Academy of the Elites: Untamed Magic Read online

  If not for the throbbing of my cock, I might not have worried about it. But I wanted her. And not just me. My wolf wanted her. He wanted to taste her, to claim her. He wanted to mate her.

  I held my breath, feeling hot sweat roll down my forehead. Where had those thoughts come from? My wolf had never had an interest in specific women. He just wanted to fuck as many as he could. Now, suddenly, there was this woman who he had to fuck.

  I ran my hand through my hair, still staring at the closed door in front of me. It took every ounce of my willpower not to break the door down and take her right there in her room.

  But I’d never begged for sex. And I’d never force myself on a woman.

  Letting out a slow breath, I turned from the door and forced the feral part of me to comply. With a whimper, my wolf obeyed.

  When I arrived back in the common room, I looked at the other women playing cards. Any of them would happily join me in my room. Normally, that was enough to satisfy both me and my inner wolf. Tonight, none of them would do. I only wanted Raven.

  5

  Raven

  I leaned against the door, my wobbly legs almost giving out from under me. If I’d hesitated even a second longer, Ben would be in my room right now with his clothes on the floor and my thighs wrapped around him.

  Why I was suddenly thinking about sex around the clock, I had no idea. It had to stop by the time I went to class tomorrow or it was going to be a very difficult day.

  Peeling myself off the door, I felt for a light switch and flicked it on. A florescent light hummed to life above me and I squinted against the brightness of it. I made a note to invest in a lamp if that so-called allowance was actually worth anything.

  Finally, adjusted to the light, I looked around my new living quarters. It was much nicer than I expected. A large four-poster bed with a fluffy white comforter and a dozen pillows took up one corner of the room. Along the back wall was a good-sized desk already lined with office supplies and a sleek black laptop. Nice. I wondered what kind of homework I’d end up doing on that little machine. Did magic schools make you write papers?

  On the floor next to the desk was a navy blue backpack with the school’s crest and my name embroidered under it. How the hell did they have time to get that ready for me? I wondered if there was a way to magically apply stitching to bags. That would come in handy for repairing ruined clothing.

  Glancing to the other side, I saw a closed door. My brow furrowed as I walked toward it. I half expected it to be a door connecting to the adjoining room. Hoping it was locked, I turned the handle and stepped inside a massive bathroom. I switched on the lights and gasped. It was magazine gorgeous.

  We’re talking spa like.

  Who puts a bathroom like this in a dorm room? Not that I was complaining, but it seemed excessive. A giant jetted tub, oversized shower, vanity with a stool and a separate sink filled the spacious room. To the right of the sink was another door.

  Quickly, I walked toward it and opened it to find a walk-in closet that was nearly as large as my entire apartment. In fact, I was sure the bathroom and closet combo was larger than my apartment.

  I turned on the light and discovered that the racks were already lined with clothes. Most of them were school uniforms. Variations of white-collared shirts: short-sleeved, long-sleeved, and sleeveless. Black skirts, shorts, and pants. Several black blazers and sweaters hung next to the pants. Some of them had the school crest embroidered on them and others were plain.

  The other side of the closet had jeans, a variety of tee shirts, and a few black dresses. Next to those were several coats. A lightweight jacket, one made of leather that would cost more than I made in a year, a black peacoat, and a puffy black coat I was guessing would survive a winter in Alaska. It was literally more clothing in this one place than I had owned in the last decade. This had to cost a fortune.

  I turned again and found several red ties hanging on hooks next to a shelf full of shoes.

  Eighteen pairs of shoes.

  Who the hell needed so many shoes?

  I knew lots of girls liked shoes, but I’d never thought of myself as one of those kinds of girls. But seeing the boots, heels, trainers, and flats lined up like this made me squeal.

  Black matte, black shiny, soft black leather, fuzzy black something. All the shoes looked like they were designed to go with the largely black wardrobe I’d acquired.

  There was no way I could afford any of this.

