Chapter 771: Final Destination

Things were getting too real around here.

Micah noted it the moment he saw the ward set up around the school. So they were involving witches now. All it had taken was one zombie virus for that line to finally be crossed.

Of course, with the virus on the rise, his uncle’s and President Raymond’s utmost concern was protecting the future leaders. Or, in kinder terms, the children of aristocrats.

That was the only reason there weren’t parents crowding the gates, demanding their children be sent home. Not that anyone was foolish enough to wander the streets of Aster City in times like these without a ridiculous amount of protection.

Micah didn’t exactly need protection, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t careful.

He avoided zones with the highest infection rates, kept to routes he trusted, and stayed alert. So far, there had been no reports of infected werewolves, but Micah wasn’t stupid enough to lower his guard.

If a virus like this could appear out of nowhere, then it could just as easily mutate. And once it did, even they would not be safe.

He hoped sincerely that Elijah and Raymond knew what they were doing. Because if they didn’t, it wouldn’t just be the humans paying the price soon.

"Welcome! Welcome!"

Micah was surprised to see Jameson standing there with a few members of staff, waiting for them the moment they stepped out of the car.

He and Adele exchanged a confused look.

What the hell? Since when did this tradition begin?

If Jameson noticed the suspicious looks they were giving her, she didn’t care. She swept forward and immediately pulled Adele into a suffocating hug.

"Urm... okay?" Adele froze for a second before awkwardly hugging her back, her expression downright hilarious in its confusion.

She looked up at Micah and gestured silently,

What the hell is going on right now?

Micah shrugged in response.

Jameson, blissfully unaware of the silent exchange happening between the pair, lingered in the hug far longer than necessary before finally stepping back. She clasped Adele’s shoulders, smiling brightly.

"I always knew there was an attraction between the two of you," she said cheerfully. "All that quibbling and sharp exchanges—who knew it was just the universe giving you a crash course in what would inevitably be your fate?" She laughed.

Adele laughed back nervously, the smile not quite reaching her eyes. She had never liked attention, and right now she was uncomfortable as hell.

"Your rune is so fine," one of the teachers exclaimed. "I’m so jealous!"

"Well, thank you," Adele replied politely, then immediately turned her face away, the smile vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

Her voice slid directly into Micah’s mind.

Send them away, please.

Had she known they would be ambushed the moment they returned, she would have worn long sleeves and covered the rune completely. The way they were staring at her made her feel like a circus animal on display.

Since it was already night, they had assumed they could slip back to their rooms unnoticed. Apparently, Jameson had other plans.

"That is enough," Micah said, his voice hard enough that no one dared refute the order. He pulled Adele out of Jameson’s suspicious clutches and firmly to his side.

"Adele will be retreating to her room," he said coldly, "and I would appreciate it if none of you bothered my mate."

"Mate!" one of them squealed. "He called her mate!"

Adele pinched the bridge of her nose. She liked her place of work—as annoying as the children could be—but if the fangirling among the staff continued, she might actually have to leave.

At once, Jameson clapped her hands. "Alright, that’s enough!" She shooed the teacher who clearly couldn’t get herself under control. Then her sweet smile returned as she turned back to Micah. "Also, that won’t be necessary. I already ordered Adele’s things to be moved into your residence."

"What?!"

Both Adele and Micah shouted at the same time.

As a healer, Adele owned items that were volatile and sensitive, things that should not be moved carelessly—not to mention a few questionable tools she preferred no one poking through.

And Micah—well, he was the Oracle. Not that he kept incriminating items lying around, but the very thought of someone other than Adele rifling through his belongings was enough to set off a bomb in his head.

They were both intensely private people—perhaps the Goddess had paired them for that very reason—and this invasion made their skin crawl.

Micah was the first to step forward, fury tightening his jaw. "You had no right," he said.

Jameson blinked, instantly adopting the look of someone deeply wounded. "I thought that, as per werewolf custom, mated pairs were expected to move in together to strengthen the bond." She clasped her hands together. "I only meant to give you a helping hand, but it seems..." she sighed softly, "I may have overstepped my boundaries. I’m sorry."

She peered up at Micah with apologetic eyes.

He wasn’t fooled.

Micah stepped closer, lowering his voice until it was meant for her ears alone. "I know what you’re doing," he murmured. "You might fool everyone else, but not me. Enjoy this pandemic while it lasts, because the moment it’s over, your ass is getting bundled out of this school."

He stepped back without waiting for a response, turned, and took Adele firmly by the arm.

"Let’s go."

Adele didn’t even bother waving at them as she followed Micah out of the death trap.

"Jameson’s stalling," Adele pointed out.

"Obviously," Micah retorted. "But no matter how much she scuttles around like a cockroach on its last strength, she has been replaced."

"Really?" Adele’s eyes widened. "By who?"

Micah’s expression darkened at the question. "We’ll find out soon."

Adele didn’t press further. She knew Micah well enough to recognize that stubborn clench of his jaw. When he looked like that, there was no prying any information out of his mouth.

They walked in silence for a moment before he spoke again.

"I’m guessing you’ll want to return to your room, in case they forgot anything."

"Exactly," Adele breathed. "There are some things I might have hidden..." She didn’t finish the sentence. Not that she needed to.

Micah already understood.

He said nothing, squeezing her hand instead.

After a while, Micah said with a sigh,

"It isn’t until recently that I wish I could simply teleport you wherever you want. Not drag you through a direct pass to hell."

Adele shot him an understanding look. "Maybe all you need is more practice. You can teleport, Micah. Hell shouldn’t be your final destination."

"I’ve been practicing since the day my powers manifested," he said. "Nothing."

"Well..." Adele stopped walking, forcing him to stop too. She turned to face him. "Not until you had me."

Micah lifted a brow. "You’re offering to train me?" He laughed.

"What?" Adele laughed too. "What’s wrong?"

He shook his head, still smiling. "Nothing."

She nudged him lightly. "Alright, out with it."

Micah shrugged. "It just occurred to me. A healer and a half-demon prince. Maybe you’ll heal the evil out of me."

He laughed, clearly joking, but it didn’t quite land. The words lingered heavier than he’d intended.

No matter how much Micah tried to frame it lightly, he couldn’t deny his demon side. And no matter how much he wished otherwise, it was something he had to live with.

Adele sensed the shift immediately.

Micah must have noticed it too, because the moment grew awkward, and neither of them spoke as they resumed walking.

They soon reached the teachers’ dormitory. Adele retrieved the spare key from its usual hiding place and unlocked the door.

Thanks to the chaos surrounding the mate bond—and the drama she always seemed to get dragged into because of the cardinal alphas—Adele hadn’t even been present when Mary was finally moved out of the academy.

She had no idea what to expect when she stepped inside. But it definitely wasn’t this.

"You have got to be kidding me."