Defying Destiny (Afterword Academy #3) - Katie May Page 0,57

missing, Auston’s visions of her bound to a stone table while a hooded figure beat her. I recall what it was like to watch her die back on Earth and how desperate I was when Administer’s dagger embedded itself into her chest, causing me to almost lose her again.

It’s harrowing.

Otherworldly.

A sound that would cause fully grown men to cower, to beg for it to stop.

Before I can even reach for her, a light so bright it’s blinding emanates from her body, and I have to shield my eyes.

The scream continues, and I wonder how she could possibly have enough breath to keep it going.

I climb out of the grave, back up, and squint my eyes, trying to see anything. Hadley is floating in midair, back arched, mouth open, face filled with anguish.

Another pulse of light has me turning away, but then a moment later, it subsides, and I turn back to face Hadley, watching her float back to the ground.

Only this is not the Hadley I just saw.

This one has my horns and Auston’s wings. It has Preston’s scythe and by the way she flickers in and out of existence, Karston’s invisibility.

And she’s also clutching the Fate dagger.

Leather clothing appears on her supple body, conforming to her figure and emphasizing her curves. When she moves, the fabric shimmers like yards of starlight, embodying the magic I always knew my girl possesses.

“Holy shit. She’s all of the divisions and a Fate,” Caius whispers in disbelief.

I think he’s right.

She’s Ghost, Reaper, Angel, Demon…

And a Fate.

Basically, she's rapture personified.

And she’s fucking glorious to behold.

She smiles down at us and flutters her wings as she spins the scythe in her hand like an old pro, saying with confidence, “Let’s go fuck shit up.”

Chapter 23

Hadley

Shock grips my heart, almost like a Hellhound has clamped its jaws around the organ, giving it a tug. I can scarcely believe what just happened.

I’m not merely a Fate.

I’m…everything.

I can feel the powers of a Ghost like a cool caress on my skin. The heat of Demons surging through my veins. The cold, bitter breeze of an Angel in flight ruffling my hair and causing goosebumps to skate down my spine. And finally, the tingle in my limbs signaling my Reaper power, the feeling reminiscent to a shockwave.

I gape wordlessly at Caius and Braxton, both of whom are staring at me like I’m something exotic, something they have never seen before, but something so heart-stoppingly beautiful, they can’t look away.

I spin the Fate dagger lazily between my fingers, the power thrumming from it almost palpable. If I look hard enough, I swear I can see waves emitting from the blade like wispy, multicolored smoke. My fingers tingle where they rest on the hilt, and without further ado, I slide the blade into the waistband of my pants, being extra careful not to nick my skin.

“You’re so fucking hot right now,” Brax breathes as his eyes perform a slow, languid perusal of my form. Heat cascades through me before I shake my head from side to side, attempting to dislodge the lust clouding my thoughts.

“We need to find Aggie,” I say to both of them, and the heat in their eyes rapidly fades. Because if there’s one thing capable of diminishing any and all traces of lust, it’s talk of my saggy, old best friend-slash-lust Fate.

“You’re right.” Caius nods sharply. “We’ll need her help in the coming battle.”

He turns on his heel and begins to walk the long path back towards the Academy, his hands clasped behind his back and his head canted upwards imperiously. He looks like a knight entering a throne room, desperate to serve his queen, and the familiar tendrils of lust return with a vengeance.

“What about the other Fate fuckers?” Braxton queries as his hand grips my own, pulling me forward to catch up with my brisk-walking Fated.

“They live in the Divine Realm when they’re not needed on Earth,” Caius states, glancing over his shoulder at me, as if to see if I remember that from my past life. When he doesn’t see anything resembling acknowledgement in my eyes, he sighs in defeat, his head hanging ever so slightly.

“So they can’t assist us in the upcoming battle?” Braxton presses, and Caius purses his lips. His rather kissable lips, if you ask me, even with the stubble coating his jawline. I wonder how it would feel raking against my skin again…

When we reach the Academy grounds, my feet trip over themselves, and all I can do is stare