two dragons landed.

  “Thaddeus!” they cried, shifting at once into their human forms and rushing across the cave to their brother. There was lots of hugging and good-natured joshing as they greeted each other. “Brother, you’re alive!” they cried. “You’re really alive!”

  Violet sat on the edge of the bed, awkwardly watching their reunion.

  Witnessing their love for one another was a beautiful thing. If she’d had a sister growing up, she would’ve loved her like this.

  The tallest one was the alpha. Hector had changed a lot since high school, filling out more in the chest and shoulders, and growing a thick but well-trimmed beard to match his shoulder-length, dark hair. He was still devastatingly sexy, even more so with the facial hair. "We need to explain why we left you,” he said.

  Thaddeus wiped his eyes. “No, you don’t.”

  “Dame Doublewart placed a concealment spell on you,” Bastian, the other brother, said. “We went back for you, and you were gone.”

  “You don’t need to explain,” Thaddeus said. “I would’ve done the same thing in your situation.”

  Bastian, who’d probably changed the least, flushed. Other than growing a few inches and filling out more, he still had a sexy, dimpled smile and wise eyes, making him look older than his mid-twenties. “Not a day has gone by when we haven’t regretted leaving you behind.”

  “Why?” Thaddeus chided. “So you would’ve been shot down, too?”

  “We don’t deserve your forgiveness,” Hector said, his voice strained.

  “Good. There’s nothing to forgive.”

  “You look unwell.” Bastian clasped his shoulder. “Were you tortured?”

  “Poisoned, but I have an excellent apothecary who’s helping me recover,” Thaddeus said and motioned to Violet. “Hector, Bastian, I’d like you to meet Violet.”

  Heat flamed her cheeks when they turned their attention to her. She waved. “Hi, guys.”

  “Hello.” Bastian took a step toward her, then stopped as if he’d run into an invisible wall. “Serah told us you were pretty, but she was wrong. You’re beautiful,” he said breathily.

  If her cheeks burned any hotter, they’d be on fire. “Um, thanks.”

  “I’m alive because of Violet,” Thaddeus said. “She fought a blood oath to save me.”

  “Amazing.” Hector walked toward her. “I imagine that hurt.”

  “Like hell.” Nervous laughter escaped her when he sat beside her, his deep musky smell coiling around her senses.

  She couldn’t control her trembling when he pulled her hands into his lap. The spark between them electric, and she almost flew off the bed. She knew instantly he was her destined mate, but instead of feeling relief, she was even more anxious. Hector had seduced all the pretty girls in school, easily convincing them to join him and his brothers for a tryst in the bathroom, or if they were lucky, in their dorm room.

  “Why are you shaking?” he asked.

  She stared down at their joined hands. “I’m nervous.”

  “There’s no reason to be.” His words were as smooth as silk. “Our brothers told us you and Thaddeus are lovers.”

  “We are.” Thaddeus sat on her other side. “She’s the one. I can feel it when we touch.”

  She felt better when Thaddeus’s strength surged through her, making her more relaxed.
/>   Hector leaned into her, purring in her ear. “Do you know that dragons mate as a pack?”

  When he stroked her palm, she thought she’d come undone. Her insides liquified. Oh, he was so good at seduction. “I-I do.”

  He arched a brow, a look in his eyes like he was a kid in a candy store. “And you’re okay with that?”

  “I am,” she said, thinking she should pull away but lacking willpower. “After we get to know each other.”

  “Of course.”

  His eyes sparkled with mischief, and that’s when she knew he’d try to seduce her today. As horny as he was making her, she’d probably give in.

  “How lucky we are to have regained our brother and discovered a brave, beautiful mate,” Bastian, kneeling in front of her, looking up at her with big, dark eyes.

  Thaddeus moved closer to her. “Plus she’s wicked fast with a wand, and she can brew anything.”

  “Not anything,” she corrected, afraid her head would swell to three times its size if they kept up their praise.

  He nuzzled her neck. “Don’t be modest.”

