Rebel Academy: Curse

Chapter Eighteen FOX

I hung back in the shadows of the yew trees at the edge of Hecate's glade. At least, that was what I called hiding or stalking, either worked. Then I watched (muffling my gasps and pants in the woolen coat that Sleipnir had slipped around my shoulders and enjoying his warm scent), as Magenta indulged in intimate sexy times with a ghost and a fae.

My fae.

Woah, I appeared to have caught the possessive bug.

I'd searched for Magenta, after she'd done her witchy vanishing into black mists act (which always had my dick standing to attention), at the end of Bacchus' class because I’d been desperate to check that she was safe...okay, to sneak in some one-on-one sexy times with her myself.

When I'd found the shimage who'd come before me (or what remained of him) in the walls of the castle, I'd felt the connection between us. It’d drawn me to this glade, just as much as the pull of Magenta’s magic.

Everything came back to Hecate’s Tree.

Hecate’s dark magic was like a witch slap across the face to a mage.

I ached to run away before the goddess decided that my foxy ass needed a true spanking. Yet I ached even more to run towards Magenta because she meant safety, home, and love.

Then I hesitated because Magenta thought herself alone with her past, and if I threw myself out of the shadows like a naked stripper out of a hat — ta da, Fox is here! — I'd have spoiled her special moment.

I could practice my stripper moves for her later (Fireman Fox was popular), but right now, I had to hide inside the dark, cold, cake.

My stomach growled. Only Princes were allowed treats like cake. Would their private larder be raided for the Enchanted Ball?

I narrowed my eyes at Lysander, as he flapped his wings. Would he hex me with a Tail Be Straight Hex, if I crawled out and joined in with Magenta and him? What about if I just licked his feathers? A single lick…?

Surely, he wouldn't be that cruel?

Not my beautiful crooked tail...

I hugged my arms around my middle, taking a reassuring sniff at the collar of my coat. Magenta was held down by Lysander's wings. They were beautiful together. I bit my lip. Except, it was like watching the TV with the volume turned down because I was too far away to hear their murmured conversations.

I bet it went something like: You infernal witch, I hate you...but kiss me anyway... You're such an arrogant fae...but I’ll kiss you if you ravish me first...

At least, that’s how it went in my head. Don’t judge me.

Would they kiss? They were so close.

Come on, entertain your audience...

I mean, if they actually got to the kinky stuff, I'd close my eyes. I could be good. Pathological liar here, I was never looking away because the way that they rocked against each other like they were desperately screwing, even though they were dressed, was hotter than anything I'd yet seen.

That was added to my Wank Bank.

Magenta said that she didn't like stalking, but wasn't I being a voyeur...okay, a polite peeping tom...okay, a bad, horny foxy?

A wave of exhaustion hit me, and I staggered, catching myself on the nearest yew tree. I scrabbled against the frozen bark. Wow, I wished that I'd been given gloves to wear, but then, whipping boys weren't expected to feel the cold. I winced.

Ever since the Walling Up Alive Incident, fatigue had seeped into my aching muscles and bones. It was like being consumed from the inside.

I closed my eyes, sagging.

Don't let the others notice that something's wrong. Bask would go into overprotective panic.

Of course, in all the years that I'd been locked up in the attic without medicine when I’d been ill (and I'd often had throbbing headaches, which dad had said was a result of the binding of my magic by the Blood Amulet), there'd been one easy way to relieve my pain.

There were two things that a guy always had even in the worst situations: his hand and his dick.

My dick right now was hard and demanding. Relieving him would relieve the tension and pain. Some plans just write themselves, and I had the perfect new Wank Bank material.

A smile teased the corners of my mouth, as I slipped my fingers down my pants towards my twitching dick.

Come to foxy...

"Look what I've found on my rounds," a voice as smooth as honey whispered into my ear, "a wanking Fox."

A large hand slammed over my mouth, smothering my yelp of shock.

My eyes snapped open, and I stared up at Emerick, the Groundskeeper, and Damelza's beautiful adopted son. His chocolate brown eyes, which matched his pants and shirt, glinted in the dark, as he pinned me with his other hand against the tree. His skin was velvet ebony, and his sable hair was woven with feathers.

