His Little Devil (Alistar Academy #2)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

TWELVE HOURS BEFORE THE END OF THE FOREST WITCH LIES

DONOVAN

T onight was great. Well, until my father came and tried to fuck everything up. He is a fucking creep, and I can't wait until Silver ascends and can boot his ass out of the coven.

But for now I'm not going to think about him. I'm going to enjoy spending time with our girl.

The taxi continues home, so that Silver can change, then I am taking her into the tunnels and telling her the truth.

It’s time.

I don’t want to wait until her birthday.

Silver sighs across from me and I smirk. She looks gorgeous, and I have been rock hard ever since she walked in with that dress on.

“Are you sure you’re going to be able to walk on stone? Your feet look pretty sore,” I comment, frowning. Maybe I could use a healing spell without her noticing.

Leaning closer to me, she smiles, and my heart begins to race. She’s so fucking beautiful.

“You, sir, are not getting out of bringing me. My feet will be fine once I have some proper shoes on,” she says with a giggle, tapping me on the nose.

“Did you just bop my nose?” I say with a scoff, raising my eyebrows.

This girl never stops surprising me. Arrow laughs, then clears his throat as I give him a glare.

Snorting, Silver rolls her eyes and lifts her foot, rubbing it along the crotch of my pants, making my dick even harder.

Fuck, I can’t wait to get her inside. Maybe I’ll bend her over the kitchen counter and pound her tight little pussy until she’s dripping down my balls and thighs.

Yeah, I think I might do that. Arrow can watch, since he still won't touch her for some reason. Then we can go explore the tunnels while the coven and my father are preoccupied.

As we pull through the gates of the Academy, I’m instantly on alert. There are flashing lights everywhere, and I can hear sirens in the distance.

Fuck, I hope there wasn’t a hunter attack. The Brotherhood is merciless and brutal. They enjoy maximum pain and torture, and leave one hell of a clean up.

Silver still doesn’t know anything about our world. How would I even explain this?

Alara waves down the car before rushing toward it. Arrow rolls the window down, but before we can say anything, she's yelling about there being a threat on campus.

She’s almost convincing, but I can see the gleam in her eye as we pull away.

So much for having tonight. I glance at Arrow and he's frowning.

“Shouldn't we be leaving campus?” Silver asks, looking out the window. Taking her hand, I give it a squeeze.

“We will be safe inside, but the tunnels may have to wait until the threat is over.”

Nodding, she moves closer to me, resting her head on my shoulder.

Arrow watches us and I know he's not happy, but it’s time.

As soon as the car pulls up outside the cottage, I don’t waste a moment and throw Silver over my shoulder. I’m not ready to give her up. I don’t want things to change, but I know that everything is about to.

I just hope she can learn to forgive us. We’ve already lost one member of our family, I don’t want to lose her too.

After her ascension we really need to find Wellson. I'm hoping she will be able to help us.

I never thought I would need to rely on a woman, but Silver has changed me.

Who would have thought this girl could take over my dead, cold heart, bringing it back to life.

I blame all the fucking muffins and homecooked meals. Or maybe it’s the way she can suck my soul out of my cock.

“Ugh, put me down, dammit! I am capable of walking to the door, you big, muscular oaf!” Silver huffs, and I can’t help but laugh as she squirms.

“Just let me keep you safe, princess.” Sighing, she stops flailing.

We make it to the door and Arrow rushes to swing it open for us. I know he’s aware of what’s about to go down, even without his psychic abilities.

My father hasn’t shut up about the prophecy.

We’ve known about it since we were old enough to listen. About the Forest witch who would change everything.

How she would make us the strongest coven around and protect us from our enemies.

I set Silver down on the counter in the kitchen, then pretend to search the house. She tries to follow me, but Arrow tells her to go sit in the bathroom.

“Shouldn't we stay together? Stronger in numbers and all that,” she mutters and I feel bad about how scared she is.

There’s no threat. It’s all bullshit, but we need to continue this fucked up farce.

“We won't be long. Stay in the bathroom until we tell you it's safe. Okay?”

Leaning down, I can't resist taking her lips one last time.

I wish I could say fuck everything and take Arrow and her and run far, far away.

She doesn’t deserve this. Even if she is supposed to be one of the most powerful witches, she’s still just Silver. Mine. Ours.

Nodding, she pulls away and shuts the door. Arrow nods toward the living room and I grunt.

He has his phone in his hand, reading a message.

