46. Adrianna

46

ADRIANNA

T he ballroom that changed my life looks nothing like it did that night. All of the glitz and glamor is gone. There are no tables, no centerpieces, no sophisticated touches or silk drapes. It's all gone. All that remains is a small platform.

I've seen Bozzelli stand up there before, giving one of her ridiculous speeches, but this time, my future hangs in the balance. Her lime-green pantsuit is perfectly pleated down the front, her blazer buttoned up, with just a peek of her white silk blouse underneath.

Her hair is twisted back into a demure chignon and her make up is minimal, allowing her outfit to steal all the attention. I watch her lips move as she speaks into the camera, addressing the kingdom as though they are in the room with us, but my pulse hasn't quieted. My gaze tracks her lips, trying to take in what she's saying over the internal noise.

She looks beyond professional, like the academy isn't crumbling around her, the kingdom along with it. We may have had our ups and downs, but watching her now, there are things I could learn from her. Especially if a miracle were to happen and I am given the opportunity to lead our kingdom to greatness.

I watch as she explains what is to come. The people want The Council gone, and she has the ability to offer that to them. I'm sure The Council still has plans in place, plans we must prepare for, but for now, my focus is on her lips as she lists off the remaining students on campus for the public to choose from.

Hearing my name on her lips sends a shiver down my spine. Even if I can only lip read it, it's enough.

I take a deep breath, willing my pulse to calm down so I can hear anything from her speech, but it's only when she's closing out her address to the nation that I can finally acknowledge any of it.

"It has been an honor to serve the Floodborn Kingdom in such a manner. I thank you dearly for allowing me such a profound opportunity, and I hope to serve you closure in these final moments. Ballots are opening across the kingdom and you have until sundown to add your contribution. Come morning, as the sun rises, its light will harken a new dawn, it will dismiss the final dusk under the control of The Council and begin a new era for us all as the heir will take their place on the throne."

She nods and a moment later, the camera is shut off. Her shoulders sag and she takes a moment to compose herself again before she turns her attention to the remaining students. I stand in the fray, Raiden to my left, Brody to my right, and Kryll behind me.

"Thank you for fighting for our kingdom. Thank you for offering yourselves selflessly for the greater good. It may not be the night to bask in glory since we're going to be holed up in here, but it's important we keep you protected during this time. Beds will be set up in the far corner of the room and dinner will be served as soon as possible. Get comfortable, rest, the kingdom will need you at your best come morning," Bozzelli directs, her words resonating deep in my veins as I nod in agreement, but she's already turned away, murmuring quietly with Beau as they dismiss us.

"Any luck with Cassian?" I ask, glancing at Brody, who has tried to reach out to him a few times, but he shakes his head.

"Not yet."

Fuck.

We can't leave to get him now either. I hate us being separated like this. I just hope he's okay and The Council doesn't focus their attention toward the compound.

"Let's eat, keep ourselves alert, and I'm sure we'll hear from him soon," Kryll offers, wrapping an arm around my shoulders as he guides me to where a few dining tables have been set up.

The smell of food drifts in the air, beckoning us closer as I nod my agreement. "Fine, but the last time we chose to eat to stay alert, something went wrong," I mutter, dropping down into the seat with a heavy sigh as Brody wags his finger at me.

"See? I told you."

I roll my eyes at him, even though he's definitely not wrong, but Kryll is right. We may as well refuel and wait it out. There's nothing else we can do.

Muttering my thanks, I take the plate of food offered and dig in. Chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes. It's not the last supper dreams are made of, but it could be worse. Once my plate is clean, I place my knife and fork on top as I lean back in my seat.

"Everything is a mess," Raiden states, his gaze catching mine from across the table, and I hum in agreement.

"It's always been a mess," Brody adds, earning a pointed look from everyone before he can give us his ‘I told you so' spiel again, but to my surprise, it doesn't come. "The question is, what are we going to do about it?"

I sit tall in my seat, his words twisting a part of me as my mind starts to swirl. "That's exactly the question we should be asking," I confirm, earning a shit-eating grin from the mage, whose ego only swells.

"Don't encourage him," Raiden grumbles, and I shake my head.

"No, for real. No matter what happens tomorrow, our kingdom is going to need us in some way. As much as we've seen snippets of the media, we don't truly know what the public thinks of us, and the reality is, it doesn't matter. What matters is what the kingdom needs from us, and it's going to need something because you're right, it's a mess."

"You're so fucking hot when you've got that fire in your veins, Princess," Kryll states from beside me, and I snicker, trying my best to hide the effect his words have on me.

My nerves are calm, my heart isn't racing, and my soul is content.

Have I spent my whole life wanting to be the heir of the kingdom, live out the role I was born into and serve the people? Yes. Undoubtedly.

But the reality is, that might not be what the people want, and it's not the only thing I can offer.

I am willing to be whatever the kingdom needs of me, even if that isn't the heir. Maybe that's what this journey has always been about, I just wasn't ready to truly see it yet.

Now that I'm here, I can see clearer than ever, and I know without a shadow of a doubt it all starts tomorrow.

Pride simmers through my bones as I bask in the revelations transpiring in my mind, interrupted only when a scream bursts in the distance. I still, peering at Kryll, Brody, and Raiden to see if they heard it too, but it's clear the entire hall did as Beau comes storming into the room.

"What's going on?" Kryll asks, rising to his feet as his brother races to get past him. He doesn't stop, but he does offer an answer.

"Vampires. The Council have released frenzied vampires upon the City of Harrows."