Emerick had helped me on the day of the Hunt, when I'd been in animal form. He helped the animals but soft as he was with animals, I was in human form now.

And he looked pissed.

Emerick scrutinized me like he could see into my mind. I froze, breathing hard.

Don't think about Magenta's tits...Lysander's dick...pillows are safe...pillows, pillows, pillows...rolling around in pillows, while sucking Magenta's tits and Lysander's dick...

Emerick snatched me by my collar. "Poor thing, out here all alone. You'd better come with me."

He dragged me after him through the wood. I scrabbled against him, booting at snowbanks as we passed.

Wow, he was strong.

But then, Emerick had got those muscles working outside each day, and the most exercise I'd done inside was freaking out to funk.

"Some of us like to be alone, mate," I insisted. "I'm a secret introvert. That’s why I could only watch the other guys from a distance, you know, happy in my own company..."

I waggled my fingers.

Emerick merely arched his brow at me, while dragging me after him across the wintry grounds. I skidded in the slushy snow, and he steadied me. His hand was warm on mine.

"Okay, you caught me. I was being a naughty foxy, but you don't need to take me to the Damelza, right? She's just been waiting for me to be sent to her study again. She walled me up alive before. What's next? Locked in a safe? Cemented in a cellar? Great Pan, I'm not Goth enough to get a thrill from being nailed in a coffin..."

Emerick swung me around, hushing my wail with his warm palm over my mouth.

"You were much quieter as an animal. Do you always talk this much or do I make you nervous?" Then his gaze softened, as he studied me. "I'd never take anyone to Damelza’s study. I didn't choose to have a witch like her as a mum. She chose me like I was a pet from the orphanage, after my parents were killed by wolves."

He lifted his hand away from my mouth.

I paled. "But Snow said..."

Emerick raised his eyebrow.

Horn and hoof, how did I point out that Snow trusted Emerick, when he'd just admitted that his parents had been murdered by wolves? This was why I didn't do diplomacy. I needed Lysander, who’d probably been taught whole books of War Strategy Etiquette, before he could fly. Actually, Ezekiel had probably already taught that to Bask and Sleipnir.

This was what happened when you missed out on your education.

I bit my lip. Did Emerick resent that his life here at the academy was the fault of shifters...?

"Snow told me that you were his mate." I struggled, trying to wrest free. "You know how I can literally tell if you're lying, so come on: are you tricking him? I'll let you know now that I'll kick your ass...somehow...if you are."

Emerick's lips twitched almost like he didn't believe that I could kick his ass. Then he let go of me, taking a step back.

He crossed his arms over his broad chest and scrutinized me. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

I dusted down my top, straightening out my crumpled collar. "Don't dodge the question. And only my pride."

Emerick chuckled. "If it'll get you back to my cottage, so we can have our little talk," Merlin's cock, I'd hoped that he'd forgotten that, "Snow is my best friend. He's as much a victim of the war between the witches and wolves, as I am. He's been taken from his family, land, and own people. He's a slave, and technically, I'm not. Of course, I've helped him. That doesn't make me good, it makes me...decent. Anything else would be wicked." The truth of every word rolled through me like hallelujahs on a wave of thunderous drumrolls. He was right. It was how I'd felt about my werewolf, Glow. I shivered, hugging my arms around my middle. I missed him. Then I swallowed, as his gaze darkened. "Little talk time now."

He gestured towards the frozen lake, and I avoided his gaze, before marching ahead of him. He placed his hand on my shoulder, guiding me past the lake. I stumbled, barely able to see in the dark, but Emerick moved through the grounds steadily like it was daytime.

How many times had he patrolled these same grounds in the shadows? The grounds were larger than my attic but they were still a cage.

My lungs burned, and my breath ghosted the cold air. My skin prickled, and felt too tight where Emerick touched me.

What would happen once we reached the cottage?

I hadn't been alone without the other Immortals or a professor since I'd arrived, apart from the Hunt. It'd been terrifying to be caught in the kitchen with Emerick. In fox form, he'd loomed over me, and although he'd been a friend to shifters and animals, he'd also been a threat. Now, I didn't know whether he was my greatest ally or foe.

