Descendants Academy: Young Adult Urban Fantasy by Belle Malory (most important books of all time txt) 📗

“Dannellion is a s-stone.” My voice was shaking now. “Its purpose is to heighten the wearer’s natural beauty and increase pheromones.”

Her entire face tightened, the blood rising in her cheeks. “How could you possibly know that?”

“I told you. I read the book.”

“Very well,” she acceded, walking away from the table. “You’ve avoided detention, Miss Thorne.” She stared back at me for several long seconds. “But I have one last request of you. I’d like you to walk down the aisle with the Grace of Aphrodite.”

My legs trembled. The Grace of Aphrodite was a term used to describe the ability to be seen and cause euphoria to the beholder. It was done by stepping on the balls of your feet, elongating your neck, and straightening your back. While you walked, you had to levitate to appear as if you were floating.

I’d never be able to do it, and if I so much as tried, I’d probably fall flat on my face. “I-I don’t think—”

“You can’t?” Professor Lilyworth supplied for me.

I shook my head.

A smirk pulled at the corners of her mouth. “Not everything can be learned from books, eh?” Her attention darted to Ione. “Will you be a dear, and show her how it’s done?”

Ione nodded and stood. In perfect form, she began to move, and I’m pretty sure her feet didn’t touch the floor. She was a vision of beauty, floating down the aisle like a swan on a lake. Everyone was in awe.

If I could hide under my ottoman, I would gladly have done it.

“Well done, Ione.” Professor Lilyworth glowed with approval. “Now then, class. If any of you feel this subject is beneath you, there’s the door. Otherwise, let’s begin.”

Ione took her seat beside me, giving me a disapproving look. The moment class was over, she started in on me.

“What was that about?” she whispered furiously as we packed up our things. “Here I am, trying to do everything in my power to raise your status, and you’re ripping my good work to shreds.”

“I’m sorry.” I sniffed. “I didn’t think she was listening to our conversation.”

“That’s the problem.” Ione threw the strap of her bag over her arm. “You weren’t thinking. You’ve been in this school for two seconds, and just like a human, you think you understand everything. Next time I give you advice, just take it.”

She sidestepped me, leaving for the door in quick strides.

I sighed, gathering the rest of my things. She was right. I didn’t understand much about magic or this life. Only two days in, and I was already digging my own grave at Arcadia. If I was smart, I’d heed her advice, all of it, including the part about staying away from Xander. Part of me really, really wished I could do that. But the bigger, more desperate, part of me wasn’t ready to give up. Not while this nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach kept me looking back. Until this curse was lifted, I would never feel whole anywhere. It was only a matter of time before its prophecy was carried out, and Xander knew more than he was letting on. I refused to let him get away with it. One way or another, he needed to tell me everything.

I headed to the Ares training field, determined to make him do just that.

The field where the gladiators trained was surrounded by the amphitheater, where visitors came to watch live combat. The raw size of it was enough to keep me staring like a starry-eyed tourist visiting the colosseum for the first time.

Inside the field, things only got more intense. Multiple combatants went at each other with all sorts of weapons. Some I recognized, some I didn’t, and some that looked enchanted. I lit up at the sight of an electrified whip giving off sparks of energy as it cracked it into the air. Another student’s sword appeared to glow a bright blue every time it connected with his opponent’s red one. Looking around, I could feel my eyes growing bigger by the second. I was in awe. I wanted to be out there on that field, instead of stuck in boudoir classrooms learning how to craft stupid love potions.

I eventually spied Xander across the field, fighting another gladiator without weapons. Dressed only in his gladiator’s kilt, he was naked from the waist up. Every lean muscle in his chest and back rippled in the sunlight, and I couldn’t help but drool a little while watching him.

Get it together, I reminded myself. You’re here to get information, that’s all.

I tried to make my way across the field, but two sour-faced gladiators blocked my path.

“No entrance,” said the one on the right.

“House Ares students only,” said the one on the left.

The two of them crossed their muscled arms over their puffed-out chests, looking like bouncers on a power trip.

“I just need a few minutes.”

Neither of them budged. It was clear they weren’t letting me through, no matter what reason I came up with.

I looked over at Xander again, desperate.

His fight had stopped…and he was looking over here. Straight at me! I waved, trying to signal him. Several long seconds passed, he wiped the sweat from his brow, and then turned his back. Completely dismissing me.

That bastard.

Ione was right. He wouldn’t talk to me out here.

Seeing what happened, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum laughed. “Run on back to Aphrodite, defector.”

Dammit, I hated that everyone knew that about me.

Squaring my shoulders, I left the field, swearing once I learned how to brew a decent potion I would make those two meatheads become infatuated with toads. And Xander—I squeezed my fists together, feeling the heat rise in my arms, that untapped energy built on anger and passion brimming just beneath the surface. Xander was lucky I couldn’t tap into my magic because I would’ve directed it all at him in a firebolt of pain.

Small hiccups, I reminded myself, taking a deep breath.

Eventually, I would get