Shade Academy

Chapter 21

The rest of the time at the estate was relatively calm. No attacks, no more guests and I didn't go back the the library. There was no way I wanted another episode and end up tearing the house down. I would never forgive myself if I destroyed the only thing I had left of my family. 

"Anna we have to go now." Samuel said walking towards me. I slumped my shoulders and groaned. "Do I have to go back?" I whined. Samuel laughed at my childish behavior. "Yes Anna, you have to go back. You need to learn to control and enhance your magic. It will only grow as you get older." I knew he was right, hell I'd even thought the same thing not long ago, but that didn't mean I liked it. Headmistress Charlotte gave off a type of energy that made me feel like she had an ulterior motive. Amanda she was nothing but a self serving, condescending b***h. She thought she was all high and mighty because her family has money and influence. Ha! That girl was nothing. She didn't even have strong mental magic and she was a vampire, that was just sad. 

"Anna!" Alex shouted pulling me from my thoughts. "Ya, sorry. I was lost in thought." I said shaking my head. I went to grab my bags but Samuel quickly took them from me smiling. "There is no way I am letting you carry your own bags." He said. I just smiled and walked behind to the car. 

Axel and I drove together, while Samuel and Alex took their own cars. Seeing as how they both showed up unannounced they really didn't have much of a choice. "Everything will be ok Anna." Axel assured me. I scoffed. "Oh, I know it will. Nobody there will mess with me. They all already know I won't be pushed around." I told him with annoyance. Why wouldn't it be ok? I had three mates to be there for me. One that really couldn't actually show that he is my mate, but since he was made my mentor we would be spending a lot of quality time together. 

The rest of the ride was spent in silence. I never took my hand from Axel's, wanting to feel him close to me, even though he was like two feet away from me. As I studied Axel, I noticed he looked stressed, concerned and I don't even know what else. His brows were furrowed and he had deep lines creasing his face. His hands were so tight on the steering wheel his knuckles were turning white. "Axel, what's wrong?" I asked with concern. 

Axel looked over to me and gave me an apologetic smile. "Listen Anna. My family are not fond of witches, but they honor a mate bond no matter who the mate is. And since I found you, and mates for dragons are so rare, my family and clan will want to meet you." I shrugged my shoulders. "That is perfectly understandable. You are the only dragon in the clan with a true mate. It is only logical they would want to meet me. When do we go?" 

Axel took his hand from mine and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Actually, my family is at the Academy waiting for us." His tone was low and unsure. It mad me laugh. "Don't be so worried Axel, it's fine." I told him confidently. "I honestly have no resverations about meeting your family. I'm sure they are lovely."  

"You are amazing, you know that." He said grinning widely. I smiled back, happy that I had cleared up any doubts he may have had. Axel was a bit rough around the edges, he had issues at first with us being mates but he finally got comfortable with it, so I'm sure his family would. Not that it mattered, Axel was my mate no matter what they said or tried to do. 

When we finally made it back to the Academy and parked the car we made our way inside to where his family was waiting. I was nervous, mostly for Axel but a little for myself. What if his family didn't approve and asked him to leave me? Would Axel listen if they asked him to do that? I quickly shook the thought from my head and squared my shoulders. No way was anyone going to take him from me, should they try they would have a fight on their hands. 

Axel was squeezing my hand to the point it hurt. My knuckles were grinding against one another so harshly it felt as if they'd break. In an attempt to try and soothe and calm him I rubbed gently circles on his hand with my thumb. "Axel, breath it's going to be alright." I said gently. He gave me a tight smile and slight nod in response. What was so awful about his family that caused him to act like this? 

By the time they came into view, I think I'd figured it out. Two women stood there. One, was younger and I could only assume she was his sister. She wore a black dress that stopped just below her thighs. If she bent over she would be flashing the world all her goods. Her lips were as red as a rose that made me think she was a slut that messed around. But not just because of those red lips, but also her short skin tight dress, the way she looked at Axel with a bored and disgusted look, but also her entire aura was as crimson as blood. 

The other lady was an older version of the other. She wore an elegant red gown that flowed in rippled down to her ankles. Her black hair was pilled into an elegant braid somehow formed some kind of bun. Her makeup was a lot more natural than the younger one. Her lips were painted a nude brown, her cheeks had a slight hint of red and her aura was a mix between blue and red. But both of them projected such an air of surperiority that I had the restrain myself from rolling my eyes. 

Then there was a boy. No older than maybe eleven or twelve. His smile was so bright when he saw Axel I would sear it could light a room. His green eyes glistened with happiness, excitement and love. I couldn't help but smile at the boy as he ran and jumped into Axel's arms. He caught the boy with a broad smile. "Mason, little man." Axel exclaimed. "How are you buddy?" Mason beamed. "I had my first shift, Ax." He said happily. "That's great, buddy." 

