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  Still frowning with indignation, I swallowed my pride and looked at my father. Slowly nodding, I stood and looked around at the small classroom.

  “Fine. So I’m not ready,” I conceded. “So where are we, exactly?”

  “We’re just outside Vegas,” John said. “While it may look like your typical community college on the outside, the truth is that this is the center for advanced demon slaying training.”

  “Demon slayers from all over the world come here to train,” Asher added.

  “On the one hand we’re close to the portal,” John went on. “So some of the students get into some small battles. We typically guard the portal rather heavily, but occasionally, one squeezes out.”

  “And on the other hand,” Asher said with a grin. “Well, who doesn’t want to come to Vegas? It’s the best of both worlds.”

  “Dang,” I said with a wry grin. “And here I thought people were coming to Vegas to see Celine Dion.”

  “Oh,” Asher said with a playful grin. “That too.”

  “Okay, so you’re saying that I need advanced training,” I said as she looked out the window that overlooked the dry barren desert.

  “Right,” Asher, Lothario and John said.

  I looked at the distant mountains. “Where are we again?”

  John pulled a business card out of his back pocket and handed it to me. “This is all due to Dr. Kingsley.”

  I looked down at the card, remembering the kind man.

  “For a long time, he’d known that a facility like this was needed, but appropriate funding was difficult. Finally, a few years before he died, he found this location; isolated, difficult to access and unassuming. He built Shadowlight Hunter Academy and since then professors and trainers have been spitting out highly trained combatants.”

  “It’s exactly what you need, Lux,” Lothario said. “You’ll train to get stronger…”

  “And you’ll be supported by teammates, classmates, counselors and mentors,” John added.

  “Why have I never heard of this place?” I said, remembering all the years of loneliness and confusion. “I’ve been doing all of this by myself. I’ve been slaying demons with no training at all. No one ever thought to tell me about this?”

  “Honey,” John said. “Your foster parents, um, I mean parents, they thought you were too young to even think about all this. I doubt they really knew what you were going through.”

  “Besides, the school hasn’t been around that long,” Lothario added.

  John put his hand on her shoulder. “While we might occasionally accept younger applicants, the school really does cater to kids who are eighteen years or older.”

  “So, you’re here just in time, Lux,” Asher said. “I’ve enrolled, too. Isn’t that cool?”

  Still unsure, I frowned. “What about my parents? San Francisco is so far away from Vegas. I don’t think they’ll like this.”

  “Don’t worry about them,” John said. “They know you’re safe, and that’s enough to make them happy. They look at it as if you were attending college on early admission.”

  I nodded, her mind going from one frantic question to another. It was all happening so fast. “Where am I supposed to live?” I finally said.

  Hector walked in. “Looking for a place to live?”

  “Hector!” I said.

  “There are a few nice apartment buildings near the campus. Then you have a few small houses here and there; some students get together and rent them.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “I’ll look into that. Man, I’m really glad to see you all in one piece. When I noticed you weren’t around, I was too afraid to ask why.”

  “Well, that’s all thanks to your angel who pulled me out just in time. I’ll tell you, we were sorely unprepared for that! Man, I don’t know what the hell that was down there.”

  I nodded. “Yeah. I guess it was pretty bad.”

  “It’s clear we all need to train and get stronger before going back there again. We rushed it and it almost cost us all our lives,” Hector said.

  “Too true,” John said. “Without angelic and divine powers, we would have never made it back.”

  “Okay, fine,” I said. “So I’ll find a place to live and take a few classes. How long of a lease should I sign?”

  “You can find a place without a lease,” Hector said.

  “Okay, then. Let me put it another way,” I said. “How long am I going to be stuck in this place for?”

  “It’s hard to say,” John said.

  “No,” I argued. “It shouldn’t be hard to say. I have two friends, friends that I really care about who are down there and they need me. Am I just supposed to go through my day to day life, going to school while Moore and Brax are, quite literally, in hell?”

  “I’m sorry I can’t give you a definitive answer, Lux. Everyone’s different and everyone evolves at a different pace. There’s no point rushing it. You need to be able to stay alive if you want to save them.”

  Asher took my hand in his. “I know you want to go save them,” he said gently. “But you have to be able to care for yourself first. I mean, we just barely got you back after missing you for so long.” His eyes filled with tears. “I hate the thought of losing you for good just because you weren’t ready.”

  “I think you’ll need emotional training most of all,” Lothario said.

  “You’re saying that as if I were one of those hyper emotional people. I’m not.”

  “No, but you were blinded by your emotions. You were so blinded by Moore and Brax that you didn’t even notice that you were outnumbered. If I hadn’t reached you in time, no one would have made it back.”

  “Look, I already said that I’d go to these classes, okay?” she said, increasingly annoyed with the whole prospect of having to wait before she could save Moore and Brax. “I’ll stay here and do everything I have to do to be ready to go back. At least it’s good to know that you’ll be there with me.”

  “Good,” John said, though his face didn’t read as happy.

  “What about the portal? What about Mom?” I said.

