Chapter 1
When I opened my eyes, a rich, golden-red hue was streaming in through the stained-glass window, and it washed the entire bedroom in a warm, enticing glow. The tangerine tinted room still smelled of sex and perfume, mingled with the scent of wilted roses and spiced brew. It was incredibly warm underneath the satin covers, not only because of the flames that still burned in the hearth but because of the six women who were sound asleep in my bed.
Their unconscious, naked forms were a sight to behold. To my right laid the raven-haired Akira, with her parted purple lips and ebony, smudged eyelids. Her pale athletic body was wrapped up against mine, and her velvet choker tickled my skin each time she stirred in her sleep. To my left was the exquisite, elvish witch, Vesta, and she resembled a slumbering goddess with her angelic features, long, silken eyelashes, and glowing lavender cheeks. Her perky, plum-colored nipples were digging into my ribcage, and her slender arm was possessively wrapped around my waist.
At the foot of the bed, Nyx, with her dark, sapphire blue skin and small red horns, was curled up like a cobalt cat next to the ravishing redhead, Faye. The freckled witch’s cascading crimson hair was splattered over her voluptuous, pale breasts and across her small, heart-shaped face. The contrasting duo was pressed against each other, and the redhead’s long, pale leg was wrapped around Nyx’s wide, blue hip.
On opposite sides of the bed, Morgana and Penelope were deep asleep, even though the evening light was spilling over their porcelain faces. The bookish brunette’s long, luscious locks were plastered over the red pillow like a pool of dark ink, and her plump breasts were heaving up and down with each deep breath she took. Her red, swollen lips were curled up into a small smile as she occasionally mumbled incoherent words and phrases, and it made me wonder what she was dreaming about.
Penelope, who was on the farther end of the bed, laid utterly still, and her bright, flowing hair was covering her doll-like face like a pool of silky, orange ribbons. Her small, perky breasts were exposed, and unlike Morgana, she barely stirred in her sleep.
Together, the women were the epitome of perfection, and the thought of waking them up from their peaceful slumber didn’t bode well with me, but we’d rested long enough.
“Time to wake up,” I purred as I gently sat up. “Come on, we’ve been asleep all day!”
My coven collectively groaned and stirred in their sleep, and as I predicted, Morgana was the first one to shoot up from the sheets.
“Satan!” she breathed. “What time is it?”
“Evening,” I answered with a sly grin. “Are you shocked? We were up all night long…”
“No.” The bookish brunette blushed. “I-I mean… I’m just not used to it.”
“Used to what?” Akira teased with her face still half-buried in the pillow. “Cole’s cock?”
“Oh, shut up, Akira.” Morgana rolled her sky-blue eyes. “You know what I meant.”
“Well, I, for one, am still growing accustomed to our master’s magnificent dick,” Nyx grunted as she sluggishly opened her shimmering, indigo-tinted eyes. “Hell… I never knew I could feel something so incredible, and I’ve done a shit-ton of… well… various mushrooms and herbs and such. My pussy is still filled with his unholy seed, and I want to feel this way forever.”
“Do not worry, there will be plenty more where that came from.” I winked. “You’ll see.”
“As long as you’re obedient,” Vesta reminded her in a demure voice, “our master will fill you up and pleasure you in every way possible.”
“And when she says every way… she means every… single… way,” Penelope giggled on the far end of the bed. “You’ll never be disappointed.”
“Our master is most considerate,” Faye added, and her voice was thick with sleep.
“As you will come to realize with more time,” Akira said before she leaned toward me and then gently nibbled on my earlobe.
The sensation sent a pulsating thrill through my entire body, but before I had a chance to act or respond, there was a hard, furious knock on the door. Then it swung open, and as I predicted, Professor Vanessa was standing at the threshold with her arms crossed and an impatient scowl plastered across her flawless face.
The short-tempered, dark-haired beauty was wearing a stunning, amethyst-purple gown with a gleaming satin finish and black lace trimming. The cut on her dress was dangerously low and pleasing to the eye, and it was difficult not to marvel at the ample curves of her plump breasts. Her luxuriant, loose locks were pin-straight and reached all the way down to her slim, hourglass waist, her ivory face was adorned with a tint of rouge on her prominent cheekbones, and her full lips were painted a deep, blood red. Her icy blue eyes darted between each woman before they landed on me. She glared indifferently in my direction, and then her red lips pulled up into a smirk.