I don’t say anything, and he follows me to the fireplace as I open the hidden door. Once we are safely in the chambers, we walk down the stone steps and wait.

Closing my eyes, I rest the back of my head against the wall.

“I have a bad feeling about all of this,” Arrow mumbles and I sigh, nodding. He’s not the only one. This was never the plan.

We were supposed to bring Silver to a dinner with my family and then the woods for her ceremony. I guess we pissed him off tonight more than I thought.

“It’s my fucked up father. Of course, something is going to go wrong,” I grumble, then rub my face with my hand.

So much for tonight being fun.

ARROW

Staying quiet, we wait. After about an hour, I can hear Silver’s footsteps as she moves about, calling our names.

This isn't how it was supposed to go. I never wanted her to feel fear, but when Mr. Blake gives us an order, we must obey.

I hate how he feels that he has control. Just because our Master deemed him a worthy stand in until our girl was of age.

He's a sniveling sycophant that would drop onto his knees and suck the Master’s cock if he was asked.

He pretends to be all high and mighty, but really he's an asshole with a God complex, that likes to wave his power around and belittle children who only wanted his love and acceptance.

I glance at his son. All Donovan ever wanted was to make his father proud. To become the man that could one day stand beside him, but that's changed now.

Silver has brought out the boy I once knew. The one who wasn't so serious all the time. She's good for him… and maybe me.

I still don't know how to decipher that vision. Is she going to ruin us or help us? I've been trying to find answers, but the future is cloaked with uncertainty.

There is a different outcome every day.

The front door slams, and I sigh. It won't be much longer now.

Don doesn’t say anything as we wait for the text from his dad, or one of his simpering little minions, giving us the all clear.

It's time for him to be overthrown. For him to get a taste of what true power is. Silver knew immediately what type of man he was.

She didn't fall for his tricks. She will be the one to bring him to his knees and heel.

I swear the movies don’t do justice when they portray an evil warlock.

Mr. Blake is insane, and if he didn’t have magic, I can promise he would rival Jeffrey Dahmer.

Murder, blackmail, extortion, nothing surpasses this guy's repertoire. No wonder he was chosen to be the right hand man of our Master.

My phone vibrates, and I groan. Don snorts and shakes his head.

“Please, tell me that we are doing the right thing, Arrow,” he mumbles, and I grunt.

I still think there is something about Silver that’s going to fuck us all over, but I can admit, she’s starting to grow on me.

“This has always been the plan, Don. You know this. Ever since we were little. We can’t change the prophecy,” I remind him, and he sighs before opening the hidden passageway and letting me enter the living room first.

“This wasn’t the plan. Wellson was supposed to be by our side for this,” he says, and I put my hand out, placing it on his chest to stop him.

“We have a few hours to kill time before the ascension, and I planned to use them trying to find out information on Wells. Since your dad and Alara are preoccupied, let’s make a stop at her office. I know she’s behind Wellson’s disappearance. I just don’t get why,” I mutter as I walk back to the kitchen door.

“Yeah, we might as well take advantage of them being busy. Next step would be getting into his office at the hotel.”

“That might be a little harder, since he has a team of security and guards watching that place at all hours.”

Walking through the kitchen, I grab one of the muffins Silver baked yesterday and hand it to Don.

He smiles and removes the wrapper, then takes a bite.

“I'm going to marry that girl,” he mumbles, and I roll my eyes.

We leave the cottage and start moving toward the school. I almost run into Don’s back when he abruptly stops.

Luke is heading up the pathway toward us, and I frown. He doesn’t bother saying anything, until he waves his hand and puts a silencing spell around us.

Don meets him by the bench, and he looks pissed off.

“I take it Silver is now with Alara?” he asks, and I nod.

“Yeah. The new plan, which no one was fucked to inform us of, is right on schedule. Why?” I grunt, and he gives me a stern glare in response.

“Watch it!” he snarls, and I raise my eyebrows.

Luke has never tried to use his authority on us. He seems on edge tonight though, and I have to wonder if maybe Wells was right. Does he have a thing for Silver?

I try to look into his mind, but I’m being blocked. He gives me a smirk, and I sigh, rubbing my eyes.

“I am much stronger than you, Arrow,” he says with a sinister grin, and I pause. Luke has always been more of a laid back guy. I don't know who is standing in front of me right now.

“It’s been a long fucking night. If you’re looking for Alara or Mr. Blake, they will be in the forest by now, setting things up for tomorrow night,” I murmur.

