Rosemary Johns - Rebel Academy - Curse

Flirt.

Lysander watched, as pale as snow.

Ruby sparkles lit up in front of Willoughby. Here’s the thing, it was freaky to see my own naked clone, Bas, materialize from the sparkles to straddle Willoughby in an excitable tangle. He was gorgeous ( startling discovery ), and I fought to stop staring at his arse.

Now I knew why mine was so pettable.

Bas was also definitely not submissive, unlike my Andro.

Bas kissed Willoughby like he’d die without the taste of him, before breathing against his mouth. “Pet me. I ache for you; I’ve missed you so badly it hurts deep inside.”

Willoughby soothed his hands down Bas’ shoulders, but his anguished gaze met mine.

How could we tell Andro and Bas?

I tucked a strand of hair behind Andro’s ear. “You know that I love you…?”

Andro mouthed at my neck. “I love you too.”

Because that made this so much easier…

“It’s like this, see, if we had a chance to leave the academy, would you wish us to take it?”

Andro shot up, resting his shaking hands on my knees, while curling his wing under my chin to force me to look at him. “Y-you’re l-leaving m-me?”

Bas’ shoulders slumped, and Willoughby held him even closer. “I’m an idiot. You called us to say goodbye, right?”

Willoughby shook his head, fiercely. “You have the choice.”

Bas laughed but it was actually a sob. “Wise up! That’s no choice. Of course, leave . If you love someone you always want them to be free, even if…”

So, that was what I looked like broken with tears. Except, Bas didn’t look ugly wrapped in Willoughby’s arms with tears chasing down his cheeks.

He looked beautiful.

It took clones to be the true heroes and show what love meant. The witches would never understand that.

“Where will we go without you? Will we fade away or cease to be?” Each of Andro’s desperate, whispered words branded my skin; I’d never be free of their mark.

It broke every incubus code to be honest. An old adage went that it was better to sooth with pretty lies, than hurt with ugly truths .

But then, I’d thought that crying was ugly and I’d been wrong.

“I don’t know.” I wrapped my fingers through Andro’s hair, gently pulling him back so that I could look into the glistening emerald pools of his eyes. I had to face him for this. “What do you desire me to do?”

Andro’s smile was the bravest thing that I’d ever seen; I wished that it never had to fade. “Live, be happy, and don’t forget me because if you remember me, then I’ll still exist, won’t I?”

Magenta rose from the ground, and her black mists whipped around her; she vibrated in full out wicked witch fury. “No more portraits of dead students on the walls, ghosts, or lost lovers,” she snarled. “After the Enchanted Ball, I’m ending Rebel Academy.”

Outside Crow Hall, I rested my head against the stone. The arched wooden doors had been thrown open for the Enchanted Ball, and the hall was lit by stars, as if the night sky had fallen and laced itself over the academy.

Sweet Hecate, it was beautiful like Lysander had promised.

I’d learned that beauty could be dangerous, but that predators could be beautiful.

Also, that I loved my wicked Rebels, as they loved me.

They were already inside the hall; the buzz of laughter and roar of guitar music spilled out as brightly as the puddles of light. Yet I needed a moment longer in the shadows.

Over a hundred years ago, this had been the night that mother had tried to force me to marry a fae prince. But instead, I’d kissed an orphaned mage, sealing both our fates.

Perhaps, all of ours.

Now the evening of the Enchanted Ball was being repeated.

Although, I didn’t think that our imaginative committee had planned it quite the same. It was only a hunch, but Fox’s gleeful laughter every time that he’d suggested one more detail for his Wizard of Oz theme suggested that the evening wouldn’t be as elegant and refined as the professors hoped.

For the first time, I smiled.

How perfect.

On the way to the entrance, I’d passed the dragons who’d been wearing costumes with curved ears and long tails. They’d flapped their wings in protest like it was a party trick.

Were they meant to be… flying monkeys?

I’d shaken my head at myself.

Why, what an absurd thought. Of course, they must be Halflings of some sort.

Then I’d blinked at Ambrose, Ezekiel, and Ty who were guarding the shifters dressed in the same costumes. Ambrose had clutched his tail in his hand and glared at me like he’d been daring me to laugh.

Candles and bells, how could a witch resist, when her dominant Seelie professor looked cute enough to cuddle?

“Aye, laugh it up,” Ambrose had said, disgruntled.

Ezekiel had slipped a wink to Ty, who’d flapped his wings and hopped (almost like he was doing a monkey impression).

When Ambrose had swung Ty onto his back with a chuckle, it’d been startling.

Fox trusted Ezekiel after what he called their walled up alive bonding experience, and Sleipnir trusted Ambrose would do anything to save his son.

I’d protect any Rebel who’d only become a professor to survive. When I quested my magic through the roots of the academy, I sensed that only ghost traces of the wards remained: thin, brittle threads that were ready to snap .

Tonight, I’d break them.

Tonight, I’d destroy my curse.

Tonight, I’d free all Rebels.

But first, I had to face the past that haunted me.

Taking a deep breath, I adjusted the choker at my neck, smoothed down my dress, and strode towards the archway.

“ Hold the fuck up, boss ,” Flair called.

I glanced at the dark specters of Flair and Echo, who were circling above me. “I’m late to the ball, and so are you.”

“ We were looking for the chicken costumes that your foxy fuck said we should wear, remember? ” Flair’s beak snapped in a warning series of clicks.

“Ah, indeed.”

“ But then we realized that we didn’t have any magic to make them, unlike the pretty Princes, and that we’re invisible anyway, ” Flair’s voice became steely.

“ Invisible, invisible, invisible ,” Echo sang; I winced.

“ You don’t fuck with the crow twins.” Flair flapped to the entrance. “ You don’t mind if we neuter the cat, boss? It’s the chicken’s turn to hunt the fox! ”

Ah, sweet revenge.

But I had to hide my smile because my familiars loved Fox now the same as me, and once they loved, they were loyal. Of course, that didn’t mean his balls were safe.

“I do mind,” I called out. “As will he. No neutering of anyone. Do I have to make that a rule?”

“ When do I follow rules?” Flair waggled his tail feathers.

Echo glanced down at me, before following his brother. “ I’ll kiss foxy, after my brother pecks him. Don’t forget us…?”

I didn’t miss the insecurity that I’d leave the academy without them one way or another. “Never.”

All of a sudden, a cold wind blew down my neck.

“Robin…?” I whispered.

Please, please, please…

Then the gust of breeze circled me, catching me in its whirlwind embrace. I gasped, as it held me with one step into the hall and one foot still in the shadows.