“Well,” she sighed before she crossed her arms tighter across her prominent chest. “Why am I not surprised to find all of you here… and in bed at this hour?”
“Professor!” Morgana was the first to gasp as she snatched the red sheets and pulled them up to her chin. “W-We thought the students were still resting and recovering--”
“They are,” Vanessa interjected in a sharp tone. “However, the headmistress asked me to inform you all about a crucial celebratory dinner tonight. You have an hour to get dressed, and don’t bother to argue because Headmistress Theodora expects you to make an appearance. Just because you played a valuable role in protecting Scholomance doesn’t mean you are exempt from the same duties as the rest of the academy.”
“I wasn’t going to argue with you,” I said as I raised my hands in defense.
When I put my hands up into the air, I couldn’t help but notice the professor’s eyes drift over to the scars on my bare chest, and then her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red before she turned away.
“Be that as it may,” she said with her back still turned, “we expect to see you there shortly. All of you.”
Then she stomped out of the room, and as soon as she closed the door, everyone breathed a loud sigh of relief.
“She still scares me,” Nyx muttered under her breath.
“Why is she always barging in here, though?” Akira demanded with pinched eyebrows.
The dark-haired witch had a good point. Vanessa had a tendency to come waltzing into my room without an invitation, and each time it occurred, I happened to be naked, or at least half-naked.
Did the icy, impatient, and intolerable professor secretly want to be with me? I could only imagine the way she would moan and beg for my cock, and the idea sent a stimulating shiver coursing through my body. I knew if I put my mind to it, she would be begging to join me in bed.
It would take time, though, and perseverance, but I was willing to wait and work for it. All great conquests were worth the patience.
“Say what you will about Professor Vanessa,” Vesta purred, and her soft voice broke me out of my trance, “but you cannot deny her incredible sense of style. Did you see the dress she was sporting? It was absolutely stunning.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Penelope groaned before she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and then planted her feet on the floor. “Does anyone want a shot of my navita potion?”
“What the hell is that?” Akira chuckled. “It sounds nasty.”
“It’s an energizing potion,” the bright-haired witch pouted. “It’s stronger than three cups of spiced coffee and will keep you alert for hours.”
“What does it taste like?” Nyx asked with sleepy, indigo eyes.
“Not the best…” Penelope responded with a sheepish smile. “It tastes a little bit like sour blueberries… I’m still working on the flavoring.”
“I’ll pass,” Morgana said with a small shrug before she jumped out of bed. “Thanks, anyway.”
“Same here,” Faye said as she stood up. “No offense.”
“What about you, Nyx?” Penelope asked with imploring, dark eyes.
“Nah,” the blue-skinned witch answered, “I’ll just smoke some dragon breath and be good to go.”
“Really? No one?” the bright-haired witch asked with a deep, disappointed frown. “Master?”
“Sure.” I shrugged. “Why the hell not?”
“Really, master?” Penelope grinned from ear to ear.
“I’d love to try whatever you’re working on.” I smiled. “Come on, bring me a cup.”
“Excellent,” the bright-haired witch squealed as her dark eyes grew wide and bright. “I’ll be right back!”
We all watched as the orange-haired witch leapt from the bed and rushed butt naked out the door, and as soon as she was gone, the others burst into gentle peals of laughter.
“What if it really does taste like shit, master?” Akira chuckled. “You might regret it.”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” I responded with a small smirk. “Besides, she’s always working on something new, so why not encourage her?”
“That’s true,” Morgana answered as she chewed on her full bottom lip. “Perhaps we were a little harsh when we rejected her so quickly.”
Before anyone else could say another word, Penelope burst through the door, and her bare breasts were bouncing with each step. In her hands she held a small, transparent goblet with thick, navy blue liquid inside. It looked unappetizing to say the least, but regardless, I didn’t have the heart to refuse her like the others.
“Here, master,” Penelope said as she gently placed the potion in my hands. “Careful, it’s a little hot.”
“Thanks.” I smiled as I stared down at the bubbling brew.
