Supernatural Academy: Year One (Supernatural Academy #1)(13)

“The teachers will know how to bring your power to life,” she promised me, pulling herself up from the bed. “And on that note, I’m going to find my dad and tell him you’ve settled in. Want to meet in the commons for dinner?”

Part of me wanted to stay hidden in my room, but that was not how this new life was going to work. If I was giving it a proper chance, I needed to get out there. I needed to learn everything I could about the world.

“I’ll be there,” I promised.

She grinned broadly. “Awesome. Around 7:00 P.M?”

I nodded, and Larissa shot me one more smile before she left the room.

For a minute, the silence almost overwhelmed me, and I realized I hadn’t been alone for hours. Not since Ilia busted her way into my truck stop bathroom. My head was plenty busy though, all of the new crazy information running around in there.

Overthinking wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I decided to try and compartmentalize this day, put it all in a box I’d reexamine later, and get some sleep. The bed was really soft and I hadn’t slept for over twenty-four hours, so … perfect time for a nap.

When I woke hours later, I felt a lot better, right until I lifted my old watch and saw it was 12:00 P.M. Fuck. It was still set on US time, which sent a jolt of panic through me. I had no idea what the local time was.

Hopping off the bed, I eased my door open. Maybe someone would be in the hall and I could ask them for the time? It was empty though, not a single supernatural to be seen. Sucking up whatever dregs of bravery that were left inside of me, I let the door close behind me.

Back down the stairs, the comfy couch and bookshelf area was half filled with supernaturals. I was just about to venture over to the closest one to ask the time, when a low call sent trills down my spine.

“Hey! New girl.”

His voice was a rich, deep rumble, tinges of humor tracing across each word.

Swallowing hard, I turned to find three dudes standing behind me. They looked somewhat familiar, and I really wished I’d taken a second to brush my hair that was no doubt tangled everywhere.

“Hey, new dudes,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. Everyone was new to me.

The middle one took a step closer. He was big, well over six feet, dressed in stylish and expensive clothing: faded and torn jeans—the designer type—a white long-sleeved, fitted shirt that molded to his muscular body, and dark gray boots. I noted his pretty-boy haircut, brown hair that was longer on top, and flashing eyes that were a shade of silvery brown.

“Can I help you with something?” I pushed before he could speak again. He continued to stare, and I tried not to run away.

Never run from a predator.

I’d had a bad feeling, from that first low rumble of his voice, about who was standing in front of me. The Atlantean-five. Or three of them, to be accurate.

Three muthafucking Atlanteans. I mean, sure, supernaturals were a mythical world come to life, but Atlantis….

Silver eyes pushed even closer, his gaze dragging across my face and down my body. “I’ll bet you can help me with a lot of things, little witch.”

I scowled. Men, they were the same no matter where I went. Supe, Atlantean, human. All dicks.

“Look,” I said, keeping my voice as brittle and cold as I could manage. “I’m not interested.” I waved my hand at them. “In whatever it is you want to say.”

I turned to flounce off, but he reached out and grabbed my arm. His smirk was gone now, and he had his eyes narrowed on me. “What are you?” he asked quietly, and I realized this conversation had taken a turn.

One of the other guys, who’d looked decidedly uninterested until this moment, turned to his friend. “Come on, Calen, leave the human alone. We have more important things to deal with.”

I flinched at the human dig. I already suspected that was an insult in this world. Glaring, I took in the asshole. He was a blondie, a mixture of golden tones in his longer hair. His blue eyes were biting in a way that Calen’s weren’t, icy, with a silver ring right around the iris. And his scowl was impressive; I could feel his animosity from every part of his body. He was dressed similarly, but completely in black. The dark soul.

The third one was quieter, watching me with wide eyes that were silvery gray like Calen’s but with slivers of gold bisecting them. There was no animosity in his gaze. If anything he looked intrigued, like he was dissecting me. He wore a plaid blue button-down shirt, dark chinos, and very expensive dress shoes. He smiled kindly, and I understood what Ilia was saying about them appearing nice but having a scary undercurrent.

All three were perfect specimens of the male species: tall, broad, beautiful. And clearly dangerous. They were the sort that mesmerized you until you couldn’t see straight, turned your own body against you, and then when they had you right where they wanted you, they chewed you up and spat you out … broken.

I was going to try really hard, right after this moment, to avoid them as much as possible.

After a few more seconds of the scary blond one glaring, Calen shrugged, and his intensity faded as he released me. “See you around, little witch.”

The three of them melted into the crowd.

I realized that a lot of eyes were on me now and I fought against an urge to blush. What the hell? Why was my heart pounding in my chest so hard? That had been very … something. It had been something insane, and I couldn’t even remember what I had come down here for.