Our footsteps crunched on the snow, as we rounded the yew hedges at the back of the Groundskeepers Cottage. The high oak gate hid the secret garden behind it. Emerick cast me an inscrutable look, before shoving past me to slip a rusty key into the gate, which squeaked open.

He gestured after you like he was inviting me in for coffee, followed by screwing, rather than...okay, could I just pretend that it was screwing?

Dick now was not the time to perk up and show interest.

I squared my shoulders, before swaggering into the garden because going home alone with groundskeepers who catch you wanking was what they taught at schools, right?

That was definitely not the take home message from this.

Emerick snorted, before following me into the garden, which was simply a wave of snow that lapped at the cottage. The thatched cottage was ancient and leaned tiredly to the side. Yet the ice sculptures that played around the garden struck me as more beautiful under the moonlight than they had, when I'd seen them before under the sun. They sparkled like they'd been encrusted by diamonds. An ice elf climbed the branches of a tree, a vampire waved at him, and an elephant blew water at a snarling tiger.

My breath caught. What did I know about genius? I could draw an epic cartoon doodle of a hedgehog. But I hadn't been able to draw a fox without making the tail look like a dick. Don't imagine it or you'll be scarred for life like me. These ice sculptures, however, sang truth with a pure and perfect violin note that made my chest tighten.

Emerick's expression gentled, and he wandered to the tree sculpture, stroking his hand along the elf's thigh. "I'm never alone with these creations. Willoughby's talent is more than magic or a gift. He was meant to use his skill to create his legacy as a king, but instead, he creates a family for me. He's lost as much as I have, but still, he can share such beauty. Creativity like this is a blessing. Yet he believes what his bastard brother says about him. He can only see his mistakes." Emerick's gaze hardened. "Do you remember that I promised you were safe with me as long as you didn't trick or lie to Willoughby?"

I shifted from foot to foot. "Wow, great chat. Looks like I'm safe then because no lying to Willoughby here."

Says the lying foxy.

Emerick stalked towards me, and I backed away. "So, you do think that I'm a fool?"

"Is there any way to answer that, which doesn't end in my furry ass getting kicked?"

I dodged behind the ice elephant.

I didn't want to fight him. He was Snow and Willoughby's friend. I couldn't truly trust him because he was Damelza's son, but I wouldn't hurt him either.

Okay, I was the one who'd be hurt. But I could pretend for my pride, right?

Emerick prowled after me. "I told you that if you wrecked Willoughby, then I'd wreck you. Willoughby’s brother has been punishing him for hours. I know everything that goes on in this academy. It's the only way that I survive. Do you think I don't know that you Immortals have been messing with him? Then it's time that I bring down the power of my family on your tail because I fight for my family."

When he dived for me with a growl, I threw myself to the side, transforming in a shower of blue glitter into my Arctic fox form. I landed hard in a snowbank with an oomph, and my paws scrabbled at the snow.

My senses were suddenly enhanced, and I lowered my head, overwhelmed by the scents of the yew trees and the thrumming magic.

He wouldn't attack an adorable little fox, right?

When Emerick loomed over me, I lowered my ears and whined. Then I flashed him my cutest please don't hurt me expression that I could.

"Your tricks won't work on me, Fox." Emerick glared at me. "Transform back."

I shook my head, shaking my tail at him for good measure.

Emerick tried to snatch me by the neck, and I dodged through his open legs. He hissed in frustration, as I skidded around the snarling tiger. He chased me, as I wove underneath the ice elephant, who now seemed as large as a giant. My heart beat against my ribcage; my pulse pounded. The garden was no longer a playground but a terrifying Land of the Giants. I slunk around the sleeping dragon, who circled the entire garden, as Emerick hunted me.

When I reached the family of ice wolf cubs playing on the dragon's tail, I hunkered down to join them. My cream fur was camouflaged by the snow.

I covered my head with my paws.

If I couldn't see him, he couldn't see me, right?

A shadow covered me. His heavy boot tapped next to my head.

Tap — tap — tap.

"You're caught." Emerick's calmness should have been comforting. It wasn't. "I protect my friends. You'll learn that today."

Perfect. Another unique learning opportunity from Rebel Academy.