I licked my lips before I tilted my head back and let the potion slowly seep down my throat. It was thick, sour, but also a tad bit sweet. As I drank a generous amount, Penelope stared at me with eager eyes, and when I was done, I wiped my lips and stared back at her with a wide grin.
“Well?” the bright-haired Wicca asked as she gnawed on her lower lip. “What do you think?”
“It’s a little sour,” I agreed, “but it’s not bad at all… in fact, I feel wide, wide awake.”
“Really?” Nyx asked with arched blue eyebrows.
“Yeah,” I replied without missing a beat. “You should try some… in fact, all of you should.”
“Of course, master,” the horned witch answered.
“Whatever you say, sir,” Akira remarked.
“We all will,” Vesta purred.
As the women passed the goblet around, each witch took a turn to gently sip Penelope’s potion. As they drank the brew, each of their eyes grew brighter and clearer, and I knew they instantly appreciated Penelope’s hard work.
“Damn, Penelope,” Akira chuckled as her dark eyes glittered with energy. “Thanks… it honestly didn’t taste amazing, but it’s not bad, and I sure as hell feel wide awake now.”
“Me, too,” Morgana replied with a tiny nod. “Thank you!”
“No problem.” Penelope blushed as she took back the empty goblet. “Soon, it will be perfect.”
“Only our master could convince us to try something new.” Vesta winked as she tossed back her sage-green locks. “In and out of bed.”
“Hell, yeah… I’d try anything… and I mean anything, our master would suggest,” Akira growled as she bit down on her purple lip. “All he has to do is say the word--”
“Too bad we have to get going,” Penelope quickly reminded the horny, ebony-haired witch. “Come on, let’s go.”
The women sighed as they followed the bright-haired witch off the bed, and I took a long moment to watch them saunter naked out the door. Akira was the last one to leave the bedroom, and she flashed me a sexy wink before she left.
I sighed with pure satisfaction and shook my head before I flipped the sheets off my sweltering body. I was completely slick with sweat, and I needed a proper bath before I even thought about leaving this room.
“Good evening, Cole,” my ghost-maid’s voice called out. “Would you like me to draw you a bath?”
“Good evening, Cordelia,” I answered. “You read my mind… a cool bath would be perfect.”
“Right away, sir,” she echoed in her shrill voice.
The bathwater immediately began to run, and when I stepped into the bathroom, candles lit up the room, and the smell of lavender and rosewater filled the air. When the tub was nearly full, I stepped into the water and submerged my sore body for about thirty minutes, and by the time I was done, I felt totally rejuvenated and ready to seize the evening.
I quickly wrapped a towel around my waist and then padded over to the blue velvet chair by the stained-glass window. Cordelia had laid out an ebony silk shirt, a pair of leather trousers, and a black cloak with a red, satin insert and the Scholomance crest sewn on the breast pocket. I pushed my damp hair out of my eyes and quickly got dressed. When I finished buttoning up my shirt and clasping my cloak around my neck, I strode over to the sea-glass mirror and studied my reflection.
I half-expected to see a pair of red-rimmed eyes staring back at me, but instead, my eyes were clear and bright. My skin had a healthy flush to it, and my lips were not cracked and pale like I thought they would be, since I’d been asleep for days. They were almost red, and it was a sharp contrast to my jet-black hair and ivory skin.
“You look incredibly handsome, sir,” the ghost-maid commented. “Makes me wish I was alive.”
“Thanks, Cordelia,” I chuckled under my breath. “Well, I’d better get going.”
“Have a hauntingly macabre night, sir,” she said.
“Will do.” I grinned before I left my bedroom and headed downstairs.
When I stepped into the common room, I wasn’t surprised to see it was empty, aside from the familiars who were curled up into their love pile in the corner of the room. No doubt the women were still getting dressed, so I decided to take a seat and wait patiently.
As I drummed my fingers along the armrest of my chair, I couldn’t help but chuckle at all the familiars. Alexander was splayed on the floor, still wrapped up in bandages, and he was curled up next to Silvia. Akira’s Komodo dragon, Damien, was deep asleep next to Faye’s ferret, Lily. Nyx’s red falcon was perched by a window, and Vesta’s silver snake was coiled into a scaled ball on the floor beside Penelope’s orange panda.