He nods, then turns and leaves.

“That was fucking weird,” Don remarks after he’s gone.

“This whole night has been off,” I say with a yawn following. “We need to hurry or we’re going to get caught. Text Clara and Jade and tell them to meet us at Alara’s office.”

Don takes out his phone as we continue to walk. The fake police lights are now gone, and I shake my head at the absurdity of the illusion they casted.

Did they really need to go to such extremes to cover up the kidnapping?

“Done. Jade said that she saw my dad and Alara in the woods with an unconscious Silver, floating in front of them, heading to the cells.”

I shiver, thinking back to the last time we were in those cells. Mr. Blake had beaten Don bloody, and left him there to learn his lesson. Wells and I tried to break him out, and we suffered just as badly when we were caught.

“They won’t hurt her. They need her to ascend,” Don reminds me, and I nod, taking in some deep breaths, shaking off the memories and the chills it left behind.

“Let’s just get this done with,” I grunt as we reach the steps of the academy. Clara is waiting at the top, and she seems to be just as distraught as we are.

“Boys, I wish there was another way, but you know there isn’t,” she says before squeezing my arm. “I’ve disabled any traps or alarms, but we need to be fast. Do you really think they have Wellson?” she asks as we quietly move along the halls toward the Headmistress’s office.

Don scoffs and then groans. “They have to be behind this,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest. Jade gives us a nod as she opens the door, stepping aside to let us in.

“I think our best bet would be to form a circle and do a search spell,” Clara suggests, and I follow her lead.

She is the one with the most power here at the moment. Don and I aren't anything to sneeze at, but she’s more advanced.

“Okay, close your eyes and clear your mind as best you can. Picture Wellson. His dark hair, cinnamon eyes, maybe his tattoos. The way he would call Silver, Snow. Think of a memory with him. Open your center to search for him. Don’t shy away from the power running through your blood,” she advises and I smile, remembering one of the last times we hung out just the two of us.

Wellson was always playing pranks on me, but he is my brother, and I love and fucking miss him. We need to find him. Get him back where he belongs.

A white light begins to descend upon the room as the spell works, but I don’t feel any different.

“That’s odd. There seems to be a powerful block on his location,” Clara mumbles and then releases my hand. The light disappears and she looks over to the window. “There is nothing here, I’m afraid,” she says with a sigh, and Jade sniffles.

“This is so messed up. We need to find him before it's too late,” she shouts, releasing my hand, then running for the door.

Clara watches her go and I notice the concern on her face.

“There has to be something!” Don shouts, no longer caring that we are trying to be quiet.

“I’m sorry, Donovan, but there isn’t. Your father and Alara are not behind Wellson’s disappearance.”

“Then who the fuck is?!” I snap. I’m exhausted, and the fact that my visions are blocked at the moment is not helping anything.

Clara turns to face us, and for once, her skin tone is pale and her hands are shaking.

“I don’t know, but whoever it is, is more powerful and dangerous than all of us combined.”

Well fuck, that's just what we need.

SILVER

I wake to a beautiful midnight sky full of stars. The moon is the brightest I have ever seen. My body itches everywhere, but the damp grass helps. I know there are people around, but I'm not ready to witness their betrayal yet.

All these months I've been lied to. Here I was, looking for a husband, just trying to follow my family's guidelines. Maybe the guys were under slightly false pretenses, but I was never cruel to them. I was falling in love with them.

I do love them—even Jax.

But now I know the truth. Maybe whatever is happening to my body has negated the potions and spells that they cast on me. I can remember everything now.

The waitress at the coffee shop, the love potion mishap. The spells they used on me to get me to forget things. Wells turning me into a doll.

That's all I was to them. Just something they could play with, and toss away when they were finished.

Closing my eyes, I sigh. My head hurts, but it's not as bad as the ache of my heart breaking again. Will this pain ever end?

While I lay here, I think about all the camping trips I took with my family. We would lie under the stars and look for the ones that you could make a wish on. But no wishes will save me tonight.

I wonder if they’re watching me from above, looking down on what a mess my life has become.

Would they be proud, or disgusted?

Did they know about our bloodline being powerful?

A heads up would have been nice.

If you can hear me, ancestors, I’m really pissed at you! I snort aloud as I berate people in my mind.

Yeah, like they would give a shit. They're not here to deal with this. I am—lucky me.