"Aye, I protect my friends too, and moon knows, I'd do anything for my wee brother," Snow's Scottish voice thrummed with protective dominance.

His calling me wee brother shook me with an intense emotion that had me pulling my paws away from my head and gekkering wildly.

Snow smiled down at me. His arms were wrapped around Emerick's waist.

Snow was Juni's werewolf because witches had claimed Omegas after the witch and wolf war. He was also the twin of the werewolf who'd been raised with me, Glow. I owed Glow as much as I did dad or Aquilo for keeping me sane in the long years of my exile in the attic, but even before that, Glow had protected me, treating me like a brother. I loved him as much as I did Hartley, my sister. The difference was that he hadn't abandoned me as soon as I'd come into my magic.

He hadn't called me a monster.

Snow was gorgeous with bronzed muscles and strawberry blond curls. He was also naked.

Did Juni never allow him clothes, even in this freezing academy?

I leaped up, bouncing on the spot.

Snow laughed. "Calm down, wee fox. What trouble have you got yourself into now?" Then he shot an accusing glance at Emerick, before swiping his ass with a crisp smack. Emerick flushed. "Fur and fangs, no threatening students."

Emerick rolled his eyes.

I smirked. Even in fox form I pulled that off. It was a gift.

Snow fixed me with a stern glare that had my little balls climbing back inside me. "And there'll be the same for your furry behind if you upset my friends." I wrapped my tail around my ass like that could protect it. Snow pulled Emerick closer. "I'm sorry, but Juni sent me to fetch you. There's a gathering in the Memory Theater. They have it all laid out for a..."

"Matching," Emerick said, dully. I knew what that meant. I'd been trained for it, just like Hartley had been taught Husband Management, since I'd been able to talk. I'd hoped that I’d be matched with the French witch Mesilande, who’d been my first crush, but then, all hopes of love or marriage had ended, when I'd been shamed as a mage. "Which House?"

"Nay, we'll find a way..."

"Which house?" Emerick insisted.

Why was he shaking? Didn't he want to be married?

Matching was the greatest day of your life (until your marriage day), or at least that’s what mum had told me. Wasn’t that true? It had to be because it was what I’d grieved for all those years, after it’d been stolen from me.

I’d lost the chance of a normal life because of my magic.

Snow massaged Emerick's lower back. "You know which House; the same one as has been after you for years. The House of Jewels."

Emerick paled, but not as much as I would've done if I hadn't been in fox form. Now I got why Emerick wanted to kick my furry ass and had never trusted me.

Plus, my family was visiting the academy…they were here now…? But they weren’t here to see me (their disappointment of a mage son), rather to match Hartley to Emerick.

Would she make a good wife like I'd always hoped?

Could I vomit now?

I loved Magenta and the other Immortals but I couldn't help the twist of jealousy that Emerick was about to experience everything that I'd lost. He'd be seen and valued, like I'd been taught mattered most. He was the beautiful prized virgin son, like I'd once been.

It was a great match both ways: The House of Crows was powerful, and the House of Jewels was wealthy. I could see why both Damelza and mum had chosen it. Plus, they were old friends.

Did mum know that her old friend, who was trying to marry her son to my sister, had tried to murder me this week?

Would she even care if she did?

Tears smarted my eyes because my family wanted Emerick, but they didn't want me.

How could they still hurt me so much after over a decade?

When I whined, Snow crouched next to me.

He stroked his hand over my head. "Goddess Moon! I shouldn't have just... I'm sorry. I know how it tears you apart to lose your sibling because I miss Glow every day. Look, Emerick will be the best husband for your sister."

"I won't." Emerick's eyes flashed, and he took a step back. "Because I'm not property to be sold to the highest bidder."

When Snow carefully stood, his gaze was soft and sad. "Nay, you're the son of a witch, and if she decides on this marriage, you'll have no choice. My brother is in the House of Jewels. Glow can brighten the worst of days. I promise, you'll have a new best friend."

"I don't want a new..." Emerick's voice broke, and he bit his lip hard.

I transformed back to a man, shoving to my feet. My magic broke against me in distressed waves. In the last week, I'd repressed my past. Everything with Magenta was thrilling, loving, and washed me along with excitement and fear, until I didn't have to think about...

