Chapter 91 Academy's Defence Systems.

Chapter 91 Academy's Defence Systems.
Skylar
"Jovanka?" I whispered, my voice trembling slightly.
My grandmother, a full-blooded Veela, stood before me with effortless grace. Her magical aura radiated so intensely—pure and utterly spellbinding—that my four mates instinctively lined up beside me, their eyes wide.
Jovanka gave an elegant smile, her voice sounding like the chime of silver bells. "I must admit, being a canary was a bit of a hassle, but it was the only way I could stay close to you, Julie."
"She... she can shape-shift..." Gils stammered out, his face turning bright red.
Driven by pure wolf instinct and absolute loyalty, Michael immediately stepped in front of me. His eyes glowed sharp, his inner wolf letting out a low growl.
"You know her, Juliette?" Michael asked, shielding me.
"She's my... other grandmother," I said softly. "Keep your temper in check, Michael. She isn't dangerous."
Gils nodded in quick agreement. "She's right, Michael. I can feel her aura... She's no threat. Her magic belongs to the Eastern European mountains."
Meanwhile, Irlan stood quietly in the corner by the bed. My Vampire mate simply watched with a cool, calculated stillness. His breathing was steady, arms folded over his chest, analysing Jovanka’s every move without saying a word.
Unlike the calm and collected Irlan, Elroth leaned casually against the bedpost with a cheeky grin spreading across his handsome face. My Incubus mate eyed Jovanka with twinkling eyes, shamelessly admiring my Veela grandmother’s unmatched beauty.
"Bloody hell, Skylar..." Elroth whistled softly, his voice full of playful teasing. "Now I see where you get that unbelievable charm that keeps the four of us on our knees. Your family genetics are a proper masterpiece. If your gran is this stunning, I reckon I—"
Before Elroth could finish his ridiculous banter, my elbow landed square against his ribs with a sharp jab.
"Ow, that actually hurt, Skylar!" Elroth winced, clutching his side, though he smirked, clearly amused by my blushing, jealous face.
"Mind your mouth, Elroth. She's my grandmother!" I hissed, making Jovanka chuckle softly at our antics.
"Four bonds that complement each other..." Jovanka murmured quietly, her gaze sweeping over the five of us one by one. "The warm, protective fire of a dragon, the formidable strength of a wolf, the wise calm of cold blood, and the seductive allure of fate. Destiny certainly didn't pick your guardians wrong, Skylar."
Jovanka stepped closer, ignoring the slight tension still lingering in the room. Her movements were so smooth she almost seemed to glide across the carpet.
She reached out a pale hand and gently rested it over my chest—right above the heart where three distinct magical bloodlines flowed through my veins. A soothing warmth, like threads of spun gold, seeped from her palm and stilled my racing pulse.
"I don't mean to pry, but your bond is going to face a fair few trials," Jovanka said, her tone turning serious. Her emerald-green eyes locked onto mine, radiating wisdom built over thousands of years.
If she was referring to Katya, I certainly hadn't figured out how to shake her off yet. That mysterious girl kept hovering around my academic life like a ghost.
At the same time, I needed to dig into Katya’s real motives for trying so hard to get close to me.
She was currently stuck in the campus infirmary after last night’s incident and would undoubtedly have to answer to a few professors.
If Elroth was right about her drama being a stunt for attention, I had to stay extra sharp. I wasn't about to pin my safety on whatever investigation the faculty was running.
"Do you know anything about Katya, Gran?" I pressed, eyeing her closely.
Before Jovanka could answer, Elroth cut in, stretching lazily with effortless, sensual ease. "Do we want to dive into this heavy chat right now, or can we grab some breakfast first? Honestly, I'm starving after this morning's rather exhausting 'bedtime cardio'."
My cheeks flared up instantly at Elroth's vulgar joke, which rudely reminded my grandmother of what we’d been up to just moments before she shifted back into her true form.
"Yeah, let's get some food. Irlan can stay and keep your grandmother company for a bit if she doesn't mind," Michael interjected firmly, stepping in to redirect the mood.
Michael grabbed my pyjamas from the end of the bed and shoved them into my hands, silently telling me to cover up from any stray eyes.
The sound of heavy footsteps and Professor Varkesh's voice echoed down the stone corridor as the four of us headed down to the main academy hall. The amplified magical announcement boomed through the hallways.
Attention all students: all morning classes, exams, and practical sessions across all five supernatural factions are cancelled today due to an urgent evaluation of the academy's defence systems.
The surprise day off sent the students along the corridor into absolute delight. The usually stiff atmosphere instantly dissolved into a buzz of excitement.
Hallways filled with people slamming their lockers shut, stowing away spellbooks, and turning back with loud laughs to head straight back to their dorms.
The four of us—me, Michael, Gils, and Elroth—claimed a tucked-away corner table in the hall. Trays piled high with toast, crispy bacon, fresh fruit, and steaming dragon fruit juice sat warm on our table.
Michael ate quickly, slicing through his breakfast steak with the sharp efficiency typical of an Alpha wolf.
"Honestly, something still doesn't sit right with me," Michael said between mouthfuls, flicking his gaze toward me. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around your gran's sudden appearance. Why hide in your room disguised as a canary all this time?"
Gils chewed his toast thoughtfully before piping up, his eyes lighting up as he dove into theoretical possibilities.
"In magical history, lower creatures usually only evolve into larger forms or gain basic elemental traits. But shifting from a tiny canary into a full-formed Veela... that's extraordinary. Your grandmother must be channelling some exceptionally high-tier magic."
"Yeah, but the thing is... my gran died when my mum was just a little girl. Mum told me so herself."
Elroth chuckled softly, taking a slow sip of his coffee. He didn't seem bothered by Jovanka’s presence in the slightest. As per usual, he took it all in stride.
"Well, magical miracles aside, I'm just grateful. Jovanka's gorgeous looks clearly got passed straight down to our Skylar. A absolute treat for our eyes every single day."
I kicked Elroth's leg under the table, which only earned me a playful chuckle and a wink from my Incubus mate.
"The Veela are actually incredibly reclusive," Gils added, pulling the conversation back onto a more serious track. "High up in the Eastern Ice Mountains, they choose to stay hidden on the highest peaks, keeping away from humans and ordinary mages to protect their magic from being hunted by vampires."
"Spot on, Gils. I take it your family covered that in your history lessons too?"
We carried on with light chatter, soaking up a rare moment of peace while the rest of the hall buzzed with students celebrating their unexpected day off. Elroth’s banter and Gils’s nerdy breakdowns brought a comfortable warmth to our table.
The peace, however, didn't last.
The main tower bell chimed three times, followed by a localized magical summons echoing directly from the academy’s communication crystal above our table.
Priority summons from the Main Office. Student Juliette Skylar McKirby is required to report to Professor Rowland in the Headmaster’s office immediately to provide an official statement regarding last night's magical incident.
The table went dead silent. Michael froze, fork halfway to his mouth, while Gils’s expression sharpened.
Elroth offered a gentle smile. "Good luck, sweetheart."