7. Addi

SEVEN

Gray…is kind of my color, it seems. It makes my eyes look lighter and my hair almost whiter. I kind of don't hate the academy-issued cloak that now drapes my shoulders, but the purpose and meaning behind it still irritates me.

It doesn't wrap around me like my black one does, so I can't wear my dagger-filled waistcoat underneath. I still have a few blades concealed where I can, and my chest is lighter, at least.

Running my fingers over the intricate braid I've twisted back off my face, I make sure it's completely secure. There are a few loose tendrils poking out, but that's unavoidable with my unruly curls.

I need to leave for breakfast, which means a grand trip to the dining hall. I stopped by yesterday, managing to grab some food and slip back to my room without any further issues, but my gut tells me I'm not going to be as lucky this morning.

Visions of jet-black hair and deep brown eyes flash in my mind, merging with messy brown hair and eyes greener than my own.

I should have kept my mouth shut, but sometimes it's just impossible. Giving in and offering any kind of response only encourages them further, and I really don't need the distraction. Hopefully, I can avoid the other origins enough to fly under the radar while stoking fire into the fae I'm with so we can all envision a strong end goal together.

Shaking my head, I set those thoughts aside for now. It sounds complicated, how I need to be and act to have the right impact around me, and I don't need to falter under the pressure of it when I haven't even completed the first day of classes.

My gaze drifts to the desk drawer, and I hurry over, wanting to see the letter one more time before I leave. When I returned last night and went through my things properly, I found another heartfelt letter with my name scrawled across it. Only this one was from my father.

Addi,

My love.

You are strong, you are brave, you are everything you were destined to be.

Stay true to yourself, follow your heart, and you'll make a positive impact on the world around you.

No matter what may follow, I am proud of you, I am in awe of you, I love you.

Don't forget to prioritize yourself among the madness to come, and don't worry about Nora and me.

All my love,

Dad

I should be concernedthat they both managed to slip a letter into my possessions without me noticing, but I'm grateful for it no matter what. Folding it with precision, I tuck it away and get ready to leave again.

Once I've done one final sweep around my room, making sure everything is safe and secure, I finally head for the door. The hallway is quiet as I step out, and I bask in the silence as I head for the stairs. A few people are seated in the communal lounge, offering nervous smiles my way as I step into the room. I plaster a smile on my own face before heading outside.

"There you are."

I startle as Flora waves at me enthusiastically with Arlo beside her.

"She was waiting for you. Insisted on it even though my insides are about to fall out with how hungry I am," Arlo groans dramatically, clutching his stomach as Flora rolls her eyes at him, and I grin.

It's impossible to deny that they're quite funny and have an easy-going vibe that surrounds them.

I should decline and head to the dining hall alone, but that completely defies the point of us being here. How am I going to win this place and become the heir of Floodborn Kingdom if I'm too antisocial to deal with other people?

With my mind made up, I take a step toward them and they automatically fall into step with me. Comfortable silence drifts around us as we head down the path, passing the large fountain that connects all the different origin buildings along the way.

"So, Addi, where are you from?" Arlo cocks a brow at me, a look I'm getting familiar with already. It means he's challenging me, just like yesterday, but in the calmest and politest way possible, if that's even a thing.

"You don't have to answer that," Flora interjects, eyes widening at her friend, who shrugs in response.

"What? We're fae from Summer Oak, just like everyone else we recognize. There are only a few fae I don't know, and Addi is one of them. I'm curious," Arlo insists, like it's totally fine. So why does my heart quicken and my palms feel sweaty?

Luckily, they are fae and not another origin who would be able to pick up on those tells. I need to get myself together. I may have lived a quiet and isolated life, but that's all changing now.

"I grew up here, on the outskirts of the City of Harrows. We tried Summer Oak for a while, but the warmer climate wasn't to my family's preference," I rattle off, not exactly lying, but definitely omitting some casual truths. It seems to do the trick, though.

"What do you mean? It's absolutely freezing here. I'm already missing the lush heat and summer days of home," Flora admits, her eyes glazing over as she envisions it.

Shrugging, I take the three steps up to the academy entrance, ignoring the glares from the other origins that gather in small groups at the entryway. "I like wearing layers. I can't do that in the sun."

I don't glance back to see her response, focused on my surroundings as I note every door along the hallway before reaching the dining hall. The murmur of voices becomes loud as I step through the double doors, and I instantly hate that there's nowhere quieter to fuel up for the day.

"I didn't see you for dinner last night. Did you eat?" Flora asks, and I nod.

"I just grabbed something small and took it back to my room." I don't know why I'm answering her; it's not really any of her business, but I guess it doesn't matter all that much.

It's a lot busier in here this morning than yesterday afternoon, and it's a complete sea of colors now as everyone wears their academy issued cloaks. Red and green are prominent, with a few flashes of creams and blues, but the purples and grays are significantly lacking.

