by S. L. Morgan
“She’s not a creature,” Harrison said, obviously in my thoughts. “It would be in your best interest to not say that word in front of Levi.”
“Harrison,” Levi ignored me, his wife standing at his side in a unique outfit of tight black leggings with a white silk shirt tucked into it. “Meet with Julian, fill him in on my plans, and then I need you back here for final orders before we return Dominic and Jenna back to Immortal Academy.”
“I’ll return in a moment and will send for all our warriors to report to places of interest on Earth,” Harrison said before he left.
“I’m Reece,” the woman said as she smiled at me. “From the way you’re both looking at me, I’m pretty sure you’re sensing that there’s more to me than meets the eye.”
“She felt your powers merely by gazing at your portrait. She is quite strong with her genetics,” Levi offered.
“I wish we were meeting under better circumstances. I thought I’d seen it all since I’ve come to live in Pemdas, but you should’ve seen my reaction to finding out that vampires and shifters and fairies were real.” Her eyes widened with her smile as she looked at Dom and me, “It really is an honor to meet you both.”
Dom exhaled. “We wish it were under better circumstances too, Empress,” he addressed her formally, most likely spellbound by her beauty, and there was no way I would fault him for it. “Listen,” he seemed to pull out of the trance he fell swiftly under, “we have to return to our school. We have to stop this at the source.” He looked at Levi who was watching him closely, “How can you get us out of here and back to that school so we can stop this?”
“Harrison will be handling your return,” Levi said in a curious voice. “It is interesting that your mind is having difficulty focusing while in my wife’s presence,” Levi said to Dominic. “This is the weakness that I sensed in you.”
Dom exhaled, and I glanced over to see his look of defeat. He was fighting the wolf, and Levi was sensing Dom’s true internal battle. This sucked beyond anything. Dom was a total badass, and shutting that wolf down was stopping him from being just that. To top it all off, I was dealing with the fact that I had no idea where to start or end with my damn powers. We needed to merge these freaking wolves, it was turning out that we had no other option. If my dad said I wouldn’t be able to access them to my maximum abilities without Dominic, then we were screwed. We had to find a way.
It was apparent the Guardians’ first priorities were to the humans. Thank God they actually gave half a crap to bring Dom and me here and rescue us from whatever IA was going to do to us after snatching us up from Dom’s house. Now, we were in the presence of their secret weapon, and it was easy to sense that she could take that school down with the snap of her fingers. The emperor could use her to end us all, but it’s like he was giving us a chance to fight. It didn’t make sense, but I couldn’t forget that Ethan had to be the reason the emperor wasn’t using his wife to destroy all immortals and take out the academy.
I could sense that the emperor was a merciful man. They seemed to be a forgiving people—obviously since they were going to allow us to try and fix our school’s problems. The level of servitude the Guardians exuded for the humans was loyalty that I’d never encountered. They could destroy the school, but the school had them distracted by going after humans in the real world. They wouldn’t sacrifice humans to correct supernaturals.
Holy crap, that’s it!
The school—the evil in it anyway—knew the Guardians would never come for it so long as it kept them distracted with protecting humans. This really did come down to Dom and me figuring things out and handling the problem at its source. This evil knew precisely what it was doing, and now I felt more determined to end this once and for all.
“Now, you understand the dilemma I am facing,” the emperor said as I looked up to see his sapphire eyes glimmering like gemstones. “And I believe you can appreciate why I must have you and Dominic at full capacity with your genetics, either separately or brought together.”
“If I—a human girl—can figure out my powers,” Reece smiled at me, “I think these two can figure out theirs too, Emperor.”
“God, I hope you’re right.”
“My wife has never failed me.” Levi grinned.
Dom and I exchanged glances, happy that someone had some faith in us.
Chapter Fourteen
“Now that introductions have been made, and Reece has given us all hope—” he paused and smirked at the empress, “as you always do,” he said in a teasing tone.
“Get to the point, Harrison,” Levi told his cousin while Reece returned Harrison’s teasing gaze.
“The point is this,” he looked at Dom and me, “Reece is right. That woman blew our minds with how she came into her powers, and after years of protecting her, she became the one who protected our people. You can do this alone, you both can. So, without any more time to make plans, I have to escort you both back to where everyone is awaiting your return. We must go.”
“How the hell do you plan on getting us—”
“Pardon the interruption, Jenna,” Levi said, nodding at me, then looking at Harrison. “How did you plan their return so that they will not be suspected of having been in Pemdas?”
“Simple. We altered everyone’s minds who had been in contact with Jenna and Dominic at the Rossi’s lodge in Aspen. Mark and his wife are under the impression that they had a short, lovely visit with their son and his girlfriend, and Edgewater is back at Immortal Academy on urgent business since the vacations have been cut short.”
“What is the reason you came up with for cutting the vacations short?” Levi asked Harrison as we all listened in on the commander’s plans.
“It is in response to more of our men getting hurt in the latest disruption. We will no longer tolerate Immortal Academy’s decision to allow their students to enjoy a reprieve when it is so blatantly obvious that they need more instruction,” he answered. “The president of the school agreed when I had Julian give him the order to shut vacations down and return the supernaturals to their studies, or we’d shut the place down ourselves.”
