30. Addi

THIRTY

My irritation hasn't flagged nearly enough as I step into my next class, and I find myself wrapping my gray cloak around my body as an extra shield to protect me from the assholes I can't seem to escape.

I find Flora first, concern shimmering in her eyes, and try to offer her a reassuring smile before I take my seat. The professor pays me no mind, despite the fact that I'm later than everyone else, but I take that as a good sign. I have to find positives somewhere in all of this. It's most probably because I'm fae or something, but I don't care. Another lecture isn't needed at this time.

Settling between Brody and Kryll, I keep my gaze set forward, only to earn a scathing glare from Raiden as he peers over his shoulder at me. It's just like the face he made outside when he realized I had used my magic to wrap the vines around his boots, holding him in place. I smirk at the memory, which only makes him frown further.

"You know I could have helped you if you hadn't used your magic on me," Brody says under his breath, and I turn to look at him, eyebrow raised in confusion.

"How so?" I ask, intrigued enough to forget that I'm supposed to hate and ignore him at all costs.

"I could have come up with an excuse to get you out of the meeting."

"Why would I need to get out of the meeting?" He's bullshitting me. I know it.

"Nobody wants a meeting with the dean. Ever."

He's right there, but he doesn't need to know that.

"It wasn't that dramatic, but thanks," I offer, turning back to the professor as he addresses the class, but his words aren't registering in my head.

"I forgive you," Brody whispers, and I rear back, blinking at him in wonder.

"What do I need to be forgiven for?"

"The vines. You're an earth fae, remember?"

Earth fae? Apparently so."Oh, I don't need forgiveness. You deserved that," I reply with a smile, turning away again, hoping this time I'll be able to ignore him. As if hearing my thoughts, his knee presses against mine.

Fucker.

"How so?" he presses, leaning in closer just as the professor claps his hands.

"Today, we're going to be delving into the realm of kingdom etiquette," he announces, earning an echo of groans from around the room.

"Why do we need to know this?" Everyone turns to look at the source of the question, and I'm surprised to find it's a fae. I vaguely recognize his face, but I haven't had any interaction with him at all. He smirks at everyone's attention, and when his eyes find mine, he winks.

No thanks. I've got enough to handle. I don't need another.

The professor clears his throat. "Because one day, someone in this academy will be our new heir, surrounded by a network of support from within these very halls."

"Don't you think it's pointless to step backward and reaffirm traditions that didn't work so well for us to begin with?" The guy pushes, and I can't decide if I agree with him. The question is valid, but his tone sets it all off wrong, and I don't know why.

"This class is going to happen whether you take part or not. What will it be?" The professor retorts, leaving me slightly impressed as I turn to the guy in question, who silently lifts his hands in surrender.

A beat passes as everyone returns their attention to the professor, who shakes off his blazer and smiles. "One of the many traditions the kingdom still observes today is the hosting of celebratory balls." I'm pretty sure every guy in the room—bar the professor—groans in distaste, making him smirk. "Calm your excitement. There's a lot to get through, and you're going to reach your peak way too soon."

"This guy actually has jokes," Brody states, leaning against my arm, but I ignore him.

"The summer solstice and the winter solstice were the two most important events of the year, but there are several other lesser events sprinkled throughout the calendar that make these balls a regular occurrence. Almost monthly," the professor explains as a projection appears before him. It's a ballroom filled with elaborate decor and well-dressed people. "The heir would take their seat at the center of the long table, their loved one to their right, and their close confidants filling the remainder of the space. A feast is served, origins mingling among the crowd as live music plays."

"He seems to be enjoying the thought," Brody states, a little louder than I think he intended based on the look on his face when the professor turns to him a moment later.

"I am, they were a thing of wonder."

"You went to them?" I blurt in surprise, and his smile grows.

"I organized them. That's why this is my favorite subject to teach," he explains, a wistfulness dancing over his eyes.

"But you're a human," Vallie calls out with a level of snark only she can accomplish.

"And?" The professor turns to her with a determined challenge in his eyes, and I love it.

"The fae were in charge," she grumbles, flicking her hair over her shoulder as the professor shrugs in response.

"King Reagan didn't discriminate."

My heart pounds at the mention of our history, of how things once were. Everyone complains that the fae ruined it all, but even though I don't really remember anything from that time, my gut tells me that's not the case.

The professor claps his hands again, his smile gleaming from ear to ear. "We're going to hold a ball at the academy at the end of the first semester." Groans ring out once again, making him roll his eyes, but he continues on. "The dean has decided it's necessary for everyone to learn how to do the waltz."

"The what?" I'm not sure who the comment comes from first because so many people holler it at the same time.

