Wrath of the Gods (Magic Blessed Academy Book 3) Page 2

  Lachlan sighed. “Personally, I feel sorry for these fuckers. They don’t even know what they’re praying to.”

  My jaw tightened, and I leaned into Trace’s comforting touch, trying to let it soothe the rage bubbling up inside me. I couldn’t even decide who I was mad at, the gods or the fools who worshiped them.

  “I want to shake them all. I want to scream in their faces and tell them to wake the hell up.” I dropped my voice a little, glancing around at the men. “If you really think about it, with the gods deciding that they don’t like wild magic, how long do you think it’ll be before they decide to go after other magic users as well? Before they decide any magic is a threat to them?”

  “Probably not that long.” Merrick’s voice was grim.

  With my fists clenched, I narrowed my eyes and looked up at the giant statue of the god named Omari. Flowers, letters, and other offerings were strewn at the statue’s feet, and it took all my self-control not to kick it all away.

  “Well, the gods won’t get away with this shit. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

  Chapter Two

  A deep grunt fell from my lips as I kicked sideways, slamming my foot into the punching bag. I darted around the heavy bag and began to punch with both my fists and magic, sending energy down through my arms to wrap around my knuckles.

  My arms sped up, the magic moving them so fast that I couldn’t make out their common form. Relaxing my muscles, I let them assist the magic rather than resisting it, making my own body almost like a puppet on strings, manipulated by the magic that gave me added speed and strength.

  Finally, I punched one last time, landing a blow that nearly jerked the chain from the ceiling. The bag swung high in the air, and I caught it as it came back toward me.

  Stepping back, I wiped my forehead, then bent to pick up my water bottle.

  “You’re really kicking ass today,” Merrick commented, gazing at me carefully as he stepped inside the spare bedroom we’d turned into a training room. The guys and I were all sharing a room, and I was going to miss the hell out of that when we returned to Magic Blessed Academy and our little pre-assigned dorm rooms. “You have been all week.”

  I swallowed and squirted a little water down my back, letting it cool my heated skin. “I gotta get ready. I gotta keep getting ready, until I’m so powerful that there’s no more room to improve. I don’t see that happening anytime soon.”

  Merrick’s eyes narrowed, but I turned away from the worry written on his face. I hated when people were concerned for me, even though I knew it meant they cared about me, which was technically a good thing.

  Even if I wasn’t used to it.

  Even if my instincts sometimes were to put walls up so that none of the guys would know how truly freaked out I was about all of this.

  He sat down on the weight bench Lachlan had set up near one wall, watching as I picked up the jump rope and began to swing it over my head.

  “Ari.” His voice was quiet. “Ever since the festival, ever since you saw that shrine, you’ve been in double-crazy mode.”

  As my feet tapped out a staccato rhythm on the floor, the rope passing beneath them with a steady thwap, I glanced over at him.

  “It just reaffirmed the fact that something needs to be done. Maybe I really am a god, but I was raised as a human, and a part of me will always feel human. I don’t know if there’s anybody worth sticking up for on the gods’ side, but I do know there are a lot of people worth it on the human side. They’re trying to kill our classmates, Merrick!” The rope picked up speed, thwacking harder against the floor with every rotation. “I know how hard it is just to survive the challenge, and it’s only getting harder. I need to be in peak shape, and I need to be able to use my magic. All of it. However much I may have. The only way I’m going to get better is by practicing, and we both know that I can’t do much of that at the school without being noticed.”

  He didn’t say anything for a moment, his eyes drifting over to the window, where the setting sun had given the world a hazy glow. “And what are you going to use all this practice for? I really hope you’re not thinking of trying to do this on your own.”

  My feet stopped moving, and the rope slapped against the floor for the final time. My breath was coming fast as I looked over at Merrick, meeting his gaze.

  “I wish I could do it on my own,” I admitted. “I wish I could protect everybody I care about—and that includes you, Lach, and Trace.”

