12. Brody

12

brODY

D ragging my fork across my plate, I prod at the food, my appetite not quite there. I know why. I know it without a doubt, and all it does is sour my mood more. The empty seat across from me is adding to it with every passing second, reconfirming with every fleeting glance that the company I would like to be keeping isn't here. A whole dining hall of people, and the one I want to see the most is off somewhere with the annoying wolf I happen to call my friend.

"How long are we supposed to just let him have her to himself?" I grumble, dramatically dropping my fork as a huff echoes in my ears.

Flora scoffs, earning my glare, but she continues to smother her grin, unfazed by my silent threat.

"What?"

She shakes her head, the amusement dancing in her eyes as she turns to peer at me. "Do you hear yourself?"

"What's your point?"

"Don't take it out on her," Arlo interjects from the other side of her, eyes narrowed as his jaw tics. I don't need his bullshit on top of my own.

"Alright, Arlo, calm yourself. He's good," Kryll states, waving him off, and to my surprise, he does relax at his words. Kryll to the rescue. Who knew?

Flora clears her throat, and I turn my gaze back to her. "I'm saying, why does Cassian get to whisk her away without care for the rest of us?" It's the truth. It's irritating and petty, but I don't care.

"Shouldn't you be considering what's best for Addi?" she retorts, cocking her brow as she takes a sip of her water.

I roll my eyes at her. "We all know I'm the least growly. I am what's best for her." Duh.

"Is that so?" Raiden grumbles, not lifting his gaze from his plate as he scoffs at me.

"I like it," Flora states, wagging her finger at me, and I shrug.

"You say that like she's going to like it."

"Oh, she's definitely not. That's what makes me like it," Flora retorts, wagging her eyebrows at me.

"That sounds mean."

"Mean? Please, she's my best friend. I'd stand against any of you if that's what she wanted or even needed, but I'm realistic and…a dreamer, and she needs the four of you just as much as you need her."

"You think?" Raiden whips his stare to Addi's friend, a sense of hope drifting from him, just as it does me. Yet all Flora does is shrug like it's no big deal.

"How do you know that?" I push, giving her my full attention now.

"I don't know for sure," she replies with a gulp, slightly backtracking, and there's no way in Hell we're doing that. Not after what she just said.

"Don't give me false promises and try to take them away," Raiden grunts with a shake of his head while Kryll silently observes Flora, forever quiet and watching.

"How do I make her love me?" The words blurt from my mouth by mistake. I want to backtrack now, pretend I didn't say it, but the way her eyebrows rise, silently questioning me, I know there's no chance of that now.

"Is that what you want?" she asks, softer than I expect. There's no mocking, no making fun of me. There's suddenly a kindness that seeps deep into my bones.

"Yeah, Brody, is that what you want?" Kryll interjects with a snicker.

I glare at him across the table. "Fuck you, asshole."

"Dick isn't my preference, but thanks," he retorts like he thinks he's funny.

"Raidy, baby. I was waiting for you to come and see me."

The table falls silent and still as a shadow casts over us. The familiar voice makes my muscles bunch together in a mixture of anger and frustration as my gaze lands on the vile vampire.

Her blonde hair is pin-straight, making her eyes seem even more narrow. There's a slight discoloring to her right cheek, but otherwise, she looks every inch the bitch that she is.

"Back the fuck up from the table right now before I put you through it." Raiden's voice is dark, deadly, and the sneer on his lips reveals his protruding fangs as he promises her downfall.

Anyone else would scurry away, wilting at his stare alone, but not Vallie.

Never fucking Vallie.

"Raiden Holloway, you promised me?—"

"I didn't promise you shit. Now, get the fuck away from me before I finish what Adrianna started."

Vallie stomps her foot, balling her hands into fists at her sides as she bites back a squeal of frustration.

"Are you still thinking about her? Look at what she did to me!" she rages, wincing as she adjusts her cloak and lifts her t- shirt to reveal bandages littering her chest and sides. "You need to keep away from her, Raiden. She's a lunatic."

"You're a fucking mess, Vallie. Do us all a favor and go irritate someone else," I grunt, completely losing every ounce of my appetite. Her gaze fixes on me as her bottom lip juts out.

"Don't fucking speak to me, you lowly fucking mage. I'm above you. Remember that."

Raiden's fists slam on the table, shaking the entire thing as he rises to his feet. He inches toward the enemy until he's looming over her. His eyes are blacker than black, an endless pit of darkness with the tips of his fangs desperate to pierce something…anything.

"Did it feel good? Attacking Adrianna in the trial so your father's plan could come together?"

She smirks, fucking smirks. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Do you know what your father's plan was?"

"I've been researching a lot about fated mates, Raidy. I'm going to be so good at it," she promises, lifting her hand to press against his chest, but he catches it before she can actually touch him. His knuckles instantly turn white as they lock around her wrist.

"You don't know, do you." It's not a question, I can see the hope that still resonates in her eyes, and I'm more than happy to diminish it after everything she's done to Addi.

"Didn't I tell you not to speak to me, mage?"

"Is that how you would speak to one of your fated?" I ask, cocking a brow at her before shaking my head. "Ah, shit, that's right. I forgot. The plan changed, and the center for our parents' plans is no longer you…is it?"

She rolls her eyes, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she turns her attention back to Raiden. "What bullshit is he talking about, Raidy?"

He smirks, but there's not a hint of kindness to it. It's rotten to the core.

"The plan is for Adrianna. You know, her royal heritage makes her a more viable option. Didn't your father explain to you why they needed her there?"

She takes a step back, and another, shaking her head dismissively with every move. "You're lying."

Raiden shrugs. "I don't care what you think. I would tell you to go ask your father, but well… his lack of breathing will make that a little difficult."

My eyes bug out of my head as I gape at him, but he doesn't falter under the surprise announcement that just parted her lips. Vallie, however, the color drains from her face, her eyebrows raising in horror as her bottom lip quivers.

"No," she breathes, the word whooshing from her mouth.

"Yes," Raiden insists with a nod, the promise lingers in the air before she hurries from the room. A few people continue to stare at us, confirming that she garnered an audience, but we don't pay them any mind as Raiden slowly retakes his seat.

I exhale, wiping a hand down my face as I try to alleviate the tension rising in my temples.

"What was that all about?" Flora asks, but before I can answer her, my cell phone vibrates in my pocket.

Happy to take the distraction so I don't have to answer her question, I reach for it, only to find my father's name flashing across the screen.

Fuck that.

Disregarding the call, I place my cell phone on the table and watch it. As predicted, it comes to life once again a few moments later.

"How many times has he tried to reach out?" Kryll asks from across the table, his gaze locked on the screen, and I shrug.

It disconnects, and not five seconds go by before it goes off again. The same name is highlighted on the screen.

"Answer. It shuts them up," Raiden explains, sighing with a sense of defeat I can relate to.

"Are you talking from experience?"

"I'm ignoring my mother right now, but she can find me without a cell phone," he states with a shake of his head. His mother is the head of the vampire-origin students on campus. I'm surprised she hasn't come looking for him yet.

I purse my lips as my cell phone falls silent before dancing across the table again, and I relent.

Answering the call, I lift it to my ear. There's a strange static noise that comes through the line first, but my father's voice isn't far behind.

"Brody? Finally, the plan is ready for the next steps, and I need your help."