Page 13 of Goody Magic Academy: Year Three

Bellona’s ears flattened against her head. She scampered over to Jaxon, her claws clicking on the wooden floor, and quick as a flash she swiped her paw across his leg, leaving thin red lines in her wake and making him wince and hiss through his teeth.

Then she turned her back on him, tail held high. She marched off, each step deliberate and haughty, as if she was a queen surveying her domain.

Jaxon bared his fangs, a low growl rumbling in his chest. I clasped his arm, my fingers digging into his sleeve, and shook my head slightly, meeting his eyes with a warning glance.

Rose remained hunched over the book, her brow furrowed in concentration, ignoring all of us as her finger traced the lines of text and she flipped through the book.

Suddenly, the air grew thicker, making it hard to breathe. Heavy footsteps moved outside in the hall, each thud sending vibrations through the floorboards.

“Time’s up,” Jaxon said softly, his body coiled like a spring about to release. His gaze was laser focused on the door, eyes sharp and alert, like a predator sensing danger.

My stomach twisted into knots as a cold sweat broke out across my skin. The sound of my own heartbeat thundered in my ears, nearly drowning out the approaching footsteps. It was as if I was frozen in place, caught between the instinct to run and the desperate hope that Rose would find the spell in time.

Chapter

Seven

Jaxon’s muscles tensed up as he positioned himself in front of the door. His eyes darted between the entrance and our group, his jaw clenched tight.

“You really need to hurry, Rose,” Finn urged, his voice strained as he took up a position beside Jaxon. Kamaron and Valentin quickly joined them, forming a shield of taut muscles and determined faces to protect us.

Rose’s sing-song voice cut through the tension. “You’re not helping,” she chided, and I noticed her fingers trembling as they gripped the spell book.

The footsteps in the hallway grew louder, each one sending a jolt through my body.

Kamaron’s voice was grim. “We’re not going to make it.”

“Yes, we are.” Rose’s words were firm as she gently closed the book. “I’ve found the spell. You need to strip first, or you will rip through your clothes.”

Heat rushed to my face and down my throat. I had forgotten that part. “Oh,” I squeaked.

Rose’s eyes met mine, a flash of sympathy in them. “Sorry. It’s just the way of shifters.”

Twyla put her arm around me. “Don’t worry, I’ll act as a shield to keep any prying eyes off you.”

“Puh-lease,” Finn muttered.

Twyla stepped in front of me. My heart hammered against my ribs as Jaxon wordlessly moved to stand directly in front of me as well. His broad shoulders blocked me from everyone else’s view, a small mercy as I reluctantly began to undress.

I had a small wall in front of me, hiding the heat melting me as I got ready to rip off my clothes, but the rustle of fabric still seemed deafening as I peeled off first my shirt, then my checked purple and white skirt. Each article of clothing I removed felt like a layer of protection being stripped away.

As I took off my undergarments and the cool air kissed my bare skin, a prayer ran on a loop through my mind: God, please don’t let the Bloodborne Brotherhood burst in while I’m in my birthday suit.

The approaching footsteps seemed to sync up with my racing pulse, a countdown to the moment of truth. Vulnerable and exposed, I closed my eyes, trying not to dwell on the fact that everyone could see my body right now, right down to the birthmark on my right breast, but focusing instead on the stirring power within me. It was time to embrace my dragon and hope that modesty would be the least of our concerns in the next few seconds.

“Yes, this is definitely it,” Rose whispered urgently, her voice barely audible over the approaching footsteps.

My heart hammered in my chest as Rose began to read, her voice growing stronger with each word:

“Dragon blood that sleeps within,

Waken now, let change begin.

Scales and wings, once hidden deep,

Rise to surface, no more sleep.

Fire in heart and claw in hand,

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