2. Adrianna

2

ADRIANNA

I can talk a big game, promising a fight, but I need a few minutes to gather myself first. I don't have the luxury of slinking off to my room where I can hide behind the safety of my carefully built walls and allow myself to crumble beneath the weight of my emotions. Instead, I've got about twenty seconds to acknowledge the new layer of bullshit that surrounds me before I must compartmentalize and get on with it.

My main concern is wasting the whole twenty seconds on figuring out where the fuck to begin tackling all the obstacles we face.

Gripping the marble vanity, I stare at my reflection, noting nothing different, which finds a way to piss me off. I feel different; I should look different, too.

I sigh. The corner of my mouth tilts up as I acknowledge the fact that maybe nothing looks different because I haven't changed at all. I've simply released a piece of myself that was dormant and there's no hiding it anymore. Whether I like it or not.

"I am a fae princess."

"I am a wolf."

"I'm the fucking dragon princess."

The words taste humorous on my tongue as I speak, the reality of them not truly sinking in, but I know with all certainty that my soul is connected to Kryll and Cassian in ways I can't describe.

I'm not ready to either.

I am a wolf, though. I let Cassian claim me, breaking the suppression I didn't even know was in place until the moment it was lifted. Despite the pain, shifting felt raw, real, and… special. A moment I'm sure I'll replay again and again, but the way it felt in that moment will never be erased.

Kenner's words rear their ugly head in my brain, tainting the moment as they cloud my thoughts.

"And you, Adrianna, I knew you would seek out your wolf the moment you were told not to, just as I planned."

What the fuck does that even mean? I don't have the answers, and a part of me doesn't want them if they circle back to him, but I get the feeling I'm going to find out eventually. We need to get this mess over with, then I can have a real conversation with Cassian that results in him understanding that I really don't hold him accountable for his father's actions. That man is a horrible specimen all on his own, and he definitely doesn't reflect on his estranged son.

But what is this lingering mess? What the fuck is Bozzelli doing with this spontaneous trial? Who is it benefiting? My knuckles whiten as my grip tightens, and I shake my head. Bozzelli already gave me the explanation for that: The Council.

It seems they're hell-bent on forcing me to be fated mates with the men I'm already in deep with. It's an idea that's almost appealing if it doesn't leave us vulnerable to their cause. Does me being a wolf still play into their plan? Or is that Kenner pulling a surprise move on everyone?

Fuck if I know. I'm not going to get the answers standing here, but I don't care all that much for going out there to get them, either.

A knock sounds from the door to my right, pulling me from my thoughts, and I turn to find Flora peeking through the small gap. I gulp at the sight of her, completely lost for words, but the shimmering glaze of pity in her eyes tells me she already knows what I'm up to. I've never been more grateful for someone taking control and explaining to my friend the hell I'm living so I don't have to find the words myself.

"You look good, Addi," she breathes, a soft smile gracing her lips as she steps inside and shuts the door behind her. I smile back, rolling my shoulders as I stand tall, meticulously putting my metaphorical armor in place. "Are you ready?" she asks when I exhale a long breath.

"Am I allowed to say no?" I muse, making her smile spread, but it doesn't meet her eyes.

"Sure, I just don't think you really have a choice," she admits, the truth grazing my skin like barbed wire, cutting deeper than necessary, but I don't let it threaten the structure of my mental walls, which are preparing for battle.

"True."

Silence descends over the room until Flora clears her throat, running her hands over her pretty dress as she peers at me. "I can tell them you need a few more minutes?—"

"No, I'm good," I interject, nodding as I head toward the door. She opens it wide for me with a flourish to reveal Kryll, Cassian, Raiden, Brody, and Arlo on the other side.

My chest tightens at the sight of my Kryptos as Arlo wraps an arm around Flora's shoulders. They're each dressed to the nines in their suits, just like earlier, but now a tension ripples through them. It ripples through all of us, holding us all prisoner as I join them in the hallway. My dress is sweet and whimsical, hiding the truth beneath the fabric.

No words are exchanged as we fall into step. Brody is on my left, fingers ghosting over mine as Raiden takes my right, his fingers splayed across the small of my back.