  When Hector’s hand disappeared under her robe, she jumped up, nearly tripping over Bastian, who scooted out of the way. This was moving too fast. She and Thaddeus had known each other for almost a year before they slept together. She’d been a tortured slave and he a poisoned prisoner, but they’d become accustomed to each other. She knew Thaddeus liked a twelve-egg omelet with extra peppers for breakfast. She knew his smell, his walk, his touch. She knew everything about him. All she knew about his brothers were that they’d once saved her from a bully, they were her fated mates, and they made her horny—very horny.

  “I need to get acquainted with your grandmother’s herbs if I’m to treat Tormung tonight.” She smoothed imaginary wrinkles from her robe. “Thaddeus, you need to spend time with your brothers.”

  “We both need to spend time with my brothers.”

  She pulled away when he reached for her. “I don’t want to get in the way.”

  “You won’t be in the way, Violet,” Hector said, making her name sound like warm honey.

  She made the fatal mistake of looking into his eyes and seeing the flame burning hot there and knew she was about to lose this battle. “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely.” He reached for her hand. “We’d like to get to know you better.”

  Bastian crossed his legs at the ankles, looking too casual as he smiled up at her. “How about a welcome home party?”

  Hector said, “Teju taught Bastian how to make a party bubble.”

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  Bastian jumped to his feet. “You’ll see.”

  She followed him hesitantly, suspecting they’d be doing more than partying in that bubble.

  SERAH WAS SITTING ON the floor in the fae queen’s throne room. Flanked by Draque and Ladon, with Teju behind her, Serah was comforted by her mates’ presence, but she was still anxious. She was about to meet the fae queen, and Serah had no idea if she’d be as prejudiced as other fae or welcome a siren.

  Ladon was caring for their eggs, but Serah kept her newborn baby sister close to her heart. After devouring two bottles of ambrosia milk prepared by Brayne’s pixies, she was sleeping peacefully.

  Serah made it a point not to look at the prisoner sitting on the floor in front of her with his hands bound behind his back. Covered in grime, his hair and clothes charred from dragon fire, Brayne looked like a homeless witch begging on the street for coin. He’d craned his neck several times and tried to talk to her until Draque knocked him across the back of the head.

  Brayne turned around again and Draque shook his head as if he had water in his ears. He’d done that a few times since they’d been reunited, and she wondered if Lily hadn’t been able to completely heal him. She’d implored him to see a healer, but he’d told her it was nothing.

  The wait in the fae queen’s throne room felt interminable. She’d had no idea it would take this long, or she would’ve asked Ladon to pack extra diapers and bottles. Bored and agitated, she looked around, feeling as if she was drowning in a sea of purple. The room was hung with purple velvet drapes and tapestries depicting various scenes of fae at leisure. The throne’s cushions were purple, and the chandeliers gave off a soft lavender glow. Even the food and drink on the buffet table beside the throne were purple.

  “Hey.” Ladon elbowed her. “Do you think the queen likes purple?”

  The sound of Thelix’s laughter echoed in her brain.

  She buried her head against his arm, laughing. She didn’t know why his lame joke was so funny. Maybe it was just her nerves.

  “Straighten up, you two.” Leaning over her shoulder, Teju spoke in a hushed whisper. “I think she’s coming.”

  There was a commotion in the hall. A tall, slender fae with dark skin, wearing a purple velvet robe and matching purple hat that resembled a sailboat, a ridiculous, ginormous lavender feather in place of the sails, walked to the front of the room and blew a loud horn. “All bow to Queen Rhia!” he hollered.

  Lily let out a wail, her chubby fists waving in protest. Serah heard the swish of skirts behind her and stood when a hand lifted her elbow. She looked into the eyes of the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen; she had skin the color of mahogany, long, black hair, and sparkling lavender eyes that matched the jewels on her crown.

  Queen Rhia touched Lily’s forehead with an amethyst-tipped staff, and she instantly stopped crying.

  “There, there, little one,” she cooed, stroking the baby’s cheek. “No need to cry.”

  Serah smiled. “Thank you.”

