Supernatural Academy: Year One (Supernatural Academy #1)(82)

“Well,” I finally said, unable to stand there a moment longer. “Let’s do exactly what Asher asked. Let’s find this fucking library.”

The car ride back to the Academy passed in a blur. I spent most of it dozing on Jesse’s shoulder, listening to them discuss how they were going to tackle the demi-fey problem. It was early morning, the sun rising steadily as we traveled. It felt like years since I was kidnapped, but it had only been about eight hours.

As the first impressive view of the Academy came into sight, I sat a little straighter. I loved that we were back home, but coming home without Asher was a punch in the gut. “What are we going to do about Kate and Chellie?”

I hadn’t forgotten those two bitches. Just thinking about them made me furious on a level that I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt before. The only other person to come close was Asher’s fake mother. She had made it to the top of my list.

“Asher already took care of them,” Calen said with a snort from the front seat. “They’re not going to be bothering you.”

“He killed them?” I asked, not sure if that should surprise me or not. I’d seen the carnage back at the hunting lodge.

“Worse,” Jesse said, his chest shaking as he laughed. “Death would have ended their suffering immediately. Instead, with the help of Princeps Jones, who he contacted as we were racing after you, he’s set everything in motion to ruin them. Their social status in our world is gone, their money, their families high paying job, and as an extra fun punishment, they might both face charges in the supernatural prison system.”

I gaped at him, and he smiled. “Yep. Asher has a lot of power and influence. His family was rich and connected, and they left him everything. He controls their corporation.”

“Locke Industries employs thousands of supes,” Axl added. “Including Kate and Chellie’s families.”

I hadn’t known that. I mean, sure, I knew they were rich—the cars and house and clothes and all the rest told me that, but that was next-level money.

“Why did they do it?” I asked, realizing I’d never stopped to wonder why.

Jesse tensed at my side. “They’ve been looking for a way to get rid of you. The Arterians approached them with the opportunity—rumors of your enemies reached far and wide.”

“They didn’t know what the Arterians wanted with you or where they took you,” Axl added. “All they cared about was getting rid of you.”

“You better be done with that bitch now, Jess,” Rone growled from the front. “No fucking more.”

“Or no more fucking, to be more accurate,” Calen joked, then shut up when multiple glares turned his way.

Jesse’s rumbling chest was so very leonine that I half expected to find a furry beast next to me. “As far as I’m concerned, Chellie no longer exists in my world. She’s changed so much since falling in with the Clovers. I don’t even recognize her these days.”

I reached out and took his hand, because I sensed that at one point or another he’d cared for that psycho. Maybe she really hadn’t always been insane. I’d known a lot of people who had turned unrecognizable, either from drugs, alcohol, or the people they brought into their life.

I wasn’t going to forgive her anytime soon, but I could extend sympathy to Jesse. He deserved it. The car circled around the Academy, crossing over a bridge. There were more guards than ever stationed there, and we had to undergo a car search, and then a magical scan, to ensure we were not concealing anyone or any weapons.

“Princeps Jones tripled security the moment you were taken,” Axl told me, spinning in his seat. “Too little, too late...”

Rone shook his head. “The Arterians can get to anyone. We have to be vigilant. Our priorities are keeping an eye on Maddison and finding the library. Asher is relying on us, so while he’s keeping those bastards busy, we will do our part.”

I was beyond determined to find the library.

When we pulled into their garage and got out of the car, two familiar figures were standing just outside.

“Larissa,” I cried, running to her. Her face was puffy, eyes red as tears streaked from them.

“Holy shit, Maddi,” she whispered against my shoulder. “I’ve never been so scared in my entire life.”

I hadn’t either. Being drugged and kidnapped was the basis for ninety percent of women’s nightmares. I was no exception.

“I’m okay, though,” I said, pulling back. “The guys found me in time.”

“Where’s Asher?” Princeps Jones asked, his sharp eyes noticing the missing member of our group.

Rone told him the story, and when he was finished I spoke up. “The library … we can’t wait on that any longer. We need permission to access the demi-fey lands or we will go without permission.”

Princeps Jones pursed his lips. “Princeps Linstar keeps pushing me along the chain of command, all of the protocol bullshit. If you have a liaison there who would speak for you, I might be able to make something happen faster.”

“What about Mossie?” I said in a rush.

I hadn’t forgotten that little green goblin. He was my first “real” view of the supernatural world. It had been hard to ignore something so fantastical, even when my mind refused to accept what Ilia was saying.