Haven
For a split second, I actually believe Jude and Sage are going to follow through with Mor’s order. I start to back away, figuring I’ll try to use my powers to get out of here. Not that I know what those powers are. But maybe, somehow, I can make a door appear…
Nope. All that happens when I stare into empty space, trying to conjure up a door with my brainpower, is I get a pounding headache.
“We’re not taking her to the dungeons,” Sage states and I can practically hear the eye roll through her voice. “We have plenty of dangerous creatures here—it’s what we’re known for.”
“A maddening isn’t just dangerous,” Mor warns in a low tone, his wings shaking. “They’re deadly.”
A chill spills across my flesh. Deadly? They think I’m deadly?
“So are vampires. And death angels. And dark faeries,” Sage replies with a pressing look.
“If you’re implying that me letting The Death Triplets into our academy was a mistake, then maybe I should remind you of how much funding we received from their parents,” Mor bites out in annoyance.
“That doesn’t make them any less dangerous,” Sage stresses, crossing her arms.
Mor’s wings expand wider, nearly reaching half the length of the room. “Maddenings are far more dangerous than The Death Triplets combined.”
Sage cocks a brow. “Should I pull out their file and remind you of all the not-so-dangerous crap the Death Triplets have pulled while attending here?”
Mor grinds his teeth as he breathes in and out. Then just as quickly as he freaked out, he composes, his wings folding back underneath his cloak. “So you think we should let her attend here, then?”
Sage flicks a glance in my direction then looks back at Mor. “If we’re able to properly train a maddening, imagine what it will do for our academy’s reputation? And she seems like she could potentially be trainable. Although, we’ll have to look more into her background and find out where she came from.” She fastens her gaze on me. “You’re from the human realm, correct?” she asks and I nod. “What were you doing while you lived there?”
“I…” I give a nervous shrug. “Bouncing through foster homes pretty much.”
She steps toward me, her heels clicking against the cement. “And you don’t know who your parents are?”
I shake my head.
She chews on her lip. “How did you end up here?”
"She was pushed into a vortex by Annabella," Jude answers for me, stepping up beside me, yet keeping a bit of distance, a move I assume has to do with me being one of these dangerous maddening creatures.
Please let this be a dream…
Then again, is going back to foster homes any better?
“One of our huntresses,” Sage murmurs, her gaze boring into me. “We should probably summon Annabella and see what she knows about this and why she sent the maddening here.” She pauses for a beat before straightening her stance. “Until then, lets get Haven settled in and get her set up with a guide who can explain everything to her. I’d also like you to assist her too, when necessary,” she directions this statement to Jude. “She knows absolutely nothing about our realm and our ways, so she’s going to require extra attention.”
“I can do that,” Jude tells her with a slight bow of his head, the flames in his body igniting again. “But do you have a specific guide in mind?”
Sage taps her fingertip against her red lips, silence stretching by as she considers Jude’s question.
“We should assign the Death Triplets to her,” Mor says, plucking a feather from his hair.
I frown, recalling how hazy my mind had felt while I was around the three guys… creatures. Not to mention I suck when it comes to being around guys. Well, not so much guys but people in general.
Then again, no one here is actually human…
Oh my God.
Reality bitch slaps me across the face.
“Holy crap, I think this is real,” I breathe out.
“You think that’s a good idea?” Sage asks Mor with hesitancy written across her face, either not hearing what I said or just not caring.