  He opened his mouth, probably about to argue that they should be allowed to protect me too, but before he could, I stepped toward him. His arms came around my waist as I stepped between his legs, sliding my fingers through his hair and looking down at him.

  “But I’m not stupid,” I continued. “Even if you guys are right and there isn’t some other explanation for why I can travel to the godly realm, I’m not dumb enough to think I’m all-powerful. I’m getting stronger, sure, and I could probably take most magic users out there. And after seeing some of those gods lounging around the palace, I’m pretty sure I could take some of them too.” I huffed a humorless laugh. “But I know I’m stronger with backup. I know we have strength in numbers. I want to be able to bring you guys, or others if they want to come with me, when I go to the godly realm.”

  “And you’re planning on challenging the gods there?” Merrick asked. His head was tilted up, his chin resting on my stomach. The words could’ve been a question, but they sounded more like a statement.

  He knows me well enough to know the answer already.

  I nodded. “Yeah. I am. And I’ll need backup if I hope to have a chance in hell of winning that challenge.” My fingers stilled in his hair. “You know, you guys have been a bad influence on me. I used to be the kind of person who prided herself in never needing anyone else, but ever since that first challenge, since you guys, I realized that even if I could do it on my own, I probably shouldn’t.”

  Merrick tugged me down onto his lap, not seeming to mind that I was covered in a sheen of sweat. I went willingly, straddling his lean waist and draping my arms over his shoulders.

  He lifted his head to kiss me, his hands palming my ass with a proprietary touch that I secretly loved. I’d never been the type of chick who relished the idea of being owned, but since these three men let me own them right back, I actually kind of loved it.

  As our lips broke apart, I let out a sigh. “It kind of feels like the summer was a bust, since I haven’t been able to master transporting between realms. But looking back on it, we spent the whole entire summer training and working. There’s no way we’re not stronger and more powerful than we were when we left. All of us.”

  Merrick shook his head, pulling me a little closer. “I just can’t believe school is almost back in session. I know we have to go; we have no choice. But damn, I don’t want to. I want to keep you out of that fucking place, out of harm’s way. But I know we’re too deep in this shit to quit now. Given what we all know, I would never be able to rest. I would feel like I betrayed every one of our classmates by leaving them to the wolves.”

  Something swelled in my chest, warmth blooming through me. Merrick had changed a hell of a lot since the day I’d first seen him in the hallway at Magic Blessed—the day we’d fucked hard and dirty in a supply closet, working out the metric shit-ton of baggage that had existed between us back then.

  Come to think of it, I’d changed a lot since that day too.

  I smiled at the blond-haired man. “You’ve got a good heart.” Then I grimaced. “Besides, it’s not like we can hide from them. If we don’t go back, we’ll be in a shitload of trouble. They’ll send Oberon or someone much worse after us, or just suck us right back through a portal.”

  Merrick rolled his eyes. “I really hate letting other people control my life. I hated that shit even before we found out that Magic Blessed is a den of fucking lies. So, we’re in, Ari. As deep as this takes you, whatever happens—we’re in.”

  Lifting his hands, he cupped
the side of my face. When he kissed me again, the feel of his lips on mine said more than his words ever could.

  I wasn’t alone in this.

  In anything.

  And as long as these three men were still alive, I never would be.

  Chapter Three

  Just as we’d figured, the school admins somehow knew exactly where we had gone for the summer vacation. We received official notices letting us know where and when to expect our portals, and on the day we were due back on campus, the glowing portals appeared at exactly the designated time.

  Right before we stepped through, the men and I all shared a glance, not speaking any words but saying plenty.

  We were about to embark on something big.

  Something dangerous as fuck.

  And as soon as we were back on school grounds, we had to act like everything was fine.

  The whirling vortex of the ether sucked me in, and I stumbled a little as I landed in the portal room at Magic Blessed Academy. I regained my balance and glanced around as the men all emerged from their portals too. Maybe it was because I’d been traveling back and forth between realms on my own so much this summer, but traveling through a portal someone else had created felt strange to me now.