  I set down the knee-high patent leather boot in my hand and took a step back from the gorgeous clothing. Was this really for me? Or was this some kind of trick to get me to screw up? Would they send me a bill if I touched any of it?

  Feeling nervous, I wiped my damp palms on my tattered pants. This morning I’d been towed away in chains for accidentally incinerating two assholes who tried to kill me - or maybe do other things with me and then kill me. Either way, they deserved what they got, but that didn’t make me feel okay about what I did. Maybe I should be in that magical prison Dr. Green warned me about. Because I certainly didn’t feel like I belonged in here. This was so far above my station it wasn’t even funny.

  I felt uncomfortable. And like they were going to realize what a mistake they’d made and drag me out of this place any minute.

  I ran a hand through my hair and spun in a slow circle, taking in the massive closet. Funny, how something as simple as clothing could make me feel so insignificant.

  I’d worn the same pair of jeans to work every day until they tore in the crotch, forcing me to get a new pair.

  I slept naked because who had time or money to waste on washing clothes just for sleeping?

  Brow furrowed, I approached the last part of the closet I hadn’t investigated. Four drawers next to the rows of shoes.

  Holding my breath, I pulled open the first drawer. I let out a relieved sigh. It was full of underwear and bras. That wasn’t so bad. And it was kind of a necessity.

  I picked up one of the black bras. Of course it was black. It was my exact size. How the hell did they guess on my bra size?

  A chill ran down my spine. How did they know anything about me? It was so weird. But it made me think I was probably supposed to be here. This wasn’t a mistake. They wanted me here.

  It still didn’t make sense, but I supposed it was better than the alternatives. Magic prison sounded scary as hell and to be fair, my shitty apartment and barely scraping by every month wasn’t much better.

  I opened the second drawer and found workout shorts and tee shirts folded in neat piles. Grumbling, I closed the drawer quickly, remembering that I had gym on my schedule.

  The next drawer was full of pajamas. Matching shorts and tee shirts dotted with moons and stars. They were all unbelievably soft. I grabbed a set out and tossed them on the floor behind me.

  The final drawer was full of neatly folded socks. For some reason, that made me smile. Clean, matched socks with zero holes. When was the last time I’d seen that?

  Going back to the first drawer, I grabbed a pair of the black underwear. It was time to test out the shower before collapsing into my princess-like bed. Tomorrow, if I was lucky, I could spend my whole evening in the bathtub.

  My mind flashed to Ben and Luka. That bathtub was large enough for company and I was pretty sure either of them would accept an invitation.

  I shook my head, trying to send the thought away. The last thing I needed while I was here was the complication of a relationship.

  Letting the hot water wash away the blood and soot, I took a few calming breaths. Maybe this could be a fresh start. Maybe things would go well for me here. I could learn how to control whatever this power was and meet other people who were like me. Maybe I could find a job that wasn’t as awful as the one I had where drunk men pawed at me while I delivered their drinks.

  Feeling hopeful for the first time in years, I drifted into a peaceful sleep.

  6

  Raven

  Suddenly, I was in a dark space I didn’t
recognize, and my chest tightened as panic took hold. This wasn’t right. The floor was damp stone and I could barely see the walls in the dim light.

  Glancing around I looked for the source of the light. I couldn’t see any torches or lamps. It was just there. My brow furrowed, trying to make sense of this place.

  Carefully, I walked forward, my bare feet stinging against the sharp stone floor. The walls on either side of me were made of the same stone as the floor but ahead I saw bars.

  My heart raced and my breathing quickened. I was in a cell. Locked up somewhere. Had the school lied to me? Had they sent me to the magic prison after all or had the school been a dream? It had seemed too good to be true.

  “Calm down, kitten,” a smooth sexy voice sounded from behind me.

  I turned to see Luka, standing in the middle of the cell. “Where did you come from? How did you get in here?”

