Fallen Academy: Year Two (Fallen Academy #2)(11)

I was trying to keep the tears at bay. My poor brother had been taken over by a monster.

‘Let her,’ Sera instructed me.

Turning my head slightly to my best friend, I nodded to Shea.

An Abrus demon I didn’t know stepped closer. “He could learn more about his powers at Tainted Academy,” he cooed.

I pivoted my body to him, Sera raised and glowing in my hand. “I will cut you if you go near my brother.”

The demon scowled at me and took a step closer as if to threaten me.

I’d never seen Raphael with a weapon until right then. He tore across the space, blindingly fast, with a twelve-inch golden dagger in his hands. His wings flapped earnestly, causing a gust of wind to pick up my hair.

“He’s a free soul. And free souls are mine to protect.” Raphael’s voice was so deep and menacing, I barely recognized it.

The demon cowed, taking a step back with his head lowered, and that’s when Mikey lunged. Not for me, or Raphael, but for the demon.

Without uttering a word, Shea threw an orange fiery ball at Mikey’s right shoulder. My brother howled as if in pain, hitting the ground. Limp. He’d dropped twelve inches from the Abrus demon.

“Shea!” I snapped.

“It’s just a stun spell. He’ll be—” She didn’t finish her sentence because Mikey stood once more, a bit wobbly, and shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts.

Shit.

I really, really, really didn’t want to kick my brother’s ass.

“If he lunges for me again, I’m putting him down!” the demon roared, smoke billowing from his ears.

I took one step into the demons’ black-tiled side of the stage, and Sera pulsed a bright white light from her blade, sharp and quick. “Touch my brother and I will end your life!” My wings popped out of my back, and I heard some in the crowd gasp.

The demon’s gaze went to my chest, and upon seeing the symbol there, he grinned. “You’ve got Lucifer’s temper.”

The comment was like a kick to the stomach. Did I? Was I like Lucifer?

I staggered backward and lowered my dagger slightly.

Mikey growled again and lowered his front end, sticking his hind legs into the air, preparing to pounce.

“Freeze!” a deep male voice boomed behind me. Mikey whined, lowering his bottom half, and going fully flat onto the ground.

I spun around to see a tall man in his early thirties leap onto the stage. His hair was chocolate brown, and fell in wild wisps around his face. He was stacked with muscles, like a linebacker, and his eyes were… haunting. They glowed an eerie honey color. He kept his eyes on my brother with each step he took.

This must be Clark.

“That’s my brother,” I told him. “Can you help him?”

He didn’t take his eyes off Mikey. “That’s up to him.”

The alpha moved within a few feet from Mikey and my brother started to growl. Towering over him, Clark crossed his arms, and leaned forward. “Submit,” he growled in a voice that was only half human.

Mikey’s lips peeled back as his growl grew louder and he held the alpha’s gaze.

Oh God. What does this mean?

Clark bent on one knee, shoving his face right in my brother’s, and I stopped breathing.

“You will submit to me, or I cannot help you,” he declared.

Holy Shit. My brother was going to rip his face off, I was sure of it.

A few more seconds into the stare-down and Mikey’s growl turned to a whine, his amber eyes falling to Clark’s shoes. Then my brother lowered his head and rolled onto his back, exposing his belly.

Clark’s meaty hand reached out and grabbed the scruff of my brother’s neck, shaking it. “Good pup. Let’s go,” he barked and stood.

“What? Where are you going?” My voice trembled as Mikey rose to a standing position and stood at Clark’s side.

Clark’s honey-colored eyes flicked to me for the first time, and I felt a physical power wash over me.

“I’m taking him to my land. I’ll teach him to hunt deer and calm his thirst for the kill. When I’m satisfied he won’t hurt a human, I’ll send him to school,” the alpha declared.

Umm, what the hell did he just say?

“Can’t you just force him to change back to human? Then he won’t hurt anyone.” Right? I was kicking myself for not paying much attention, during the week we spoke about Beast Shifters in my fallen history class. I figured everyone was like Luke—shift, kick some demon ass, shift back.

Clark shook his head. “He won’t be able to change back until he’s quenched his thirst for the hunt.”

A strangled gasp reached us, and I turned to see my mother listening in on our conversation.

Oh great.

“Well, can I visit him?” I called out. He was walking away with my brother on his heels.

“Maybe,” he called back.

My eyes flew to Lincoln, who just shrugged.

There were a cluster of men and women waiting by the door for Clark. When he neared, they bowed their heads, and stepped out of the way to let him pass. After he and my brother were out of sight, they pulled in the rear and left behind him. They were like a freaking cult.

‘Or a wolf pack,’ Sera offered.

I didn’t need a dose of her logic right then. My heart was hammering in my chest.