39. Adrianna

39

ADRIANNA

M y lungs burn as I cough, the thick, smoky air swirling around me as I try to catch my breath. Panicked, I seek out the others. Kryll is standing by the rubble, hands planted on his hips. He stares down at the skeletal remains of Vallie and her annoying uncle while Raiden swipes at his ash-ladden clothes relentlessly.

Uncertainty wars inside me as I spy Cassian a few feet away, looking off into the tree line, a stark reminder that the dungeons are gone, along with a good quarter of the academy building. Something exploded with Kryll's fire. What it was, I'm not sure, but my protective light of magic managed to blast us to safety with the force of the explosion.

Where the fuck is Brody?

"Dagger." My nickname is barely more than a husky whisper, hauling me to my feet as I spin in a circle, searching for the source. I sag with relief a moment later when I find my mage splayed out on the other side of the rubble. Soot coats his cheeks, brightening his eyes in the late-night air.

"Brody," I breathe, dropping to my knees with a grunt beside him as he pushes up to face me. I'm sure he thinks I'm joking, but he gave me the biggest scare of my life back there, and he's going to pay for that when I'm calmer.

"Did I miss much?" he asks, smiling up at me, and I shake my head in disbelief.

"You missed everything. You were too busy trying to die until my magic tugged me toward you. Thankfully, Kryll's blood did that thing it's good at, and you don't get to watch on from the afterlife," I state, giving him a pointed look, and he frowns.

"I don't know what you're?—"

"I could feel you, your thoughts, your feelings… everything."

His eyes widen in surprise. "Oh."

"Yeah, oh . I don't want to hear that shit ever again. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, ma'am," he says with a sharp nod, and my gaze narrows.

"Don't ever call me ma'am again," I warn, and he grins.

"Whatever you say, Dagger."

My shoulders ease, some of my tension drifting away at the sound of my nickname from his lips. He really is okay. With a sigh, I cut the remaining distance between us, resting my head on his shoulder, and in the next breath, he's pulling me backward so we're lying amongst the rubble.

Dark clouds still swirl above us, a siren to the entire kingdom, I'm sure, as they billow higher and higher while we simply stare at the carnage.

"What happened back there, Brody?" I ask, reliving the moment in my head again. "One minute, I was strangling the hell out of that bitch, and the next, I'm being drawn toward you because her uncle was trying to turn you into a puddle of mage goo." My chest aches from the memory, my conscience refusing to remember anything deeper to keep my heart intact.

"I don't even know, Addi. He just grabbed my legs as I was rushing over to you, and I was powerless to stop him once he cut me the first time," he admits, eyes glazed as he looks off into the distance.

We really were close to losing him. Closer than I care to admit.

"I mean it, Brody. Don't ever do that again," I repeat, trying to ease the remaining tension, but it's impossible.

The plan was going perfectly, I had Vallie right where I wanted her, but everything went to shit. For the most part. My head aches, but as I lie here, with Brody's arm as my cushion, I feel a sense of relief. They're gone. Vallie and her fucked up uncle are completely gone, and the remnants of them confirm they sure as hell aren't coming back.

Killing her felt entirely different from last time. It wasn't for me this time. Well, maybe slightly, but it was about protecting myself and the kingdom, too.

"What have you done?" The shocked voice comes from Bozzelli, but I don't lift my head to acknowledge her. Instead, I sigh, closing my eyes as I continue to relax.

"Your niece?"

"She's safe," she answers, clearing her throat nervously. I hear two sets of footsteps inch closer toward us, and a moment later, I find Beau peering down at us.

"I think it's safe to say there won't be any classes in the morning," he states, scrubbing at his chin as he assesses the mess, and I hum in agreement.

"That sounds like it might be a good idea," Brody replies, stroking soft circles on my arm in comfort, like I shouldn't be the one comforting him since he was almost freaking dead.

"Don't make me change my mind, Mr. Orenda. There are still members of The Council and foolish leaders of packs out there who are just as eager for your death as these two," Bozzelli retorts, and I sigh.

"Why are parents just awful?" I ask, mentally excluding my father, of course. But my mother, on the other hand…

"I don't know, but they're tomorrow's problem now," Cassian states, appearing at Beau's side as he offers me his hand. I place my palm against his, relishing in the warmth that spreads from him to me as he pulls me to my feet and into his arms.

"Hey, I nearly died, and I'm not ready to share yet," Brody grumbles, but Cassian only pulls me closer.

"You caused her more stress than necessary. If anything, you should be thankful we're even letting you be close to her," Raiden grunts in response, sauntering toward us with a tiredness that I sense deep in my bones too.

"Wow, this pissing contest is great and all, but the rest of us have shit to deal with now," Beau grumbles, stepping back with a few large strides.

"What shit?" Kryll asks, inching closer as he assesses his brother, who waves him off.

"You should all head back to my house. Flora and Arlo are waiting," he offers, but Kryll doesn't let it drop.

"What shit, Beau?"

"That's Professor Tora to you," Bozzelli interjects, but Kryll doesn't even bother to look her way. Instead, he stares his brother down, waiting for a response.

"The media are going to want to know about this, and the kingdom deserves to understand. It's now my job to paint you in the best light possible."