Fortune Academy: Year Three - J.R. Thorn Page 0,43

their worried stares, but I knew Olivia was right. This plan only worked if we took up a familiar routine that the Dean wouldn’t question. “You heard her.”

Dante rested his hand on his dagger. “Are you sure? We could just attack the Monster Arena now and get you to Cole. And Orion’s got a point about your succubus side.” He grinned. “You can get a little… forward, when you want to be.”

“You can’t just go into the Arena, not anymore,” Olivia said. “The Dean might not have her memories, but she is paranoid. She’s locked up any of the more valuable prisoners with a personal key that’s part of her bracelet. Nobody can get in those cages, not even me. If you want to get to Cole, then you’re going to need the Dean’s trust.”

I sighed. “And Kaito.”

“And Kaito,” she agreed.

“Well this sucks,” Hendrik grumbled as he leaned against the wall. “My mages don’t even remember who I am.” The sadness in his voice touched me. His clan was his life and without them, his life’s work would have no meaning. Everything he had done was for his clan, even mating with me.

“Then remind them,” I said. “They don’t need their memories to know that you are their rightful leader. Go to them and show them they can trust you, that they can rely on you, just like you’ve done for me.”

Hendrik rewarded me with a rare smile, a genuine one that touched his dark eyes. “You surprise me sometimes, pet.” He leaned down and gave me a long kiss, running his tongue over mine before he patted me on the head. “There’s a good girl. Stay.”

I rolled my eyes as he waltzed out the door.

Dante, Orion, and Logan said their goodbyes as well. Orion copped one more feel while Dante brushed his fingers through my hair, whispering promises that we’d all be together again soon.

Logan refused to shift to kiss me, his version of punishment when he knew I longed to touch his lips as he pattered out of the room and my heart twisted with regret.

Olivia scoffed. “How do you deal with so many…”

“Sexy males?” I asked.

“I was going to say penises.”

I burst out laughing as she counted them on her hand. “I mean that’s one, two… three, four, five. Five!” She held up her hand and spread her fingers. “How does that even work? Have you been with, you know, all of them at once?”

I chuckled even as my face turned bright red. “Yes, and it was amazing.”

“I repeat, how does that even work?” she asked as she threw up her hands.

Doubling-over with laughter as my side pinched, I pushed her away. “It just does, all right! Stop with the interrogation!”

She rolled her eyes as she got up and shut the door. “Okay, fine, but the second Melinda’s mind tricks work on you, I’m bringing her over for answers.”

I nodded as I wiped tears from my eyes. “Deal.”

Chapter 14

“You care to tell me how you managed to befriend a vampire while I was gone?” I asked as I crossed my arms.

“You saw for yourself how the veil to Hell is thin,” Olivia said. “Lots of Hell creatures have been popping up, including students from Monster Academy.” Olivia took a spray bottle while she talked and coated a length-wise mirror I didn’t remember being in the middle of our living room before. I gave her a raised brow when a black inky substance trickled down the glass.

“You know, you’re not making that thing any cleaner.”

She chuckled as she added a few more sprits before stepping back. “It’s a portal. Not all of us have VIP access to Hell like you.” She glanced at my necklace. “Impressive work, by the way. Banishing a demon like Lucifer. Yuri’s going to flip when she hears about that.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You sound chummy. I didn’t get replaced while I was gone, did I?”

Olivia pinched my cheek. “Nobody can replace you, bestie.”

“Uh-huh.”

The mirror rippled as a long leg came through, followed by a gorgeous vampire with bright pink hair and ruby lips wrapped around a pink lollipop. I was suddenly glad my guys were no longer in the room.

She smiled at me as she took out the candy, revealing fangs red with blood that dribbled down her chin.

Olivia cleared her throat. “Uh, Yuri. You’ve got… something…” Her words trailed off as she tapped her own chin to indicate her meaning.

Yuri blinked her red eyes and wiped her mouth with the back of