Don't think, don't, don't...

Dad's death, the darkness in the attic, whippings, Blood Amulet, Glow and Aquilo, Hartley's rejection...

Mage's are monsters.

My breathing became ragged, and I gritted my teeth.

I'd lost everything, but I'd found it again in Magenta and the Immortals. This time, I'd create my own life.

Yet now, Hartley was in the academy. How could I move on, without seeing her?

"Take me with you," I demanded.

Snow shook his head. "You won't be safe. Not a chance."

Emerick's assessing gaze met mine. "Let him. At least then, I'll be able to see what this sister of his is really like. I'd rather know from the start than on my marriage night."

I winced.

Snow drew in his breath. "I'll catch it from Juni for this, but I'd pull out every fang if it'd help you."

"What charming imagery. Does that mean that I can attend as well?" When Magenta materialized at my shoulder, I squealed in as equally a manly way as both Snow and Emerick did. "As you just saw, I can attend invisibly."

I wrapped my arms around Magenta, burrowing my face onto her shoulder and breathing in her wild woods scent.

I wouldn’t be alone.

Pink sparkles tickled my skin. I felt safe, centered, and loved.

Emerick coughed. "Excuse me, did I send out an invitation to a garden party and forget about it?"

Magenta waved her hand. "A wonderful idea, but I don't stand on ceremony. I believe that I'm getting better at this modern courting technique of stalking. After all, I am the Voyeur Ghost. I'm connected to my lovers, and Fox's magic cried out to mine. Did you imagine that I'd allow him to face his witch family by himself?"

Snow's eyes brightened. "Aye, you're a surprise all right."

Magenta's eyes glinted. "Thank you, kind sir."

Snow nodded, gravely. "You can care for my wee brother."

"Hey," I shifted in Magenta's arms, "I'm not a pet."

Magenta carded her fingers through my hair. "But you are mine."

Snow's eyes widened. "You're bonded."

When Magenta tipped up my chin to press her cool lips to mine, and her magic sparked, I knew that we’d always belong together. Why had I been jealous of Emerick or the witch world that I'd left behind? I'd been trained from birth to wish for the traditional matching and marriage, accepting that the decision would be made for me.

Screw that.

Now I loved and was loved back by those who didn't care that I was a mage and allowed me to make my own choices.

They'd never hide me away, beat, or force me against my will. I trusted them.

Did I trust that my sister would grant that to Emerick?

Magenta broke the kiss, and her lips quirked, as I tried to follow them for more kissy treats.

Come on, lips in need of kissing here.

"I detest arranged marriages in witch society," Magenta murmured. "They destroyed my life, leading to the death of the first man who I loved and the curse on this academy." I gasped, as her magic exploded like fireworks above the garden; the ice sculptures were lit up, as if they'd been frozen by that curse. Her magic vibrated through her with a violence that I'd never felt before. "My father wished me to be different to mother, using my powers to change the magical world. I shall start that by ending Damelza's matching."

"You know that you're risking..." I glanced warily at Emerick. I didn't trust him enough yet to share our whole rebellion plot. "...our Membership plans.”

Magenta stiffened, but her magic rumbled through the garden. “I once believed that I wasn’t strong enough to save even myself from this academy. I didn’t trust the strength of my magic but prayed to Hecate instead to save me, when I should’ve been protecting every Rebel. But I’m the Wickedly Charmed witch, this is my academy, and I’m saying enough. No more marriages shall be forced on the unwilling without love. Surely, I can be a vengeful spirit, after I died for the same reason…? I can’t protect every Rebel, if I turn my back on protecting one.”

Magenta’s magic zigzagged through the sky. She was powerful, but was she losing control like Willoughby had? This was personal to her.

What if our entire escape attempt was risked? Midnight wouldn’t survive much longer with the Sleep Deprivation Hex.

I shivered, wishing that I still had my furry tail to wrap around myself. Weirdly, despite all the danger, there was only one word looping through my mind:

Hartley, Hartley, Hartley…

I’d never thought that I’d see my sister again, and now I’d have to face her, as she chose a man to marry.

Why did I still love her?

She could crush me all over again, and it terrified me.