  “They managed to shut it down after we came through, but we don’t know how long it will hold. It seemed our normal rituals didn’t seal it as well as it usually does.”

  “We’ll try to keep an eye on that,” Lothario promised.

  “Lux,” John said, suddenly solemn. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

  Alarmed, she leaned back against a desk. “What is it?” She tried to control her breathing to keep from panicking.

  “I didn’t want to get into this now, but…” He sat on the desk beside her. “I don’t think it’s a good idea that you rely on my being there for you.”

  “What do you mean? Where are you going?”

  He chuckled but looked strangely sad. “I won’t be going back through the portal again.”

  “No. Don’t say that. I want you there,” I lamented. “I need you there.”

  “You won’t need me once your training is over.”

  “Okay, but I’ll still want you there.”

  “Honey, getting out of the portal is hard for anyone.” He gestured to the guys around her. “Even for young men like them. Well, it’s hell on an old guy like me. Surely, you feel it yourself. Your body needs time to heal.”

  “But…” I wanted to argue.

  “Lux,” Lothario cut in. “He just got back from the emergency room.”

  “What?” she cried out, jumping to her feet. “The ER? What the hell for?”

  “It was just a little…” John started.

  “Heart attack,” Asher finished for him.

  “A heart attack,” I echoed in disbelief. I finally had the chance to meet my biological father and now he has a heart attack? It wasn’t fair. “Are you all right?”

  Asher chuckled. “I see where you get your stubborn streak from,” he said to me. “They wanted to keep him there for observation, but he would not have it. The minute they said he was stable, h
e pulled those tubes and wires and whatnot out and stormed out of there.”

  “Oh,” I said shooting her father a reprimanding glare. “Then how can you be sure that everything is all right?”

  He put his hand over his heart and smiled. “I can feel it.”

  “Well,” I said. “Don’t you dare go and die on me now. Now that I’ve found you, I don’t want to lose you. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love my foster parents. The Collins have been kind and loving and nurturing. But you’re the demon fighting gatekeeper, and I feel that I have so much to learn from you. And my mother that I just caught a glimpse of. My God. One day she’s in a coma in Italy, and then she’s there right in front of me, and then she’s gone again.”

  “You know,” John said. “It was difficult for her – giving you up.”

  I nodded.

  “She knew she had angel blood which she passed onto you, and it could be your savior, but she also knew that as a demon slayer, she couldn’t have you around. It was far too dangerous. It broke my heart, too, to see you go, but I knew it was the best thing that we could do for you.”

  “I know. I’m not criticizing. It’s just… I never got to know either of you.”

  Lothario came up to me, his gentle hand on my hip. “Know that you’ve been given another chance,” he said. “Use it wisely.”

  “I will,” I said.

  “You have a special place in my heart,” he said, kissing my forehead and lingering for a tender moment. “I will continue to watch over you as I will watch over your new guardian, Asher.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “But I must go now.”

  I nodded my understanding. “I’ll be a good student, Lothario. I’ll stay here and learn everything that I can. You’ll see. I’ll be a fierce demon slayer.”

  “I’ve no doubt,” he said with a loving grin, then vanished.

  I smiled despite the pang in my heart at seeing him go. The crush I’d had on him for so many years still left me longing for him whenever he left my side and filled me with warmth whenever he was nearby.

  “You okay?” John said, looking into my eyes with concern. He glanced at where Lothario had been standing and back at me, a knowing grin on his lips.

  “Yeah. But he’s gone, and now you’re leaving, and…”

  “Hey,” John said. “Who said I was leaving?”

  “Well, ah,” I stammered. “You said that…”

  “I said I couldn’t go back to the portal with you, but I’m sticking around, kid. In fact, Hector and I have been recruited by the Dean of Shadowlight Academy.” He looked at Hector and held up his phone. “I got a text from Dr. Patricia Good a while back. We’re in.”

  “Yay,” Hector said with exaggerated enthusiasm.

  John looked at me. “You’ll like her. She’s one of the most experienced slayers out here.”

  “Are you talking about me, John?” a light female voice tinged with a British accent said. The tall and elegant woman with dark hair and big hazel eyes walked in. Her confidence was overpowering. She looked like she was barely in her thirties and had a stunning sense of style.

  Two young men who appeared to be roughly the same age as Lux entered the classroom with the woman. Both were handsome young men with exquisitely chiseled and masculine features and luscious lips. I could have sworn I was taking part in a magazine photo shoot.

  “Dr. Good,” John said as he stepped forward to greet her. “Indeed, I was telling my daughter about working here.”

  “We’re happy to have you both on board,” Patricia said with a smile at John and a nod to Hector. She looked back to the men at her side. “And I’d like you to meet Lucas and Sullivan. They are the president and vice-president of Shadowlight Hunters Academy and they are also student ambassadors. And,” she went on with pride, “my sons.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I was quick to say.

  Asher immediately came up beside me, his eyes fixed on the two handsome men.

  Chapter 11

  Dr. Good shook Asher’s hand then turned to me. “I’ve heard so much about you two. You’ve faced more action and activity in the last few months than most slayers see in their lifetimes.”

