Fortune Academy: Year Three - J.R. Thorn Page 0,1

statue.”

“That would be an improvement,” I shot back.

He grabbed his chest. “Oh, babe. You wound me.”

Our banter edged off as I stared up at the sky again, feeling both annoyed and defeated. How was I supposed to find anyone in this place?

And how was I supposed to live with myself? Olivia had been such a good friend, a much better one than I ever deserved. After everything she’d done for me, I’d just abandoned her for some stupid quest to save the world. If she died, what kind of world would I be forced to live in?

“I just got the hand back, Lils. I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t pop it off.”

I glanced down to see I had a death grip on Dante’s poor fingers. I released him and grumbled an apology.

“Are you worried about the others? The last time you felt them you said they were stressed, but calm. So they’re okay, I’m sure.”

“Enough,” I said as I struggled to my feet. Snow puffed into steam as I hit the edge of the unmelted wall around our shallow spot. More divots in the landscape crumpled and began to steam.

I glared at my Hunter who blazed with a beautiful red glow. The aura of the Blood Stone burned through him after our union, solidifying our bond on a deeper level than I had with any of my Virtues. “I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to distract me from the fact that I’m a massive failure and everyone I love is doomed because I fucked up.”

If the Dean hadn’t found me out… If I had bonded with my Virtues sooner… If I hadn’t been such a royal screw-up, then maybe the universe would have gotten the Champion it deserved.

Instead, it chose me, proof that the universe had lost it.

“I’m not doing anything,” he said, sporting an innocent grin that brought out his dimples. He got to his feet and wrapped one arm around my waist, bringing me in close to him. He nuzzled his nose into my neck again as he breathed me in. “I just don’t want you to worry about things you can’t control.”

“Olivia’s dead,” I said, my voice breaking on the admission.

And it’s all my fault.

“You don’t know that,” he said, pulling away as those brilliant orange eyes of his turned serious. “The Dean would want to keep the leverage she has on you. Olivia is still alive. I’m sure of it.”

I swallowed the permanent lump in my throat. “I hope you’re right.”

He let out a breath and steam puffed the air as he looked up, seeming to notice the floating skulls and black clouds for the first time as he grimaced. “We’ll find a way out of here. We have to.”

I surveyed the empty landscape and wondered where to even begin, especially now that little pockets of steam had begun boiling up to the surface. That certainly couldn’t be good.

Fuck. I really had to stop executing plans that I hadn’t fully fleshed out yet, because this sucked.

“Why don’t you try to feel for Logan again?” Dante offered after an awkwardly long moment of silence. “Maybe it’ll help us find the tunnels.”

I sighed and squeezed his fingers as I drew in his warmth. “Okay, but if I guide us into a pit of fire or something, it’s your fault.”

He chuckled. “Of course.”

The power of our connection slipped through me like velvet, making my shoulders relax despite my nerves being on the fritz. Logan flashed into my mind again and his blue eyes crossed my vision, looking straight through me and into my soul.

“I’ve got him.”

“Good,” Dante said, leaning in as he lowered his voice. “Does it feel like the sensation is coming from a particular direction?” I concentrated, then definitely felt a pull to the left, so I nodded. “That’s my girl. Follow it. I’ve got your hand and I’ll be your eyes on this end. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

Grimacing as I kept my focus, I took one step and paused as snow sizzled around my foot. The connection flashed in and out, no matter how hard I tried to maintain it. “Something is interfering,” I said as pain lashed across my temple, making me wince.

“Uh, not to frighten you, but I think I know what it is.”

“What?” I hissed.

“No, nothing. Don’t open your eyes. It’s—”

Too late.

Holy.

Fuck.

“Dante!”

It was the Hunter’s turn to cut off the blood flow to my fingers as he gripped me hard. “Relax. It’s just, uh, a stray animal.”

“That is no