7. Lucian

The fucking bastard.

I should have known he would run. Of course he would. He'd hurt another student, my student, my everything. The consequences would be too dire to face. And Ryan Byron was nothing but a rich coward with visions of grandeur thanks to his parents.

"I do understand Mr. Byron's alleged actions were deplorable," the dean says, "but without him here or any proof, there isn't much we can do, Mr.…Lucian."

I narrow my eyes and scowl at the man. He has perfectly trimmed silver hair and a matching beard, but his light-blue eyes look empty. His face is so punchable with this kind of fuckery coming out of his mouth.

"Alleged? Do you mean to tell me you don't believe me?—"

"I do, Lucian. However, Mr. Byron hasn't demonstrated any such behavior in the past, so I'm sure there must be an explanation for his actions."

"I'll give you an explanation. He's a power-hungry little shit who needs to pay for what he did to my…to Mr. Jung."

Heat climbs up my chest and constricts my throat, but I refuse to clear my throat. I won't show any sign of weakness in front of this man. I won't let him know what Mr. Jung means to me. How much he means to me. But there will be consequences if he does nothing. And they won't be pleasant.

"Be that as it may, it's your word against…" Dean Colchester looks to the empty seat beside me and sighs. "The Byrons are a very honorable family. They've all graduated from Lockwood Academy with the highest honors."

"So you don't believe me." I can't help the growl in my voice.

This is abominable. Since I met Thaddeus Colchester a week ago, he's given me the impression he is a very good, respectable man running an equally good and respectable academy for witches. But clearly, his palms are greased by the wrong hands and his heart is swayed by the people with money to flash.

"That is not what I'm saying, Lucian. Bring me Mr. Jung. Let him testify, and I will reconsider."

Testify. As if we're in court. I have to laugh. I don't, but I swallow down some very dishonorable words and stand.

"Fine. I'll be right back."

I don't bother with the door. I walk around Thaddeus's desk and let my wings break the window so I can fly out.

If he's going to disrespect me by blatantly accusing me of lying, then I have no reason to respect him either. But I can deal with Thaddeus Colchester after I've dealt with Byron.

The sky is a dark shade of mauve, befitting the city it's cast over. It's an odd place, Amethyst City. More rich than poor, more advanced than derelict. More expensive than working class-friendly.

It shouldn't shock me that this place is filled with horrible people, yet every person I've met other than my darling Yu-jin and his friend has been highly disappointing.

Good thing I don't have morals so I can punish those who stand in my way and especially my soulmate's way. Because no one who tries to hurt him, use him, or stop him is safe from my wrath.

His window is still open when I approach, and I fly right through, only to find him in bed, fast asleep.

He looks gorgeous when he sleeps. Well, to be fair, he looks gorgeous every second of every hour of every day. But he looks so…vulnerable when he's asleep. No matter what he says or does when he's awake, he can't hide his true vulnerable nature in this state. I can see the real Yu-jin, scars, strengths, and character in their full glory when he's sleeping.

Which is why I hate having to do this, but I lower myself over him, kiss his beautiful, soft cheek, and call his name.

He doesn't react.

"Darling boy."

Still nothing. The events from earlier tonight must have exhausted him. Who can blame him? But I need him to wake up and "testify" to the goddamn dean so I can have Byron expelled. Once he's expelled, I can make him pay for what he did to my boy.

I brush my fingers over his face and kiss his lips this time. He doesn't stir. Doesn't even turn to his side.

"Yu-jin." I raise my voice, and I hate myself a little more every time I do it, but I reach a point where I'm shouting his name, shaking him, and he still doesn't wake.

Something is wrong. Something's terribly wrong.

What could have possibly happened in the time I've been gone. It's barely been an hour. Maybe an hour and a half, if I count the time it took for the dean to wake up and get dressed.

The Byron bastard couldn't have gotten in with all the wards around the place. Then again…it's not impossible. He somehow found the money to purchase a really expensive illusion spell. Because I'd been back to the gym and found the dust residue of the spell. It was potent with magic even after several hours after the incident. And no human is powerful enough to cast such an illusion, even if it's their natural power.

But Ryan Byron comes from a wealthy family with a hefty trust fund and you can find all sorts of spells with the right price tag.

But even if he did find and purchase an intrusion spell, it still doesn't explain why Yu-jin won't wake up. Or why he's still here and unharmed. If he broke in, he would have cut him, surely.

I close my eyes and run my hands over my boy, tuning in to higher frequencies, focusing on them, trying to figure out what exactly is going on.

His limbs are cold, his heartbeats and breathing are slow as expected, but there's something…something there. On his head.

I wave my hand over his face. A trickle of magic scratches my fingertips. What the hell is it?

I move down the rest of his body before I try his head again. Same thing.

Some sort of magic. Something…something in his brain.

I knew it. Something is seriously wrong. And I have a very good idea who's behind it.

I inspect the apartment and spot a cell phone. I leave Yu-jin on the bed and walk over to the dining table to grab it. I use Yu-jin's thumbprint to unlock it and find Jace's number.

