Torn Ivy (Thornfield Supernatural Academy #2)

22. Bram

22

brAM

The Dark Fae magick in my blood screams a warning seconds before the attack comes. I drop and roll as a blade of pure shadow slices through the space where my head had been.

“Getting sloppy, Prince Bram,” Draxon’s voice whispers from behind me. “Or is she making you weak?”

I pull darkness around me like a cloak, my shadow magick responding to the threat. The university courtyard is packed at this hour, and that’s probably why my family’s political enforcer has come to pay me a visit.

“Jealous?” I ask the shadows. “That she’s beyond your reach?”

A laugh like breaking glass cracks the concrete under my feet. “Beyond our reach? Look around you. Everything’s within our reach.”

He’s not wrong. Every dark corner holds potential threats. Every whispered conversation carries hidden meanings.

Draxon materialises from the darkness; his form is more suggestion than substance. “The Dark Court sends its regards,” he says, wielding shadow-blades like extensions of himself. “They’re very interested in your association with Death’s Heir and wonder why you haven’t informed them.”

Of course they are.

“Tell them to get in line,” I growl, meeting his attack with my own shadow constructs. “Everyone seems to have an opinion lately.”

“You’ve aligned yourself with chaos incarnate,” Draxon says, our shadow weapons clashing in displays of impossible darkness. “Did you think there wouldn’t be consequences?”

The fight moves across the courtyard in bursts of speed too fast for mortal eyes to track. Draxon is good, one of the best. But I was trained by the Dark Court itself, and some lessons you never forget.

“You’re not here for me,” I murmur, catching glimpses of his true purpose in the patterns of his attacks. “This is about her. About showing her what’s at stake.”

His laugh confirms it.

“Smart boy,” Draxon purrs, his form rippling like oil on water. “So many pieces in play. So many ways this could end.”

I switch tactics, pulling on the Fae magick that marks me as royal blood. The shadows respond differently now, taking on aspects of starlight and frost.

The starlight-infused shadows swirl around me, responding to my blood. Draxon’s eyes widen slightly as he recognises the true power of the royal bloodline.

“Ah, there it is,” he says, a hint of respect colouring his tone. “I was wondering when you’d stop holding back.”

“You want a show?” I snarl, feeling the magick surge through me. “I’ll give you a fucking show.”

I lash out with tendrils of shadow and starlight, each one carrying the deadly chill of the Dark realm. Draxon counters with his own shadow constructs, but I can see the strain on his face as he struggles against the royal magick.

“The Court underestimates her,” I say, pressing my advantage. “They think she’s just another pawn in their games.”

Draxon laughs, a sound like cracking ice. “Oh, we know exactly what she is. The question is, do you?”

His words give me pause, and in that moment of distraction, he strikes. A blade of pure shadow slices across my chest, drawing a line of silvery blood.

I stumble back, more shocked than hurt. It’s been a while since anyone has managed to wound me.

“You’re compromised,” Draxon says, circling me like a predator. “Your feelings for her have made you weak.”

“You’re wrong,” I growl, letting my royal blood flow freely now. The shadows around us twist and writhe, responding to my unleashed power. “She doesn’t make me weak. She makes me stronger.”

The students around us have formed a massive circle, unable to look away even though they should run as far as they can. There will be collateral damage.

Draxon’s eyes narrow as he senses the shift in the air. The veil bends around us as I tap into the full potential of my heritage.

“You’ve forgotten who I am,” I say, my voice echoing with ethereal power. “What I am.”

The shadows coalesce into solid forms, nightmarish creatures born of darkness and starlight. They circle us, snarling and snapping.

Draxon takes a step back, real fear flickering in his eyes for the first time. “This is beyond your station, Prince Bram. The Court will not tolerate such a display of power on this realm.”

I laugh, and the sound sends cracks, spiderwebbing across the concrete. “And yet they sent you here to test me, to see if I was still their obedient little prince.” I bare my teeth in a feral grin. “Consider this my resignation.”

With a thought, I send my shadow beasts lunging for Draxon. He fights back valiantly, his shadows clashing with mine in a dizzying display of dark magick. But he’s outmatched, and he knows it.

“You can’t protect her forever,” Draxon gasps as my minions tear into him. “The Court will come for her and for you.”

