Page 79 of Hellfire

Talon and Blaze stayed by my side, lazing on the bed, kissing and brushing my body, and wiping sweat from my neck, careful to leave their marking on me.

My Frog Prince cupped my jaw, lifting my gaze to his fierce brown-green eyes. “You’re getting enough time to get your breath back, Princess, and we’re doing that again.”

CHAPTER 27 - LUNA

My high from my incredible weekend came crashing down the moment I stepped into the classroom. Tollen stood stiffly beside a crestfallen Blaze. Dark vibes choked the air.

The lack of occupied chairs spelled I was the first to arrive, which was weird, since Astra beat me to it most mornings, her Asperger’s routine coordinating her arrival always on time, if not ahead of time, every time. Unlike me, who often slept in and rolled out of bed late.

Brimstone nipped at my ear, tugging it, and I brushed him away.

“Luna, may we have a word?” Blaze spoke like he caught me cheating and prepared to expel me.

Talon crossed to the door, flicking the latch, locking the door.

The dark vibe turned ominous, and my stomach clenched. “What is it?”

“It’s Astra.” Blaze’s words hit like the toll of a bell, and I felt the reverberation in every bone, clanging and unsteady.

Brimstone shuddered and flapped his wings.

“What about her?” I wrung my hands. “Has she been in an accident? Has the Brotherhood taken her?”

It was out of character for her not to meet me outside of the classroom this morning with a smile and hug. Monday mornings, she caught me in my dorm room after my shower or post breakfast, filling me in on her weekend.

This morning, my men and I arrived later, traveling back from our Sydney break. We left at 5Am to make it on time for class commencement at 9AM, stopping back at the pie house to grab a quick breakfast on the run and hightail it back to the Academy. We arrived just after 8AM and I went to my room, tossed my bag on my bed, cuddled Brimstone and consoled his separation anxiety, let out the cat, fed the two gargoyles, then freshened up and changed into my uniform, before heading to class.

A sour, burning sensation spread across my stomach.

Blaze scratched at the tail of the snake on his wrist.

Talon took over for his brother, assuming his role as Darnax. “She’s been caught stealing from a restricted area of the Academy.”

“Astra stealing? No way.” I slashed my hands through the air. “My bestie isn’t a thief. She’s a straight arrow.”

“I know she is,” Talon muttered. “Unfortunately, she was caught on camera and reported to Kymbal as the headmaster was away visiting family.”

Kymbal. Oh, fuck. He was out for revenge. Ice dropped into my veins, splintering through it, tearing me up inside.

“What did he do?” I could barely get the words out past the concrete setting in my throat.

Talon’s Darnax side gave way to my boyfriend, delivering the bad news slowly and softly despite his gruff exterior. “He called an emergency Gildron Council meeting, and they sentenced her to service in the Guardians.”

Brimstone croaked out a pained sound.

The Guardians.Where Cole’s Mom was sent.

My entire body began to shake uncontrollably and the nausea in my stomach swelled. “No. This isn’t true. This is impossible!”

My friend wasn’t gone. She wasn’t a criminal, serving time in a Guild prison, forced to complete dangerous missions to hunt and apprehend the worst gantii offenders to lower her sentence.

Blaze remained frozen and silent.

Talon reached for me, but I waved him away, not wanting to be touched this instant. “The headmaster is up in arms about the Council making such a severe punishment and he’s in the process of preparing complaints to senior Guild and Guardians officials to get her released.”

I pinched the brim of my nose to stave off an ache behind my eyes.

Talon’s eyes slanted to Blaze, and my teacher’s gaze went to the floor. “That’s not everything, Princess.”

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