It takes a couple attempts, but he picks up the third time.

"Yu-jin, are you okay?"

"Jace, it's Lucian. And no, he's not okay."

I can hear shuffling on the other end of the line. I've probably woken the poor guy up, and he's just sitting up or getting out of bed.

"What happened?"

"He won't wake up. Someone's done something to him, but I'm not sure what. Do you know anyone in the academy who can induce comas or, I don't know, put someone to sleep?"

"Coma— Oh my God. Yu-jin. What…who…fuck!" I hear the very distinct sound of feet thumping on a hardwood floor and take a deep breath, praying Jace has the answers I'm looking for. "Is it Ryan? Did he do this?"

"How do you know?"

"Fucking fucker. He invited Yu-jin to a party. He said he knows how to invoke eldritch monsters, and Yu-jin said he needed to know how."

"Oh, he knows all right. He used Yu-jin."

Jace swears again, and the pacing gets louder and more frantic.

"Think, Jace. Think. Who could be doing this to him?"

The footsteps stop abruptly.

"Um…I may be wrong, but…I've heard Ryan is…his power has to do with dreams?"

"Dreams?" I look at my beautiful, innocent boy, and my breathing stops. "Fuck. Of course. He must be a dream walker."

"Ah…yeah, maybe. I mean, I don't know for sure, but it fits, right?"

"Do you know where he could be? I told him to go to the dean's office after I stopped him, but he never showed up."

The pacing on the other end starts again, and I do the same too.

"Yeah. I…probably the dorms?"

"A rich guy like him is staying in the dorms?"

"Well, he likes showing off and bossing people around, so does it really surprise you?"

I don't respond. I put the phone down, grab Yu-jin, and fly back out the window with him in my arms.

No one messes with my soulmate and lives to breathe another day. No one. Fucking no one.

By the time I reach the academy, the sky has turned a light grayish blue and the birds are singing when I land outside the dorms.

I break down the double doors and storm into the building. "Ryan Byron! Get me that little shit now!" I shout so loud the building shakes. I couldn't care less.

In fact, I keep doing it until everyone can hear me. Until everyone is awake.

Students gather outside their doors, rubbing their eyes, their heads, or crotches with confusion.

"Where is Ryan Byron?"

Some of them shrug and step back. A couple cower in fear. Some of them point up the stairs.

"Isn't that the new teacher?"

"What's he doing here?"

"Who is he holding?"

"What is all this ruckus?"

I hear the murmurs everywhere as I take the stairs and repeat my screaming match until I get an exact pinpoint to that bastard's location.

"Is this Ryan Byron's room?" I ask a bulky, topless guy whose eyes go wide as soon as he sees me and stumbles back when I address him.

"Two…two doors…down." He points me to the left, and I close the distance, kick the door down, and enter the room.

There he is. The blond shit, lying in bed, hands on his stomach and eyes closed.

"Wake up, you degenerate scumbag. Open your eyes. Face my wrath."

Byron opens his eyes and raises an eyebrow.

"Can I help you, Master Lucian?" His tone is dripping with sarcasm.

I can't wait to deal with his tone and smirk as he sits up.

"What have you done to Mr. Jung?"

Byron points to himself with a questioning look and shrugs.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

I take a step toward him and shove my face in his so he can feel the intensity of my words.

"Stop acting like a fool and wake him up!"

Ryan Byron stares back at me for a moment too long before he sighs and shakes his head.

"I'm sorry, mister. I can't do that."

"You will if you value your life." My spit paints his face, but he doesn't seem phased.

He gets up and walks away from me, making half-circles around the room.

"That's very sweet that you care about this guy so much, but I'm afraid I can't help you, demon. I've got other plans for him, and you are my teacher. You can't hurt me."

I snarl.

"Don't be so sure." I click my tongue. Brimfang appears out of thin air and lands in front of Byron.

She shows him her teeth with a yowl, and he stumbles onto the floor.

"Wake him up, or Brimfang here will make a meal out of you."

Ryan's chest rises and falls faster, staring at Brim. I can hear his heartbeat all the way across the room. It goes so fast I wouldn't be surprised if he has a heart attack.

"You…you can't hurt me. If…if you do, he'll never wake up."

The knot in my throat gets large. So large it almost chokes me, but I hide it. Conceal it. I can't show any weakness in front of this shit.

But the truth is I need to act really carefully from here on out. I need to think before I act. If I'm ever going to get my Yu-jin back, I can't be rash.

"Perhaps…you need some convincing then."

Brim yowls again and snaps her teeth around Byron's foot. His scream is music to my ears. I'll make sure he sings with pain. As soon as he lets go of my boy.

"Let him go!"

Byron clutches at his leg but bites his tongue and shakes his head.

"No."

"Brim, I think we need a more convincing argument."

Brim looks at me, and when she turns back to Ryan, her eyes are red, her spine trembling with the growl she emits.

She pounces.

But her bite never lands anywhere near Byron.

No. She lands next to him, curls up beside him, and purrs.

"What have you done?"

I don't even know who I'm addressing. The spoiled brat or my traitor cat.