  He smirked. “This is my domain. I can come and go as I please.”

  “Am I in hell?” I asked, remembering that Luka was a demon.

  His smile faded. “Is that what you think of me?”

  “No,” I said. “I just don’t understand what’s going on here.”

  He moved closer to me, his lithe body moving with the grace of a cat.

  That was when I realized he was naked.

  Completely, totally, blissfully - oh my god he was gorgeous - naked.

  Goosebumps fluttered over my skin and my breath caught. I wasn’t scared anymore. Just wet. So wet. WTF? This had to be a dream.

  “Okay, dream Luka, I don’t know why my subconscious has sent you to me naked, but I’d like it to stop now.”

  “Do you, though?” He asked as he seemed to undress me with his eyes.

  I gasped. I was naked now too. He’d literally undressed me with his eyes. Or had I just willed it as if I was in a dream? Embarrassed, I covered my chest and my lower bits as best I could. “Time to wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.”

  “Why wake up when you can enjoy yourself?” He moved closer. “After all, it’s just a dream.”

  “But it’s not. It feels so real,” I said.

  “Hey, I just visited your dream to check on you, make sure you were alright after leaving you with that brute. You’re the one who made us both naked. That wasn’t me.”

  “You’re kidding, right?” I didn’t have that in me. Sure, I enjoyed sex as much as anyone, but I usually waited till I knew the guy for a few days at least. Even when I had a one-night stand, it wasn’t a total stranger. I’d at least seen the guy around the bar a few times. I always wished I was brave enough to go for it with a guy I just met, but I wasn’t.

  Then, the rest of his words sank in. “Wait, you came here, into my dream on purpose?”

  He shrugged. “Incubus. I can travel through and control dreams. But I promise you, I’m not calling the shots here. I just showed up. You created this room,” he gestured around, “this prison cell.”

  I looked around the room again. The bars with the black void beyond, the cold, damp floors and walls. This wasn’t a dream. This was a fucking nightmare.

  “What if I fix this a little?”

  Suddenly, the room blurred, as if I was driving past it at a hundred miles an hour. Dizzy, I closed my eyes for a second, then opened them up to see a new room.

  We were in a massive temple. Tall white marble columns climbed skyward all around me. Above, the temple was open to a night sky of inky black full of diamond specks of stars. A full moon provided an otherworldly glow inside the minimal space.

  The ground was white marble stones. Tiny plants grew in the cracks, green leaves and miniature purple flowers peeking through.

  Nearby, was a pile of cushions and blankets set up as perfect space to lounge. It was pretty clear what that was for.

  Though I was sure dream Luka was trying to get into dream me’s pants, I felt the tension in my shoulders melt away. There was so much peace and simple beauty here. It was more beautiful than any dream I could conjure.

  I took a few steps toward the center of the temple and felt fabric rustle against my legs. Looking down, I was surprised to see that I was clothed in a Roman style dress. Long white fabric draped down my body, cinched in with a gold belt. It was airy and comfortable and surprisingly elegant. A slight breeze rustled the fabric, bringing with it the scent of the sea. There was no way this was a dream. It felt so real. “How did you do this?”

  “I told you, dreams are my domain.” Luka walked over to me, wearing a shorter version of the dress I wore, an honest to god toga. I smirked. Even in a toga he looked sexy as hell. Though, part of me was disappointed that he wasn’t naked anymore.

  I clenched my thighs together at the thought. Why did he drive me so crazy?

  “Better?” He asked. “I mean, it’s no damp prison cell.”

  “It’s gorgeous,” I said, meaning it. “What is it? Is this a real place?”

  “No, but it’s based on some of the ancient architecture I studied as a kid. I grew up in Rome and it reminds me of home. Though, a much more romanticized and not at all historically accurate version.”

  “It’s very peaceful,” I said.

  “I’ve never brought anyone here,” he said.

  “Really?” I asked. “Cause this is like the stuff of every girl’s fantasy.”

