Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“Yes, let me go for now. And we’ll deal with everything else later,” I promised.
For now, I just wanted to be held in the arms of my Blood-Bonded Mate—and the arms of his Drake. I had a feeling that a showdown with my father was imminent but I wasn’t going to let him spoil this night for me.
For now, I just wanted to be happy.
43
SAINT
“Now, Mr. Connor, what’s this I hear about Blood Magic being done on school grounds?” Headmistress Nightworthy frowned at Avery, who sat up straighter in his chair. “And about Drakes coming out, when that is expressly forbidden?” she added, glaring at me.
All of us from the Norm Dorm were crowded into the Headmistress’s office, though Avery and I were the only ones in chairs. Standing behind us were Megan, Kaitlyn, and Emma and behind them were their mates. Griffon had one hand on Megan’s shoulder and Ari hovered protectively close to Kaitlyn. Of course, Bran and Lachlan were standing on either side of Emma. Jalli was behind all of them, hiding behind Ari with her chimelings.
Standing opposite all of us, a glare on his face, was Avery’s father.
My own Sire, at least, had declined to come. He had sent word through another messenger cloud that he was disowning me completely and forever.
Ari’s father wasn’t very happy with him either, for coming to get me from the Sky Lands but at least he hadn’t disowned him. I had no idea how I was going to pay my tuition now, but at the moment, that was the least of my worries.
I sighed inwardly as I braced for the battle to come. Avery and I had shared a blissful night and my Drake had gotten as many cuddles as he desired, but now we would have to pay for it and I feared the price would be a heavy one.
“It is true that I changed from my Drake form to my human form and then to my Drake form again,” I admitted to the Headmistress. “But I flew in from the Sky Lands and then I had to reassure my Drake that Avery was all right. Otherwise, he might have caused chaos.”
“Also, Headmistress, the only Blood Magic going on last night was a Blood-Bonding between myself and my Fated Mate,” Avery said, taking my hand and squeezing it firmly. “And before you say we shouldn’t have done it, Saint had to Bond me to him—it was the only way for me to be free of the spell my father had put on me.”
Headmistress Nightworthy frowned and tilted her head to one side, looking at Avery’s father.
“Spell? What spell?” she asked.
Avery’s father jutted out his jaw belligerently.
“I came to see Avery the other night and worked some magic to make him normal—that’s all.”
“To make me straight, you mean.” Avery glared at him and then looked back at the Headmistress. “He used conversion magic on me. He tried to ‘spell the gay away.’”
Headmistress Nightworthy looked appalled.
“Mr. Connor, is this true?” she demanded, looking at Avery’s father. “Did you actually come onto school grounds and work a personality changing spell on one of my students?”
“That student of yours happens to be my son,” Avery’s father snapped. “And yes, I worked the spell—I won’t deny it. I should have done it a long time ago but his mother wouldn’t let me. She always was too tender-hearted for her own good,” he added, making a bitter face.
“In this case, I must agree with your wife, Mr. Connor.” Headmistress Nightworthy’s voice had turned icy. “Don’t you know that it’s been proven such spells can lead to serious complications and suicidal tendencies in the children they are performed on?”
“That doesn’t happen very often!” Avery’s father argued. “It’s really rare—a chance worth taking!”
“Not in my school, it’s not!” The Headmistress’s voice cracked like a whip and she narrowed her bright blue eyes at Mr. Connor. “Besides which, the possibility of complications rises exponentially the older a child gets. Avery is nearly an adult now—trying to change him into something he is not now that his personality is fully formed is a recipe for disaster! He’d barely have any chance at all of living a normal life before his true memories and sexual identity broke through and made him want to hurt or kill himself.”
“I’ll take any chance I can get of making him normal,” Avery’s father snapped. “Which is what I’m going to do right now because as of this minute, I’m removing him from your school. He’s going to come with me and live a normal life.” He reached for Avery. “Come on—we’re leaving.”
My Drake rose so hard and fast I could barely hold him back. I found myself between the two of them, with my Drake’s rage burning in my eyes. I opened my mouth, but it wasn’t my voice that came out when I spoke.