  The queen gave her a long look, not a kind or hateful one, but an indifferent one. She walked up steps padded with a purple velvet rug and sat on her throne.

  I’m out of here, Thelix said. I don’t like the bitch already.

  Queen Rhia sat at the edge of her throne, head held high, and glared at Brayne. “Lord Phoenixfire, serious charges have been made against you, including abduction and endangerment. How do you answer them?”

  Brayne sobbed like a child who’d skinned its knee.

  With a huff, the queen stood and stormed down the stairs, then banged him on the head with her scepter. “Answer!”

  “Ow!” He looked at her fearfully. “I had no choice. Goldenwand made my son his hostage.”

  She pulled back her shoulders, her entire body rigid. “You had a choice. You always have a choice. For instance, you could’ve come to your queen.”

  “He said he’d kill Alexi if I told you.”

  “And you trust anything that comes out of his mouth? Your son is probably long dead.”

  Brayne let out a wail that could’ve shattered purple glass.

  “Half-blood.” She pointed her scepter at Serah. “Step forward.”

  “Half-blood?” she mumbled, thinking the queen wasn’t so pretty after all. She stepped forward, her mates following her as if they were one body.

  Queen Rhia arched a brow. “I didn’t ask for you, dragon-shifters.”

  “She’s our mate.” Draque puffed up his chest. “We go where she goes.”

  Though she didn’t want them getting in trouble with the fae queen, she was relieved to have their support, but she hoped the queen didn’t use her scepter to shrink their balls.

  “Very well,” Rhia said with a disinterested flick of the wrist. “Is that the Phoenixfire flower you carry?”

  “She is,” she said, holding the baby tighter, afraid the queen would deem a half-blood unfit to raise her.

  “How did she die this time?”

  She was dumbstruck. How could she answer without looking like a terrible guardian?

  Draque cleared his throat. “Healing me, Your Highness.”

  The queen glared at Serah. “And you let her?”

  “I didn’t know she’d die.” She withered under the weight of the queen’s censure. “I thought the charm around her neck was the Phoenixfire flower, not her.”

  The queen curse
d. “Do you think a simple charm could hold that much magic?”

  Serah wished she could somehow disappear into the obnoxious purple carpet. “I had no idea.”

  “Magic comes from living beings, not trinkets,” she explained in a condescending tone. “The wand you carry has no magic. It is used to draw your magic from you.”

  “Yes, Your Highness.” Serah gave the queen a curt nod. She may not have been an honor student, but this was something she’d learned in rudimentary magic. She didn’t know why she’d expected fae magic to be different. Then again, her mates had warned her the amethyst scepter made Rhia the most powerful being in the world. Wasn’t that the same principle as her theory about the Phoenixfire flower?

  The queen gave her a long look. “What are your intentions for the child?”

  She rocked the babe, a seed of hope sprouting. It sounded as if the queen was entrusting Lily to Serah’s care. “To raise her as our own and make sure she survives to adulthood.”

  The queen had the nerve to laugh. “A noble idea, but she won’t last five years with you.”

  She flushed with indignation and worry. She wouldn’t let this woman or anyone take Lily away from her. “She will last longer, because we know better than to take advantage of a child.”

  Queen Rhia gave her another long look. “We shall see.”

  Serah’s heart soared, and she momentarily forgot that the queen was a condescending, frigid bitch. All that mattered was keeping Lily. She beamed at Ladon, who reassured her with a hug.

  Rhia turned her attention to Brayne. “Where are your brothers and mate?”

  Tears streaked Brayne’s face. “They left me.”

  “I see.” Her lips twisted into a deep scowl, as if she’d just sucked on a sour lemon. “Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?”

  “No, Your Highness. I brought this on myself.”

  Serah fought the urge to roll her eyes. He was only sorry because his plan failed. If not for Thaddeus, she and Lily would be Grandfather Goldenwand’s prisoners, and Draque would be dead. Though she loathed her grandfather with every fiber of her being, she hated Brayne more—not for what he’d done to her but for how he’d treated Lily. He was a monster, and she’d never forgive him.

 

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