4. Adrianna

4

ADRIANNA

" G et her off that stage. Now."

The ragged order is a snarl I'm familiar with. Bozzelli's rage is becoming something I'm almost accustomed to, and even though she's keeping her voice low enough to go unheard over the media chatter, it still rings in my ears like a warning.

Smiling politely, I take a step back from the microphone, my gaze set ahead as I make sure to look directly into the lens of each camera aimed my way. Bozzelli appears in front of me a split second later, eyes ablaze with unspoken anger as she straightens her outfit and turns to address the gathered crowd.

I take a moment to saunter off the podium, finding my insane vampire grinning from ear to ear, but before he can mutter a single word in my direction, Bozzelli's voice echoes around the room.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for being here today," she starts, earning my attention. Just as I turn in her direction, her stare lasers in on me.

She looks— really looks—almost as deeply as Cassian did earlier, but unlike with him, I bolster my walls in place, refusing to let her reach the pits of my soul and see my weaknesses.

Her head tilts, her assessment continuing for what feels like an eternity before she turns to face the audience once again. She clears her throat, running her palms down her waist as she beams at the crowd.

"I also want to acknowledge the powerful speech from Miss Reagan. I'm sure we can all agree that she fulfilled the expectations we were looking for today. So much so that no more will take place this evening. I can say with true certainty that full marks will be honored for such a strong and victorious address to the nation. What a great imagination you have."

Her eyes find me again, her last words bouncing off my unfazed fa?ade as she presses her lips together and twists her fingers nervously.

What is going on?

Bozzelli doesn't know how to be anything but a cut-throat bitch. It's almost as if she's second-guessing herself, but for what? I don't know. A single nod, more to herself than anyone else, and she's back facing the media.

Another throat clearing, a swipe of her tongue over her bottom lip, and a slight adjustment to the sleeves of her suit. Her body language screams nervous, but if anyone else notices it, they remain as silent as I do.

"It's with great surprise that I reveal to the students that there is not, in fact, an additional trial this evening." Murmurs erupt throughout the space, mingling with a straight-up "what the fuck" from Raiden beside me. I frown, perplexed by what the fuck is even happening right now, when she continues to speak. "Tonight was about finding the appropriate words to address your kingdom before a life-threatening event. I'm sure you'll be relieved that tonight is not a life-threatening time to be concerned with." She purses her lips before fixing her smile. "And with that revelation, I bid everyone a fair evening and a wondrous future as we continue the search for the heir to the Floorborn Kingdom."

"Who the fuck is this woman, and where is the real Bozzelli?" Flora whispers, and I huff in agreement, unable to take my eyes off the woman in question.

Her gaze is fixated on me as she steps down from the podium, and it only drifts off when she comes to a stop at my side.

"You. My office. Now."

I rear to the side, not appreciating her close proximity. "But?—"

"Now, Miss Reagan," she growls, struggling to keep her voice down as she takes a step, expecting me to follow.

"She's not going anywhere with you alone," Raiden retorts, earning himself an eye roll from the devil that is our dean.

"I don't imagine she will."

Blinking at her, I can't help but gape as she continues toward the door behind us.

"Is she actually agreeing to me being present?" Raiden asks, his brows gathered in confusion as he turns his attention my way.

I shrug, my lips parting to speak when Cassian beats me to it. "Fuck that. We're all going," he grumbles, throwing his arm over my shoulder as he guides me toward the exit.

"I'll stay here with Arlo and make sure there's nothing else at play," Flora states, disappearing into the crowd before I can say a single word.

Exhaling with relief, I fall into step between my vampire and my wolf, with Brody and Kryll right behind us. The walk is swift and silent, drenched in uncertainty that I can't truly place.

Entering her office is like stepping into the lion's den, but when Bozzelli takes her seat on the other side of her desk, it is clear she's rattled. Her gaze travels across the five of us, and back again, repeating the motion five times before she finally says anything.

"So, the five of you."

"The five of us," Brody states, shrugging like he knows what she's hinting at while I blink like a fool.