  “I don’t know,” he said. “Most of the girls I’ve met would rather have a penthouse and Ferrari.”

  “Well, I like things simple,” I said. “A penthouse sounds like too much work, too much responsibility.”

  He moved closer to me. “Who are you, really?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked. “I told, you. Raven, reluctant mage.”

  He shook his head, stopping an inch from me. “The Academy doesn’t let in just anybody. You’re someone, you’re just not telling me.”

  “If I’m someone, it would be news to me.” I could feel his body heat and my own temperature seemed to rise just from being this close to him.

  He brushed his fingers over my upper arm, sending shivers down my spine.

  I leaned closer to him, my breathing shallow in response to his touch. “This doesn’t feel like a dream.”

  “I assure you, it is.” He leaned down, his lips pausing above mine as if giving me a chance to stop him.

  I didn’t want to stop him. My body called out to his, screaming internally for release. I lifted my chin and our lips met.

  He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to him. Our bodies pressed together as his mouth and mine moved in rhythm. Hungrily, I devoured him, unable to get enough of his kiss.

  He slid his tongue past my lips, and I met it, massaging it with my own. Tightening his grip on me, his kiss grew more urgent. I moaned into his mouth, feeling the want of that kiss.

  My hips pressed against him and I felt his erection against my stomach. He wanted me just as badly as I wanted him.

  A warm hand cupped my cheek, then moved to my neck before resting on my shoulder. His fingers worked their way under the thin fabric that held up my toga.

  I kissed him harder, my lips swollen, my heart racing. I didn’t want him to stop.

  Emboldened by my tempo, Luka slid the fabric of my tunic down my shoulder. Then, he moved to the other side, repeating the motion.

  The fabric slid down my chest, practically melting away from skin until it pooled at my waist, held up by the gold belt.

  He broke away from the kiss and took a step back from me, staring at me with his gorgeous eyes. I was naked in front of him. Well, half naked and all he did was look at me. His gaze didn’t break from my face and despite the fact that my tits were on full display, he didn’t look down.

  There was something in that stare that reached down to my very core. It wasn’t just lust, there was something else there. Some connection that I couldn’t explain.

  But then again, this was a dream. Maybe I was searching for a reason to justify how wet I was or how badly I wanted to feel this stranger’s cock inside me.

&n
bsp; Heat rushed through me in a rolling sensation that was familiar but difficult to pinpoint. Where had I felt that before? Then, I realized I felt something similar when I’d used my magic. Terrified I was about to burst into flame, I pushed the sensation away, and with it, the moment of connection.

  This wasn’t love. This wasn’t personal. This was lust. Pure and simple. It was a dream and I deserved to do what I wanted, right?

  A few hours ago, everything in my life had been ripped away from me and I was confused and scared and really fucking stressed out. I needed to get my mind off of everything. I needed release.

  I needed to fuck this handsome man in front of me until I couldn’t remember my own name. Because at least I still had myself and I might as well enjoy the ride.

  7

  Luka

  All I could think about was getting Raven out of her dress and on top of me. Her scent alone was enough to make me hard and her kiss was like a force of nature, ready to consume me. Sex was a currency for me, a way of life. It was how I gained power and how I sustained myself. I lived for sex and I was good at it. The only thing all my partners had in common was that they were mine to claim; they bent to my will and gave me what I needed. I prided myself on being fair. My partners got off too. But it wasn’t about them. It was about me.

  With Raven, all I could think of was pleasing her. I wanted to yield to her, to let her win. To let her have all of me. This wasn’t just sex. This was something else.

  And it fucking terrified me.

  I slid my fingers under the straps of her dress, ready for anything to distract me from the way I was feeling. I needed to get caught up in the moment itself, focus on the sex. My hands slid down her throat to her shoulders, the soft skin sending a rush of goosebumps down my arms. Trying to ignore the pounding of my heart, I pushed her strap down, then the other.