Fallen Academy: Year Two (Fallen Academy #2)(42)

He leaned in and dropped a kiss on my neck. “Well, I’m happy to be of service.”

I moaned. Speaking of service, I could think of something that needed a little servicing to get the tension out. It was so nice now that Lincoln had his own big apartment. No more rocking the trailer.

My eyes snapped open and I pushed him back as a thought struck me. “Oh my God! My mom has nowhere to live! If I bring her back, she’ll need a place until she can get on her feet. Is your trailer still available? Do you think…?” I felt bad for even asking, but I had no other options.

Lincoln looked down at me with a knowing gaze. “I’m surprised it took you this long to think about it.”

I raised one eyebrow in confusion. “Is that a yes?”

He shook his head. “I’m not making the mother of the woman I love live in my old tiny trailer. Besides, if she’s as good a cook as you say she is, I’ll enjoy all the meals.”

My throat cinched with emotion. “What are you saying?”

He trailed a finger down my cheek. “I’m saying a few days ago, Noah helped me set up the guest room. It has a bed and dresser now.”

I had to bite my tongue to keep from sobbing. “That’s your music room.”

He shrugged. “I’ll turn it into a music room when she’s gone.”

“Lincoln.” The tears started falling. He was a twenty-four-year old guy who hated demon slaves, and yet was willing to live with my mom who was one. “You want to live with my mom? Are you sure? She can be annoying,” I warned him.

He laughed, but then a dark look crossed his face. “I’d give anything to have my mom back to annoy me for just one day.”

I swallowed hard. “I didn’t mean that. I—”

He waved it off. “I know. I’m just saying it’ll be nice. I’m looking forward to it.”

Oh my God. Lincoln Grey was taking my mom into his apartment.

Marry me now and have my babies.

“Is she all packed?” he inquired.

I nodded. My mom had freaked about the fight at first, but then I’d told her about my dark magic whip and strangling necktie and she’d come around to the idea. “She’s just waiting for us to stop by after.” I was totally doing the positive thing.

“Ready?”

I nodded. “Those bitches are going down.”



After Noah said goodbye to Shea with a disgusting make-out session against the wall outside Lincoln’s apartment, we hit the road. Luke’s aunt lived in Demon City and was a demon slave, so he’d gotten two passes permitting him to visit her for a few hours for him and Chloe. Shea and I were of course permitted as fighters, and Lincoln and Noah had our two guest passes. I tried to tamp down the nerves that were making me feel lightheaded with adrenaline.

‘You have no idea how psycho I can go if I need to,’ Sera told me.

I couldn’t help it as I burst out laughing in the car, which earned me a lot of stares.

‘I love you, Sera. I have no idea how you got your personality, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.’

‘I’m just stating the facts. I won’t let us lose. Mom is coming home tonight.’

Mom. Just like that, Sera became my sister.

“Hey there, bud, how you doing?” Shea whispered to her circular blades. Then she put her ear up to them and laughed uncontrollably. “Oh stop it, you’re so funny!”

I groaned and reached back, smacking her knee.

“Shut up. Don’t be jealous,” I scolded her.

Shea grinned. “Right, I’m so jealous that you look like a lunatic half the time, talking to your knife.”

I knew she was messing with me, and it got me to smile. “Yeah, well, my lunatic ass is going to save you from getting killed tonight.” Sera pulsed her light a few times for good measure.

Shea chuckled.

“We’re here,” Lincoln announced, and holy shit, he was right. We were pulling down the alley that led to Tainted Academy. There were cars all over the place, even pulled up on the sidewalk, and people were walking in big groups to the gates.

There were demons everywhere.

Lincoln winced, his breath hitching as we pulled up to the gate.

“You okay?” I reached out to touch his arm.

He nodded. “So many demons in such a small area. It… hurts. But I’ll be fine.”

The guards at the gate were different this time. They just glanced at our fighter cards and waved us through.

“Special parking in front,” the guard barked, then smacked the side of the car door.

Lincoln drove to the front lot, where there was indeed special parking for the participants. So special, in fact, that the spots were reserved with our names on them. Our sign read “Fallen Academy douchebags.”

“I hate this place,” Shea growled.

“Me too. We’re almost out of here. For good,” I told her.

We wasted no time, parking and rushing through the crowds to get inside. I wanted time to warm up, learn all the rules, and scope the competitors.

After signing in, we were told to go in back to the competitors’ lounge, and that we’d have to leave our friends.

The auditorium was packed. There was a circular cage in the middle about twenty feet in diameter, with people crammed around it as far as the eye could see. Secondary seating was up in the bleachers on a second level.