29. Addi

TWENTY-NINE

The air around us shifts as we step into Fairbourne's office, and the reason for the dramatic drop is located in the high-back leather chair.

The dean.

She sits with an air of supremacy exuding from every fiber of her being as she manages to somehow look down her nose at me, even though she's seated well below my line of sight.

Her clothing is just as vibrant as it was the first day she appeared in front of the crowd of students gathering to attend the academy. Something tells me she's never had to hide away or shield herself from the spotlight. No. She's a confident vampire who destroys any obstacle standing in her way with some side eye and a pout.

Her color of choice today is yellow. A happy color, filled with joy and hope, yet she somehow manages to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Maybe it's the sinister red lips she's paired it with, or the raised eyebrow that begs anyone to question any of her actions.

This is going to be fun. Said no one ever.

She steeples her fingers as I take my time entering the room, her eyes raking over me from head to toe before repeating the motion. She's weighing me up more than anyone else I've ever come across in my life, and I have to give it to her: it's unnerving. But once again, my father trained me well, for this kind of assessment and so much more.

"Bozzelli, you called for Addi. I'll step out and give you a few moments," Fairbourne states, and I can't stop myself from turning to gape at him. That fucker is just going to hang me out to dry, and I don't even know what for. I could have sworn it felt like he would have my back a few days ago, but now, at the first hurdle, he's ready to sidestep so he doesn't get caught in the crossfire. No wonder the walk over here was so damn quiet.

"You should stay, Professor Fairbourne," Dean Bozzelli insists, a hint of disdain in her eyes when I turn back to see her giving him the same once-over I was privileged to experience moments earlier.

The door clicks shut behind him, deepening the dwindling energy that fills the room.

"Take a seat, Miss Reed," Dean Bozzelli orders, waving her hand at the seat on the other side of the desk.

I'd sat in that same seat last week, being showered with words of confidence from Fairbourne, but I know when I drop into it this time, it will be to receive the complete opposite.

"You're causing quite a stir," she states, and I frown.

"I'm not sure I know what you're referring to."

I mean, I do, but I'd rather she be more specific. There are a lot of things she could be pulling me in here for; which one of them is the real question, and I deserve to know what I'm defending myself against.

She laces her fingers together with a glare, silently calling me on my bullshit before she finally offers anything in the way of explanation. "I have the vampire head of council demanding you be escorted off campus immediately."

"Why would they even know I exist?" I blurt before I can think better of it. But realization washes over me as she explains.

"I believe you've caused issues for their daughter. Vallie."

Fucking Vallie. Nothing irritates me more than her damn existence right now, and that's saying something since there's a running challenge for the top spot on my shit list.

Rolling my eyes, I take a deep breath, but processing the fact that this is actually happening leaves me speechless. She stares me down for what feels like an eternity, making it clear that she wants my thoughts on the situation before she proceeds.

I clear my throat, finally finding the ability to speak again. "Why does another student's opinion of me in this competition warrant expulsion? I thought we were here to learn how to work together and show who's the best candidate for the heir." I ask, and Dean Bozzelli's gaze narrows.

"Did I say it did?"

I shrug, clearly having hit a nerve. "You're insinuating it."

Adjusting herself in her seat so her spine is straighter, she peers at me with distaste. "I make the rules at this academy. The new heir will be announced by myself, not The Council," she bites, but it's a complete contradiction to why we're even here to begin with. Clever. We all know the decision doesn't rest solely on her shoulders, but the way she says it would make you think so. She's full of the power moves it seems, even if they are an illusion.

Her ego just grew before my very eyes with the power she believes she wields. Combined with the defensive undertone of her words, though, it's clear she's easy to falter. I could sit here and point out all of her flaws, but instead, I decide getting out of here is the best option.

"Great, are we done then?"

She shakes her head with a smile that looks more like a grimace. "I've also had the Kenner pack calling to pull you from the academy too."

I stiffen at the mention of Cassian's pack, or old pack, whatever the semantics are. Of course they had to wade in with their opinions, too. Assholes.

"How have I upset them?" I ask, intrigued to understand what they said.

"By claiming his son."

Ah, so it was Kenner himself. Great. Not Leticia causing more issues because I won, but their alpha. That's not what I need right now, but there's nothing I can do about it.

Dean Bozzelli gives me that same look, waiting for information, and since she seems intent on keeping me here longer than necessary with this shit, I give it to her.

"I did no such thing. I defended myself, albeit on their land, but I didn't technically agree to the duel. If someone comes to attack me, I have a right to defend myself. If that weren't the case, I wouldn't even be at the academy as a student."

My jaw tightens with annoyance as she eyes me. She doesn't even bother to look behind me, where I can still feel Fairbourne's presence, even though he keeps his lips tightly shut.