Sighing again, I roll over, wincing at the pins and needles running through my body. As I get onto my hands and knees, I can’t fight the yelp that leaves my lips from the slight pain as it increases.

Why does this hurt so bad? I feel as if I'm being boiled from the inside.

Two cloaked men stand next to me, reaching down to grab an arm each.

“Motherfu—” I scream as they lift me to my feet, holding me there. Random faces form a circle around me, and start to chant while I pant.

It hurts so much.

Alara steps in front of me, smiling. “It’s time, Silver. Don't fight the gifts your ancestors have bestowed upon you. The pain will only increase. Let it spread naturally through you, like water flowing through a stream.”

She pats my cheek condescendingly, and I snap my teeth, trying to bite her. She jumps back and gives me a glare.

A light glow starts at my toes and spreads up my body, until it reaches my head. If I wasn't so freaked out right now, this would be kinda cool.

The chanting grows louder and someone places their hand on my shoulder.

The power thrums from all three people touching me. Donovan's father steps beside Alara, along with some other men and women. They all have different colored robes, but I don’t recognize them.

My mind is spinning. I'm in a haze of pain.

Throwing my head back, I scream, feeling an explosion of water suddenly rain down on us all. The men let me go, and I collapse to my knees once more.

Alara steps forward, clapping.

“Magnificent. You are more than I ever imagined you would be,” she says with awe.

I'm over her two-faced bullshit.

I let the anger that has been growing inside of me explode all over the group surrounding me, causing them all to fly back with some kind of tornado, landing hard on the ground.

I wait for them to get back up, but they don't move.

Oh, my God, I killed them! I killed people. I'm a murderer!

Collapsing to my knees, I grip my hair tightly, pulling. I feel a panic attack rising. I'm never going to see my family again. Murderers don't go to heaven. I'm Hell-bound. Why did this happen to me? Haven't I been through enough?!

“ Silver, breathe. They’re all just knocked out. You didn't kill anyone. Our powers are always magnified by our emotions.”

Jax suddenly appears beside me, pulling me up from the ground. I stand, then shove him away.

“Powers? You knew?! Do not touch me, Arrow,” I snap, watching the hurt shine in his eyes at the name, but I don't care. He's lucky I don't say more.

I turn and look to where the ones who touched me are standing, and my heart breaks again. Donovan and Luke stand there with amazement and guilt shining in their eyes.

“Why am I not surprised? And how are you all still standing?” I whisper, shaking my head.

“We saw you about to blow, so we put up a shield,” Jax says with a shrug. As if this is all just another day at the office.

“Let's get out of here before they wake up. My father can be especially evil when he's mad,” Donovan growls, avoiding my eyes.

I give up.

Taking a shaky step toward the path to home, I didn't even notice we were in the same clearing where we’d spent Halloween.

Another lie.

Another amazing memory that’s now been tainted.

I take off at a fast pace, but they keep in step with me. Luke pulls away to walk off down a different path, but gives me a look of hesitance.

I am so mad at them all right now, but at least he never lied to me.

I give him a shaky smile, and he continues walking away.

When we get home, I take a step inside a kitchen full of memories but pause, turn around and walk right back out the door.

“Princess, please! Don’t leave us like this.”

I spin around and slap Donnie as hard as I can, with tears blurring my eyes.

“Don't call me that. I am not your Princess anymore…if I ever truly was.”

“Princess—”

I cut him off.

“No. You don't get to call me that anymore, Donovan. You lied to me.” I wipe my cheeks.

“The worst part of this is that I actually fell for your lies. I fell for you. I guess the joke’s on me, huh?”

The tingling sensation feels like it is flowing through my body again, begging to be let out. Alara said it was magic? And Jax mentioned it was controlled from my emotions. They may have hurt me and deceived me, and I need to get away, but I can't hurt them.

“Please, Silver, don't!” Donovan yells, following me into the garden.

“No, I need to get out of here before I blow up this house!” I scream, then take off toward Elena's hidden room.

I need answers, and I just know her next journal has them.

If only I had stayed behind… Maybe then things wouldn’t have gotten so twisted.

The library is dark and empty at this hour. Which is perfect, because I really am not in the mood to be interrupted.

I move to the hidden staircase and see candles are lit, with the door wide open. I peek inside and sigh. “Why am I not surprised to see you here?”

Luke stands, holding a book in his hand. So much for being alone.

