Royal Academy: Hellfire's Fury

Chapter 8

Annalise's POV

"This makes no sense! Why is all of this happening now?" I looked over to Stefan, who had an expression that said he was also equally confused by the whole situation.

Luca and Killian are speaking in hushed tones with two border scouts and Eliza is on the phone with Reed and Seraphina, asking them to tell their patrols to keep an eye out for Dimitri. I run my hands through my hair as I turn towards the bookshelf in Stefan's office and my eyes automatically land on the single framed photograph that was salvaged from my childhood home. The edges were charred but the picture with my mother and father holding me in their arms between them was perfect. I step closer to the bookshelf and raise a hand to trace my index finger along the image solemnly.

Stefan walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my middle while his head nestles in the crook of my neck.

"We'll figure this out, sweetheart," he whispers into my ear as he breathes in deeply.

Luca and Killian send the scouts out and one of them clears his throat to get our attention. Stefan and I turn around, still embraced in his arms as Eliza comes off the phone.

"Reed and Seraphina said Rosalie and Orion recently doubled up the patrols at the Clan's borderlines, so if anyone spots Dimitri, they will capture him. I know this is a hard time for you guys, but Luca and I still need to leave for Royal Court. Gigi is struggling with something she won't talk over the phone about. If you guys need us, do not hesitate, we will be back in a heartbeat." Eliza says as Luca walks to her side and nods solemnly.

"We'll be okay. I got things covered here while you guys are gone. Liam is back from his trip and Caleb and Maliyah should be back from visiting her parents within the week. We'll be fine. Go." Stefan says softly as Luca and Eliza walk over for a group hug.

"Hey I want in on that!" Alexis says from the corridor and Killian looks slightly uncomfortable as she tugs him into the group hug as well.

"I can imagine Reed being a sour puss about me 'taking his place' here," Killian jokes as Luca's phone suddenly rings in his pocket. "If that is him, I'm buying him that winery he wanted so much. It's like the guy senses when his name is called."

Luca pulls out his phone and grins widely. "Better call your bank to cut that cheque," Luca shows Killian his phone screen, and he groans loudly as Reed's name flashes on the screen. Luca put the call on speaker and held the phone out to the group.

"You just earned yourself a massive gift for being the master of impeccable timing, bro," Luca said to the phone as Killian rolled his eyes.

"If that were true, brother, I wouldn't still be going through this whole rugrat on devil's adrenaline thing. I swear, Rosie was nothing like this! How the hell did you handle two boys? I mean, did they entertain each other? But doesn't that mean double the broken windows and mess to clean up? Dude, my gray hairs have gray hairs. God, I need a tall, cold beer and a weekend at the lake." Reed groans as the sound of something crashing to the ground in the background fills the air.

"Caleb and Liam never destroyed things. They were ridiculously active, but never destructive," Eliza says to the phone as we hear Reed scrambling to get his son in order.

"Was there a purpose for this call or did you just need an ear for your misery?" Luca asks as the noise subsides.

The sound of something shuffling around could be heard on the phone before we hear Reed's voice once more.

"Yeah, the kid had some stuff delivered from his grandmother's house last week and he and Rosie came across some stuff that might relate to Anna's situation with her bloodline," Reed says as static suddenly muffles his words.

I move in closer to the phone and speak into it when the static dies down. " What exactly did they find, Reed?" I ask, my breath catches as I wait for him to respond.

"Claudia being from a powerful coven, meant they pretty much documented a lot of things supernatural. There are some scrolls here that talk about some Circle of crazy people wanting to use Hellhounds from pure bloodlines for experimental purposes. Like, breeding kind of stuff. Orion wasn't able to fully decipher it, but he said they'll send over the entire stack to you today once he sorts out the bulk of it."

The sound of screaming and another crash has Reed groaning again. "Yo! Leave the twins alone! Do you want one of them to go all firebird on you and burn your tail off before you even get to see it?" Reed shouts as the sound of crying fills the air. "God, I'm too old for this. Where the hell is the nanny?! Stop! You'll break----" the call cuts and everyone chuckles softly at Reed's expense.

Luca puts away his phone just as the twins rush into the room, covered in dirt and mud after frolicking outside. Liam follows closely behind, a goofy grin on his handsome face. The twins rush into Stefan's arms as Liam walks over and gives me a warm embrace. "How is my favorite aunt?" he jokes as Alexis shoots him a narrowed gaze and Eliza shakes her head.

"I'm fine. I thought you were supposed to go the Academy?" I ask him. Liam was an assistant defensive arts teacher at Royal Academy, when he wasn't traipsing the world on some crazy adventure.

He grins widely as he shifts to fully face me and block out everyone else. "Can't go there for a bit. The Liberal Arts teacher doesn't like me right now," he snickers as I roll my eyes.

Liam and I became really close when I became pregnant and his twin, Caleb, became preoccupied with his new wife and mate. Liam was concerned about the fact that he hadn't met his mate yet, but it also gave him the perfect excuse to travel. Maybe she wasn't in this country. But that didn't stop the new self-proclaimed Cassanova of the family from pursuing the females at the Academy.

"Liam Pierce, we can still hear you," Eliza scolded him from behind us as he wiggled his eyebrows in mischief.

Stefan chuckled as he set the twins on their feet once more. "Go wash up. Uncle Reed might be coming over with the girls and Sebastian," he tells them, and their faces automatically lit up. They rush off to clean up, and I look at Stefan quizically.

"When did Reed say he was coming over?"

"He didn't. But I'm pretty sure he'll offer to bring the stuff over. Did you hear the desperation in his voice? He'll convince Rosie and Seraphina that he has it covered, but he's secretly bringing them here to wear out some of all that energy."

I shook my head as I held my mate's gaze. "You figured that out remarkably quickly. Is that what you would do if the twins ever went rogue on you?"

Stefan laughed nervously while scratching the back of his head with his hand. "Never. That's what Liam's there for."