"Losers," someone grunts, shouldering past me with a sneer. I manage to remain on my feet, but as I glance over my shoulder, I can't tell who it is I need to retaliate against.

"Are you okay?"

Taking a deep breath, I nod to Flora while keeping myself moving to the food counters.

"I've heard the rumors," Arlo states when I grab a tray, eyes glancing over the offerings.

"What rumors?" Flora asks.

Admittedly, I"m just as eager to know what rumors he means too.

"That there's a target on all of our backs."

"All of our backs? What does that mean?" Flora questions, her eyes pinching in confusion.

"I'm assuming he means the fae. We're going to be targeted by everyone here, but mostly the vampires and wolves who make up the largest numbers of those in attendance," I state, and Arlo snaps his finger at me with a nod.

"But why?"

I look at Flora. Like, really look at her, and it's my turn for my eyebrows to draw together.

"Before you ask, yes, our Flora here is slightly more sheltered than others. She doesn't realize how much the fae as a whole are disliked in the kingdom," Arlo explains, and I shake my head in disbelief.

"Why did you decide to come here then?" I blurt, internally cringing when Flora's cheeks turn pink, but I'm next in line to be served, so I turn away to select my food. Pancakes, too many pancakes, with blueberries and two extra servings of raspberry compote poured over the top.

I murmur my thanks, grabbing an orange juice before turning to the tables.

This is where it gets more awkward than I would prefer. The desire to slip back to my room is strong, but Flora stops me before I can take a single step.

"Let's sit with the other fae, shall we? May as well sit strong in numbers if we're going to be targeted unnecessarily," she grumbles, slipping past me, and without a word, I'm following after her.

Arlo presses his lips together and follows, as if he's simply here because Flora is. A sense I seem to resonate with since I find myself moving along with her too, despite my initial thoughts to decline. I'm questioning myself with every step I take, worrying if I'm too soft for all of this if I can so easily follow her suggestion, but in reality, I'm simply showing strength like she said. That's what I'm sticking with anyway as we approach the table where five fae are already eating breakfast. They all look up, but no one says anything as we sit at the other end of the table. It's long enough to hold twelve people, leaving only a few open chairs between us, but it still feels like the gap could be a million miles.

"So, explain it to me. Why is there this invisible target on my back?" Flora asks, digging into her bowl of cereal. My gaze flicks to Arlo first, who nods for me to take the lead. Reluctantly, and with a heavy sigh, I do.

"Apparently, King Reagan's sins are ours too." The words taste like acid on my tongue, and they don't seem any better to hear as Flora's face twists in distaste.

"But he didn't have any sins. It was his wife…wasn't it? That's what my mother always said."

I shrug. "That doesn't matter to anyone here. All they care about is their own origin taking over the kingdom. We're just another hurdle for them to overcome. Except, given our history, it gives them a sense of validation to hate on us."

"She's right, Flo. The thought of fae taking the throne again isn't one the other origins are happy to suffer," Arlo adds, and I take the opportunity to stuff my face with food.

I can feel eyes on us from all over the room. I know it's a feeling we're going to have to get used to, but I really would just like to eat my breakfast in peace.

Flora clears her throat, gaining my attention, and when I look across the table at her, she's already staring at me. "I'm here because my mother advised it. I want to be too, for sure, but being the heir to the kingdom isn't really my end goal."

I chew the food in my mouth, considering her words, but they don't make sense to me. "I don't understand."

Flora peers at Arlo for a split second, who lifts a shoulder at her before her eyes are fixed back on mine. "My mother believed in King Reagan and what he stood for. I'm not a leader, that's for sure, but I do have good skills that I can offer if a fae is selected."

"So you're here to gain connections to aid the throne when the time comes?" I clarify, and she nods with a soft smile.

"Yeah. My mother refuses to let me consider that the fae might not retake the throne, so I haven't. I'm set on my path. I'm here to learn, to grow, to get stronger, and be of assistance to my people."

That's…impressive.

"What about you?" I ask, glancing at Arlo as I stuff my mouth with food again, and he shrugs.

"Pretty much the same. I have no interest in the stress that comes with being the heir, but my people deserve my support. Besides, I couldn't let Flora come here all alone now, could I?"

There's something he's not saying. Not in relation to being here, or his reasoning behind it, but more specifically in relation to Flora. There's something between them; I can sense it in the air, but it doesn't feel like they're more than friends.

Before I can formulate a question to dig deeper into the pair of them, a shadow casts over us from the head of the table and my spine stiffens.

"If it isn't the foolish fae girl from yesterday, Raiden. What did you say you would do the next time you saw her? I forgot."

Pouty red lips, high cheekbones, and layers and layers of mascara framing deep blue eyes stare down at me with a smugness you couldn't even comprehend unless you saw it in the flesh.