Next was the man, he had to be Axel's father. They looked identical except his father had slight wrinkles along his forehead. "Axel." The man said nodding but not moving. "Hello father." Axel said formally. 

"Axel, how lovely to see you dear." The older lady said in a bored tone. Axel's face fell instantly. "Hello mother." Axel replied tightly. I could see the tension ripple in the air as she hugged him briefly. "We heard from your father you found your true mate. Is this her?" She asked with venom. My muscles tightened and I narrowed my eyes at her. "Yes, this is Anna. She is my mate." Axel's voice was tight and clipped as she answered his mother. 

Her eyes filled with anger as she looked from Axel back to me and back to Axel. "No." She said flatly turning away from us. Axel put Mason down and the boy instantly hid behind Axel. "What did you say?" Axel breathed harshly. His mother turned back to us and sneered at me before addressing her son. "I said no. She will not do. You will marry Amelia as planned." My eyes grew wide in anger. "I will not." Axel told her harshly. "Anna is my true mate and I will stay with her. Amelia can go to hell." He seethed. 

His mother's eyes lit up with rage and she stalked forward. When she raised her hand at him I lost my s**t. I threw my hands up freezing her in place. "You will not touch him." I said angrily stepping in front of him. "I don't give a s**t who you are, you will not take Axel from me, he is MINE! You got that?" His mother glared at me with hatred. "You are not worthy of my son." She stated flatly. 

I chuckled darkly. "You want to see worthy?" I snapped my fingers and fire came to life in my hand. "So, you are a dragon and normal fire can not hurt you, right." I asked. I didn't wait for an answer. "What about blue fire?" I snapped again, but still didn't get a response. "Ok, well what about green?" He eyes widened marginally but still not enough. "Well, what about purple?" Her eyes snapped wide and the struggle began. She thrashed and writhed under my power, but I just tightened my hold. "Oh, and don't think of shifting. With my hold on you, you might just kill yourself." I laughed. 

I walked over to her, holding the fire so close to her face I singed her hair. "Am I still not worthy?" I chuckled. She glared at me. "Ha! ok." I snapped my fingers, causing the fire to vanish. My eyes glowed as red as blood and I dropped my hands to my side palms out. The ground began to rumble under our feet as chunks of rock levitated in the air. I sent one flying passed her. It didn't hit her, but I got it close enough to her that it left a ugly looking scratch along her face. 

She snarled at me. "Fine." She bellowed. "You may stay with him." That made me laugh. Like I doubled over laughing. "Y..you...r.re..really.. think it was up ...t..to you?" I said between hysterics. I did let he go however and dropped her on her ass. She jumped up and brushed herself off. "Keep your witch Axel." SHe seethed. 

"Anna, that was quite the display of power." Axel's father said impressed. "I have never seen anyone put Enduora in her place quite like that." I could see the humor and amusement in his eyes. "Such a powerful witch would make our line that much stronger. Axel is a lucky bastard."  I heard his father think. I kept my outward appearance neutral as surprise made it's self known. "You have not seen my true power."  I forced my thoughts into his mind. His eyes widened as realization made itself known. "You can read minds?" He thought. "Yes." I said simply aloud this time. "You will be an amazing alpha female for our clan. We welcome you Anna." His father said happily. 

All jaws dropped, including Axel's. "You can't be serious Derrick." Enduora said shocked. He yurned to her and glared harshly. "I am, and you will know your place wife." He growled. Enduora shrank back away from him and bowed her head. "Axel." Derrick called in a hard voice. "Yes father." Axel stepped forward, causing Mason to shoot behind me and cling to me. I turned to him smiling and gave him a wink. He smiled brightly and held on tighter. I laughed softly as I turned back towards the men. "You take care of her, protect her." He said. "Should anything happen to her you will be weakened. For reasons that are unknown Arion feels protective of this girl and he has promised if she should die he will kill you himself and you know once Arion gets riled up even I can't contain him." He warned.

That left me confused. Who the hell was Arion. Derrick laughed. "Arion is my dragon." Derrick informed me. My mouth formed an 'o' shape as his words registered. "Why would your dragon want to protect me?" I asked him. "I don't know. And more than that I don't know why he would kill his own son over you, but his warning was very clear. No harm should befall you or else there will be hell to pay." Axel turned back to me shocked. I only shrugged my shoulders. Hell, I was just as confused as he was. 

"We will take our leave now." Derrick said. We bid them goodbye and walked back towards the main campus. Both of us confused, surprised and shocked. What the hell was that?