Levi studied Harrison for a moment. “Sometimes I wonder how you conjure up these fables while you alter minds.”
“I’m good at what I do. You know that, and that’s why you begged for me to be your partner while serving on Earth.”
“You probably should get these two back to school,” Reece said with a laugh. She looked at us, “We’ll be here all day listening to Harrison brag about himself if we don’t move quickly. We have bigger problems to deal with.”
“True,” Dominic said, and he took my hand in his. “Alright,” he looked at Harrison, “where are we going?”
“Straight to the dean’s office, of course,” Harrison sneered. “I shall escort you there myself. I must ensure his brain has been redirected to where I want him.” He looked at Levi, “I still do not understand why you allow that individual to live freely. He’s been immersed in darkness before, and I don’t trust him.”
“He’s done nothing to warrant my punishment, you know this.” Levi looked at Dom and me. “Let the dean’s demeanor guide you. He might be a great one to watch if that school stops its threats to distract my warriors. If they stop going after humans for some reason, the school might start going after its own students again. At this point, I’m not entirely sure what they are going to do next.”
“Shit,” I said. “I hate that man.”
Harrison eyed me. “Oh, well, I believed it was the leprechaun princess who goes by the name of Melanie that you despised?”
“I forgot about her,” Dom said as he rolled his eyes.
“And the weakness in the alpha shows itself again,” Harrison taunted. “How could you ever allow yourself to forget about some fairy who’s stalking you out of obsession? She might be a bigger problem than that school’s dark energy.”
“I could agree with that,” I said.
“You’re stronger than her, thoug
h, and you know that,” Reece interjected. “I can sense your powers are run by anger, am I right?”
“That and frustration,” I answered her.
“Is there a way you can modify those emotions when tapping into your abilities? I only ask because using negative energy to harness the power I sense in you is dangerous, especially when you consider what you’re dealing with at that school.”
Dom gripped my hand. “We’ll have help. Jen and I will work with our friends and my cousin to handle the dangers on the inside.”
“Then, we all have our missions and purposes,” Harrison said, stepping toward the door. “Let’s get you two back to school. It appears all of your fans are awaiting Master Dominic’s return from his IA-monitored family visit with his girlfriend.”
“So, we just get dropped off by you and figure it all out from there?” I asked.
“You’re getting dropped off by an Elite Council member who is not very happy with the school at this time. No one will question anything. Don’t concern yourself about it at all. I believe it’s lunchtime at your school anyway, and if you are true shifters, then I’m confident you’ll both be able to eat like you didn’t share an entire meal moments ago.”
“Thank you for your willingness to help. If, by some miracle, we are able to end the threat to the humans and my men infiltrate your school, work with them. They will not harm you,” Levi said.
“Thanks for giving us a running start,” I responded.
“It was nice to meet all of you. Jen and I will not let you down,” Dom said.
“The emperor already knows that,” Reece offered a smile. “Stay safe. I look forward to seeing you both again under better circumstances.”
After expressing our gratitude and saying goodbye, our butts were practically running to keep up with Harrison and Julian as they stormed through the grand palace and out to where their horses would carry us to the cars that would bring us back to IA.
Julian and Harrison parted ways once we jumped that gray mist that apparently kept any bad guys out of this realm that, if I was honest, I really never wanted to leave. There was peaceful energy in this place that I couldn’t explain, and even though the people seemed to talk and behave like they were from another time-period, it felt more like home than anything I could have ever dreamt up in my life.
“You kids ready for this?” Harrison asked, glancing over at me as I sat in the passenger seat, and Dom settled into the back. “Seriously, I believe you both can handle this. It would also be wise to follow the advice of the emperor and watch Edgewater. Use him as your gauge to know if the school is coming after its students again. He’s the easiest one for that school to possess.”
“You said he’s dabbled with some dark shit before,” I said. “What do you know?”
Harrison had a hand casually draped on the steering wheel, and his blue eyes met mine in humor. “I have to just ask,” he said like he was more confused about something other than that creep, Edgewater.
“Ask what?” I questioned him.
“I get that kids, shifters, and whatnot are all frustrated, and you both have every reason to be,” he glanced up in the mirror, most likely meeting eyes with Dominic, “but the profanity you both throw around…” he grinned. “Do not get me wrong, I’m not offended or anything, but it is quite unbecoming of you both. Do you gather internal strength by using words like this?”
“Are you serious?” Dominic shot back. “Just because we don’t speak properly like your people, doesn’t mean—”
“Odd that your school—the darkest of all places—will not allow it, but you continue to use profanity as if it is not against the rules.” He smirked at me, “I like this rebellious side of you both; however, it is bringing me to my next point,” he said when a flash of light practically blasted us out of his realm and onto some road I’d never seen before. “You need to watch everything you do that might bring attention to you at that place. You will never get ahead if all you do is act out of frustration and break the rules. My advice is this: no matter how great the frustration over any matter—whether it be leprechauns or wolves being snuffed out by their alphas—” he glanced at Dominic with an arch of his eyebrow, “do not let frustration drive you. The school is sure to beat you on that act alone.”
