11. Addi

ELEVEN

Ithought Professor Fairbourne was here to guide and aid the fae. Yet I've been summoned by this man twice in the same day. Why isn't Vallie being called out for her actions? I came to that poor girl's defense.

Anger vibrates through my body as I step into his office, and it only continues to build when the door closes behind me. I pay no attention to the room as I stare at the man in his high-backed chair, his elbows braced on the desk between us as he cocks a brow at me.

That look alone makes me want to rush back outside and unleash my magic on Vallie again. I think that's what has me more pissed; releasing her from the vines. She deserved to stew in helplessness for a little while longer.

A part of me wishes, deep down, that I could do more damage, but that would only serve to make me a hypocrite. As much as I may dislike someone, I can't allow the first course of action to be death. That's what my father told me, at least, but with her, she's cutting it real fine.

Brody, on the other hand, he…helped. But that's definitely not something I can dig deeper into just yet. For some reason, that feels raw and I'm not touching it.

"Take a seat," Fairbourne finally says, pointing to the chair in front of me. I eye it, considering whether to let my defiance seep through me in this moment like I want to or get it over with as quickly as possible.

I opt for the latter, dropping into the seat with a sigh.

Sometimes, my father's lessons irritated me. Training to be a leader, an heir, isn't all about showing power and strength like my instincts tell me to. Sometimes, you have to seem pliant, open to negotiation, and agreeable. I hate it.

The distaste for the feelings that coil inside me when I offer any kind of pliancy is strong, but the panic that those feelings stem from my mother instead of my father forces me to swallow it down and accept it.

"I've received some complaints about you," he states once I meet his eyes.

"In less than twenty-four hours?" I question, wondering when anyone would have time to do anything other than focus on adjusting to their new environment.

"That's exactly my concern," he retorts, and my eyes narrow.

"What issues do I seem to be causing?" I bite out, still trying to rack my brain to figure out how I'm the problem here.

"You're a fae."

His words make me pause, waiting for whatever else is to come, but he remains silent as he leans back in his chair, eyes assessing me.

"And?"

"Just a fae," he confirms with a shrug.

I nod, turning away from him for a moment as I try to wrap my mind around the idiocy of this situation. Clearing my throat, I turn back to him. "Well, that's not something I can change."

"As a fae myself, I'm aware." A soft smile touches the corner of his mouth, but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"So why am I here?" He knows there's nothing I can do about being a fae. This conversation is utterly pointless.

Leaning forward again, he gives me a pointed look. "Because it's been less than twenty-four hours and this is the second time I've had to pull you away from drama."

"Drama I didn't start, I might add." I match his stare with one of my own.

"I'm aware." Silence descends around us, but this time, I'm at too much of a loss to be the one to control the energy it creates. It's not awkward, though, just…stilted. "I heard what you said," he finally states when I brace my hands on the arms of the chair, ready to leave. I frown at him, and he takes that as a hint to continue. "About the kingdom needing change."

Shrugging, I relax back in the chair. "It does." I'm not going to deny it. I know I'm not wrong.

"I agree."

I nod softly, impressed that he does, but two people among a sea of thousands aren't enough. Especially when those two people are both fae."Not many here do, though. That seems to be the issue."

"We've got two years to hopefully adjust the perspectives of closed-minded people," he quickly replies, but I can't bite back the scoff in time.

"Maybe."

Silence falls on us once again, this time a little more comfortable, but there's still a level of awkwardness since we don't really know each other that well. Certain that there's nothing left to say, I stand.

"Anything else?" I ask, knowing my next class starts in five minutes, and I'd rather not be late because of some stilted silence.

He shakes his head and I turn for the door, but the second my hand wraps around the handle, he speaks. "I checked the data files."

Glancing back at him, my eyebrows pinch together with confusion. "Okay."

He assesses me for a moment, lips pursed, before he seems to settle his mind on something. "There's no record of an Addi Reed."

My body stiffens from head to toe, panic flickering to life as I school my features and simply blink back at him. It takes everything in me to keep my heart rate calm and facial expression neutral.

"That's strange," I murmur.

"It is," he agrees with a nod before standing. He steps around his desk to lean against it, arms folded over his chest as he speaks, "You know, many years ago, I was on King Reagan's council. I saw what it was like and felt the full effect of a kingdom led by the fae. I also watched it crumble."

"Unfortunately for me, I was too small to recall such tragic matters." My chest is tight, a lump in my throat bigger than I can handle.

"I think you might be the hope the fae people need, and the kingdom needs. Even if you are keeping secrets."

My pulse is racing so fast it feels like my body is vibrating as I nod.

Clearing my throat, I turn to face him. "Do I need to be concerned?"

"No. Not from me, at least. But if I can check so effortlessly, so can others. Which means you need to keep your head down."

That feels much easier said than done because we both know drama is following me around with no effort on my end. Hiding away from it will only make me look weak and unfit to be the heir.

"Thanks, I'll try my best," I mutter, accepting his nod as confirmation that the conversation is over.

Swinging the door open, I pause midstep when I find the other vampire driving me insane on the other side. His eyes are narrowed, jaw tight, but his hair is perfectly styled and the red cloak draped over his shoulders is definitely working in his favor.

I startle at his proximity, worrying over what he may have heard, but before I can panic about it, Professor Fairbourne speaks from behind me.

"My office is concealed. No vampire hearing can penetrate these walls. I'll seek out the professor organizing the enchantments and potions class so you can do it to your room, too."

"I don't think she'll be here long enough for that," Raiden grunts, taking a step back, but I still don't move.

Fairbourne remains quiet at the remark, leaving me to handle the situation myself, which I don't mind at all, but it's slightly amusing that he was just telling me to keep my head down and clear of trouble. Now, I'm openly walking into it.

"What do you want, Raiden?" I grumble, stepping over the threshold. The instinctive desire to fold my arms over my chest is real, but any reaction to his presence would just make me look vulnerable. I can't afford that. I need to be alert at all times, especially around this guy and his friends.

"We need to talk."

"I'm good, but thanks," I reply with a fake smile taking over my face, and his eyes narrow to slits.

"Great, but I wasn't asking. Now, are you going to play nice, or do I need to escort you a little more physically?"

He wouldn't.

The look in his eyes tells me he definitely freaking would.

My nostrils flare with annoyance. If I put up a fight, I'm still going to end up hearing what he has to say. I know it. But this doesn't feel like one of those times where I should be pliant or agreeable.

Open to negotiating it is.

Straightening my cloak, I stand tall. "We can talk after classes end for the day. That's my offer. Alternatively, I will cause so much of a scene that you'll have a quieter time with Vallie around."

My words hang in the air as he continues to glare down at me, but I spot it…the moment he concedes. He steps back, Adam's apple bobbing slightly as he nods.

"At the fountain that joins all of the origins' houses. Keep me waiting and I'll make you wish you never stepped foot on campus."

"Too late. I wished that before I got here. Your shameful attempts to threaten me aren't going to change it, but please, keep your efforts up. It's amusing to watch."