8. Adrianna

8

ADRIANNA

M y nostrils flare with irritation as my hands ball into fists. Bozzelli starts to saunter away without a backward glance, like she didn't spoil my already gloomy day. All the while, Fairbourne peers at me with his brows pinched together in concern. I can sense there's plenty he wants to say, but with Bozzelli in hearing range, it's not the best idea to discuss anything. Not even the weather.

He nods, the only signal to confirm I need to follow her command, before he moves to follow her.

I suppose I should do the same.

Fuck.

Running my tongue over my teeth, trying to hold back the snark threatening to burst from my lips, I glance over my shoulder to find a line of four men watching me intently.

Kryll. Raiden. Brody. Cassian.

My anger toward them shouldn't warm my veins. The lies and secrets that are intertwined between us all should turn me off, but they don't. Nothing about them should draw me in, yet there's a pull in my chest beckoning me closer.

Maybe stepping through the door instead of launching myself out of the window would have been the better option. It's too late to know for sure.

I can't seem to catch a break, regardless of which direction I take.

Before I can whip my gaze away and follow the dean to my impending doom, Raiden is blocking my path with his enhanced speed playing to his advantage. His back is to me, his arm twisted behind him so his fingers can grasp my wrist. I pull, needing out of his hold right the fuck now, but it only tightens his grip.

"Where are you taking her?" he snarls, earning a disgruntled sigh from the dean.

"That's none of your business, Mr. Holloway," she states, pausing her steps. She stands out like a neon sign in her vivid pink suit. She looks ready to work in an office with her pristine cut skirt and silk shirt, but the expression on her face resembles something only found on a battlefield.

"I beg to differ," Raiden snaps back, not faltering under her glare.

A flash of pink dances in the wind, and a moment later, the immaculate woman is right in front of him. She bares her teeth in anger as she presses two fingers firmly into the side of Raiden's head. His grip on my hand falls slack as he falls to his knees, crying out in pain. The noise is etched in horror for a split second as I gape in shock.

"What the fuck?" Cassian grunts, but before he can intercept, Raiden is pushing back.

His growl fills the air as he forces himself back to his feet. His hand finds my skin once again as he glares at Bozzelli.

"You can do what you want to me, but the last time you took Adrianna, you implanted a damn amethyst in her, and I won't give you the opportunity to do it again," he bites, and I feel a tremble at the feeling of his touch against my flesh.

"How dare you," Bozzelli snarls, lifting her hand again, but before she can touch him, I'm moving.

"Don't."

One single word from my lips. It's not a threat; it's a promise. One that catches me by surprise as much as it does Bozzelli. Even with my other hand in Raiden's hold, I stand unwavering, ready to defend the man that I truly hate right now.

Bozzelli's gaze latches on to my hand on her, not a single word slipping from her lips as I silently release my hold. Her jaw tightens with every passing second, her eyes drilling into mine as she turns a crimson shade of anger I've never seen before.

I hate that I defend him even when I despise him, but my hatred toward her surpasses it.

"Adri—"

"I'm here for that reason, Mr. Holloway," Fairbourne swiftly interjects, coming into view behind Bozzelli, who takes a small step back. It's clear there's retaliation dancing in her eyes, but having a staff member present seems to make her determination wane. For now, at least.

"You better be," the irritating vampire snarls, his fangs elongating as I gape at him. His eyes flash with a barely contained rage that makes my spine stiffen when he turns his attention to me. "I'll wait for you." The words are far softer, almost lost to the breeze that circles us, but instead of melting the walls I've put up to separate us, it only reinforces them.

"Don't."

I yank my wrist from his hold, stumbling back a step into Fairbourne, who quietly keeps me on my feet.

"Miss Reagan, let's go. Before punishments worsen," Bozzelli warns, her glare snapping between Raiden and me, begging for him to challenge her again, but this time, I march off with her, not daring to glance back over my shoulder as we hurry down the path.

I feel every ounce of distance as I place it between me and them. The four of them act as a faulty anchor that wants to hold me in place and keep me from getting lost in the waves, but it's too late for that. I have too many emotions swirling inside of me. Emotions I've never freaking felt before, and I don't know how to handle them.

I'm torn.

So fucking torn.

Tamping it down, I keep my gaze fixed ahead as I remain a step behind Bozzelli and Fairbourne, anticipation flickering over my skin as we wind our way through the corridors until Bozzelli's office comes into view.

