45. Adrianna

45

ADRIANNA

M y heart aches, the worry only heightening as Brody transports us, the outline of the main academy building visible in the distance as the familiar water fountain appears at our sides.

"We shouldn't have left him," I admit the second I sit on the ledge of the fountain, and my face falls into my hands, dismay clinging to me.

"We did the right thing, Princess," Kryll states, crouching before me as he places a comforting hand on my knee. "It might not feel like it right now, but what we're feeling is our own selfish desire wanting us to be together, but he needs the freedom to claim his place."

My lips purse as I bite back a huff. He's right, and I hate it.

Cassian is now the Kenner Alpha, compound and all, and as much as it's clear that they need him, he needs them too. It's a sense of belonging he never had under his father's reign. He deserves a moment to bask in it and come to grips with what's needed from him without the rest of the kingdom's troubles overshadowing it.

"What do we do now then?" I grumble, earning a shrug from the dragon before me, so I turn my irritated glare toward Brody and Raiden. The former looks about as clueless as I feel, but the sudden tug of Raiden's eyebrows before he glances off into the distance has me lurching to my feet. "Raiden?"

He holds up a finger, silently conveying for me to be quiet, and I slam my lips shut, inching closer to him, only to see his frown growing deeper.

"Can you hear that?" he murmurs, closing his eyes to focus, and I do the same.

The first thing I can hear is the rapid beating of my heart, a sound I'm going to need to block out if I plan on hearing anything else, but it's hard. My adrenaline is relentless. Taking a deep breath, I try to center myself as I channel all of my energy into listening. For what? I'm not sure, and I'm almost certain there's nothing to note when a distant whisper echoes in my ears.

I tilt my head toward the direction it comes from, trying to pick up on what's actually going on, but just when I think I've got it, the sound changes.

"I can hear something, I just don't know what," I admit, opening my eyes to find Kryll standing on the other side of Raiden in the same position. Brody shrugs, no wiser, until Raiden's eyes burst open and he tilts his head.

"It sounds like chanting, but not mages and their magic, more like…"

"Protests," Kryll adds, finishing Raiden's train of thought, and he nods eagerly.

"I don't think I've got the mental capacity to deal with protests after the events today has already given us. Honestly, the whole week has been a bag of dicks, and I don't feel like subjecting myself to anymore of it," Brody says with a sigh, letting his arms flop at his sides with a slap against his thighs. He tilts his face to the sky as a heavier sigh falls from his lips before he tilts his head and peers at me out of the corner of his eye. "You're not going to let us take a rain check on this, are you?" he grumbles, and I try to offer the best smile I've got, but it's not enough to boost his spirits. "Fine, whatever, but when something goes wrong, which it always does, then I want it to be known that I transported us to a quieter part of campus in hopes of avoiding any carnage."

"Stop whining and let's go," Raiden mumbles, reaching for my hand before he starts toward the sound.

Kryll and Brody are right there with us as he keeps a steady pace, opting against rushing into the madness with his vampire speed, and I'm silently grateful. Truthfully, my head told me to follow Brody's suggestion and hide from the noise, but my heart, and my damn gut, insisted. This is exactly what I get for wanting to protect the kingdom at all costs.

The sounds of protest register in my mind as we approach the academy building. It's almost impressive that from this side it doesn't look like we caused any damage here yesterday, but I'm sure the other side doesn't give off the same vibe.

Following the pathway, the chants grow to higher levels as a huge crowd of people come into view. They're standing shoulder to shoulder, signs in hand as they chant at the top of their lungs.

"Free our kingdom! Free our kingdom! Free our kingdom!"

I'm frozen in place, blinking at the bustle of people from all origins shouting in unison.

"What do we want?"

"Freedom."

"When do we want it?"

"Now!"

Kryll and Brody step in closer, attempting to create a protective circle around me while Raiden's hand tightens around mine.

"What's all this freedom about?" Raiden asks, but before I can even part my lips, someone ahead turns to face us. Their stare is narrowed until they take us in, and when their eyes latch on mine, they rush toward us.

"Free us from their torment. Save us!" she shouts, hands outstretched as she tries to reach me, but Kryll knocks her back a step. That doesn't seem to waver her attempts, though. "She's here, our savior is here." Her voice is shrill, cutting through the chants as eyes turn our way.

"Help us!"

"Help us, please."

"Save us from The Council."

I blink at the crowd moving toward us as Raiden curses under his breath.

"Fuck, we need to get her the fuck out of here. Now," he grunts, and Brody gives him a pointed look.

"What did I say about?—"

"Now isn't the time for an I told you so, asshole," Kryll interjects, glaring at my mage with irritation before turning his intense stare toward Raiden. "Get her inside. We'll be right behind you."

My vampire doesn't need to be told twice. He's tugging me in the next breath, making me connect to my wolf speed as we weave our way through the crowd. He doesn't relent until the sound of the academy building door slams shut behind us.

"What's going on?" I ask, completely aware he doesn't have the answer as we edge away from the door. I tug my hand from his, planting my hands on my hips as I think, when a voice answers me.

"The academy has been stormed. The people have had enough."

I turn in surprise to see Bozzelli standing with a small gathering of students that haven't left and a few professors too. Beau is among them, his eyes searching mine, but a moment later, Kryll fires into the building with Brody hot on his tail and the concern vanishes from his stare.

"What do they want? They were chanting about freedom," I state, trying to calm my breathing that refuses to come through any slower than short, sharp pants.

Bozzelli laces her fingers together, a tight smile on her lips. "An heir must be declared," she says, earning a gasp from the gathered students as my pulse thrums in my ears.

"By who?" I ask, disbelief etched into the two small words as I try to process the fact that everything's coming to an end already. The time has come, the journey is reaching its peak, and there's nothing we can do now but watch it unravel.

"By the people."