  I didn’t voice that thought to the guys as we all walked out of the portal room, glancing around. The hustle and bustle of returning students filled the hallway, and I didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing me. No one was supposed to know I could go to the godly realm on my own now.

  Lach’s gaze slid sideways, his green eyes sharp and assessing. I knew I was looking around the same way. This place had never exactly seemed cozy and welcoming, but now it felt downright ominous.

  Poisonous. Full of secrets.

  With everything that had happened, I couldn’t help but wonder who here might be on my side, and who might be against me. There were the obvious choices—yeah, I’m lookin’ at you, Wesley—but I wasn’t worried about the obvious ones. I was more concerned about the ones that we didn’t see coming.

  Mustering up my courage, I nodded to the guys and headed for my dorm room. The more inconspicuous I made myself, the better. I had plans to go after the gods themselves this semester, but until that moment came, my best bet was to stay off the radar.

  I wanted to be the threat the gods didn’t see coming.

  Back in my dorm room, I did a small sweep just to make sure there were no obvious signs of someone spying on me, then unpacked and organized my things in the dresser and closet. The medal I had been given for winning the Gods’ Challenge my first semester was still tucked in the back of a dresser drawer, underneath some clothes I’d left in my dorm over summer break.

  I didn’t look at it as I shoved the rest of my clothes in the drawer, but I swore I could feel it there anyway, as if it were giving off a heat signature or something.

  Sleep didn’t come easy that night, and the next morning I was up before my alarm went off. I trekked down to the cafeteria early and sat by myself, eating a bowl of cereal, watching the students trickle in and hoping I didn’t have to deal with anything.

  As I poked my spoon around in my bowl, a familiar voice rang out across the cafeteria.

  “Aria!”

  Eden raced across the room toward me, her eyes lighting up. Without even waiting for me to stand up, she threw her arms around me. I twisted in my seat and patted her back awkwardly. The sweet, bubbly girl with the button nose and gray eyes was much more comfortable with overt displays of affection than I was, but she truly had become one of my best friends.

  When she finally released me from her surprisingly bone-crushing hug, she pulled back and made a face at me. “I can’t believe you beat me down here! I went up to your room, but you weren’t there. Come on! It’s been all summer, and you can’t even let me be your wake-up call for breakfast?”

  Her voice was teasing, but there was a little hint of actual hurt in her eyes. Fuck. It had been kind of an asshole move not to find her and say hi after the guys and I had gotten to school yesterday. But I’d been so in my head, so absorbed in the thoughts and plans and dozens of “what ifs” floating around in my mind—I hadn’t wanted to see anyone.

  I grimaced, gesturing for her to sit beside me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep well last night, and I was fucking starving this morning. But I’m glad you’re here. I—”

  Before I could finish the thought, a hand slammed down on our table, making my spoon rattle in the bowl. I stared at the short stubby fingers and followed the arm up to the face I knew way better than I wanted to. My lips twitched, and anger began to rise inside of me again. The same anger that’d been bubbling in my chest all summer.

  “Oh, hey, Wesley,” I said with forced casualness. “Great to see you. Although I’m honestly a little surprised to see you here.”

  His pinched face shifted into a scowl at the monotone of my voice. “Why’s that?”

  I turned back to my bowl of cereal, letting a half-smile curve my lips. “I don’t know, I just thought after taking a punch to the face like I gave you last semester, you might still be knocked out.”

  The hands on the table curled into fists. Wesley leaned closer, making Eden pull back in distaste as he dipped his head to stare at me.

  “Trust me,” he murmured. “I’ll get my revenge on you. Don’t underestimate me.”

  The spoon paused in front of my mouth, hovering there for a second. Then I continued to eat, keeping my face schooled into a bland expression. Wesley stayed where he was for a long moment, obviously waiting for my facade of boredom to break. When it didn’t, he finally grunted angrily under his breath, turned on his heel, and walked away.