The ballroom consumes my senses a moment later, the chatter mingling with the harp playing in the corner of the room as the food is brought out to the tables. Weaving our way through the madness, Brody points out a large table with most of the seats vacant. Flora and Arlo take off first, their parents occupying two seats to the left, and Raiden presses a kiss to my temple before heading off toward the man seated opposite them.

My steps falter as I approach, unsure where to sit, but my stress is quickly alleviated when I spy the name cards in front of each seat. Brody pulls my seat out for me, and as I murmur my thanks, I scan the room, eager to spot the assholes wreaking havoc on my life, but I come up empty.

No Bozzelli. No Kenner. No Professor Halloway. No Councilman Orenda. No one.

I can't enjoy the sentiment of out of sight, out of mind . Their lack of presence only causes me greater concern.

"Ah, this must be the delightful Adrianna Reagan. It's a pleasure." I blink at the man seated three chairs to my right, Raiden at his side, and it's instantly clear that this is his father. His tone is… questionable, his attire is flamboyant, and his smile is almost fueled by insanity.

A maroon velvet suit frames his figure, with a crisp white shirt underneath. A cigar occupies his right hand, although it isn't lit, while his chin is tilted in my direction, exposing his perceived superiority.

"And you are?" I reply, cocking a brow at him. His lips spread into a ridiculously wide smile as Raiden covers his mouth with his hand.

"You're as fiery as my son promised."

"I'm shocked that he didn't choose to downplay my lowly fae abilities," I muse, teasing my vampire over the shit he called me when we first met. He grimaces, but his father lets out a laugh sent straight from his gut.

"I liked your father."

I tilt my head at him. "The verdict is still out on the reciprocation," I state, earning a wink from the older man as he nods.

"I definitely like her, Son." He turns his attention to Raiden, who rolls his eyes at his father.

"I'd rather you didn't," he mutters, pulling out the seat beside him. He settles in with Cassian next to him and Kryll nestled between the two of us.

Brody plants his hand on my thigh from the left, injecting me with another layer of confidence as plates of food are placed in front of us. Layers of potatoes are accompanied by steamed vegetables and thin slices of beef. It smells delicious, but I'm too worked up to even consider lifting the fork to my mouth.

My desire to eat quickly went out the window on the wings of the catastrophe that this evening has already been. Looking around the table, I find only the adults digging in, the appeal of eating lost to the rest of us as we await the unknown.

The music dies down when someone taps on a microphone, saving me from the misery of the plate before me, and I look up to find Bozzelli center stage. Her fake smile is plastered across her face, hair styled in tight curls, and eccentric makeup coating her eyelids. If that wasn't enough, her bright purple dress acts as a beacon in the dimly lit room.

Anticipation lodges my next breath in my throat, her lips parting only tightening the knot. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I want to thank you all for attending such a phenomenal evening tonight, one I feel has been much needed to increase morale among students after some witnessed the severity of the frenzied vampire attacks." Murmurs ripple throughout the room, whispering their agreements, and it only serves to irritate me more. "I want to thank you all for going through the extra security measures in place this evening to visit us on campus. After another unwelcome visit on-site, we feel it's necessary to proceed with caution and restrict access on both ends."

I scoff, unable to hold it in. Her ban is pointless. Cassian managed to get off campus easily enough the other night, and she invited the very man who attacked me to begin with. None of it makes sense. If anything, it feels like another failed attempt at control on her end.

"I can't believe a single person is capable of spewing so much bullshit in so few sentences," Brody whispers under his breath, making me grin as I hum in agreement.

"With that in mind, leading a kingdom is no easy feat, and we must be prepared for any situation," Bozzelli continues, and my stomach twists, knowing her next words before she speaks them since we heard her plan to Kenner earlier. "Tonight feels like the perfect opportunity for a trial." She throws her hands out wide with glee, earning a few cheers from some members of the crowd, but surprise and concern is what mostly fills the room. "Before we roll into the excitement of what the trial will entail, I think it's also an excellent time for our students to work on speeches. Addressing the public is another key role in being the heir of the Floodborn Kingdom, and what better way to gather ourselves than in the company of our loved ones?" Grunts of agitation circle the room, making Bozzelli smile manically as she finishes her own speech. "I apologize for the lack of preparation, of course, but we must be honest and realistic, and one thing is for certain: war waits for no one."