  “It has been busy,” I said.

  “Well, we’re very much looking forward to having you here. You’ll be attending Shadowlight Hunters Academy with some of the most experienced slayers from around the world.”

  “It’s an honor,” I said.

  “My sons,” Dr. Good said, placing her hand on Sullivan’s shoulder. “They may seem young, but they’ve been gifted with the sight and have been slaying since childhood. As they got older, they accompanied me wherever I went. They learned a lot from me but learned even more from their own experiences. Like you, Lux, they’ve been fighting since the day they were born.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Lucas said with a luscious British accent that brought a hint of propriety to his sexy deep voice. He held his hand out to me who shook it all while keeping my eyes on his magnificent blue-green eyes. His handshake was firm and strong as his fingers enveloped mine. His touch sent a startling tingle up my spine and judging by the small knowing grin on his lips, he was aware of the effect he had on me.

  “It’s a pleasure meeting you,” I said trying to contain my attraction to him.

  His long brown hair swept over his eye, giving him a very mysterious and alluring appeal. With a cleft in his chin and high cheekbones, he was a walking talking dream. He was tall, with strong broad shoulders, and there was something about him that reminded me of Brax.

  Sullivan nudged his brother aside and held his hand out to me. “You can call me Sully.” With gorgeous green eyes and light brown hair, he had a bit of a preppy look, but seemed more carefree than his brother. He held my hand, held my gaze and brought my hand to his lips as he winked.

  “My little brother is still a teenager at heart,” Lucas said. “We’re hoping that one day he’ll grow up.”

  “Don’t listen to him,” Sully said with a wicked smile, his British accent as charming as Lucas’. “He’s just jealous of my cheeky nature. He only wishes he could let go and have fun like I do.”

  “And I’m Asher.”

  Sully and Lucas looked at him, unimpressed, but when Asher held his hand out, Sully took a firm hold of his hand and shook it. There was clear control in the handshake and a desire for Sully to upstage Asher.

  Lucas barely cracked a smile, his eyes hard and appraising as he held his hand out to shake Asher’s.

  “Well, now that the introductions are settled,” Dr. Good said, “I need to go over a few things with John and Hector.” She looked at her sons. “Would you mind giving Lux and Asher the grand tour.”

  “Sure, Mother,” Lucas said.

  “With pleasure,” Sully said, slipping his hand around my waist. He pulled me close to his side and looked hungrily at me. “I’m chuffed to bits. I would love nothing more than to be your very personal escort.” His voice was deep and luscious and so sexy.

  “Keep your shorts on, Sully,” Lucas said, clearly annoyed with his brother’s advances. “Can’t you show an ounce of restraint?”

  Sully kept his wicked eyes on me and licked his lips. “Why wait?” he said in a low husky voice. “I’ve heard so bloody much about you; your killer instincts, your killer moves, but most of all that freakin’ killer body.” He bit down on his lower lip while he devoured me with his eyes. “No bloke can resist that.”

  “You’re the ambassador of SHA, Sully,” Lucas said as he led them out of the building. “Behave like a professional for once in your life.”

  “He’s such a fuddy-duddy,” Sully said. “Can you believe the bloke is just two years older than I am, yet he acts like he’s my father.”

  “That’s because you clearly need a father figure,” Lucas said. “And I would appreciate it if you could address me instead of airing your dirty laundry to a stranger.”

  “Stranger no longer,” Sully said with a playful wink.

&n
bsp; I smiled. It seemed no matter what Lucas said, Sully had a comeback. “Don’t worry about it,” I said to Lucas as they entered the neighboring building. “I can handle myself. If he truly gets out of line, I’ll put him in his place.”

  “Well, it’s good to see that someone other than myself is capable of showing a little maturity.”

  They came to the science lab and Lucas pushed the door open. “We have one of the most advanced and modern facility in all of Nevada.”

  “Are you into science?” Sully said. He leaned in closer. “Or perhaps you prefer chemistry.”

  “I guess you could say that I have a certain curiosity about science,” I said. “But it’s not a passion.”

  “Good enough.”

  They headed to the modern gym, then peered into the elegant chapel and finally took a good look at the spacious cafeteria.

  While Asher walked behind them with Lucas comparing notes on demon slaying, Sully kept a tight hold on me. “I’m really looking forward to spending time with you,” Sully said. He led me out through the modern campus, pointing out various buildings as they walked about.

  “We don’t have dorms here,” he said as he headed off campus and down the road to a large house. “Instead, we have a few private homes scattered about that can house several students.”

  He stopped in front of a massive home with huge windows, and a terra cotta roof. I glanced at the house, not daring to think that it could be my home for my time there.

  “This will be yours,” Sully said with pride. “It’s our most beautiful Mediterranean style house. Isn’t it fabulous?”

  “You’re kidding,” I whispered. I took in the immensity of the home, the raw iron work on the window grills, the rounded arches and the adorable balcony off the second floor.

  “Why are we stopping here?” Asher called out.

  Lucas pulled out two sets of keys. He handed one to me. “This is your home for the next little while.”

  “Holy mackeral,” Asher said.