“Let them come,” I snarl, tightening my grip on reality. The veil between worlds grows thin, and I can feel the pull of the Dark realm. “I’ll show them exactly what happens when you threaten what’s mine.”

With a final burst of power, I rip open a portal to the Dark Fae realm. Draxon’s eyes widen in panic as he realises what I’m about to do.

“You can’t,” he pleads. “They’ll kill you for this.”

I smile coldly. “They can try.”

With a thought, I send Draxon hurtling through the portal, his screams echoing across realities. The gateway snaps shut behind him, leaving only a lingering chill in the air.

The shadow creatures dissolve as I release my hold on them, reality settling back into place. The students who witnessed the fight stand frozen, their minds struggling to process what they’ve just seen.

I turn to address them, letting a hint of my true nature show through. “This never happened,” I say, my voice layered with Fae glamour. “You saw nothing unusual here today.”

Their eyes glaze over as the suggestion takes hold. Within moments, they disperse, returning to their normal routines as if nothing had occurred.

“Neat trick. Doesn’t work on this bitch, though.”

Ivy’s voice makes me whirl around. “How much of that did you see?”

“How about all of it.” She moves closer, a seductive sway to her movements. It perks me up immediately.

I reach for her and slam her against the nearest tree, my hand going between her legs to squeeze her pussy.

She bites her bottom lip and wiggles closer to me. I work the button and the zip on her jeans undone, sliding my hand inside to find her dripping wet for me.

Ivy moans softly as my fingers slide through her slick folds. “Fuck, Bram. Right here?”

“Right here,” I growl, nipping at her neck. The adrenaline from the fight still courses through me, making me reckless. “I need you. Now.”

She grins wickedly, her eyes flashing with that new power. “Then take me.”

Pushing her jeans down over her thighs, she keeps her legs pressed together as I undo my pants. Moving in closer, I thrust up into her tight pussy, wedged between her thighs and causing friction that is irresistible.

“Yes,” she hisses as I thrust into her, burying myself to the hilt.

I set a punishing pace, fucking her hard against the rough bark

“Harder,” she demands, her voice thick with lust as, once again, students stop to stare. But neither of us cares. “Make me feel it, Bram.”

As I pound into her mercilessly, she writhes against the tree, which creaks ominously behind her, but I’m beyond caring. All that matters is the tight heat of her cunt around my cock, the way she gasps and moans with each thrust.

“Fuck, Ivy,” I groan, feeling my release building. “You drive me fucking crazy.”

Her pussy clenches around me as she comes with a cry, her power flaring out in waves of vibrant energy.

Ivy’s orgasm triggers mine, and I come with a guttural roar, spilling deep inside her. As we both shudder through the aftershocks, I become acutely aware of our surroundings and chuckle.

“Well,” Ivy says breathlessly, “that’s one way to make a statement.”

Slowly pulling out of her and stashing my dick, I help her straighten her clothes. “Subtlety was never my strong suit.”

She grins, her eyes sparkling with mischief and lingering arousal. “Clearly. Not that I’m complaining.”

As we make ourselves presentable, I notice the crowd of students starting to disperse, probably turned on by this live sex show.

“We should probably get out of here,” I mutter. “I’m surprised the staff haven’t already appeared.”

“Please. They wouldn’t know what to do with themselves.”

Ivy’s casual dismissal of potential consequences makes me chuckle, but there’s an edge to my laughter. The fight with Draxon and its implications still weigh heavily on my mind.

“We need to talk,” I say, taking her hand and leading her away from the scene of our very public tryst. “Somewhere private.”

She nods, her expression growing serious as she picks up on my mood. We make our way across campus, eventually ending up in a secluded corner of the library.

“Spill,” Ivy says once we’re alone. “What’s got you so worked up? Besides the obvious,” she adds with a smirk.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to organise my thoughts. “That fight wasn’t just about me. The Dark Court is making moves, Ivy. They’re interested in you.”

Her eyes narrow. “Because of this Fae power?”

“Yeah, they probably think it belongs to them, and therefore, you belong to them. Draxon was here to take you.”

“So, what do we do about it?”

I sigh, staring out over the library without the first idea what to tell her. “We make sure that doesn’t happen.”