It's the vampire girl who interrupted the assessment that was being made of me yesterday, who called me out for standing with the fae when I don't have pointy ears. Her presence instantly irritates the hell out of me.

Another looming shadow approaches a moment later, and I don't have to shift my gaze to know who it is.

Black hair, brown eyes, a chiseled jaw, and a hateful look of distaste at the mention of fae rings true around him. I can't stop my eyes from flicking to him though. It really is shameful for someone so good looking to be such a dick.

Raiden.

That's what she said his name was.

Raiden the vampire.

Setting my fork down, I stare up at him as he continues to look down on me, not reiterating whatever his threat was yesterday that the lovely vampire beside him so eagerly mentioned.

"Can I help you?" I mentally high-five myself for keeping my voice calm and my heartbeat steady. The last thing I want any of these fools to think is that I'm afraid of them.

Far from it.

"Can you help us? Do you hear yourself?" the girl remarks with a scoff, tossing her brown curls over her shoulder with a sense of sass that I really can't handle this early in the morning.

"I didn't say us, I said you. I was talking to him," I retort, keeping my eyes on the dark and devilish vampire piercing me with his deathly stare. He keeps his lips pressed firmly together, but I'm certain there's the smallest flicker to his top lip. It happens too quickly for me to be certain, and before I can press the matter, the sass queen beside me continues.

"Do you even realize who you're speaking to? I'm Vallie Drummer. Highly regarded within the vampire origin, and you're…a lowly fucking fae who is only here because The Council had to include you, even though we all know you will never get your hands on the crown again." She slams her hands down on the table, anger getting the better of her as I repeat two words on a loop in my head.

Calm. Collected. Calm. Collected. Calm. Collected.

My fists are balls in my lap, refusing to relax despite my little mantra, but at least my facial expression remains intact.

"I'm going to take your silence as confirmation that there is, in fact, nothing I can help you with," I state, tilting my head as I ignore her little tangent and hold the stare of the vampire who really, really shouldn't look this good.

Ignoring her fuels the fury consuming her, just as I expect, but despite her lightning-fast moves, I still anticipate the action and grab her wrist before she can wrap her fingers around my hair.

This is exactly why I braid the damn stuff to my head, so it isn't so easy for bitches to get their hands on in times like this.

Pulling my stare from Raiden, who has yet to say a word, I use my hold on Vallie's wrist to yank her toward me, making her stumble forward with a yelp of surprise while sending my other hand toward her face, punching her straight between the eyes.

The second I connect, the throb dancing along my knuckles, all hell breaks loose.

We tumble to the floor, arms and legs swinging for contact as we both try to gain the advantage. With a swift jab to her gut, followed by her fists smashing against the side of my head, I manage to dig my elbow into the weak spot between her shoulder and chest to place myself above her.

The second I do, arms band around my waist, and I'm hoisted in the air. I brace my leg, ready to strike out, while lowering my chin to my chest so I can throw back one hell of a head butt when the time comes, but all of that is halted when I recognize the voice of the person behind me.

"That's enough."

I freeze, heart racing wildly in my chest as I pant with every breath when I turn my head to see Professor Fairbourne over my shoulder.

Fuck.

Of course it's the professor for the fae breaking us apart.

Glancing toward the screeching that still sounds out from Vallie's red lips, I find it's Raiden who has gotten a hold of her in a similar grip, but his eyes are firmly fixed on me.

Fairbourne is trudging away in the next breath, with me still in his grasp, and I smile wide as I offer a one-finger salute to the vampire who seems happy to bring disarray to my life for the whole two days he's been in it.

I keep my mouth shut as he marches down the hall and out onto the grounds, but the second the fresh air hits me, so does the ability to use my tongue again.

"You can put me down now," I grumble, and to my surprise, he does just that.

"What the fuck was that?" he barks, pointing behind him like I don't know what he's referring to.

I straighten my cloak and run my fingers over my fitted top and pants. "Me losing my cool. It won't happen again," I admit, scrambling for the words to remind myself that I need to have a more positive outlook.

"It fucking better."

My gaze darts to his as I frown. "What?"

His shoulders relax as he looks me over before folding his arms over his chest. "You're not like the rest." I tilt my head at him, lifting a brow for him to expand upon his observation, but it only earns me a smirk. "Yeah, definitely not like the rest." He takes a step back, swiping a hand down his face, and I take note of his eyes fixating on my ears for a moment before he meets my gaze again. "Something tells me I'm going to have my hands full with you."

I offer him a fake smile, standing tall as I turn away and head down the path. I have no idea where I'm going, but that doesn't matter right now. "I take it you're not good at being out of control," he hollers, humor in his voice, but I don't bother to respond. "You know you're going the wrong way, right? Your first class is this way."

My body tenses and a shrill growl of exasperation burns out my throat as I push past every objection in my body to turn around, stomping past him without a single millisecond of eye contact.

Fucker.