Goody Magic Academy, Year Three

Chapter 22

Chapter

Twenty-Two

A n hour later, Jaxon and I held hands as we approached Café Du Monde. The familiar scent of coffee and beignets wafting through the air did little to calm the anxiety churning in my stomach. My heart thumped hard against my ribcage as I spotted our friends sitting at a table outside—Finn, Kamaron, Twyla, Valentin, and Rose.

Finn’s gaze locked on us immediately, his eyes sharp and unwavering. The scowl etched on his face spoke volumes: clearly he could tell what had transpired between Jaxon and me. The look of anger and hurt in his eyes stabbed at my heart, making me fear for our friendship.

Kamaron and Twyla exchanged nervous glances, while Valentin’s face remained impassive, giving nothing away. As for Rose, she fidgeted with her napkin, her discomfort evident in the set of her shoulders.

Jaxon squeezed my hand gently, silently reassuring, making me glance up at him. His jaw was set, his eyes fixed straight ahead with a look of steely determination. He was more than ready for the accusations that would undoubtedly be thrown at him and was obviously prepared to weather the storm of our friends’ disapproval.

As we drew closer, the chatter at the table died down, replaced by a tense silence. The clinking of cutlery and murmurs of other patrons became unnaturally loud in comparison. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, and squeezed Jaxon’s hand back, drawing strength from his strong presence beside me.

There were two empty chairs at the table, one next to Finn and the other next to Valentin.

As we approached, Finn’s eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Jaxon with undisguised hostility.

“Proud of yourself?” Finn spat, his words dripping with venom.

Kamaron shot him a warning glance. “You said you wouldn’t start anything,” he muttered, his voice tight with disapproval.

Finn’s lip curled into a sneer. “I lied,” he said flatly, not taking his eyes off Jaxon.

Jaxon’s grip on my hand tightened slightly, but his voice remained calm and steady as he responded, “She’s mine.”

The words ignited something in Finn. He abruptly stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the pavement. “You seduced her!” he shouted, his voice rising.

“No, Finn,” Jaxon replied calmly, though I could feel the tension in his body. “That’s not how fated mates work. Or did you fail history class?”

Finn’s face flushed red with anger. He knocked his chair over as he took a step toward Jaxon. “You selfish asshole?—”

“Stop!” I interjected, stepping between them and holding up my hands. My heart was racing, but I fought to keep my voice steady. “Fighting won’t help anything.”

The others at the table watched with a mix of shock and unease. Twyla looked ready to intervene, while Rose preferred to shrink into her seat. Valentin’s eyes darted between Finn and Jaxon, assessing the situation.

I took a deep breath. “Everyone, please. Can we all just sit down and discuss this like adults?”

“What’s there to discuss?” Finn growled, his hand cutting through the air in a sharp gesture. “You’re mated to him now.” The words came out like an accusation, disappointed and angry.

Rose’s eyes softened as she looked at Finn. “I know you’re upset, Finn, but Jaxon is right. You don’t have any control over who your fated mate is.” She lowered her voice, her words gentle but firm. “And I think you know that.”

Finn’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, it seemed like he might lash out again. But before he could speak, Valentin locked eyes with him, his gaze steady and challenging, and Finn’s words died on his lips.

“Please, Finn,” I whispered.

Finn’s eyes met mine, and the hurt I saw there made my heart break. Then, without a word, he reached down, righted his knocked-over chair and sat down heavily, his body rigid with tension. He remained silent, but his eyes smoldered with a mix of anger, betrayal, and resignation.

The table fell into an uneasy silence. Jaxon’s hand found mine under the table, a silent gesture of support as we faced the fallout of our newfound bond.

Then Kamaron frowned. “Not to make things even worse, Valentin, but it looks like your brother’s here.”

I followed Jaxon’s suddenly tense gaze and gasped. Dimitri Dragan was indeed making his way to our table, and his presence immediately commanded the attention of everyone around us.

Dimitri moved with feline grace, each step deliberate and confident. He was undeniably handsome, with sharp, aristocratic features, and his raven-black hair was artfully tousled, giving him a roguish air that was a little at odds with his expensive, well-tailored clothes.

But it was his eyes that truly captured your attention—striking and ice-blue, almost piercing through you, glinting with intelligence, mischief, and danger. His lips were curved into a perpetual smirk, as if he alone was privy to a secret.

As he approached, the energy around our table shifted. Finn’s anger faded into wariness, while Jaxon’s grip on my hand tightened slightly. Even Valentin, usually so composed, sat a little straighter in his seat.

Dimitri exuded both power and unpredictability. He was the kind of person who could charm you one moment and terrify you the next, all without losing his enigmatic smile. As he drew closer, I found myself both intrigued by and afraid of what his arrival might mean for us.

His voice when he spoke was smooth as silk but with an underlying edge of steel. “Well, well,” he drawled, his eyes sweeping over our group. “Isn’t this a cozy little gathering?”

Valentin’s scowl deepened, his voice tight with barely concealed animosity. “What are you doing here, Dimitri?”

Dimitri’s smirk widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. “My boss is having me play errand boy,” he shrugged.

I could feel the blood drain from my face, a chill running down my spine. “Your boss as in Angelo Santi, the vampire mafia king?” My words came out in a whisper, as if speaking the name too loudly might summon him.

“The very same,” Dimitri confirmed, his gaze sliding from me to Jaxon and back again. There was a predatory gleam in his eye that made my skin crawl. “It appears you two upset the apple cart at Simon’s shindig at Ravenwood Estate. You made several big bosses very upset.”

The tension at the table ratcheted up several notches. Kamaron leaned forward, his voice low and urgent. “What exactly does that mean, Dimitri?”

Dimitri’s smile never wavered, but there was a dangerous edge to it now. “It means,” he continued, “that your little stunt has caught the attention of some very powerful supernaturals who are now some very unhappy supernaturals. And they’ve sent me to...how shall I put it…cordially invite you to explain yourselves. In person.”

I swallowed hard, looking up at Jaxon. His jaw was set and his eyes hard as he stared down Dimitri. “And exactly who is inviting us to this meeting? Your boss?” Jaxon’s voice was tight, controlled.

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, or a 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.”

Dimitri’s smirk returned full force as he turned to go. “Of course. I’m sure your parents won’t mind waiting?—”

“Fine, I’ll be there,” I abruptly said. “Tell her, Dimitri.”

Dimitri paused, then slowly pivoted back. “Well, well. Look who’s decided to join the dance of death.” His ice-blue eyes glinted. “I knew you’d make the right choice, darling. Or is it the wrong one? It’s so hard to tell these days.”

He leaned in conspiratorially, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Word of advice? Watch your step. The high priestess takes not playing fair to a whole other level—she likes to rewrite the rulebook mid-game and then set it on fire. But hey, that’s what makes it fun, right?”

With a wink that was equal parts charming and warning, he added, “Don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes. It’s going to be one hell of a party.”

Party wasn’t the word I would use—more like a nightmare, as in Nightmare on Elm Street .