"The Kenners may not be on The Council, but they are still highly regarded within the community," she states, the corner of her mouth ticking up, and I know what she's saying without letting the words actually leave her lips.

Even though they don't fall under The Council's ruling, they are still regarded more highly than the fae. Everyone is always ranked higher than the fucking fae. Because people like Mildred fucking Bozzelli allow it.

Irritated, I clear my throat, knowing I may regret what I'm about to say, but I'm done pretending this shit is going to fly. "I'm here at this academy because I believe in my people, and I believe in myself. Just like the enrollment to the academy states. No origins are stronger than others. Everyone is seen as equal. That's what it said, but I think that's bullshit in your eyes. That's just to show that an opportunity was offered to us. But what is more noticeable to me, which is astounding because I have to live every day as a fae who is downgraded and disregarded without plausible cause, is the fact that things aren't changing as promised. If we're going to let people's thoughts and feelings cause disarray in the academy, how are we ever going to create a solid foundation for our future?"

She laces her fingers together as she braces her elbows on the table, and I sense Fairbourne shifting nervously from foot to foot behind me.

"Carry on."

"Sorry?" I have no idea what she means this time. I'm not even trying to play dumb.

"You clearly have a vision. Explain it to me."

Shifting in my seat slightly, I shake my head. "It's not that I have a vision; it's a clear assessment of everything I've seen and experienced here since we began. Changes need to be made to the structure of our leadership, which is the entire reason the academy was built, was it not?"

Calm and composed. I mentally high-five my father for the strength right now.

"It was," she bites out, glaring at me, but now the gates are open and there's no stopping it.

"So if we're here to find the heir, but are going to let The Council and other members of high society dictate our every move still, then we may as well continue as we are. There's no need for the academy if The Council will continue to wade in whenever they feel it's necessary. That leaves them as the true leaders still."

Her nostrils flare. It's obvious she hates my evaluation of the situation, but she can't deny it, either. Not when she just sat there and listed off two different people wanting me off campus, thinking they'll get their way because they rank higher in society than I do. She runs her tongue over her teeth as she continues to narrow her eyes at me. I think what pisses her off more is how spot-on I am; adding to the fact that I'm a lowly fae will only make the poison all the more bitter.

"Do you think I don't know what I'm doing?" she asks after a beat, and I shrug.

"I didn't say anything of the sort."

"You insinuated," she retorts, using my own words against me, and I shake my head.

"No, I explained my point of view, as you asked. If you're taking it as the points raised being aimed at you, then that's your problem." She's not putting any words in my mouth. I'd say it's a good thing I've got Fairbourne in here as a witness, but he's been useless.

Dean Bozzelli stands, wiping her hands down her blazer. "Everything you say may be true, but another point that remains true is how low the fae have fallen. They're disregarded because they deserve to be. Our kingdom was left in ruins at their hands, and I don't believe the throne should have to suffer the weight of them once again. The crown belongs to stronger origins like the vampires, or maybe even the wolves." My blood runs cold with anger at her words, but I still scoff at the fact that she spits out the word wolves, like it's an annoyance that they're even a consideration for her. All she wants is for the vampires to be in control. Period.

I may be a lowly fae, but she regards anyone who isn't a vampire in the same light.

Standing, I match her stance. "Well, it's a good thing it's not a decision that rests solely on your shoulders then, isn't it?"

"You aren't going to reach the top as you hope, Miss Reed," she snipes, sneering at me as I roll my shoulders back.

"Are we done here?" I ask, my tone bored, which pisses her off, but I'm done showing this woman respect when she's so openly willing to tear me down based on my origin.

A fake smile spreads across her face. "If my words offend you, that's your problem, not mine." Her attempt to throw more of my words back at me is embarrassing. How unoriginal.

"Your words would have to mean something to offend me," I bite, my teeth bared in a lackluster smile. "Is there anything else for us to discuss, or can I get back to class?"

Her lips purse as she drags her eyes over me from head to toe, just as she did when I first walked in, but it doesn't hold the same level of power as before. Now it just feels spiteful and arrogant, and I don't care for it.

She sighs, glancing over my shoulder at Fairbourne for the first time since he shut the door before finding my eyes once again. "You can leave, but don't think this is the last you will be seeing of me," she promises, and I turn the second the words are out of her mouth.

I'm not sticking around to deal with any more of her shit if I don't have to. Especially not when it's clear she's going to make my life hell just for breathing.

Join the club. There are plenty of them painting targets on my back. What they don't realize is that I can adapt, adjust, and aim for the fucking sky.

When I'm declared the heir of the kingdom, I'll be ticking off everyone on the damn list that stands in my way.