Wicked Heirs (Electi Academy #1)

1. ~Alena~

1

~Alena~

Chosen or elite.

That was the basic definition of Electi.

The supernatural college was home to students with great power, a place where all factions came together to learn how to wield their abilities safely and according to the Law as enforced by Exemplar. Some were heirs to great legacies. The Academy told its students that they were chosen, the elite. And, yes, there were powerful beings among the collegiate student body, there were also heirs to great legacies walking the hallowed halls.

But there were also others who were considered a danger to the supernatural world and the human world alike, those who rebelled against the letter of the law regarding the use of their abilities, and those who needed to learn a great deal in order to control said supernatural gifts. The latter being those like me, where being chosen to attend was more than a bit of a stretch and a really ridiculously nice and diplomatic way of putting it.

Being forced to attend through concerns as to what I would do or become if I didn’t was much more like it.

Sighing, I made my way down the winding private drive in my silver Mustang Shelby GT500 toward the mammoth campus located in the nowhere town of Krystle Valley, nestled in the heart of a sprawling forest.

The distinctive roar of my engine was the only comfort of familiarity I had as I reached the golden gates.

The academy’s motto was etched into the main building just beyond.

Sapientia potentia est .

Wisdom is power.

Hmm.

The buildings had a whole gothic architecture look to them with pointed arches, dark brick, and castle-like towers with turrets. There were stained glass windows too. The double arched entrance doors had columns either side and the windows boasted beautiful decorative crowns. It was kind of beautiful yet eerie and foreboding at the same time.

The gates opened of their own accord—magic, no doubt, that was sensing me and identifying me as a new student and not a threat that didn’t belong.

That was debatable given the state of my power currently.

As my mom, the great Abigail Rose, had pointed out, unstable didn’t quite cover it.

As she’d also pointed out, this facility was more than equipped to deal with things like that.

But a place like this also meant rules and restrictions.

I doubted that was going to mesh well with me.

I’d been out on my own for the last two years since I was nineteen. I’d been renting my own apartment while experimenting with several different jobs, like being a server, a barista, and a club promoter. And it had been a blast being out there by myself doing my own thing, being wild and free.

Well, what I’d thought had been wild and free.

But I guess I had been restricted in a way then too, through my issues with my abilities, and my denial of a massive part of myself—my supernatural heritage.

I followed the signs to the parking lot, ignoring all the stares my way and the turning of heads as a bunch of college students took in the newbie coming into their midst.

Really, I knew it was more than that. It was what I was and who my mom was. It had put me under an unwanted spotlight my whole life.

Two years of avoiding all of that had come to an untimely and very reluctant end.

As I reached the lot, I noticed a few really sweet vehicles settled into parking spaces.

A tricked out Harley Davidson V-Rod and a neon-orange Corvette ZR1 caught my attention in particular.

I found a spot right in front of the parking lot entrance into the main building, the place I knew I needed to be in order to head to the dean’s office for my induction meeting.

I parked, then grabbed my multicolored beaded messenger bag, one of my favorites, with lots of tassels and fringe.

I’d just slung it over my shoulder and locked my car when a flash of pink magic pulled me up short from heading to the trunk to grab my luggage.

A moment later, a middle-aged woman with beautiful midnight-black curls materialized right in front of me. They brushed the shoulders of her back Chanel jacket. A matching ruffle blouse was beneath it, giving way to a white pencil skirt. She had to be way over six-foot, completely eclipsing my five-foot-three height.

She smiled brightly, then told me excitedly, “Welcome to Electi Academy, Miss Rose. We are thrilled to have you here.”

I returned her smile, pretending that it actually meant something to me that she was so happy to welcome me here.

If only it was the truth.

But it wasn’t me she was overjoyed to have enrolled at the Academy.

It was the idea of me.

The heir of the great Fallen, Abigail Rose.

It was always the same.

That shadow followed me everywhere.

“Thank you,” I managed.

“Don’t concern yourself with your luggage. It will be transported to your chambers for you via magical transference.”

“Okay, thanks again.”

She gestured to the door into the main building. “Instead of you sitting through a dry orientation meeting in my office, I’ll give you a tour of the campus and we’ll discuss pertinent information during that.”

“That sounds great.”

Actually, it really didn’t.

What it sounded like was special treatment, something I really wasn’t a fan of. I’d spent the last two years—basically my whole adult life so far—on my own and paying my dues without people having a clue what I was or who my family was. And it had been great. I’d loved the independence of it all, the detachment from everything else.

But I was here to embrace that which I’d been denying and also running from. It included not just my supernatural heritage, but all the other stuff too.

“Perfect,” the dean said brightly, before leading me in through the parking lot entrance.

I sucked in a steadying breath.

Here goes nothing.

There weren’t many students around.

I’d been asked to come a couple of days early to settle in.

According to Dean Bronson, the half a dozen students I’d seen on my way in had been a mix of those who’d returned early to reacclimate and those who didn’t have homes to return to during the summer vacation. The latter were either orphans or those who’d been dropped on the school’s doorstep by parents unable to handle their abilities—particularly families that were human who’d then found themselves caring for an unexpectedly turned vampire, or a werewolf, things that they hadn’t seen coming, that they couldn’t believe, and that they couldn’t handle. There was also the typical human reaction of fear to that which they didn’t understand. The dean had used the opportunity when she’d been explaining that to assure me that this place was like a family, not just a place to learn.

