Secret of the Gods (Magic Blessed Academy 2)

The one thing I did know, though, was that I was unusually strong. Several of my teachers had mentioned it along the way. That meant the admins and messengers were talking about people like

me.

They were talking about people like Merrick, Trace, and Lachlan.

The messengers wanted them to send the best and most talented students into a deadly challenge in the godly realm.

Fear chilled my skin at the same time a grim smile spread across my face. Eden had been worried that the admins wouldn’t let me compete in the preliminary again, since I’d already won the challenge once.

But from the sounds of it, they’d be all too willing to give me another chance to go to the godly realm.

Another chance to die there.

Chapter Eight

Leaning back in my chair, I let my eyes drift shut for a moment.

I hadn’t slept more than a few hours last night. I had snuck into Merrick’s room for two rounds of toe-curling sex, which had helped calm my whirling thoughts for a while. But the calm hadn’t lasted long. I’d had confusing, terrifying dreams, and had spent a good portion of the night staring up at the ceiling.

The preliminary competition for the Gods’ Challenge was growing nearer and nearer. I was trying so hard to stay focused, to continue working hard in my classes and absorb everything our professors were teaching us. But with everything going on, it was hard to focus. Even though I’d only gotten to hear a portion of it, what the messengers had said during that meeting had really messed with my head.

It was like I had fifty pieces of a thousand piece puzzle, and I kept shuffling them around in my head, trying to make them fit without knowing the shapes of any of the pieces that should connect to them.

There was so much I didn’t know, and what I did made no sense.

Why would the gods request the best magic users the school had and then express disappointment when more of them didn’t die in the Gods’ Challenge?

Are we meant to be some sort of… sacrifice?

The thought sent chills running down my spine, and my eyes popped open. Professor Cantwell scowled at me before resuming his lecture, obviously having caught me dozing in his class.

I scrubbed a hand down my face. Fuck. I don’t know. I wanted to unravel the secrets that surrounded this place, but I knew it would take time. And I knew the real answers weren’t buried here anyway.

The answers were in the godly realm, and I was more determined than ever to get there.

Class finally let out, and I met up with Eden in the hall. She beamed at me, but her smile faltered as she got a good look at me. “Are you okay, Ari? You don’t look great.”

I shrugged, not even able to come up with the energy to make up a proper lie. “I’m exhausted. I don’t know why today, maybe because it’s raining outside, but I feel beat down today. Like I got run over by a truck.”

Eden snorted. “If you feel beat down, imagine what the rest of us feel like. You’re one of the strongest students at the academy.”

We made our way down the hall, and I cut my gaze to her, pulling a face. “Sure, except the teachers don’t seem to be very happy about that. I thought it was a good thing to do well in school. That’s what I always heard anyway.”

My grades in high school hadn’t exactly been stellar. I’d had bigger things to worry about. Like, you know, staying alive.

Eden shrugged. “Maybe they’re jealous. You could probably be more powerful than a lot of professors here someday. Or maybe they see it a lot, and it doesn’t faze them. Or maybe they just don’t pay attention. I mean, have you met some of our teachers?”

I chuckled, slowing as we passed by a window and watching water droplets run down the pane. “You’re right. Still doesn’t make me feel a whole lot better about today.”

“Are you nervous about the preliminaries?” she asked quietly.

She had given up trying to talk me and the men out of competing again, but I knew she didn’t think it was a great idea. I couldn’t blame her. I’d been a wreck after last semester’s challenge, and she’d had a front-row seat to my turmoil.

“Nah. You know I can kick ass at that.” I grinned, nudging her shoulder in what I hoped was a reassuring gesture. “The guys and I will be fine.”

She nodded, not looking convinced.

I hefted my bag higher on my shoulder, turning from the window. “Come on. We should probably get going. I don’t want to be late and get the stink eye from Professor Wist.”