"The waltz. A two-person dance that is believed to represent freedom, passion, and expressiveness. Quite fitting if you ask me," the professor explains, leaving grumbles in his wake again. "The fact that none of you really have a clue is exactly why work must begin as soon as possible. Luckily for your class, there's an even number of males and females, so partnering works well."

"I'll take Raiden," Vallie blurts, standing with a flourish.

"You'll take who you're given, Miss Drummer."

She scoffs, flicking her hair over her shoulder again as her gaze narrows. "My daddy is?—"

"None of my concern within these four walls," he retorts, making me snicker.

"Raidy, tell him," Vallie whines, but the grumpy vampire ignores her, which only makes it harder to bite back my smile.

Of course her eyes happen to find mine in that moment, and she glares at me like always.

"Vallie, you will be paired with Grant," the professor states, reading from his electronic device.

"But he's a shifter!" she retorts with anger. I'm certain she's going to stamp her foot at any moment, but it sadly doesn't come.

"Did you miss the part where I said the origins mingled effortlessly?"

"Whatever," she grumbles, dropping back down into her seat. I'm sure she'll be calling home about the professor to try and get him kicked off campus, too.

Bitch.

"Arlo and Delia." A petite fae girl waves nervously at Arlo, who grins in response. "Flora and Kryll." I glare at the guy to my right, but he ignores me. He better be nice to her, or he'll have me to deal with. "Kimi and Cassian." A wolf turns to me with a sparkle in her eyes and a smirk on her lips, but I turn away to ignore her. "Polly and Raiden." A blonde vampire I've seen with Vallie a few times claps her hands excitedly as Raiden shakes his head, not even bothering to look her way. Vallie, however, tries to cause a stir with the fact that they're both vampires after the professor's prior comment, but he continues to ignore her outburst. "Which leaves Addi and Brody," he finally calls out, making my body stiffen.

I chance a look to my left to find a shit-eating grin on Brody's face. Fuck my life. It didn't even cross my mind that his name hadn't been called out yet.

"I recommend watching some videos online to get a good gist of the dance. We'll begin in-depth practice during our next lesson. For now, we're going to focus on the other areas of etiquette that come with being present at a ball. From your attire to dining, we're covering it all."

He definitely loves what he's talking about, that's for sure. My father taught me everything about the dining experience, but unfortunately for me, I don't know the dance at all. The professor's words start to go over my head as I get lost in my thoughts, trying like hell to recall the dance from memory, but it's nowhere to be found. I'm hoping the grumbles that filled the room mean I'm not the only one at a disadvantage. I hate not knowing something. Even something as trivial as this gets under my skin.

My brain wanders for the rest of the lesson until the bell rings and everyone starts to move around me. I rush from my seat, but it's useless because the second I step outside of the classroom, Brody is right beside me.

"Have you done the dance before?" he asks, draping his arm around my shoulders, and I shake out of his hold, giving him my best glare as we step out into the afternoon sun. When it's clear he's not going to give me any space, I shake my head.

"No. Have you?"

"A little," he replies with a shrug, making me pause mid-step before quickly remembering myself. That's helpful. I guess.

"We can practice, get ahead of the game," he offers, coming to a stop beside me. I move out of the way of the other students trying to move around us, giving myself a second to consider his offer, and a hand lands on my shoulder.

"Hey, Addi, I'm Neo." I turn to find the fae who questioned the professor earlier. When I don't immediately move to shake his hand from my shoulder, Brody does it for me. My stomach clenches, and I don't even want to begin to think of why. He eyes Brody for a moment before turning his bright green eyes back my way. "I'm familiar with the waltz. I know we're not partners, but I thought I could escort you home and we could?—"

"Let me stop you there, asshole," Brody bites, his aura darkening around him. "We both know she would be protecting you and not the other way around because you're weak and needy as fuck. Nice try, but fuck off."

"I wasn't asking you."

Is this about to turn into a pissing contest? If so, count me the fuck out.

"You don't need to be asking Addi either. She's my partner for the dance, fucker. But please, test me. I love it when I get to knock someone down a peg or two," he snarls back, his usual casual demeanor completely evaporating before my very eyes.

What the fuck is going on right now?

Searching around me, I hope to find Flora, Arlo, or hell, even Raiden at this stage, but I come up empty. Typical.

Eager to get the fuck out of here, I sidestep Neo, only to have Brody's arm drape around my shoulder again, but this time it seems impossible to shake him off.

"Fuck off, Neo, before I do it for you." Neo's gaze flickers between Brody's and mine. I can't figure out his sudden interest; it seems off, but I'm not going to call him out on it right now. That will only make the situation worse, and Brody really doesn't need any further encouragement. "Fine, we'll leave instead."

Before I can turn my head to look at Brody, we're moving. The world spins around me as nausea rises to the surface.

This motherfucker.