The stupid idiot didn’t even have the brains to flinch.
When the elves caught sight of the changes in Atlas, they leaned away, revulsion twisting their faces. Morgan didn’t understand their extreme reaction until Draven whispered to her.
“Most elves believe they’re honor bound to take their own lives before they turn dark, thus sparing the family the humiliating shame.” His tone clearly said they were the ones who should’ve been drowned at birth.
She agreed wholeheartedly.
Loki gave a growl of agreement, stalking forward on stiff legs, and proceeded to pee on their feet. The elf plucked a thin blade hidden inside his sleeve and sent it shooting through the air with a snap of his wrists, his face a mask of outrage.
Morgan reacted without thinking, her blade hardening in her hand, flinging the knife a nanosecond later. Kincade moved only a second behind her, quickly snatching up the pup, and placed his body in the way of the blade.
Time seemed to slow down as she watched the no doubt poisonous blade narrow the distance to Kincade’s unprotected back. Even if he hardened to stone, the minuscule possibility the poison would infect him was too much of a chance.
He threw himself to the side, but she knew he wouldn’t be able to move out of the way in time.
Thankfully, her aim landed true.
The knives crashed together, the thin, narrow blade snapping in half and clinking to the ground with a hallow ping before spinning off in the distance.
Silence followed as everyone stared at the two blades on the floor.
Kincade rolled and came to a stop in a crouch, his eyes landing on the weapons. He lifted a cocky brow at her, stooped to retrieve her blade, then rose to his feet and causally sauntered over to her, as if he didn’t have a care in the world, before handing it back. “I believe you dropped this.”
He set the pup on his shoulder with a smirk, then scratched him under the chin. “Good dog.”
Morgan accepted the knife, letting it flow back down her arm, struggling to hold onto her temper…and completely failed.
Attempting to kill her dog was the last straw.
“I doubt any of these idiots would’ve made it to the gates of Tartarus, much less survived the gods and their pet dragons.” Morgan stalked forward, her rage at their snooty pretentions of superiority making her want to rip out their throats. She slammed her hands on the table in front of them and leaned forward, feeling her magic snapping around her for the first time since she re-sealed the gates. “Do you really think experimenting on those poor creatures downstairs would’ve stopped the plague the gods released to reclaim Mount Olympus?”
“You lie.” The leader of the three turned his head away from her, as if she were beneath notice, but the other two watched her speculatively.
“Come, girl.” MacGregor grabbed her arm, practically dragging her away from the table. “You’ve done the impossible. If anyone could’ve save this wretched place, it was you, but it’s dangerous to bring attention to yourself.”
He didn’t know the half of it.
“How long before we can go home?” Morgan was suddenly exhausted.
“We’ve only been waiting for your return.” His smile slipped away. “Be warned—the school was overrun when we left. It will take all of us to take it back. Are you sure you’re ready?”
“If it means getting out of this place, I’m all for it.” But first, she had one thing to do. “Give me five minutes?”
“Of course.” MacGregor nodded, his silver hair a little wild, his sharp, faded blue eyes cunning as he stared at her. “We’ll start gathering the others in the bailey.”
She watched him limp away, the most active she’d seen him in ages. Despite their situation, it was good to see him coming back to life, even if it took a war to do it. When she turned, it was to find all five of her guys waiting for her with their arms crossed.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Kincade raised a brow at her, clearly exasperated.
“Trouble.” Draven sighed. “She’s going in search of more trouble. Didn’t you have enough excitement for the week?”
“We can’t leave those caged creatures downstairs to be slaughtered.”
“They’re wild animals. Dangerous.” Ascher shook his head. “There is nothing human left in them.”
“Then release them back into the forest,” Morgan protested. “The woods are not the same anymore. That’s their world out there.”
When they didn’t look convinced, Morgan batted her eyelashes up at them, and pouted. “Please.”
Ryder was the first to break, heaving a sigh. “I’ll go.”
Morgan bounced up on her toes. When she went to give him a peck on his jaw, he dipped his head and her mouth found his. Her first impulse was to jerk away, then she allowed herself the luxury of brushing her lips against his, loving the way a grumble worked up his chest. “Thank you.”
“I’ll go, too.” Draven strode forward and puckered up.
Morgan shoved him away with a laugh. “Maybe when you get back.”
In less time than she thought possible, the students were organized, armed, and ready to reclaim possession of the Academy. Mistress McKay and Harper stood side by side as they cast open a portal large enough for them to pass through.
Stanley, the winged cat, clung to Ryder’s shoulder, his patchy fur standing on end, excitement gleaming in his eyes. He was determined to fight with the rest for his new home.
“Mush!” His yelled, his tail whipping in excitement. “Into the mist we go. To victory!”
The rest of the students cheered and eagerly dashed through the void. Instead of bitter cold the others felt, a comforting warmth wrapped around her, soaking into her skin. The next instant, she was stepping onto the front lawn of the Academy.
She braced herself for violence, only to find the place deserted.
The rest of the students spread out cautiously. MacGregor and Mistress McKay issued orders to secure their location that sent the students scattering to obey.
Morgan glanced up at the castle and knew it was empty. She tentatively touched the magic imbued in the walls, which allowed her to see the interior. The Academy stood forlorn, rooms gutted, windows and doors smashed, but the building was still standing. The magic had gone dormant, waiting for their return. “They ransacked the place and left. Why?”
“Someone obviously knows the truth about you.” Ascher’s expression was grave. “While they didn’t expose you directly, they obviously knew you were the only one capable of ridding the realm of the plague. They set you up and attacked the school in order to get you to do what they wanted.”
Ward and Shade had both agreed to train her, and Morgan feared she would need their help much sooner than expected.
Something was coming, and she would need to learn all she could get before she faced the next challenge.
For now, they had a school to repair.
As they walked up the steps of the Academy, Morgan was surprised to find the students who had been evacuated to the covens had already returned and were putting things to rights.
“What happened to the army?” It was eerie to find the place abandoned, the enemy not even bothering to take up residence.
“No doubt they scattered as soon as they managed to overrun the school.” Atlas touched the cracked bannister, turning to them with a determined look. “They did their job and earned their freedom. They beat a hasty retreat, knowing they would be hunted down when we returned.”
It was a vow, and they all nodded in agreement.
“But first, time to make this place livable again.” Kincade ran toward her, then tossed her over his shoulder and carted her into the Academy. Morgan laughed when he tickled her, and the rest of the guys followed with smiles on their faces.
Her heart was full—they were finally home.
After a long day of putting the Academy back to rights, Atlas watched Kincade and the guys guide Morgan up the steps.