Cole, Alexander said as he slowly opened his crimson eyes. How’s it going, man? You look sharp as a dagger, what’s the special occasion?
“A celebratory banquet,” I answered.
Sounds boring as fuck, he replied, but have fun, I guess.
“Thanks,” I chuckled.
I heard the doors creaking upstairs, and when I turned toward the stairwell, I had to stop my jaw from falling to the floor. My women were all dressed in gorgeous gowns, adorned with fabulous jewels and decorated to perfection, and it was nearly impossible to tear my eyes away from them. Each one was so uniquely different from the others, but just as equally mouthwatering and intoxicating. I carefully studied each witch before I slipped my hands into my pocket, and a smile broke across my face.
Morgana was garbed in a long, scarlet dress with no sleeves and a plunging neckline. Her dark cascading curls tumbled across her creamy, white shoulders, her pale blues eyes were lined with brown eyeshadow, and her eyelashes were long, dark, and silken. Her lips were tinted the same shade of red as her flowing gown, and she was wearing a pair of long, lace black gloves with matching red, glittering heels.
Akira was sporting a skin-tight black dress with slits down the sides, which exposed her exceptionally long, lean, and toned legs. She wore her usual thick, black choker, and her short raven hair was straight, sleek, and nearly covered her heavily lined eyes. She’d decided to pair her dress with short, black high-heeled boots, and her lips were an even deeper shade of purple than usual. She wore stacks of studded leather bracelets on her wrists, and her nails were painted midnight black, too.
With her illuminating lavender skin and glowing pink cheeks, Vesta had decided to wear a floor-length, shimmering silver gown made of a sheer fabric material that showcased her curves and elegant form. Her sage-green hair was loose and came tumbling down in perfect jade waves over her shoulders and down her purple back, and her elvish ears were adorned with small, diamond studs and long, crystal-shaped jewels.
Nyx decided to wear a curve-hugging, magenta dress with a sweetheart neckline and a small bronze necklace with a tiny vial dangling at the end. She was also wearing a pair of black velvet heels, and there was a charm bracelet on her right ankle. Her lips were a deep sapphire shade, her eyes were lined with thick, black kohl, and her dark cobalt hair was straightened and cascaded past her small waist like a silky blue curtain.
Penelope had opted for a gold gown with a wide skirt and a corset to match. Her flowing orange hair was down, and it tumbled over her bare shoulders in loose, tangerine-tinted curls. Her lips were painted bright red, and her black eyelashes were curled to perfection. Those long, curved, alluring eyelashes made her mahogany brown eyes stand out like a porcelain doll’s, and it was difficult to look away. She was slightly taller than the rest of the women, and I realized it was because she was wearing the highest pair of golden heels I’d ever seen. They dazzled when they caught the light, and she reminded me of a bright-haired, golden garbed goddess.
Finally, Faye decided to wear a sapphire-blue dress with long sleeves, and a low-cut neckline exposed the full curves of her perky, freckled breasts. Her red hair was pulled up into a wavy chiffon updo, and her lips were painted a deep, blood red. She wore a dangling silver crystal necklace around her swan-like neck and matching, tear-drop earrings. Her eyes were lined with deep blue eyeshadow, and the apples of her cheeks were bright pink. Finally, she was wearing a pair of matching blue heels and had opted for silken white gloves.
“Satan,” I breathed once I marveled at each woman. “You look fucking fantastic… every one of you. I could just devour all of you right now.”
“Thank you, master,” Penelope blushed as she pushed back a loose strand of orange hair. “You look incredibly handsome yourself.”
“You do,” Akira added as she bit down on her lip, “but it just makes me want to tear your clothes off right now.”
“Hmmm, maybe we should just celebrate in my bed,” I chuckled, “but then I wouldn’t be able to see how jealous you make the other witches. Now, are you all ready?”
“Yes, master,” they all responded in unison as they smiled.
I nodded, and the women followed me out the common room door and down the corridors. The castle was neatly put back together as if nothing had ever happened, and as we neared the banquet hall doors, we could hear soft music echoing from within. When we stepped inside, the room was glowing with candle-light, and the smells of cinnamon, lemon, and other perfumed spices wafted through the warm air.