“I was going to bring this to you. Now that you know the truth, it’s time for you to get the answers I can guess you’re seeking.”

He hands me the book and I just nod, while turning and heading back into the library. I plop into one of the comfy chairs and click the light on.

“What are you doing? Silver, you need to rest after that show of magic. You have to eat and sleep. Come, I’ll walk you home.” He moves closer and clicks the light off. I set the book on my lap and begin to cry, exhausted.

“Just go, Luke,” I croak out.

He grabs my arm, pulling me to his chest in a big hug. The book falls to the ground, but I don't care. I know I shouldn't be in this man's arms, but his comfort helps.

The connection between us is still so intense. He lets me go and grabs the journal off the floor, offering me his hand.

“Come on, we can go to my house. I’ll make you some food.”

I nod and take his hand, letting him guide me. He’s right, I’m exhausted and starving. I guess he would know, since I’m new to this being a witch thing.

I should have known not to trust him. I mean, everyone has lied to me… Why not him too?

“Snow!” someone croaks from beside me, jolting me from a strange dream. I open my eyes, my head is killing me. I thought I heard…

"Snow!"

“Wells? Is that you? What’s going on? Where am I?” I ask.

My eyes are covered with a cloth, but there are small slivers of light peeking through. How did I get here? The last thing I remember is eating something, while sitting on the couch with Luke.

He was holding me while I cried over the betrayal of my guys. What happened after?

Speaking of…

“Oh good! My Little Devil, I see you're finally awake. Now the real fun can begin,” a man says from behind me. I may not be able to see him, but I know that voice.

A door slams, and I jump as much as my suspended wrists allow. I try to think back to what happened, but it’s only making my head hurt more.

The blindfold is removed, and I see that Wells is chained, just like in my dreams. I gasp and start to cry.

He looks barely alive. His face is almost unrecognizable, with purple and yellow spots all over his jaw, forehead, and cheekbones. Mottled blood is dried all down his neck and T-shirt too.

“Wells, what are you doing here? What have you done to him?” I cry out.

The man comes up behind me and kisses the back of my neck, almost lovingly. I shiver in disgust, and try to turn my head away.

“Well, you see, Mr. Birch here, is your sacrifice.” He moves in front of me and I scream.

It can’t be him. He gives a self-satisfied smirk as he looks me up and down, chuckling to himself.

I shake my head, no. I could... I would never hurt Wells. I love him.

“How could you do this to him, to me? I trusted you!” I growl.

“You must kill him, Silver, or give your heart and soul to evil… to me. It’s your choice, but I can’t see you handling a life of evil,” he says with a smarmy smile, then shrugs, both confusing me and pissing me off. How dare he?!

I start to laugh. It’s finally happened. I have lost my mind.

Luke slaps me across the face, and I lick the drop of blood from my split lip. I glare at him and spit the blood in his face. He growls, and goes to hit me once more. But I just give him a bloody smile, and he freezes.

“Even dripping in blood, your beauty astounds me.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t even start. You lied to me this whole time,” I snarl. “I can’t and won’t hurt him. You should know that about me by now!”

He chuckles and shrugs once more. “Whatever you decide, it doesn’t matter much to me. You’re mine either way.”

“You’re saying I need to commit murder to not become evil like you?” I roll my eyes and laugh once more. “Please, tell me you get how ass backwards that is?”

He shakes his head. “You must sacrifice someone you love to stay pure.”

Tears run down my swelling face, and I sob. “That doesn't make any sense.” He comes closer and kisses my forehead lovingly. I jolt away.

“It’s what must be done. So tell me, Silver Forest, my Little Devil. Will you kill your love, or follow me into the darkness?”

I glance over at Wells once more and he's mumbling to me, telling me to kill him.

He’s hardly coherent. He needs help. I look back to Luke’s eyes.

“If I choose to let evil overtake me...” I pause and hiccup. “Wells… will live? He’ll be okay?”

Luke’s golden eyes brighten, and a large smile appears on his face. “Yes. Wellson Birch will live a long, miserable life, surrounded by insignificant little worms. Well, only if you make up your mind soon. He’s not looking too well.” Luke walks over and smacks Wells hard. “Wake up, man. Say your goodbyes.”

I take one more look at the man who helped heal my broken and bruised heart. I can do this for him, for them. I never expected to live past this year anyway. They saved me in more ways than one—helping a lost girl to become whole again.

I know what I have to do. I take a deep shuddering breath.

“Okay.”