13. Addi

THIRTEEN

My entire body is filled with nerves and trepidation, and when the bell sounds out, dismissing the final class of the day, dread sits heavy in my stomach.

Dammit.

I've learned nothing all day because I've been in my head about these guys—guys who have no business being in there. It's irritating. More so that I'm letting them get under my skin, despite my best efforts. I promised myself I wouldn't be distracted. Yet here I am, day one, and everything is already going to Hell.

Everything I am, everything I know, is riding on this, and I'm losing it without even trying. An inkling trickles into my thoughts, but I quickly squash it down. I'm meant to be here. This is my path, and no self-doubt is going to tell me otherwise.

I deserve a reward for handling Brody, or, more specifically, not. He's spent the past two lessons nudging me non-stop. Despite how wicked his smile is, I can't give in to him. It's clear he's the kind of guy that is given an inch and takes a mile.

I'm not encouraging that. Definitely not.

The knowing look Flora gave me between classes confirms it's not a secret, but I gave her my own challenging glance back because I sure as hell am not talking about any of this. There's nothing to discuss. Period. Although, when she insisted on walking back to the house with me, I had to explain that I couldn't. I didn't go into detail, but the glint in her eyes told me she didn't need any.

I should have just had the talk with the damn vampire outside Fairborne's office, then I could have avoided carrying the weight of it on my shoulders all day. That damn hindsight is a bitch. I've never felt dumber than today. It's been a clusterfuck, and I'm aware I've been at the center of every issue. Even when it didn't involve me, I involved myself. Maybe I need to consider that this is actually my fault, my drama, and no one else's.

Pushing up from my seat, I keep my head raised and shoulders back as I turn and head for the door. I keep my steps measured and purposeful, refusing to look like I'm running away, but I'm also praying like hell that Brody quits his attempts.

Thankfully, it's an uninterrupted walk down the pathway, surrounded by students oblivious to the mess I seem to be in while they go about enjoying themselves. As I step around the high bushes, the fountain comes into view, and it's no surprise at all to find Raiden already there.

Fucking vampire speed.

I take a moment to even out my heart rate as I approach, noting both Cassian and Kryll seated on the edge of the fountain behind him. Perfect, he brought an audience.

I'm slightly surprised Brody isn't?—

"Phew, I thought I might have missed it. Proceed."

There he is. I really should have known he wouldn't be far behind.

His voice echoes from behind me, slightly breathless from running as he smiles wide, slipping into the gap between Cassian and Kryll at the fountain. When we don't instantly proceed, he waves his hand encouragingly.

Give me the strength to handle this guy. Hot damn.

I can feel eyes on me, and when I peer over my shoulder, I find everyone glancing our way as they pass, slowing their pace. They're probably expecting another dramatic scene involving a fae, but I think I've given them enough of that today.

Eager to get this over with, I turn back to Raiden with a sigh. His brown eyes cut to mine, his jaw tightening like my presence causes him issues, but he was the one to insist on this. "Fire away, Fangs," I grumble, nodding for him to proceed.

His eyes narrow, his nose crinkling with distaste. "Fangs?" he spits as Brody snickers.

I shrug, plastering a smile on my face. "I think it suits you." He's plotting my death. I can practically see it in his eyes. His knuckles are white at his sides as he continues to assess me, not actually getting to the point of any of this. "You wanted to talk, but you're not saying much."

"There are too many eyes," he snaps, glancing over my shoulder.

"That's not my problem. You chose the location, remember?" I've never met a man who glares so well in so many different ways.

"Tell me it's fun getting under his skin," Brody hollers, a giddiness dancing in his eyes, and I have to press my lips together to bite back the smile threatening to take over my face.

"Don't rile him up any more than he already is, asshole," Cassian grunts, elbowing the blond menace while his gaze lingers on me.

"But she knows what I'm talking about," Brody insists, pulling me from the stare-off with Cassian.

Squeezing the bridge of my nose, I take a deep breath, attempting to count to ten slowly and calmly, but unless he's actually going to say his piece, the stress inside of me will not subside.

"Are we done here, or…"

"We're not fucking done," he snaps, anger vibrating from him.

He takes a step, and in the next breath, my feet are off the ground. The world moves around me at a speed I can't even explain, and I think I'm going to be sick. Everything comes to a standstill a few moments later, but no sooner do my feet touch the ground than my back is slammed against a hard surface.

I'm disoriented, slowly taking in my surroundings as the world continues to tilt beneath me. Blinking repeatedly, I finally realize where I am. We're in the forest, in the spot where I first saw him and Cassian. My back is pressed against a tree while Raiden looms over me as menacing as ever.

"What the fuck?" I yell, disbelief flooding my body as I glare at him.