I definitely should have stepped out of my bedroom door and dealt with the assholes that are plaguing my mind. It may have kept me from this moment a little longer. I hoped to not find myself here again, but it seems that's now out of my hands. Succumbing to this bitch is going to be the death of me, I'm certain.

The bleak walls feel like they're closing in on me as the door slams shut behind me. The seat I don't have fun memories of stands tall before me as my pulse rings in my ears. My fingers itch to run over my skin where the amethyst had rested, but I fight against it.

"Take a seat."

I purse my lips, glaring at the dean who does nothing but make my life hell as I consider my options. Take a seat on what can only be described as a death trap and get this bullshit over and done with, or drag this whole thing out while avoiding the tension rising inside of me.

As much as the latter appeals to me, the point of this meeting outweighs it all, and I'm acutely aware I'm on thin ice with Bozzelli right now since I put my hands on her only a few minutes ago.

Perching on the edge of the seat, bile burns in my throat, but it all goes unnoticed by Bozzelli, who laces her fingers together, bracing her elbows on the desk that separates us. Fairbourne remains silent as he leans against the wall beside the window that sits perfectly behind Bozzelli, casting a glow of light over the dean in an unholy shot straight for the devil.

"Would you like to explain what happened yesterday?"

Yesterday? Where the fuck do we even begin with the twenty-four hours that trampled on my life?

"Which part?" I ask with a scoff, making Bozzelli's glare darken as she leans forward.

"Do you find this funny?"

I lean back, despite the desire to run from the hot seat beneath me, as my eyes widen. "I find none of it funny, but I get the feeling you're asking me a specific question, and the entirety of my day yesterday was a clusterfuck, so I'm going to need you to help narrow it down for me."

Bozzelli shakes her head, disgust making her nostrils flare and jaw tic. "Drama surrounds you, Adrianna. I don't care for the rest of your issues. I want to know why a highly regarded vampire is with the medical team fighting for her life after what you did to her."

"She's not dead?" I blurt, my eyes managing to widen even further as the dean's pupils dilate with unwavering anger.

"You should be thankful she isn't."

"I'm struggling to see how so," I admit with a shrug. Fairbourne wipes a hand down his face, disbelief flickering over his features as a twinkle of awe remains in the corner of his eyes. I'm certain there's a smirk hidden behind his hand, but I can't be certain.

"I won't allow a murderer to walk among us." Bozzelli's statement is clear but also bullshit, and she knows it.

"Isn't that half of the reason why we're here? The trial was literally set with the pretense that some may not make it out alive. I defended myself when attacked. I had to seek medical treatment from a mage yesterday, too," I snap, fingers pressing into the arm of the chair in a failed attempt to contain my emotions.

My admission only seems to please her more.

"Ah, I'm aware. You were taken off campus, which is also against the rules." She preens, pleased to be serving my ass on a platter of made-up rules that mean nothing right now.

"But it's not against the rules for Vallie to purposely attack me, so I would be taken to the council facility in a grand attempt to force me to be fated mates with some other students in attendance. Tell me, Dean Bozzelli, was that under your order or under your nose?"

Her knuckles whiten as she sits tall in her seat, a murderous stare burning bright in her eyes. "How preposterous."

I grin, unable to remain calm and collected as my father has always taught me. "That's a pretty big word for someone who likes to act dumb."

"How dare you," she snarls, launching to her feet. Her chair clatters to the floor behind her, coming to a stop beside Fairbourne, who plasters a hand over his mouth, failing to smother the smirk on his lips. "I put the amethyst in your body, don't think I won't…"

"What…this thing?" I ask, way too fucking sure of myself as I dig the purple gem from my pocket, twirling it between my fingers. I'm pushing my luck. I know I am. I saw what she was capable of doing to Raiden, and it's not a situation I want to find myself in.

"You could have it back, but I don't like the thought of knowing it will be placed in another student without their consent."

"You violated your punishment." She jabs a finger in my direction as I shake my head at her.

"No, you violated me when you placed this into my flesh." My heart beats rapidly in my chest, echoing in my ears. "Now, are you going to do anything other than throw your weight around because someone was injured during a trial, or are we done here?"

"I think we're done for now," Fairbourne declares, speaking for the first time, only to earn Bozzelli's rage. If looks could kill, we'd both be dead right now.

"This isn't the end of it, Miss Reagan," she promises, adjusting the lapels of her suit jacket, and I snicker, but there's not a single ounce of humor to it.

"I'm highly aware of that, but as always, I'll rise above it for the good of the kingdom."