Magic Trials (Half-Blood Academy #1)(2)

Fortunately, instead of tight armor, I wore a leather trench coat, which covered my erection.

My gaze roved over her sinfully enticing body before peering into her eyes to search for her secrets—how could a human oppose me?

What was she?

I stalked toward the deadly, beautiful creature, hands in my pockets as if I were strolling in the park. Despite my casual manner, another wave of whimpers from the soldiers and gang members indicated the effects of my rippling power.

The girl tensed at my approach, the knuckles of one hand white on her spear and her other hand ready to, I assume, pull out a gun from her leather jacket to turn on me.

I held her blazing gaze, daring her to try.

Her fear blended with hate and fascination, wheeling in her fiery jade eyes as she kept glaring at me.

The minx wasn’t entirely immune to me and my power, after all.

I held back an amused chortle. It was rare anyone could still amuse me, even though I was the youngest demigod walking Earth.

And I had never been so aroused.

She didn’t back off but held her chin high and puffed up her chest, which drew my gaze to her perky breasts.

I strode around her, studying her as if she were a prickly kitten I’d cornered, and she wheeled accordingly, never showing her back to me.

When I’d annoyed her enough, she gave in, breaking the silence.

“What the fuck do you want, demigod?” she demanded. “And which demigod are you?”

Such attitude. Outlaws always hated authorities.

Everyone else held their breath at her lack of self-preservation. I would have squashed the offender had it been anyone less interesting.

I didn’t bother to conceal a flick of surprise.

Everyone else knew who I was. She must be terribly isolated in this forsaken town. Yet she knew I was a half-blood.

I tilted my head and sniffed. A discovery made my eyes brighten, and I smiled. She wasn’t the human she presented herself to be.

Yet she wasn’t like anything I’d encountered.

This close, I could sense potent power in her bloodstream, but it was veiled.

She didn’t even know, or she’d have fought with her magic instead of rudimentary bows and daggers.

Some force held her magic captive.

Then her scent hit me fully in the face, and waves of heat rushed inside me until they all gathered in my groin.

A firestorm of lust burned in my veins.

That instant I decided what she would be for me.

She was the puzzle I needed to solve.

A wilderness to tame.

A treasure I’d found.

A rare jewel I would possess and lock in the most guarded vault.

And a female I would ride every night, savoring her cries as she begged for the ecstasy I could give her. This girl I would claim as my mate.

The mystic wind passed between us, and she widened her stunningly green eyes as if she’d seen the most brilliant sunlight flooding the forest for the first time. She’d taken in my scent as well, and I watched her reaction in satisfaction.

Her soft, full lips parted with shock. She’d fight me with every ounce of her strength if I told her now that she was mine and her future belonged with me.

She recovered faster than I’d thought any woman could.

But then, she wasn’t just any woman. Not even close.

“We’re law-abiding citizens, mister. You won’t take any member of my coven,” she shouted, then swept her spearhead toward the werewolf gang she’d fought. “But you’re more than welcome to round up those up-to-no-good scumbags! They should fight the demons in the frontier at your Dominions’ command instead of harassing innocent small-town people.”

The werewolves snarled, but stopped the instant Cameron shot them a harsh look.

“They’re too old,” Cameron said, thrusting his chin toward the werewolves before training his hard gaze on the girl. “Only the teenage wolf and witch will be enrolled into the Academy. We came for them, so I suggest you step aside if you don’t want any more trouble.”

He was nicer to the girl, though wary, after she’d put up a fight against me.

“No way!” the girl said. “Everyone knows Half-Blood Academy is actually Half-Death Academy. Less than half of the attendants survive the first ritual, and I won’t let my people try their luck.”

“How dare you!” Cameron hissed. “That blasphemy alone shall get you hanged.”

I raised a hand to stop Cameron from cursing the girl further and quirked an eyebrow at her. It’d be interesting to see how the fiery minx survived her first day at my academy.

“I’ll spare your friends under one condition,” I said with a charming smile that every woman ate up.

She narrowed her eyes, but I could feel her pulse spike.

Her every reaction provoked mine, exciting me.

The girl arched a long, elegant eyebrow, relaxing a little and ready to bargain.

“And what is your condition, demigod?”

“You go in their places, Marigold,” I said.





CHAPTER 1




Marigold

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I burst through the twisted trees in the dim forest, stealth no longer necessary or possible.

Jasper, the nineteen-year-old shifter in his white wolf form, had flushed out our prey and driven a pair of shimeras toward me.