As much as I hadn’t wanted to come here, the familial aspect did sound appealing. I hadn’t felt that for a long time. Not since my dad had died when I was just a ten-year-old girl. My mom had thrown herself into her perceived duty of leading Exemplar, and it had left her little time for me, as she’d first used it to work through her grief, before it had simply become the norm and she’d kept it up since.

Her work with Exemplar was one of the reasons she was so revered and such a legend in the supernatural world. Her Fallen status, possessing the blood and power of an angel, would have been enough to hold her in such esteem and reverence, but her work took it even further than that.

Exemplar was the governing body of supernaturals, both its lawmakers and protectors.

I’d identified one such member here during my tour of the campus. Each member wore a silver-colored pin made out of unbreakable Light Fae metal. The design was an infinity symbol wrapped around a sword signifying their vow to safeguard the supernatural world eternally.

The member here was a Vampire Elder called Professor Dante Wilhelm who taught Illusions and Coercion Ethics and History and Politics: Rise of Exemplar .

“You don’t require a second assessment. You mother was very detailed with the information that she provided. So your class schedule is already set. You’ll find a copy on the desk in your room. Please review it. Any questions, come to me right away.”

“How about my input concerning this assessment?”

“At this stage, there is none.” She looked both apologetic about it and set in stone with the decision at the same time—something really hard to pull off. “When students first start at Electi Academy , very few are in the position to determine what their true needs are, nor what type of assistance they require. So we guide them on said path. Once you’ve settled in and are making progress, that will be a different story, and time for your input.”

“All right,” I murmured, my gaze straying around our surroundings.

So far, it felt like a maze, with so many winding corridors.

The floors were fancy polished dark marble that complemented the dark paneling lining the walls. Interspersed amongst that paneling were painted sections of warm, earthy tones that gave off a cozy and calm vibe. Sconces that were lit with yellow magical flames were positioned every couple of feet, although that light was barely needed now with the daylight reflecting off the stained glass windows lining the corridors. According to the dean, they were infused with magic to prevent the actual rays of sunlight from harming the vampires within.

Paintings with ornate golden frames hung on the walls depicting various aspects and features of the supernatural world, like the white gates of the Light Fae Realm, the silver and black ones of the Dark Fae Realm with the twisting vine-like palace in the background along with their infamous gargoyles, Exemplar’s white stone compound that had a Mediterranean villa aesthetic to it, some highly-regarded former professors of Electi Academy, a couple of gorgeous dragons, and unfortunately even one of Valmont which was the supernatural prison in the mountains.

There were arched doors everywhere leading to this space and that—classrooms, offices, supply rooms, libraries, salons.

She’d already shown me the common area which was a hangout for students between classes, complete with sleek maroon leather couches and oversized chairs all over, televisions, a couple of pool tables, and the like. We’d passed by and even dipped inside various classrooms which were empty right now until school started up again soon, including a mixology lab for spellcasting and potion creation, part of the curriculum here.

I looked into another expansive space as we walked by the cafeteria. Two large archways functioned as the entrance into the massive room. At the far back was the kitchen area behind a dark wood counter and in front of that in the heart of the space were three long tables that spanned the length of the room with high-backed chairs. Off to the sides and near the front were smaller four-seater and six-seater tables.

The walls were a plain beige with a few tapestries hanging to break up the boring color. The scent of cinnamon, French toast, bacon, and eggs wafted toward me. The delicious smell of a hearty breakfast.

There were only three students inside. One of them had his back to me as he talked to the cafeteria staff over at the far end. Another was settling his tray down onto a counter that was marked as the return area. His bright orange hair, short on the sides and spiked on top was striking against the décor, more like raging flames in comparison, really. He was tall and lean, all hard muscle too that was evidenced from his tight clothing—a pair of black leather pants and a black and orange taut tank.

And the other had my breath catching in my throat as our gazes collided, his swirling deep-purple eyes burning into mine.

Fiercely, it seemed.

Definitely intensely.

His hair was stark-white on the top and black underneath, short but wavy and tousled high. He wasn’t nearly as tall as the other guy, but he had a boxer’s physique—compact muscle, big arms that were showing through even with the black and silver blazer he had on over a white tee. His pointed ears in combination with the black tattoos—or markings—snaking out from beneath the tee identified him as Dark Fae. There was a band strapped to his left wrist that looked a lot like a watch, but was glowing purple and silver. Huh.

His glare, which had a lethality to it, didn’t leave me for a moment, roaming over me studiously and with a clear hostile edge.

Considering I didn’t recognize him and I was certain I’d never met him before, it was most likely about my mom. Although, hostility from supernatural beings upon them learning of my familial tie to Abigail Rose wasn’t something I was used to. It was usually positive, nearing reverence.

It piqued my curiosity fiercely.

What could she have done to incur the wrath of this Dark Fae before me?

Interesting.

“Miss Rose? Did you hear me?”

I blinked and swung my head to Dean Bronson, finding her eyeing me in question.

“No. Sorry. Just looking around and taking everything in.”

“I understand.” She gestured at the winding staircase a few feet away. “I said I’ll show you to your chambers now so you can unpack and get settled in.”

“Sure, yeah. That sounds good.”

As she led the way, I shot a look behind me to find the guy still staring in that creepy way.

I couldn’t hold back my reaction any longer, only mute it, and I narrowed my eyes in warning.

His vicious stare morphed to a sadistic smirk.

And then he did something all the more surprising.

He blew me a kiss.

I caught a flicker of his magic—a trail of purple smoke—a moment before it wafted toward me.

And then I heard his low, rumbling voice in my ear as though he was right there beside me up insanely close. “Welcome to Electi Academy, little angel. Keep both eyes open.”