  Eden watched our asshole classmate go, her nose wrinkled in distaste. Then she turned to me and chuckled. “It’s good to see you’re making friends again. You’ve always been so sociable.”

  My stomach twisted a little, making the cereal churn in my gut. I wanted to laugh at her joke, but I felt like I was a fraud. It was true; I didn’t make friends easily. But Eden was one of the few people who had actually wormed her way into my life. Into my heart.

  And I was being a pretty fucking shitty friend by keeping everything I knew secret.

  In a way, maybe keeping her in the dark would protect her. But I’d started to realize that not knowing was just as dangerous—maybe more so.

  Trusting the wrong people could get you killed. Especially if those people were gods.

  “Hey, uh, I need to talk to you,” I said. “Can we go somewhere else?”

  Her brows pulled together, but she nodded. “Sure. Just let me grab a muffin or something.”

  I grabbed one too and demolished it in three bites as we made our way out of the cafeteria and down the hall. Most of the classrooms were taken up by teachers getting ready for the start of the semester, but I found an empty supply closet and pulled her inside.

  She watched me as I held my ear to the door for a moment, making sure no footsteps headed our way. Then I did a spell I’d learned from Trace, sending out a layer of magic to create a seal around the door, blocking our voices from outside listeners. When I turned back to Eden, her eyes were wide, and she had a bite of muffin tucked away in her cheek like a chipmunk.

  She might not know what I was about to tell her, but the way I was acting had obviously tipped her off to the fact that it was bad.

  I crossed over to lean against a shelving unit beside her, shoving my hands in my pockets as I met her gaze. “I have to tell you something. But you have to swear you won’t tell anyone else right now. You could be in danger if you do.”

  Her face went serious. She swallowed her bite of muffin and she nodded. “Promise.”

  Okay. Here goes.

  Keeping my voice hushed and flat, I quickly told her everything.

  About how the gods were working with the school admins to make sure that a high percentage of students didn’t survive the Gods’ Challenges, and even worse, about why they wanted us to die.

  Because we hadn
’t been gifted magic by the gods as we had been taught since the day we’d arrived here. Instead, every student at Magic Blessed was a person who had developed magic spontaneously. What the god Omari had called “wild magic.” And our time at this academy was a chance for the gods to weed out some of the strongest of us by making sure we died in the competition. It allowed them to cull our numbers without alerting the general magical population to the fact that they were killing off magic users.

  “The strongest of us…?” Eden looked like she might cry. I could see shock on her face, but the emotion that really ripped my heart apart was disappointment.

  Because she wasn’t as bitter and jaded as me, she had expected better from this place. Even I had been surprised by the level of evil and duplicity. Eden looked rocked by it.

  “Yeah.” I nodded. It wasn’t really possible to soften a blow like this.

  “Wait. Does that mean Wesley is one of the strongest of us?”

  She looked horrified at the thought, and I laughed, even though I was sure she wasn’t joking.

  “Nah, he’s just the biggest fucking conniver and cheater of us all.” My voice dropped as I turned to face her more fully. “But there’s one more thing.”

  I finished my story with the part about going back to the godly realm on my own, after last semester’s challenge had completed. My gaze dropped to the floor as I told her the guys’ hypothesis on why I could travel to and from the godly realm.

  Her mouth hung open like a fish, and it felt like a full minute passed before she finally snapped it shut, shaking her head. “Wow. That’s just… wow. You’re a god.”

  “I don’t know that for sure,” I insisted quickly. “There could be some other explanation.”

  “No.” She shook her head, her light brown eyebrows pulling together. “I think you are.”

  For some reason, a blush burned my cheeks. Maybe it was the certainty in her voice, the absolute confidence that it was possible I was a supreme magical deity. It sort of felt like someone had given me the biggest, most outrageous compliment in the world. And of course, I was awful at taking compliments.