An invisible band was playing the piano, violin, cello, and harp in a corner, and there were hundreds of witches dancing in the middle of the expansive room. Splashes of color drifted like water through the banquet hall as the music flowed in unison with the dancers, who glided through the room in graceful arcs and swan-like spins.
We quickly found some empty seats, and as I craned my neck to get a better view of the room, I spotted the professors and Headmistress Theodora sitting comfortably at their usual table with several pitchers of wine and small platters of entrees in front of them. Theodora looked healthy and beautiful. Her cheeks were flushed with color, and her lips were blood-red. She was wearing a simple but lovely black velvet gown with a high collar, and her dark hair was pulled up into a wavy bun. The headmistress appeared to be in deep conversation with a stunning silver-haired woman who seemed somewhat familiar. Her long shimmering hair fell down her bare back, and she wore a pale pink gown with black lace detail along the sleeves and hem.
As I continued to stare in their direction, the mysterious woman turned to look at me, and when her teal-colored eyes met mine, her pale lips curled up into a knowing smile.
That’s when it hit me. She was one of the women of the High-Court.
“Is that Olivia Mirkwood?” Morgana gasped as she tugged my arm in excitement, and she spun me around to face her. “By Satan, I think it is!”
“It totally is.” Nyx grinned. “For a moment, I thought I was seeing things…”
“What a surprise.” Akira rolled her black eyes.
“What is she doing here?” I wondered aloud.
“No clue,” Penelope answered with a quick shrug, “but it sure is exciting.”
“I bet we’re going to find out soon enough,” Faye whispered as her golden-green eyes flicked back to the professors’ table. “Look, Theodora is about to give a speech.”
When I turned around, Headmistress Theodora was on her feet with a golden goblet in her hand. She clinked the glass with a fork, but instead of a small clanking sound, the entire room echoed with thunderous jingles. The music immediately died down, and the dancers came to an abrupt halt before Theodora gracefully regarded the whole room with a relaxed, magnetic smile.
“Attention, everyone!” the headmistress bellowed. “As I stand here before you all, I cannot be more grateful to our dark lord and savior, Satan. Tonight, we stand together, alive and victorious against the elder gods who tried their damnedest to see us dead and gone. Now, not only are we celebrating our well-earned conquest, but I’d like to also inform you all that we have a new professor with us. Please help me welcome Olivia Mirkwood!”
The striking, silver-haired professor stood up and demurely smiled at the sea of students applauding her with as much energy as possible. She nodded in our direction and then raised her goblet high up into the air.
“Thank you, Headmistress Theodora,” Olivia answered in a smooth and sultry voice. “I am honored to be dining with you here, on this glorious blood-moon filled night. Now, I’m sure you’re all wondering why I’m here, and not with my fellow High-Court companions. It has been decided that we’ll be bringing back the ancient class of potions and charms, and I will be your professor. I cannot wait to see just how dedicated and advanced you all are, and again, it is my immense pleasure to be here as part of Scholomance Academy.”
The room echoed with thunderous applause again as the silver-haired witch bowed gracefully and then took her seat.
Theodora was still standing, and when the clapping died down, she raised her glass up even higher into the air.
“Now,” she continued, “let us enjoy this marvelous feast!”
When the words left her lips, massive silver and gold platters materialized from thin air and appeared on each table setting. I found myself staring down at a full plate of roasted duck, griffin wings, mashed spiced pumpkin, and fresh greens with wild berry sauce. Goblets of dark red wine also appeared, and there was plenty to go around. Everyone quickly began to devour their exquisite meals and savor the spicy, peppery wine.
As I ate, I glanced around the crowded hall, and in the corner of my eye, I thought I spotted a flash of bright pink and blue streaks of hair. It took me a moment to realize it was the twins, Iris and Ivy, and they were both wearing short black dresses with matching choker necklaces and heavy lined eyes. They were seated with a small group of witches, but mostly seemed to be keeping to themselves.
“Hey, Penelope,” I said before I took a bite of well-done elk. “What’s up with the twins?”
“Yeah, do they think they’re better than us or something?” Akira demanded before she drank a generous amount of wine.
“I think after the battle they said they wanted to remain alone until their skills improved,” Penelope explained as she pursed her lips. “They won’t do anything but study, and I think that also meant they wanted nothing more to do with our little adventures… at least for now.”
