Supernatural Academy: Year One (Supernatural Academy #1)(54)

“Has there ever been a magic user fey like me?” I asked, standing in preparation of leaving.

He shook his head. “Not to my knowledge. But Louis is looking into that as well.”

Poor Louis. His research was more than just a little thing. I’d dumped a lot of my shit on his shoulders, and no doubt the most powerful mage in the world was busy with other things as well.

But I wouldn’t turn down the help.

I waved goodbye to the princeps and left his office. The school was a lot busier now, and I hurried to the commons, needing food if I was going to function in my classes today. The tables looked pretty full, and I searched for a spot, wondering if I should just drop down under one of the large trees. They had these ropey intertwining roots going everywhere, and they were a popular spot for students to relax. There were ordering stations nearby as well, so you didn’t even have to starve.

“Hey, new girl!”

I spun to find Calen and Axl at their normal table, waving me over. I hesitated before deciding that it was worth hanging with them if I got food.

“Hey, guys,” I said, hovering, unsure if I should sit or not.

I was distracted by snickering at the next table, which was filled with Clovers.

“Sit,” Axl said happily. He was fast becoming one of my favorite supes. I’d always loved practical and clever people.

I was too hungry to stress about the implications of joining their table as I sank into a chair on the opposite side to them. “So, we’re on new girl babysitting duty,” Calen said, and he waggled an eyebrow at me. “I’m taking the night shift.”

I pointed a finger at him. “You step one foot into my room and you’re going to leave without your balls.” He opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “And it won’t be in any fun sort of way.”

“Spoilsport,” he muttered.

Axl watched the two of us, amusement dancing in his beautiful eyes. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a female reject Calen. I’m so happy you wandered into our lives, Maddi.”

I wasn’t surprised about the lack of rejection for Calen. He was hot. Atlantean-hot. Which was its own classification now. But I had zero interest in him.

My stomach rumbled and I slapped a hand on my favorite part of the table: the bringer of food. “Have you ordered?” I asked them. They shook their heads, and then all three of us picked out our meals. French toast for me, and about six meals for them.

I fidgeted uncomfortably while we waited for our food. Mostly because I was getting very dark looks from the six chicks at the table next to us. One of them I hadn’t seen before—with waist-length, dead-straight, platinum blond hair—was trying desperately to attract Calen’s attention. She even called his name a few times, but he was flat-out ignoring her.

Never got the fun in chasing dudes who weren’t interested, but she seemed to want the challenge of it. She was damn persistent.

“I found something,” Axl said, distracting me. He pulled out some papers that had been stuck in the front of a thick blue text book with the title Complex Algorithms of the Fey Language.

“I did some research last night,” he said quickly, “and I found a few more readings from an Atlantean text of ours. Something I’d never much paid attention to, but it feels more relevant now.”

He handed me the top sheet with a complex design on it—it looked like a family tree.

“This is a translated copy of the royal lines of the three Atlantean houses,” he said, pointing out the familiar names of Sonaris, Corpinicus, and Jervania across the top. “Legend says those three were the first to find a way to open a step-through to travel between Faerie and Earth. The first supernaturals on this world.”

Goosebumps spread across my skin and I shivered. Our history was powerful stuff.

“They brought with them friends and family, probably a hundred supernaturals each, so three hundred in total. All with different ‘race’ strengths, even though at the time there was no such divide or distinction.”

I nodded, encouraging him to continue.

“The original Atlanteans settled on an island near Greece or Gibraltar, depending on what legend you believe.”

I already knew this from Atlantis History channel.

He placed his fingertip on the branch of Sonaris, and as it moved down I followed the names. Right to the very last one. I blinked twice at it. Macilinta.

“That’s what he called me,” I said softly.

Axl nodded. “I know, but this family tree cuts off almost nine thousand years ago.”

I looked between them. “What the fuck does that mean?”

Axl shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe nothing. Maybe it was just a common name. Or maybe there is something more to this that we need to uncover.”

Calen looked uncharacteristically serious. “The Sonaris royal line was supposed to have died with Atlantis. Some of the sons and daughters of Sonaris escaped, but the royal couple and their children did not.”

Axl nodded. “The queen from Asher’s line was the only royal that escaped, which is how he can be a descendent.”

None of this made sense. “I mean, facts are facts. I’m not ten thousand years old. I don’t have the blood of an Atlantean. We’re missing something big here, and I wish I knew what it was.”

Part of me wanted to track that Arterian down and make him tell me everything.