Magic Academy (A Fantasy New Adult Romance) (34 page)

“Do you expect the world to
behave conveniently for you when you cast?” he remarked, brow
raised as he slipped in behind her. One hand sliding along her figure
until he was guiding both her hands through the motions. Even with
him out of sight, however, she could feel his hard body pressed to
her. His still partially turgid manhood nestled against her rear.

He had marked her his again and again
since he’d returned, tainting her with his sticky seed, leaving
it to roll down her inner thighs even as she practiced the magical
spells to her.

Her breathing was heavier and she
willed herself to concentrate, feeling herself grow more familiar
with the intricate motions.

Magic was her life. Her passion.

So why did she keep getting distracted
by so many more earthly matters?

More than once over the past few days,
it had occurred to her to try and shake him off. If only a little.

To get Varuj’s attention
elsewhere that she might get things into order. Or maybe…

Her newly kindled urges were driving
her down a road she feared. And more than that, she worried of
hurting dear Mae’lin.

Mae’lin…

She thought if only she could find
physicality with him as she had with Varuj, then it might all sort
itself out. Firia could be with him, content and focussed.

The touch of those devilish hands made
it so hard to think though… to try and come up with a more
rational plan.

“Rest up for the night,” he
said abruptly, pulling away. “You need to practice this. I’ve
given you the power, but now you need the ability,” he
remarked, picking up his clothes and getting ready.

Disappointment and gratitude. Her
emotions were becoming such a strange mix of polarized feelings.
“Fine, Varuj,” she sighed, but still she looked at him
with longing.

She needed to break his spell over her.

His pants hanging low, revealing the
edges of his dark pubic hair, he reached out, robe open as he cupped
her chin. “Remember,” he said in that smooth, suave voice
of his, “you are mine, Firi. We are bound eternally. But my
tolerance for your daily activities will not last forever.”

Her pulse quickened.

“Varuj…” Her
breathing was shallow as she forced herself to meet his gaze, but
what more was there to say? She could promise nothing.

He was gone without another word. Her
lover from hell.

Each new day began in a daze. The
pressure of school, approaching final exams, her feelings for Mae’lin
and Varuj colliding, and all the while her head swirled with the new
spells she was learning.

For all his wicked nature, Varuj was an
excellent teacher. Though it wasn’t just his teaching, she
suspected. Whatever infernal arts he mastered, and whatever their
connection, he was able to pass to her spell casting ability beyond
her station.

“You’re awfully quiet
today,” chirped Ala’nase, and Firia became aware of the
woman’s presence right beside her. How long had she been
walking right with her? She was getting so carried away with it all
she was losing her grip on reality! “Say, I’ve gotta tell
you something,” she remarked in a secretive manner, touching
her hand to Firia’s arm and leaning in conspiratorially.

Firia tried to look excited for the
news, but it was hard enough just getting her mind back into the
present. Still, she was forever grateful that Ala had been such a
loyal and good friend, so she urged her on.

“What is it?”

Little seemed to phase Ala’nase
for long, and the beautiful elven woman smiled, a twinkle in her eyes
as they walked along and spoke. “You know the handsome new
guy?” It was then Firia noticed again that the woman was
dressed rather well, beyond her normal attire and with a generous
dollop of dark crimson lipstick and eye shadow.

No. No, no, no.

Firia smiled thinly. “Yes, I
remember him.”

The woman’s long lashes descended
as she narrowed her eyes and looked about almost suspiciously. “I’m
going to ask him out,” she said with a wry smile, oblivious to
what that meant for Firia herself.

No, no, no.

Firia’s heart lurched, but it was
two-fold. One part was fear for her friend getting turned down and
broken-hearted, but something darker lurked beneath it. Jealousy.

What if Varuj said yes?

It would serve her right for continuing
to see Mae'lin despite Varuj’s… disapproval of it. But
she couldn’t bear the thought, even as she longed for a way
out.

“Oh?” was all she could
manage.

“Of course,” she responded,
flipping her long blonde hair back. “How could he resist my
charms, hm?” The elven woman’s confidence resonated off
her as she walked along beside her in the cool morning air.

