Midnight Fae Academy #3 by Lexi C. Foss

Aflora lostconsciousness as I locked the door to my room, her final thoughts all surrounding the myriad of ways she intended to make me suffer. My lips curled in anticipation.

As an Earth Fae, she was all about life and love and peace.

But my Quandary Blood had provided her with a lethal edge that I intended to exploit.

One moment, she promised never to kill a living thing. And in the next breath, she vowed vengeance and devastation. Namely, my death. But I would morph that train of thought into something more useful.

It was all part of her training.

Just like the web I’d woven around her.

She’d figure out how to dismantle it eventually, and I’d be waiting for her when she did. Her life essence was tied to mine, pulling on my energy to revive her. I allowed it, knowing she would need a few breaths to begin the process.

Her roar in my head widened my grin.

I refused to answer her now, listening as she puzzled through what she needed to do. Her mind fascinated me, her convoluted thoughts so similar to my own. She had no idea how alike we truly were, only I’d accepted my fate and destiny in life, while she was still trying to find her own.

The path would reveal itself very soon.

She eventually quieted, her affinity for solving problems springing to the surface as she began to expertly unweave the magic I’d wrapped around her.

So beautiful and cunning. All my previous intentions wavered, including the steps I took now toward the main rooms.

My father wanted an update.

But all I wanted was to walk back to my room, lean against the wall, and watch the stunning female play with magic in my sheets.

Alas, I had to make an appearance before he ventured to my rooms to search for me.

I snapped my fingers and uttered a spell, beckoning for my wand. It ignored me. The damn thing had a mind of its own and seemed to prefer Aflora for the moment. Fine. She could continue to borrow my conduit while she trained. She needed it more than I did anyway.

With a muttered incantation, I changed my attire into something more suitable for a meeting with the others. It was a lazy approach, but also necessary, because if I’d remained in that room for a moment longer, I would have lost all my desire to leave.

Aflora was a sight to behold in so many ways that went beyond her physical appeal. She was admirably gifted in the dark arts, perhaps because she’d been tied to me for fifteen years.

I’d meant what I’d said earlier—it was fascinating to see how my essence had bonded with hers. She almost resembled a Quandary Blood. Except I could taste her earth magic, too. Just as I felt her element roaming through my veins, kissing me with a breath of her vitality and goodness.

The connection had always been there, even during our separation. Although, my father’s enchantments had severely dulled it. Then she’d broken that enchantment with her song and nearly knocked me off my feet.

I’d immediately thrown up my walls, protecting us both, but that hadn’t stopped me from playing in her dreams.

“Kai,” my father called as he stepped into the hallway, his eyes narrowing at my lingering state. “Is there a problem?”

“No. Just observing Aflora’s struggle against my binds,” I replied, doing my best to keep my tone flat and emotionless.

“Binds?” he repeated. “You were supposed to talk to her and bring her here to meet the others. It wasn’t a difficult task.”

I nearly snorted. He remembered the impressionable little flower from my youth and had no idea how formidable Aflora had become. “She required a riddle to properly prepare. Once she solves it, I’ll introduce her to the others.”

My father’s jaw ticked. “That’s not what we discussed.”

“I have it under control.” I underlined my tone in steel, reminding him of my position among the resistance. He might be my elder and father, but I was the Source Architect.

He studied me for a long moment, his silver-blue eyes—the same shade as my own—flaring with power. But it didn’t match mine. I’d ascended a little over a month ago, taking over his role as the Quandary Blood King. He stood no chance against me, even with his age and experience.

“How is she really?” he asked softly, a note of concern in his voice. “Did you talk about her parents?”

“No. She tried to kill me with a very interesting mix of WarFire instead,” I drawled. “But I’ll try for that topic during our next conversation.”

“WarFire?” he repeated, his ash-blond brows shooting upward. “Does she not realize you’re her mate?”

“Oh, she knows. I think it’s her version of foreplay.” A complete lie. I’d absolutely taunted her into playing with me. And I hadn’t been disappointed. “We’re working it out.”

And by that, I meant she was working through my web, which would provide her with all the answers she so desperately craved.

“She’s safe, Dad,” I added as the concern in his features grew. “That’s what matters.”

He fell silent for a moment, then nodded. “The debt to her parents is officially repaid.”

“I’m not sure they would agree with that,” I replied. “You let the Council use her as bait.” It was a sore topic between us. I’d wanted to take her at the coffee shop several months ago, but he’d convinced me to let Shade bite her.

“We needed Constantine to come out of hiding,” he said, repeating the statement he’d used several times over the last few months.

“And you wanted to put a leash on Shade,” I added. “Yes, I know. I’m just saying, I don’t think her parents would appreciate her being used as a pawn.”

“The Council was going to use her whether we approved or not. This just allowed us to make use of the predicament.” He shrugged. “Her parents would understand. They signed her up for this fate when they agreed to the temporary mating.”

“Fifteen years isn’t temporary,” I said, disliking the term.

He clapped me on the shoulder. “It’ll feel temporary when you reach my age, Kai. You’ll see.”

I forced a smile. “Sure.” He still assumed I intended to undo the mate-bonds. It had always been my plan to do so. Even when I’d seen her in the coffee shop, I’d still meant to shatter our connection.

But then she’d undone the enchantment with the song we’d taught her all those years ago.

And I’d joined her in a dream.

The moment our eyes met, I felt as though I was looking into my very soul and finding my other half. My childhood best friend had grown into a gorgeous woman with sexual needs I couldn’t help but fulfill.

Seeing her in that manner had felt like my first time, which was insane. I’d fucked women, most of them human and during a feeding. The enchantment over our bond had muted her to a dull ache, one I’d never intended to keep.

Then she’d shattered everything with a throaty moan and a voice that beckoned sex.

I hadn’t been able to look at another woman since, and that’d all just been foreplay in our dreams. It was a total mindfuck that I didn’t know how to fix.

Well, I had some ideas. Most of them involving a few nights in the sheets. But my instincts said that would never be enough. There was just something so intoxicating about Aflora. Our history only heightened the sensation, leaving me utterly conflicted about the future between us.

What will she think when she learns the truth?I wondered, checking in on her progress through our bonds.

She was still quietly dismantling the enchanted ropes around her torso. Soon, she would reach the ones in her mind, and that was when the real fun would begin.

My heart skipped a beat, anticipation thick in my veins.

“Let’s go debrief the others,” my father said, interrupting my inner musings. “Then Dakota can tell us what Zen said in the clearing.”

Zen. My teeth clenched at the name. The infuriating female continued to intrude on my plans, her aptitude for fortune-telling an annoyance I wanted to end.

It was why we’d put Shade on a leash. He was her grandson, thereby tying them by blood. Which meant Aflora now had access to that entire line of power, consequently enabling me to play as well.

I hadn’t explored the bonds yet. But I intended to, just as soon as Aflora became a willing participant. Otherwise, I risked hurting her in the process. And I would only pursue that avenue if she left me no choice.

Until then, I’d seduce her my own way—with puzzles of magic.

She wouldn’t admit it, but the net she fought now intrigued her. I could feel that excitement thrumming inside her as she unwove another strand.

My little star loved a good challenge. And she’d just met her biggest one yet. Me.