Page 43 of Goody Magic Academy: Year Three

Dimitri’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. “Oh, come on. If it was just my boss, I’d be inviting you for a friendly game of chess and a little light torture.” He paused, tilting his head. “He’s not actually interested in the artifact right now, but he wants to appease and play nice with the high priestess. And apparently, she’s in a bargaining mood.”

“Sorry, not interested,” Jaxon countered, his arm tightening around me.

Dimitri’s eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. “Really? That’s a shame. I thought you’d jump at the chance to return what you so cleverly...borrowed.” His ice-blue eyes flicked between Jaxon and me, amusement dancing in their depths. “The thing is, suds boy, it’s not just you she’s bargaining with.”

He turned his gaze fully to me, and I felt a chill run down my spine. “Congratulations, Peyton. I hear it’s what every young girl dreams of—having a powerful, possibly psychotic high priestess gunning for her.”

The playful sarcasm in his voice did nothing to soften the blow of his next words. “She has your parents.” He hesitated, and for a moment, I thought I saw something like genuine concern flash across his face. But it was gone so quickly, I might have imagined it.

Dimitri leaned in, his voice dropping to a dramatic stage whisper. “If you don’t give her the Dragon Nexus within the next two hours, she’ll kill them both. And trust me, she’s not the type to make idle threats. She’s more into creative dismemberment.”

The world tilted on its axis. My parents...the Dragon Nexus... My mind reeled as I tried to process it all.

Dimitri straightened up, his smirk firmly back in place. “So—what’s it going to be, Peyton? A happy family reunion, or keep your shiny new toy? Tick tock. I’d decide quickly, if I were you. The high priestess isn’t exactly known for her patience.”

The table had fallen into a stunned silence. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, waiting for my answer. Jaxon’s body was tense beside me, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “How do we know you’re telling the truth, Dimitri? How do we know she really has my parents?”

Dimitri’s eyes danced. “Oh, I do love me a skeptic. But think about it, darling. Would I really bother to come all this way just to spin you a tale? Besides,” he added, his voice dropping to a murmur, “you know as well as I do what the Dragon Nexus is capable of. Do you really think the high priestess would be happy to just let it slip through her fingers? She wants it back, and your parents are...leverage.”

Jaxon’s grip on me tightened. “We still need proof she has them,” he growled.

“Proof?” Dimitri chuckled. “Sure, let me just pull out the family photos I keep in my wallet. Come on, lovebirds. You stole from the high priestess. Did you really think there wouldn’t be any consequences?”

I crossed my fingers and rested my trembling chin on my hands. “Where does she want this exchange to take place?” I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.

Dimitri’s eyes gleamed with dark amusement. “Oh, she’s picked quite the venue. St. Louis Cathedral, located in the fabulous Lumina Glade.” His voice was heavy with sarcasm as he added, “Such a lovely spot. I hear the ambiance is to die for—literally, in some cases.”

Valentin swore underneath his breath, his usually composed demeanor cracking. The look he exchanged with Jaxon spoke volumes. We were facing grave danger.

Rose’s face paled, her freckles standing out starkly against her skin. “T-that’s an unholy place,” she said, her voice shaking slightly. “The demon Balthazar corrupted it. The very ground is tainted with dark magic.”

“Yes indeed. I was a guest in that place once,” Dimitri said, his smirk faltering for a moment as a shadow passed over his face. “And believe me, I have no plans to return. Let’s just say the hospitality leaves a great deal to be desired.”

Jaxon’s arm tightened around me protectively. “It’s a trap,” he growled, his eyes never leaving Dimitri’s face.

“A trap?” Dimitri raised an eyebrow. “Don’t sell the high priestess short. It’s not just a trap—it’s an elaborately laid, potentially fatal, and undoubtedly painful trap. She does like to go the extra mile.”

Finn, who had been uncharacteristically quiet up till now, suddenly spoke up. “We can’t let them go alone,” he said, his earlier anger replaced by determination.

Dimitri’s eyes locked on Jaxon and me, his smirk widening. “Only our star-crossed lovers here get an invitation to this delightful soiree. If her royal psycho-ness spots anyone else...” He made a popping sound with his mouth and wiggled his fingers in an explosive gesture. “Pop goes the weasel. Or in this case, pop go Peyton’s parents.”

He smirked, adjusting his leather jacket with exaggerated care. “So, what’s it going to be? A lovely evening in hell, ora family reunion with a decidedly fatal twist? Personally, I’d go with door number 3: run for the hills. But I’m just the messenger.”

Valentin frowned. “You’re not going to come?”

Dimitri’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Me waltzing into the lion’s den.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Sorry to disappoint you, but my dance card is already full. My boss seems to think I’ve misplaced his mate or something equally ridiculous. Trust me, when the vampire mafia king thinks you’ve wronged him, you don’t exactly have time for little field trips to cursed cathedrals.”

Straightening up, he spread his arms in an exaggerated shrug. “So, while I’d love nothing more than to join your little suicide mission, I’m afraid I’ll have to pass this time. Contrary to popular belief, I do have some sense of self-preservation.”

His smirk deepened as he locked eyes with Valentin. “Not even I’m dumb enough to cross the vampire mafia king. I like my heart right where it is—firmly in my chest, not on a silver platter.”

Jaxon gripped my hand and looked deep into my eyes. “It’s your decision to make, Peyton.”

Every gaze locked on me. The decision weighed on me like a hot pan: no matter what choice I made, I’d get burned. The Dragon Nexus in exchange for my parents’ lives. A corrupted cathedral. A demon’s playground. And a high priestess with enough power to make even Dimitri wary.

“We... We need time to think,” I said finally, my voice stronger than I felt. “To plan.”

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