Eternal Academy Book 3
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Queen Vega
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Catalina Cortez is a powerful young woman navigating a world filled with supernatural beings, gods, and dangerous secrets. Locked in a prison cell, she fights to reunite with her mates and escape. As she trains and battles alongside her allies, Catalina discovers hidden powers and faces threats from ancient deities. With her unique connection to the underworld and a mysterious pregnancy, Catalina must confront her past and protect her future. Will she and her mates survive the trials ahead and uncover the truth about her lineage?
Prologue
Book 3
CATALINA
The cell door slammed shut with a sound of finality. I cringed, watching the angry guard march away. This was not good.
“What are you in for, bookie?”
I spun around, unaware that someone else was occupying the room. If Lucifer ever found out I hadn’t secured my surroundings, I’d suffer another month of training.
My new cellmate was huge, with blonde hair and a body covered in tattoos. At one point in life, I was sure they mistook her for a Barbie, but now? It looked like she ate Barbie.
I crossed my arms, pinning her with a glare. Show no weakness. “I don’t believe that’s any of your business.”
Something else occurred to me just then. This was a human prison; with a roommate, Kol wouldn’t be able to visit me. I had to get rid of her.
I eyed her once more. She seemed friendly enough, unlike the other inmates I had seen on my way in. But friendly or not, she was put here for a reason, and it’d be smart for me to remember that—considering I now had to kill her.
She lay casually on the top bunk, one leg hanging over the side. Killing her would get me a one-way ticket to solitary confinement. Once there, I could get into contact with Kol and find a way out of this mess.
I pushed back my lycan that jumped at the thought of a fight. She was so bloodthirsty. But there was no reason to use her against a human, even though she was twice my size. All right, time to see if Jayden’s fighting lessons had paid off.
Marching forward, I wrapped my hand around her ankle, giving it a hard yank.
“What the hell?” she cursed when she hit the floor.
I jumped back, getting into a fighting stance. Jumping to her feet, she glared at me, murder in her eyes. “You’re going to pay for that, fresh meat.”
Grinning, I cocked my head. “Oh yeah? And who’s going to make me?”
With a battle cry, she charged at me like a bull, literally. I grunted as her head made impact with my stomach. Holy cow, I wasn’t ready.
I flew back against the metal bars of the cell, my head smacking against them. A low growl vibrated my chest, but once again I pushed my lycan down. I got this.
Rolling to the side, I avoided her oversized foot smashing my head. Grabbing her leg, I yanked hard, making her crash to the floor. Leaping up, I straddled her stomach, pulling back my fist, then hesitated. Could I really murder her in cold blood, even though she’d done nothing to me?
My moment of hesitation cost me. She bucked me from her body. I rolled, then crouched, readying myself.
“Let’s just call it even,” she huffed, obviously not one to be in many prison fights. I guessed her hardcore looks deterred them. “I don’t want to end up in the hole.”
I grinned. “That makes one of us.” With a snarl, I charged.
***
I paced the small room, if you could call it that, trying to get ahold of Kol once again. “Damn it, Kol!” Kol Kol Kol Kol Kol. Again, I got no response. What the fuck?
I tried to think of who else could get ahold of him without him attacking them in the process. Which of my mates did he like the most?
Mateo!
Catalina! Where are you? The worry in his voice let me know I was in deeper shit than I thought. Lucifer says to unblock him.
I shook my head, forgetting he couldn’t see. There was a reason I had everyone blocked from my thoughts.
Mateo, I need you to get ahold of Kol. Where is he? He’s not answering me.
I stopped my pacing, choosing to lean against one of the dirt-packed walls. The “hole” turned out to be an actual hole—almost twelve feet deep in the back of the prison. The only way out was the ladder they used to put me down here. Lucky for me, we were in California. It was cool out, making the hole bearable.
Lucifer has him.
I sighed. Of course he did! Why did I always forget that Kol worked for him?
He wants your location and he knows he has it. Catalina, where are you?
Tell him to let Kol go, or I’ll never see any of you again!
With that last thought, I broke our connection. I needed Kol, but I also needed them to work together. There was no way I was doing life in prison. All those people I killed—they deserved it.
“Orange looks good on you.”
My head snapped up. Kol grinned down at me from the opening of the hole.
“Kol! Get down here before someone sees you.”
He chuckled, then a second later black shadows appeared in front of me. He stepped from them slowly. Without warning, I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. It had been twenty-four hours since I’d seen him or any of my mates. I needed the contact.
His arms came around me, squeezing me to him. “Sorry I took so long; the devil held me up.”
I laughed, which came out more like a sob. My arms loosened, but I didn’t let him go.
“As much as I would love to stay like this forever, nothing more romantic than hugging in a hole,” he joked, untangling my arms from his neck. “But we have business to take care of, kitten.”
“Right.” I stepped back, letting my hands fall to my side.
The corner of his mouth twitched, and he reached out to snag one of my hands. “Let’s plan a prison break.”
