Supernatural Academy: Year Two (Supernatural Academy, #2)

by Jaymin Eve

“The strongest steel is forged in fire,”

I didn’t deserve a friend like her, but I would fight to keep her with everything I had.

Part of me knew I was spiraling, but another part of me didn’t really care.

Ilia had admitted to me that she was mainly into dudes but that she wouldn’t say no to a sexual encounter with the right chick. She loved everything about women.

Doesn’t matter. I don’t need him. I don’t need any of them.

I didn’t need it though. I was stronger than one man’s compliments to me. Not to mention, they weren’t even meant for me. Okay, that pissed me off.

Duck… Yep, not autocorrect, I was literally trying to focus on ducks. Squawky little fuckers. Always ganging up and shitting everywhere. Fucking hate ducks. Don’t deserve to share the water with the other amazing animals in it.

It was like I was punishing myself. No. More.

How dare he? He’d kissed me not knowing it was me! He kissed another chick, basically, after everything we’d been through, and I hadn’t even wanted to touch myself because it felt fucking disloyal.

My head was spinning, because this was my Asher. The Asher I loved more than anything. But my Asher died months ago, and I couldn’t trust this new stranger who wore his face.

Dammit. I needed orgasms and swimming. In that order. And to forget Asher Locke. Fucker.

I’d seen the need in his face. I’d felt it too. But my anger at Asher had almost settled permanently into my soul. Enough that if he tried to kiss me again, I might not stop at one punch.

“I’m proud of you,” Ilia said suddenly, shocking me. “I know how hard it must have been to have him touch you like that, but you didn’t cave. You fought back. You showed him how strong you are now.”

Everyone needed a mental health day on occasion. I’d been saying for a while now that I was due.

Fuck. My body didn’t know if it was coming or going with Asher. Definitely not coming. Thanks for the reminder.

“Don’t fucking do that, Ash,” I told him, knowing I was not going to be okay with hot and cold bullshit all day. “Don’t go back to ignoring me. If you do, I won’t give you another fucking chance.”

“Screw you, Asher!” I said loudly, losing my battle. “You’re nothing to me. A mate would never have treated me the way you did. Never! The second we’re done with this trial, I’m never speaking to you again.”

“You’ve gotta look deeper, Maddison,” Asher murmured, so low I almost didn’t hear it. “Always look deeper.” The only deeper I was interested in right now was how deep I could punch my fist into his balls.

“What are you doing in here?” I asked, not making a single attempt to cover myself. Fuck him. He was the one who barged in unannounced.

As I heard the bedroom door slam closed, I fell to my knees again, sobs rocking through me. This time, there was no one there to catch me.

But here we were, halfway through the year, and I’d lost my mate and fucking died. I mean, seriously. Drunk. I needed to get drunk immediately.

“You’re always welcome to get shitfaced with me, Atlantean.”

“You’re drunk,” he said softly. I nodded. “Shit-faced, actually.” Credit where credit was due. It wasn’t that easy for someone with my power to get drunk. I’d been working hard all night on it.

“It’s the mean asshole version of fey wine. You’re going to really wish you’d stopped at one bottle in the morning, even with your metabolism.”

“Stay away from Rayge, Maddison. He’s not like other shifters. He’s old, dangerous, and damaged beyond repair. He’s not a good friend for you to have.”

I hated when people “protected me for my own good.” Such a bullshit copout.

Then he was gone. Taking my fucking heart with him.

“You got a new number,” he said softly. “Yeah, my old phone got fried, remember?” He nodded. “I thought you’d have the same number,” he said, even softer. “I called and texted you all the time.” The sadness in his eyes was killing me. Especially when he let out a strangled chuckle that almost sounded like a sob. “Part of me is glad you never got to see the pathetic mess I was.”

Axl is the truest, best one fr

“There’s no me without you, Maddison James. I couldn’t give up even if I wanted to.”

Jessa looked to the sky. “A storm is coming,” she said, her tone strange. “We’ll see each other sooner than you think.”

I’ve died a million deaths since you were taken from me.

“I’m so fucking sorry. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I need you to know that I will never stop working toward the moment you trust me again. If you need more space, I’ll give it to you. But I’m never going away.”

His chuckle was dark. “I’ve wanted to kill her from the first moment I opened my eyes. That’s my end game. I know there is a way, I just need the time to find it.” His gaze was hot, consuming. “I won’t let her touch you. I don’t care now what I have to do. I won’t let anything come between us again.”

Mab fluttered closer, coming to rest on Asher’s shoulders. Disloyal little fairy already loved him.

“Tee went across with the Compasses,” he said softly as I moved closer. “But we just found out that we’re pregnant, so I’m trying to convince her that she should be back in Stratford, where it’s marginally safer.”

Screaming

I gave it to him, and by the time he was done, I couldn’t feel my legs anymore. Eh, fuck it, who needed legs anyway. Asher chuckled. “You don’t need them, I’ll carry you.” My head jerked back. “Did you just hear my thoughts?” He paused, blinking at me. “You didn’t say that out loud?”

Somehow I managed to lock it back down, because there was no time for PTSD to get its claws in me. Eventually, I would have to deal with the trauma that came with Asher’s “death.” Just not today.

I’d already made up my mind, the moment my friends were threatened, to bring forth the Hellbringers and kill the gods. If it destroyed Earth … well, it was better than the alternative. If these gods had all the power of the mother of all, the world was ending anyway.

The year of aqua was the year I would destroy the gods. If it was the last thing I did.