"Take a seat."

I scoff, shaking my head. "The last time I did that, you had me frozen in place to insert the kiss of death into my skin."

She sighs, irritation swirling with desperation as she laces her hands together. "I didn't know then what I still don't seem to know now." I frown, completely confused by what she's trying to say. She must sense that we're not following what she means because she sighs again, heavier this time. "Somebody better explain to me and explain to me now."

"About what?" Kryll asks, folding his arms over his chest as he glares down at her.

"About what Miss Reagan just said," she barks back, unwavering beneath his looming presence.

"Which part?" Raiden adds, rising to my defense.

"Don't play dumb. The Council," she snarls, slapping her palms against her desk.

With the way she's acting, you would think… does she not know?

"I don't know what else you need to know. They are a plague on this kingdom," Brody states all matter-of-fact, like his own father isn't a member.

She rolls her eyes. "There's always a plague somewhere, Mr. Orenda. I mean the fated mates. How do you know that to be true?" she pushes, throwing her arms out in frustration as her eyes swirl wildly, as if she's trying to navigate the stormy seas without any form of life raft.

I can sense it. Deep in my bones, and despite my better judgment, I let my mind magic flutter over my skin. I'm instantly met with panic, betrayal, and uncertainty.

She doesn't know.

She doesn't fucking know.

"Because they've tried it before," I blurt. I'm not entirely sure I'm making the right decision to share that information with her, but it feels like I've got nothing to lose.

"When?" She stills, frozen in place at my admission, and it only serves to confirm my thoughts. I can sense the guys looking at me, unsure if I'm doing the right thing, but none of them try to interject.

"After the last trial. When Brody took me off campus to heal from the poisoned vampire bite Vallie gave me."

Her eyes widen, the surprise undeniable as she blinks at me. "The night her father went missing. You killed him." To my surprise, there's no anger in her tone.

"Yes." I breathe the truth, watching with bated breath to see what her reaction will be.

She leans back in her seat, assessing me with new eyes. "I thought she was lying."

"On this one occasion, she wasn't," I say with a shrug, still waiting for her to go bat shit crazy on me for my actions, but it doesn't come. Instead, she clears her throat, assessing the five of us once again before tapping her desktop in thought.

"What do they expect to achieve by forcing the five of you to be fated mates?"

"That's the question I'd love to know the answer to," Cassian grunts, swiping a hand through his hair as Brody takes a step forward. His eyes find mine, considering me for a moment before he turns back around, planting his hand on her desk as he speaks.

"I'm assuming it's to control us in our weakened state in order to maintain control of the kingdom. Make us beacons of hope to our people, name us the heirs, and control us like puppets."

Her lips curl, almost giving the sense that she's not happy, but that can't be true. Not if?—

"I will not allow it," she snarls, anger flowing from her in waves.

"Huh?" Brody stands, confusion crinkling his nose as Bozzelli follows suit, fixing her jacket as she stands tall.

"I will not allow it," she repeats before pressing a button on her desk. "I want everyone off campus now, and I want the containment placed back on the academy immediately. Nobody in, nobody out." It takes me a second to realize it must be an intercom or something as she ends the call and settles her stare on Cassian. "And that includes you too, Mr. Kenner." The five of us gape at her in surprise. "He expected you to leave, he made sure I exempted you from the powers last time, but I won't do it again," she explains, and Cassian nods.

"Understood."

Wait… is she… she's not… she can't be on our side… can she?

"What now?" Raiden asks, and she scoffs, a sense of delirium lightening the dismay.

"Now? I don't know. I need to think about the madness that wreaks havoc on my academy. The havoc that always seems to circulate around you, Miss Reagan." I open my mouth to point out the fact that it's not my fault—well, not always my fault, at least—but she's waving her hand dismissively before I can even consider defending myself. "Go. Sleep. None of this is over. Far from it. We must prepare now. For what, I can't be entirely sure, but the fact that I have put tonight's full trial on pause will only put us all in the line of fire."