Rosemary Johns - Rebel Academy - Curse

Plus, my family was visiting the academy… they were here now …? But they weren’t here to see me (their disappointment of a mage son), rather to match Hartley to Emerick.

Would she make a good wife like I'd always hoped?

Could I vomit now?

I loved Magenta and the other Immortals but I couldn't help the twist of jealousy that Emerick was about to experience everything that I'd lost. He'd be seen and valued, like I'd been taught mattered most. He was the beautiful prized virgin son, like I'd once been.

It was a great match both ways: The House of Crows was powerful, and the House of Jewels was wealthy. I could see why both Damelza and mum had chosen it. Plus, they were old friends.

Did mum know that her old friend, who was trying to marry her son to my sister, had tried to murder me this week?

Would she even care if she did?

Tears smarted my eyes because my family wanted Emerick, but they didn't want me .

How could they still hurt me so much after over a decade?

When I whined, Snow crouched next to me.

He stroked his hand over my head. "Goddess Moon! I shouldn't have just... I'm sorry. I know how it tears you apart to lose your sibling because I miss Glow every day. Look, Emerick will be the best husband for your sister."

"I won't." Emerick's eyes flashed, and he took a step back. "Because I'm not property to be sold to the highest bidder."

When Snow carefully stood, his gaze was soft and sad. "Nay, you're the son of a witch, and if she decides on this marriage, you'll have no choice. My brother is in the House of Jewels. Glow can brighten the worst of days. I promise, you'll have a new best friend."

"I don't want a new..." Emerick's voice broke, and he bit his lip hard.

I transformed back to a man, shoving to my feet. My magic broke against me in distressed waves. In the last week, I'd repressed my past. Everything with Magenta was thrilling, loving, and washed me along with excitement and fear, until I didn't have to think about...

Don't think, don't, don't...

Dad's death, the darkness in the attic, whippings, Blood Amulet, Glow and Aquilo, Hartley's rejection...

Mage's are monsters.

My breathing became ragged, and I gritted my teeth.

I'd lost everything, but I'd found it again in Magenta and the Immortals. This time, I'd create my own life.

Yet now, Hartley was in the academy. How could I move on, without seeing her?

"Take me with you," I demanded.

Snow shook his head. "You won't be safe. Not a chance."

Emerick's assessing gaze met mine. "Let him. At least then, I'll be able to see what this sister of his is really like. I'd rather know from the start than on my marriage night."

I winced.

Snow drew in his breath. "I'll catch it from Juni for this, but I'd pull out every fang if it'd help you."

"What charming imagery. Does that mean that I can attend as well?" When Magenta materialized at my shoulder, I squealed in as equally a manly way as both Snow and Emerick did. "As you just saw, I can attend invisibly."

I wrapped my arms around Magenta, burrowing my face onto her shoulder and breathing in her wild woods scent.

I wouldn’t be alone.

Pink sparkles tickled my skin. I felt safe, centered, and loved.

Emerick coughed. "Excuse me, did I send out an invitation to a garden party and forget about it?"

Magenta waved her hand. "A wonderful idea, but I don't stand on ceremony. I believe that I'm getting better at this modern courting technique of stalking . After all, I am the Voyeur Ghost. I'm connected to my lovers, and Fox's magic cried out to mine. Did you imagine that I'd allow him to face his witch family by himself?"

Snow's eyes brightened. "Aye, you're a surprise all right."

Magenta's eyes glinted. "Thank you, kind sir."

Snow nodded, gravely. "You can care for my wee brother."

"Hey," I shifted in Magenta's arms, "I'm not a pet."

Magenta carded her fingers through my hair. "But you are mine."

Snow's eyes widened. "You're bonded."

When Magenta tipped up my chin to press her cool lips to mine, and her magic sparked, I knew that we’d always belong together. Why had I been jealous of Emerick or the witch world that I'd left behind? I'd been trained from birth to wish for the traditional matching and marriage, accepting that the decision would be made for me.

Screw that.

Now I loved and was loved back by those who didn't care that I was a mage and allowed me to make my own choices.

They'd never hide me away, beat, or force me against my will. I trusted them.

Did I trust that my sister would grant that to Emerick?

Magenta broke the kiss, and her lips quirked, as I tried to follow them for more kissy treats.

Come on, lips in need of kissing here.

"I detest arranged marriages in witch society," Magenta murmured. "They destroyed my life, leading to the death of the first man who I loved and the curse on this academy." I gasped, as her magic exploded like fireworks above the garden; the ice sculptures were lit up, as if they'd been frozen by that curse. Her magic vibrated through her with a violence that I'd never felt before. "My father wished me to be different to mother, using my powers to change the magical world. I shall start that by ending Damelza's matching."

"You know that you're risking..." I glanced warily at Emerick. I didn't trust him enough yet to share our whole rebellion plot. "...our Membership plans.”

Magenta stiffened, but her magic rumbled through the garden. “I once believed that I wasn’t strong enough to save even myself from this academy. I didn’t trust the strength of my magic but prayed to Hecate instead to save me, when I should’ve been protecting every Rebel. But I’m the Wickedly Charmed witch, this is my academy, and I’m saying enough . No more marriages shall be forced on the unwilling without love. Surely, I can be a vengeful spirit, after I died for the same reason…? I can’t protect every Rebel, if I turn my back on protecting one.”

Magenta’s magic zigzagged through the sky. She was powerful, but was she losing control like Willoughby had? This was personal to her.

What if our entire escape attempt was risked? Midnight wouldn’t survive much longer with the Sleep Deprivation Hex.

I shivered, wishing that I still had my furry tail to wrap around myself. Weirdly, despite all the danger, there was only one word looping through my mind:

Hartley, Hartley, Hartley…

I’d never thought that I’d see my sister again, and now I’d have to face her, as she chose a man to marry.

Why did I still love her?

She could crush me all over again, and it terrified me.

How could I’ve forgotten that my sister’s wavy hair was the exact same white blond shade as my own? What other memories had I lost? And why was my kitteny side purring, desperate to dash to her and curl on her lap?

Why did I expect strokes from her, rather than a spanking?

Hartley hadn’t seen me yet.

I stumbled to a halt in the entrance to the Memory theater, as Snow meekly paced in front of me like I was a wanted guest, rather than a gate crasher.

What in the name of Merlin’s hairy balls was I doing?

My sister didn’t want me and the witches hated me. I could lie to myself, but a male brought up in a magical household could never forget that a mage was the enemy.