"Too many eyes."

Too many eyes? Too many fucking eyes? He thinks that's a good enough excuse?

"Don't fucking do that," I bite out, prodding his chest with my finger as nausea continues to swirl in my stomach.

"I'll do what I please," he retorts, with that air of superiority only a vampire can exhibit.

"A little warning wouldn't go amiss," I push, refusing to give in as I straighten my cloak and smooth my hands over my t-shirt. Taking a deep breath, I meet his glare with a challenging stare of my own. "Please, give me the almighty speech you've been preparing so I can get the hell out of here."

He looks up to the sky, eyelids falling to half-mast as he mutters under his breath. It's irritating, and I'm about to tell him that, but his glare lands on my face again a moment later. "Do you cause such a scene everywhere you go?"

"That's not really any of your concern."

Right now, my head is too scrambled to confirm whether the issues are emanating from me or them, so I'm neither confirming nor denying at this stage.

He scoffs. "You're making it really hard for that to be the case." He steps closer until we're chest to chest, revealing his height advantage. "When I'm crowned the heir, I'm going to have to prove I can handle people like you."

I bark a laugh of my own as I roll my eyes. "Please, people like me? You can't even control some whiny little bitch," I snipe, and he knows exactly who I'm referring to.

His hand is around my throat in the next moment, clenching, testing the weight of my neck in his hand as his nostrils flare even more. "You don't know anything about what you're stepping into. I'm struggling to comprehend why you even bothered applying to attend Heir Academy to begin with."

"The fact that I'm on your radar tells a different tale." Anger coils in my veins. I can match him with everything he's got, but one thing is for certain, when someone is crowned heir of the kingdom, they will have to handle all different kinds of people. But it will be me handling him. His hold tightens around me, trying to prove his strength, but I just grin. "Please, tighter. I love the idea of your fingers leaving bruises on my skin," I rasp, my throat constricting beneath his grasp.

It has the desired effect and his jaw falls slack, his hold loosening ever so slightly.

Balling my hand, I slam my fist into his throat at the same time I kick at his knee. He stumbles backward and I rush the few steps it takes to reach the pathway, putting me out of his reach. His deathly glare remains on me the entire time, and it only darkens when he sees the smugness on my face.

I can't hide it.

I've gotten out of his hold twice now.

Take that, asshole.

"You think because you have earth magic, you can defeat me?" he growls, making me frown. I didn't use any magic then. That was all physical combat, nothing else. Understanding quickly dawns on me when I recall my run-in with Vallie earlier and the earth magic I used to hold her in place.

I don't clarify that with him, though. Instead, I sneer at him.

"I don't think anything concerning you."

"You want to tell that to your little racing heart?" he retorts, slowly strolling toward me with his finger aimed my way before he taps at his ear.

Fucker.

Gulping, I roll my eyes, trying to fight back the panic. "The bruises, remember? I wasn't joking." I mean, I wasn't, but that's beside the point right now. His eyes narrow as he stands on the pathway, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "How about I stay out of your way, and you stay the fuck out of mine?"

"It's not me who needs the reminder," he retorts, so sure that none of this is his fault.

"I'm trying," I snap, but he snaps louder.

"Try. Harder." He comes to a stop in front of me, so we're toe-to-toe, and as much as I want to put some distance between us, I refuse to back away.

"Fuck you," I sneer, making his lips lift in a somewhat smile, but there's no humor there.

"You wish."

"Maybe if you just got your little dick out, you could penetrate me with it while I pretend to feel it. Then all your pent-up tension would disappear and you would leave me the hell alone," I growl, my face heating as my frustrations all rise to the surface.

So much for remaining calm. Counting to ten won't help me relax at this stage.

"I vote for that."

I startle, turning to find Brody, Cassian, and Kryll all watching with different emotions flashing in their eyes. Cassian seems concerned, Brody entertained, and Kryll impassive. I think.

That's all I need to encourage me to get the fuck out of here. Now.

Smiling wide, I salute them. "Have a good night, boys," I holler, taking a step back from Raiden and heading for the quickest way back to my room.

"We're not boys; we're men," Brody yells, making me snicker, and I'm thankful they can't see me.

"The fact that you need to clarify that is dumb," Kryll grunts, forcing me to press my lips together as I continue to walk away.

"Whatever. She likes me," Brody insists, making my eyes widen.

Get out of here, Addi. Get out now.

This whole back and forth is exactly what I enjoy, but not here. I have more to deal with than boys with little dicks and big mouths. I need to remember that. No matter how hot my skin prickles in their proximity.

As if sensing my need to cool down, Raiden speaks, pouring an ice bucket over me with a finality that hurts more than I care to admit.

"She's a fae. You're not allowed to like lowly scum like that."