Fortune Academy: Year Three - J.R. Thorn Page 0,74

pushed over the edge.

To make matters worse, the bracelet around my wrist started to heat up and the final gem began to glow.

“Shit,” I cursed.

Out of time.

“Now!” Kaito urged and I finally relented. I closed my eyes and drew in as much energy as I could, tapping into my powers as a succubus, as well as that from my demon side to absorb life-force, emotion, and energy.

Kaito cried out as I took a long pull of his power and fell to his knee, but he kept a hold on my arm,

Orion likewise groaned with pain and his freckles flickered in and out with light as I drew on his energy.

The power filled me, making me dizzy and giving me a sensation of being invincible.

The fog closed in around us and while it couldn’t penetrate me or the Virtues I held onto, it served as interference for the Hell bracelet that was trying to send me to Lucifer.

I used that to my advantage as I took a step toward my brawling Virtues, grinning when I realized it was working.

Cole stopped his attack when he spotted me heading for my target.

Merlin.

I didn’t know what kind of mage he was, but I knew he was immortal and that he had power over Cole if I could figure out a way to exploit it. He’d created the wall around our cage and I intended to use that.

With Cole under my control, perhaps I’d finally unlock my powers and end this Hell.

Cole roared as he launched himself and got to the wizard first. Grabbing him by the neck and holding him up as his red gaze landed on me.

“Cole!” I snapped. “Do not hurt him!”

His grin turned wild and manic as he extended his claws.

Then he rips Merlin’s heart from his chest.

The world froze in that moment and I realized that I’d just lost.

The Dean cackled with laughter and Cole snapped his attention to her. “Oh, thank you, my demon. You’ve done exactly what I needed.” She clapped her hands again. “Now, ladies.” The Blood Coven resumed its chant and heat spilled out into the Arena, making me pant.

Merlin’s eyes sprang open and fires consumed him from within as he opened his mouth on a silent scream.

Cole dropped him and hissed. “The Vessel,” he growled.

“I thank all of you for making this possible,” the Dean said, holding her hands to her chest as if she was giving an award speech. “I knew that Merlin was the Vessel to resurrect my beloved Lancelot, but I don’t have the magic or the power to kill him. Only a true immortal could take the heart of a wizard.” She grinned at Cole. “I’m forever in your debt.”

An otherworldly roar sounded as fires erupted all across the Arena. I released my energy to keep my Virtues from burning alive.

It wouldn’t hold forever, but it would hold long enough.

Panting, I watched in horror as a spirit came up from Hell and the stench of sulfur tinged my nostrils. Red eyes aflame with Hellfire took us all in before landing on the Dean. “Hello, sweetheart,” he said with a sarcastic sneer.

“Lancelet, darling,” she said, pressing her face against the barrier. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”

He glowered. “You left me to burn in Hell for centuries. What do you think?”

She fell back a step, then turned an angry gaze on Cole. “You. You turned him against me. Undo this!” She snapped her fingers and I gasped as an agonizing burn radiated throughout my chest. “Fix it or I rip out your precious mate’s heart!”

Cole’s gaze fell on me and in that instant I knew that a piece of him belonged to me. It always had ever since he’d left hell, but a demon like him wouldn’t be tamed so easily.

The mate-bond flooded with emotion as Cole released the damper he’d put on it as indecision fluxed in his heart. He’d wanted to kill me, to toy with me and release his rage on my mates.

That was all he knew. He’d spent an eternity living as a slave to his nature and it frightened him that perhaps there was another way.

Because if he accepted that, he’d have to accept the guilt that came with all the horrible things he’d done.

“No one commands me,” he snarled, his voice booming with rage.

I saw when he lost the battle. What empathy I’d spotted in his gaze faded as he roared and went for Lancelot. He lashed out, his tail transforming into a sharp edge that