Celestra Forever After by Addison Moore Read Free Book Online Page A

Gage no matter what the universe decided to dictate. Being with Gage feels beautiful and safe—as if I’ve made my way home.
    A sea of bodies drift in through the door, forcing us to step to the side. I gaze out at the Student Union for a moment. The giant effigy of a dragon has been masterfully crafted in a lifelike mural that spans the length and width of the building. Its large, scaly body stretches out as its mouth opens wide with a stream of flames shooting from it. Black feathered wings sprout from its back that stretch to the rooftop. Under its claw sits a rose with its petals scattered around, crushed by the cruel beast. The entire mural is disturbing to look at, and it’s safe to assume the sight could easily scare young children—me included. It’s evident the artist took their time to bring the creature to life, stroke by stroke. A pair of ruby eyes glimmer over campus, bleeding out an eerie spray of sanguine light. Painted just above him reads Host University, Home of the Dragons. Below the creature, in an old school gangster block font, reads, Omen . It’s nice they’ve named him, but it doesn’t make that fire wrapping around the building any less menacing.
    “Creepy.” Gage lands a kiss on my earlobe. “Sort of makes me miss Cerberus.”
    I give a wistful smile at the mention of the three-headed dog. Cerberus was our high school mascot.
    “I guess I miss Cerberus, too.” There’s a sentiment I thought we’d never share. “We’d better go in. I’d hate for us to be late.”
    “No warning bells just a five-minute grace period. We’re not at West anymore, that’s for sure.” He cinches his backpack over his shoulder just the way he did a few short months ago when we were both students at West Paragon High. But we’re not. Nothing is even remotely the same, and I guess you could put us in that category as well.
    “I was just thinking how everything has changed.” I tug him in by the belt loop.
    “And we’re the same?” He steals a quick kiss off my cheek.
    “Nope.” I bite down over my lip playfully and watch as his eyes round out into twin cobalt eggs. “We’re about to get a whole lot better.”
    “Damn straight.”  Gage presses out his infectious grin, and we share a simple kiss before he nods into the class behind me. “Let’s do this.”
    Gage and I walk in to find a small auditorium with stadium style seating. Almost every seat is taken with the exception of a couple spares here and there, making it impossible for us to sit together.
    “Plenty of room up top.” He nods behind me, and I spot a few familiar faces from West, including an obnoxious face from East, Carly Foster.
    My stomach turns at the sight of her. She and one of her bitchy friends were responsible for me getting my arm hacked off by Ezrina—and poor Dr. Oliver was forced to switch it out with Chloe’s useless limb. But that’s when Chloe was still safely tucked in her coffin, nothing more than a spare parts conservatory—otherwise known as the good old days. Then, in a series of unfortunate events, the rejuvenating power of my Celestra blood brought her back to life, and Chloe was free to wreak havoc on every last soul in Paragon, beginning with mine. And now she’s… actually I’m not really sure how to classify Chloe anymore other than a constant pain in my ass.
    I scan the class once again, and a sandy-haired blonde sitting down front catches my eye.
    “Oh, wow.” I feel lightheaded for a moment. “I think that’s Laken Stewart.”
    “The girl from the Transfer?” Gage squints into her.
    “Yeah, that’s her.” Laken is a Count I once tried to save in the Transfer with some unsuccessful mouth to mouth. Turns out the Countenance have their own twisted resurrection program in place, and Laken was forced to participate. Last I saw her was in the Tenebrous Woods, while her boyfriend, Wes, siphoned blood from my neck. Not all Counts are blood-sucking fools, just the wicked ones. “Do you mind