probably hand me the world even if I didn’t ask, because for the first time ever, I showed him my vulnerability.
Magic and chemistry rippled between us like an invisible wave. We gazed at each other as I moved toward him, forgetting where we were. Or maybe we just didn’t care.
“Demigod Axel, sir,” Demetra called. “I have a question for you.”
The spell between Axel and me shattered.
One-eighth had come around while neither of us was paying attention.
She showed off with her vines twining around her breasts, caressing her. Her sultry gaze roved over Axel. Judging from the way she thrust out her perky breasts, she was challenging him to have his large, powerful hands fondle her instead of the plants.
I growled.
Maybe I should just call my hellfire to burn her vines and hair and think of the consequences later. Then she’d learn how it would work out for her if she kept trying to steal my man.
My man?
Somehow, I’d included Axel as one of mine.
I darted a quick glance at Zak.
He appeared zoned out. A thought hit me. He was probably having a telepathic conversation with Héctor since the Demigod of Death was racing against the demons to find the prophesized weapon.
“Don’t you see I’m busy here, first-year?” Axel snapped, baring his teeth. “Do not fucking interrupt us again.”
Demetra’s face turned beet-red, and her eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected any man to reject her outright like that. She’d come to the Academy with a purpose—to get her claws into a demigod, marry him, and produce the next generation of Olympian babies.
I hissed, “Get lost, One-eighth. Now.”
She glared at me with pure hatred but dared not engage me in front of Axel. I bet she pictured her poison ivy tightening around my neck until I ceased to breathe.
She turned on her heels.
The girl never ceased to amaze me with her attempts to ruin everything for me.
“You’re territorial, Cookie,” Axel said in approval. “You’ll fit right in with us.”
“You’re welcome to ask me any questions, Demetra,” Paxton’s deep voice boomed from several yards away from us.
He waved Demetra toward him.
Demetra flashed me a supercilious smile before scurrying toward the Demigod of Sea as if she’d just grown a pair of fairy wings.
Well, score one for her. My immortal enemy had just rescued my other enemy.
The nasty attracted the nasty.
I shouldn’t care that she was going to land the douche swimming boy. But then why was I enraged, as if someone was taking something that belonged to me?
I couldn’t help but dart a glance in Paxton’s direction, only to find that his gaze was glued to me, locking with mine. He wanted to see how I would react. He didn’t even bother to look at Demetra as she nearly flung herself at him.
I despised the sea demigod more than anyone, even more than the demons. I shouldn’t have these fucked-up possessive feelings toward him. He had never been one of mine and never would be. I would make sure of that, no matter how much he insisted that he would have a piece of me, according to the pact he’d made with the other demigods.
If Pigston wanted a reaction, I would give him one.
I grinned at him viciously, then I showed him my pinky. He didn’t even deserve the middle finger. That was how low he was in my eyes.
Axel chuckled, enjoying watching me humiliate his sea cousin.
Rage flashed through Paxton’s violent eyes.
I broke my eye contact with him and focused on Axel.
“That nasty pair will breed super nasty babies,” I said with a shrug.
“I hope so,” Axel said. “But it won’t happen.”
Since our magical, sexually charged moment had been broken by the unwanted third party, he remembered he needed to train me and frowned.
“For a starter, maybe don’t curse when you call your power. You gotta respect your birthright, Cookie, if you want your magic to cooperate and obey your command.”
Just then, Zak snapped out of his private zone and strode toward us from his quiet corner. Silver lightning flashed within his eyes as his gaze fell on me.
My heart fluttered.
“Héctor needs you in the battle zone, Axel,” he said, darting his glance to Axel before fixing it on me again. “Two archdemons brought a troop of seventy demons to undermine Héctor and his Dominions.”
Axel’s face darkened.
Theodore was suddenly in front of us, too, his face paling. “An archdemon only comes out under Lucifer’s direct orders. It shows that they’re desperate to get their hands on the weapon of the Living