Valkyrie's Harem (Academy of Immortals 1)

I glance down again. I’m more scared of what’s down there than making the move.

Carefully, I inch my way around, holding onto his middle. His muscles bulge as I move, and when I get to his back I hold my breath, terrified to move another inch.

He latches onto the stone with his other hand and slowly climbs, using every ounce of strength to pull us up. When he’s close enough he says in a tired, strained voice, “Climb off.”

I do, using my height to reach the flat surface of the top of the wall. I see the lights of the Academy and no one outside. I hear a screech, a slice through air, and spin, “Armin!”

I do what I can to pull him up, but he does most of the work. He doesn’t rest on the edge, instead jumping

straight to the ground. He stumbles and cries out.

“Are you hurt? What happened?”

He rolls on to his back and bends his knee, lifting the leg of his pants. His muscular leg is drenched with blood, three long gashes in his skin. He grimaces, clearly in pain.

“Did that happen in there?” I ask, mind spinning.

He nods and moves to stand. I hold out my hands, panic filling my chest—more than even before. What is out there? What got him?

I don’t get a chance to ask the questions bubbling in my mind, because Armin stumbles, falling out of my reach and crashing to the ground.

“Can you get up?” I ask, knowing there’s no way I’ll be able to carry him.

He shakes his head and winces in pain. “No.”

“Stay here,” I tell him. “I’ll get help.”

I shouldn’t worry about leaving Armin on the grounds alone. He’s a warrior. But something in my chest twists in concern, propelling me to run hard across the grounds. I don’t know if it’s the wound itself or the monster lurking on the other side of the wall.

Suddenly the Academy doesn’t feel very safe at all.

36

Rupert

The feeling hits me like a bolt of lightning and I jerk up, the papers sprawled across my lap falling to the floor.

“What the hell, Rupe?” Marshal stares at me from his side of the room.

“I-I-don’t know.”

His forehead furrows. “A premonition?”

“Something. Fear. Intense fear.” I wince. “And pain. Someone’s hurt.”

“Hildi?” His voice is laced with worry.

“I don’t know.” I close my eyes and search the feeling. Different people have different energies. “I don’t think so, but…I think she’s close.”

“Well, get up,” he says, hopping off the bed faster than I’ve ever seen him move unless he’s in an actual fight or if a hot girl is nearby. “Let’s go see what’s happening.”

I stand but instantly double over, my stomach wracked with pain. I grip the end of the bed. “Something’s wrong,” I tell him. “It’s bad. Go. I’ll meet up with you when I can.”

I’ve never had a premonition this strong. Not before the fight with the Morrigan. Well, maybe one. The one right before I died. I knew that was coming and I walked into it willingly, ready to sacrifice for my army and father and kingdom. Camulus was waiting on the other side.

Marshal stops at the closet and pulls out two daggers, sliding them into his belt. He gives me one last look and leaves reluctantly, and I roll back on my bed, clutching my stomach. I close my eyes and try to focus on the vision. Something is coming, something bad.

I just hope it’s not already here.