“I don’t know, Ala. You’re
beautiful and clever.” It was true. “It’s just…”
Firia trailed off, but she had nothing. No reasonable excuse why her
friend shouldn’t ask her crush out.

Except for the fact that he was a demon
that Firia had summoned and was making love with every night.

The elven woman looked surprised by her
reaction, staring at her with some confusion. “It’s just
what?” She asked, though Firia could detect a certain oddness
in her voice. Was it just confusion? Or was it something worse,
insult?

Firia’s face began to flush and
she slowed her walking momentarily, “Well, just… I don’t
know, I couldn’t imagine asking someone. With Mae’lin it
just happened. Naturally.”

Ala’nase stared at her a while
then swatted her arm. “Yeah well, I don’t have eternity,”
she remarked with some amusement. “There’s about a
million other harpies with their talons ready to sink into this guy,
Firia. If I don’t strike while the iron is hot, he’ll be
snatched up by someone more shameless than I.”

“Well… you know I’ll
always be here for you, Ala.” Firia started walking again,
faster. She needed to get away, to find some way out of this tangled
web.

She didn’t need to go far, for as
she rounded a corner she nearly stumbled into Gway’lin, the
dashing elf quick to place his hands upon her shoulders and prevent a
full on collusion. “Firia,” he said with some surprise.
“Just the lady I was hoping to see,” he remarked
pleasantly, his thick mane of golden hair glimmering in the morning
sun.

“Uh, I’ll catch you at
class then. Got some hunting to do anyhow,” remarked Ala’nase
with a wave.

Firia waved back, but her mind was
swimming. She could barely even focus on Gway’lin’s
handsome face until she finally realized his palms were still rested
on her shoulder and a flush went through her. The thoughts were
totally unbidden and she stepped back, bashfully, as her gaze fell to
the ground.

“What’s wrong?”

“Wrong?” he said with some
surprise, then laughed softly and shook his head. He had such a
musical voice, even his laughter was like a beautiful chiming. “No
no, nothing wrong. In fact,” he looked about then gestured
towards one of the little private garden areas strewn about the
campus. “Care to take a seat on the bench with me for a
moment?” he asked cordially.

“Sure, though I have to get to
class soon,” she said with a soft sigh. She couldn’t help
but feel that the humdrum of class was hindering her growth rather
than helping it. It was making her thoughts too linear and small,
forcing her to get away from taking large risks, and that made
training with Varuj more difficult.

Though truthfully, training with him
would never be easy.

With a gentle yet firm hand upon her
shoulder, Gway’lin guided her to the bench and sat beside her.
“Lessons are nearly at an end for the year, Firia, and as your
orienteer–” he said with a bit of a wry smile, “it’s
up to me to give you a bit of guidance for what’s next, since
I’m quite confident you’ll be passing and carrying on.”

“Well, that’s a relief,”
she admitted. She always felt like she was skating on thin ice,
especially with some professors she knew who thought little of her
“kind”.

With a light chuckle he continued on.
“It’s still too soon to look for a professor sponsor,”
he said gingerly, his beautiful voice reminding her of lovely songs,
even as he spoke in such a casual manner. “And I wouldn’t
presume that you’d want to choose me as your professor sponsor
when the time comes anyhow. I’ll still be a very fresh and new
one, with little influence to help you, after all,” he
explained with a gentle smile.

“Still, you seem to actually want
me here, which is more than I can say for some professors.” She
shrugged. “Who did you choose when you were a student?”

Gway’lin couldn’t help but
give a bit of a toothy grin to that. “Well, truth be told, I
was such a troublemaker none would have me for the longest time. Not
many of the senior sorcerers are willing to let themselves be
questioned by a subordinate,” he said with a chuckle. “You
don’t know her, but when she finally chose me, Mistress
Trae’vana plucked me from the jaws of my own self-sabotage.”

Firia grinned and, for the first time
since Varuj came back, she felt some of that bitterness and worry
begin to melt away. She leaned back on the bench, folding her legs in
under her thighs. “Well, now I kind of wish I did know her. She
seems bright enough to spot talent behind your mouth.”