“Ah.” I nodded. “Well, whatever makes them feel comfortable.”
“I think it's a clever idea,” Morgana added. “Better to be safe rather than sorry.”
“Well, I personally don’t give a rat’s tail either way,” Akira muttered. “They were dead weight in my opinion… I don’t know how they even made it to the games.”
“They just so happened to beat everyone else on that day,” Penelope remarked. “It surprised me, too… clearly, they have the potential… they just don’t know how to fully execute it yet.”
Everyone muttered their agreements and continued to focus on the marvelous meals, and once the dinner was served and scarfed down, plates of various desserts appeared on the table in place of the empty platters. There were so many sweets, it was almost impossible to count them all. I noticed stacks of lemon poppy seed cake, plates of fairy berry pies, piles of vanilla and pumpkin cookies, and crystal bowls of pixie pudding.
“Unholy shit,” Akira groaned with pleasure before she scooped up a mouthful of pudding, “this is amazing.”
“May we join you for dessert?” a familiar voice asked from behind me.
When I turned around, I saw Beatrix standing next to a woman with long, golden-blonde hair and exotic eyes, and it took me a moment to remember her name until it hit me like a spell. Her name was Circe, and she was one of the resurrected women who fought alongside the professors and students during the battle.
“Hey.” I smiled. “Please, take a seat.”
My coven smiled politely at the duo as they took two empty seats in front of me. Circe was wearing a sparkling, black and white gown with a red sash tied to her slender waist. Her long, golden-blonde hair was pulled into a half-updo, and it displayed her prominent cheekbones and wide, almond-shaped, serpentine eyes. Each time she took a bite of her strawberry-newt cake, I noticed her forked tongue swirling around the utensil, in an almost seductive manner, and some of my blood rushed south.
After a minute, I turned my attention away from the beautiful blonde and then marveled at the light-haired brunette. Beatrix was garbed in a peach-toned dress with a full, sweeping skirt and long, velvet sleeves. Her thick bangs nearly grazed her dark, sultry eyes, and her shoulder-length hair was styled in loose, luscious golden-brown ringlets.
“This is magnificent,” Circe mumbled after she swallowed a mouthful of cake. “I’m so glad to be back in the living world.”
“It does have its perks,” Akira grunted before she took another deep sip of black wine. “Like this wine… Satan, it’s strong.”
“Easy, there,” Morgana hissed into the black-eyed witch’s ear. “Your eyes are as red as Faye’s hair.”
“So?” Akira snorted with glassy, unfocused eyes. “Nyx’s are always like that, and you never say anything.”
“They are not,” Nyx replied with a cool laugh. “My tolerance is incredibly high.”
“Whatever,” the short-haired witch responded with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I’m enjoying the night… how often do we get to just relax?”
“She has a good point,” Beatrix giggled. “I say we drink as much wine as possible.”
“You’re going to regret that in the morning,” Faye tutted, but then she took a deep sip of wine herself. “Satan, she’s right… this wine is absolutely exquisite.”
Before I could respond, a swift, icy breeze swept through the room, and everything grew dark as night. The candles all died at once, and then the music came to a chilling, sudden stop. A scream filled the air, and when I turned to look at the professors’ table, I noticed with horror that our new silver-haired professor had her hands wrapped around her throat as if she were choking to death.
Pale moonlight seeped through the stained-glass window, and it highlighted the struggling professor’s deathly pale face. Her lips parted open like a fish out of water, and then a terrifying, low growling noise erupted from her mouth.
“Are you comfortable?” a harsh, male voice that clearly didn’t belong to her asked. “I hope you are… because you should enjoy every single second of peace you have left. Harmony and unity will soon be a memory to you all, and from here on out, all you will know is fear, suffering, and death. I will not stop until the dawn of the Wicca era is nothing but history, written in the dusty pages of long-forgotten books. You will know my wrath and remember my voice, for I am an elder king, and you are nothing but walking corpses.”
A resounding, choking sound echoed in Olivia’s throat before she collapsed to the ground, and then the entire banquet hall was filled with panicked whispers and pale-faced witches.
As I’d predicted, the battle we’d faced was only the beginning of something far more deadly and terrifying.
And every Wicca in this room knew it.