Rosemary Johns - Rebel Academy - Curse

Bask was using his incubus power to enthrall Lash, whose eyes were hazy. I found it scorching hot to witness his power; my skin prickled and pinked.

“W-why aren’t you w-worshiping my c-cock?” Lash slurred.

Did this guy watch a serious amount of bad porn?

“That’s not what you truly need, right?” Bask’s voice was more dangerous than I’d ever heard it, and I shivered with desire. “Bastards like you who conquer, control, and hurt do it because inside, you crave to be the ones on your knees and you fear it.”

Ouch.

Bask stalked to his feet. Then he pressed with a single finger on Lash’s side like he couldn’t bear to touch him any more than that (and hey, I didn’t blame him). Instantly, Lash folded to his knees like a puppet.

Lash swayed, flushed and panting. Bask could’ve murdered him, and he wouldn’t even have blinked.

Bask had always insisted that he wasn’t a warrior, but it was a freaky thought that if an incubus was trained the right way, he’d make the perfect assassin. Was that why the Succubus Court worked so hard to train and condition their harems?

Yet Bask had never tried to control me. Was it weird that I found it a turn-on that he could ?

“No one’s in the corridor,” Magenta whispered. “I do believe that we can make our escape.”

Lash hadn’t wanted anyone to know about his visit behind Marcus’ back to the dungeons; what a surprise.

Bask flashed me an aren’t I pettably awesome wiggle of his ass, and I tipped my imaginary hat to him. Then ignoring Lash, we rushed to the doorway and peered out into the narrow corridor. It was empty and glowed golden like the cell.

“So, we find the study with Marcus and Fox and then…” I bit my lip. “Look, Jormungand is usually the one who plans. Let’s just see where this…”

“Impulsive?” Bask offered.

“Reckless?” Magenta added.

“… Better than nothing opportunity takes us. We can’t help Fox, if we’re in that cage.”

For a moment, we clasped hands, then we burst into the corridor, only to tumble backwards as we bowled into Marcus and Fox, who’d just materialized.

I yelped in shock, then I dragged Fox into my arms. His wild raspberry scent was like life. I pulled him closer, tightening my hand in his curls, in case he was snatched away from me again.

I should’ve been protecting him.

Bask ran his hands over Fox, checking him for injuries. Magenta twirled in fury on Marcus, who shrank back.

“ You , archduke,” Magenta wagged her finger at Marcus, “are a very bad dragon.” Wow, I was psyched that she’d never scolded me like that. Marcus paled. “Execute us if you must but do not separate us again or allow your kin to abuse us.”

“Wait, can I put in a vote for no executing…?” Fox’s muffled voice called, from where he was burrowed against my shoulder.

Magenta dragged Marcus to the entrance of the cell, and to my surprise, he allowed himself to be led.

What’d happened? Why wasn’t he acting all wrathful leader?

Marcus blinked at Lash, who ducked his head. “Why is my dear cousin on his knees?”

Bask huffed. “Wise up! He’s not your dear anything. I know what it’s like to be broken, see, but that doesn’t mean you can’t build yourself up again. This cruel bastard would’ve betrayed you back into slavery.”

Hurt flitted across Marcus’ expression, before he could hide it. “You lie.”

Fox raised his head from my shoulder. “Sorry but I’m the liar of the pack, and my Power of Confess is blasting that it’s the truth.”

Marcus’ expression crumpled, before he composed himself. “I shall deal with this attack on my authority. But first, I’ll lift the binds of the Letter Magic, and you need to return to your academy prison. I wish more than my wings that I could keep each one of you safely here.”

My arms curled more tightly around Fox, and he melted against me in that delicious way of his. “If you don’t come with us, you may as well be executing Fox.”

“Would you force the cursed collar on me? Tame me like Prince Lysander does?” Marcus straightened his shoulders. “Are you not a shifter yourself?”

My heart ached. “Aren’t you?”

He looked away, clenching his fists. “It’s kind of you to point out my faults. I should’ve risked everything to free my brothers before now, but the responsibilities of a leader are many, and as you’ve learned, I have enemies even within my own Court. But your mage is a clever negotiator, and I’m on your side.”

When Fox peered up at me, I arched a brow. He only smiled.

What did he have planned?

Magenta snorted. “Plans are perfectly fine, but they won’t save my lover.”

Marcus’ expression fell. “How long can a mage survive walled up alive?”

Fox was alive…in my arms…his raspberry scent wrapped around me… On the Valkyries, I wouldn’t let him go…

Magenta’s gaze glittered dangerously. “There are certain phrases that explode my magic, in a way for which I shall not be held responsible. Count yourself lucky that you bound mine with your Letter Magic or you’d be patting magenta sparks out of your burning hair.”

Marcus winced. “My apologies. How long could a mage survive…inside the walls of a castle?”

Magenta’s fists clenched. “I don’t know. Hours, maybe days. But why would it be better to survive longer and die slowly in the dark?”

A tremor ran through Fox, and if I could’ve switched to become the whipping boy to endure this for him, I would’ve done it.

Huh, that had to be love.

Marcus wet his lips, glancing at Fox. What had they been scheming? “Well, when the wards come down, wouldn’t also the magics that run through the academy? Couldn’t he then be rescued?”

“You took all that time persuading my whipping boy to risk his life for you on a guess ?” Bask snapped.

When Fox squirmed out of my hold to march to stand next to Marcus, I missed the touch of him like I’d already lost him. “In fact, he took all this time trying to persuade me to collar and drag him back to Rebel Academy.” I stared at him in shock, and then Marcus, whose magic coiled around Fox’s shoulders with a gentleness that was entirely different to Lash’s. It sucked that I couldn’t simply hate him. “Then he showed me his Court. You know, I’ve seen Nero’s Palace and Elvis’ Graceland, but the Gold Court’s even more brilliant. And I can’t…”

Magenta tipped up his chin. “We’re listening, I promise. This is your choice.”

“I can’t take Marcus back as a slave,” Fox said, quietly. “His kingdom needs him. Look, I’ve lived most of my life inside an attic. Pan’s balls, I don’t know who I am, beyond a cat with funk in his Soul but I do know that I’m not selfish enough to risk an entire shifter kingdom burning just to save my own tail.”

“But,” Bask’s eyes gleamed with tears that he didn’t let fall (why wouldn’t he even now just let them fall ?), “I love that tail.”

“Cheers, I’m pretty fond of it too,” Fox said. “I’ll die, but at least I’ll have been seen, right?”

“ We see you.” Magenta wrapped her arms around Fox like she’d save him by strength of will alone.

“I shall erect a statue of you, little fox, in my courtyard garden,” Marcus’ voice wavered. “A cat, hedgehog, and fox to honor your shimage heritage. I shall be able to look out at you as I work every day.”

“Brilliant.” Fox’s lips tugged up at one side like he was trying but failing to smile. “I’ll be a distraction even when I’m dead.”