“Son of a bitch,” I said, and then grinned at Harrison, appreciating the point he was making.
Harrison sighed. “Glad that pep talk worked.”
“I’m just trying to get it all out of my system,” I teased.
“You seem pretty confident in all of this.” He looked over at me. “May I offer a suggestion for both of you to go along with my stellar advice from moments ago?”
“Go ahead, it seems like we’re getting closer to the school, so you might want to make it quick,” Dom said while we both were taking notice of the glittery trees that lined the outside lawns of the school.
“If Jenna can figure out some way to keep your wolf in the game, let her attack that issue with her magic first,” he said, pulling up to the front of the school. Students who were outside all took notice of the sleek, black car.
Harrison audibly called for the car to shut off. “Well, kids, it is back to school time. This is the hardest part, you know, just letting you two go off to school on your own,” he mocked as if he were dropping off his children for the first day of school. “I’m going to miss you, kiddos.”
Dom rolled his eyes and opened his door. “Let’s go,” he ordered, and just like that, Master Dom was back.
I was out of the car, and as Harrison joined Dominic and me in walking toward the school, a high-pitched, shrill voice practically stopped all three of us in our tracks.
“Well, well, well,” Harrison said with some humor. “If it isn’t the sassy little leprechaun who’s about to make both your lives a living hell,” he said as Melanie approached with her friends.
“Dominic,” she said, ignoring Harrison and me, “I have to tell you that the program is being accepted at all schools, and the Elite Council is accepting of all of it.”
“Is that so?” Harrison said, bringing her attention to him. Her cheeks turned as rosy red as her two flushed, fairy friends who’d been checking out Harrison’s hot looks since Melanie blasted up to Dominic.
“Um, who are you?’ she asked with a stutter.
“I’m part of the Elite Council you spoke of,” he said, eying her. “Who told you the lie that we’d accept anything a fairy had created?”
“Dominic and I worked on it. It’s a program that helps lure the rogue supernaturals to the illusions of human nature they seem to be attracted to.”
“But a fairy was involved?” Harrison pressed.
I could sense the anger bubbling up in the leprechaun as Harrison questioned her. Dominic was not saying a word, and she knew I was enjoying every second of the commander calling her out. It had to be driving her insane.
“I’m a leprechaun, sir.”
“My name is Commander Oxley, leprechaun. Last time I checked, leprechauns were fairies, so unless you managed to change that universal truth too, you shouldn’t make the distinction. It makes you sound ridiculous.” His voice lowered. “I will tell you this. I have no idea where you have gotten your information, but the Elite Council members are already in danger of being removed from their positions given problems that your cute little program will not fix.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Oh, but I do. You see, I run that council, and I would have been made aware of any solution the Elites are desperately trying to find to fix the troubles that go beyond a fairy’s comprehension. I’m sorry, but you’re obviously trying to impress Dominic over there,” Harrison glanced over at Dom’s rigid expression. “It’s obvious the shifter has a girl, he’s not impressed, and your lies make you look like a foolish child in front of him, so you probably shouldn’t do that anymore. Now, if you’ll excuse us,” Harrison said, stepping past Melanie with her mouth gaping open, “we have real business to discuss w
ith Dean Edgewater—the one who is only back at this school because I allowed it.”
We went to leave, and Melanie stomped her feet to run up in front of Harrison and stop us. “I don’t know who you think you are, but we are fixing this problem. My dad is the president of this school, and he will make anything I want happen.”
“Melanie,” Dom’s voice was low and with an edge to it, “let us get things handled so we can get back to school.”
“That means get out of my way before I have your dad removed as president of the school next,” Harrison’s voice matched Dom’s.
Melanie glared at all three of us and let us pass without another peep. I could tell Dom was definitely pushing his wolf aside, and just from seeing Melanie, he was back to dealing with the rage that he could typically control if he weren’t fighting his wolf. I was sure Harrison would have kept the banter going with Melanie, but when I listened to him lower his voice—pretty much matching Dominic’s tone—I knew he was getting Dom’s back. Harrison glanced over at me, and his lips tightened. For the first time, I saw sympathy in the commander’s expression.
“I beg of you to help him,” he said to me. “You know you can, you just have to find a way. He can’t be in this state and fired up so easily by something as simple as an annoying, childish fairy.”
“I’m listening to everything you’re saying,” Dom said in a frustrated tone.
“Good, so when your girlfriend tries to help you, let her. We need the fierce spirit I know you have. Jenna cannot do all of this alone. If some puppy-love is going to throw your mood off that fast, I can’t imagine how you’ll deal with even basic education at this school.”
“He’s right,” I said to Dom.
Dom squeezed my hand. “I get it. I know I’m definitely screwed if I get this angry this fast.”
“And so, we’re all working together as a team,” Harrison said, leading us over to the main entrance with a broad grin. “I absolutely love this unity,” he mocked in some ridiculous tone.
How the guy could switch gears and find the humor in this even as he was headed to deal with Dean Edgewater, I would never understand. The dude was actually fun in his own crazy way, and part of me wished he was staying. I knew Dom and I had this, though. We just needed to make a plan.