With a tinge of sombreness to his smile
he nodded and patted her knee. “But nonetheless, you won’t
have to deal with that quite yet. However, starting with next year,
you’ll have some choice about what classes you can take, Firia.
And as I told you before, I’m a new professor myself, so…”
he rubbed his palms together then opened them up skyward, “I’d
like to see you in my class on mysticism and illusions.”

Her eyes widened a bit and she stared,
a bit dumbfounded. “Wow, really?” It was one thing for
her to be an adequate student. Even a good one! But to be recruited
for a class by anyone was flattering in and of itself and she smiled,
quite genuinely. “I’ll be honest, it’s not really
my strong suit.”

“I know,” he said gently,
smiling brightly at her acceptance. “It’s still a pretty
introductory level course for the two arts, but maybe if I teach it
well enough, and you like the subject matter, you’ll follow
after it through the ranks and become a true sorceress of the arts
eventually.”

“Well, fine, but you can admit
it. You just want to make sure you have at least one person in your
class that won’t use their newfound skills to pull pranks on
you.”

He threw back his head and gave such a
musical laugh, his thick, golden hair barely budging in the display.
“Oh, I don’t know about that. After having been subjected
to mine so much maybe you’ll bite back,” he remarked with
a playful wink that lit up his stunning face. It was so hard to get
away from the fact he was the most stunning male – well,
non-demonic at least – that she’d ever laid eyes upon.

Firia bit her lower lip, watching him
intently before she finally tore her gaze away and forced herself to
stand. She felt a buzz of excitement rush through her and she forgot
entirely about Ala’nase and Varuj for those few, blissful
moments. “I’m really flattered you asked me, by the way.”

Sliding up to his feet, his own long
robe flowing about him so gracefully, he gave a warm smile and a
light bow of his head. “It shall be my pleasure to have you in
my class, Firia. I truly hope I can inspire and invigorate you to
greater heights with my tutelage.” His beautiful emerald eyes
shimmered before her. “Goodluck with classes.”

“Thanks, sir,” she teased
with a small crook of her lips.

It was so easy with him. So carefree.

Why did it have to be that everyone
else she loved gave her such heavy feelings of guilt?

Because you’re a liar,
her
subconscious reminded her quickly and those light, airy feelings
slipped away.

Mae’lin.

She’d been classmates with him
years before she got to know him, and that seemed such a shame. He’d
said it to her himself as they sat upon the grass in the private
little sanctuary, taking some time to escape the bustle of the
academy to eat.

It had been his idea. “You’ve
seemed a little over-stressed lately,” he said with concern in
his eyes, and still as he ate some carrot sticks he smiled over at
her, his irrepressible concern and determination a buoy through the
storm.

And yet it only made her feel guiltier.
Guilty that she didn’t feel that burning hot passion for him.
Guilty that she’d made love to another.

Guilty that she’d told another
man that she was his. Whatever that meant.

Her hand rested on Mae’lin’s
knee and even though she tried to smile, she knew it faltered.

She wanted this, so bad. This kind,
considerate, calm relationship. This sweet, caring elf that was so
smitten with her in an adorable, boyish way.

“You’re always thinking of
me,” she said breathlessly.

He rested his hand upon hers, his long,
spindly fingers warmly embracing hers. “We’re going to
make it to the top of this place together, Firia,” he said so
confidently, smiling at her widely. “You’ve been
improving so quickly, leaving what little advantages I have in the
dust.”

His hand gripped hers so tight before
he rubbed her smooth skin and knuckles, a different sort of air about
him she was finding hard to place.

It confused her, but she squeezed his
hand back, breathing the fresh air deep into her lungs. She hoped it
would clarify her mind, but nothing did these days. She looked to
him, studying his face in a quiet, contemplative manner.

This was her boyfriend. The innocent
boyfriend that a girl like her should have. Someone that makes her a
better, kinder person. Someone that cares for her and accepts her.

She leaned in and kissed his cheek
softly, rubbing her nose along his skin. She’d been less giving
with her token affections lately, pulling away from him, and she
hated it.