15. Adrianna

ADRIANNA

The door clicks shut behind me, declaring my summoning like the hammer of a gavel in front of The Council. Only, there isn't a single member of the leading body here, just Bozzelli. She didn't like me before, and she certainly doesn't like me now.

She saunters around her desk, never actually taking her eyes off me, as if I'm a convict and she's not safe, but the glimmer in her eyes tells me she believes she holds all the power. She's a mind fuck. I hate it.

"Take a seat." Her voice is cold as she points toward the seat across from her.

"I'm good standing, but thanks," I reply with a shrug, and she shakes her head in disgust.

"You're not a princess inside these four walls, Adrianna. You'll follow my order. Now, sit." Venom pours from her, confirming her opinion of me and my roots as a member of the Reagan line.

Pursing my lips, I recall the lessons my father would teach me in moments like this, and despite my better judgment, I do as she says. His words seemed strong and full of wisdom.

Allow them to guide you, even if their intentions are steeped in things you don't wish to hear or know. I'll teach you how to walk back from the edge of despair with control of the situation firmly in your grasp.

Sometimes, we have to relinquish a bit of power so we can understand their wants, needs, and desires.

The stories I've had to endure, the endless boredom, it's exhausting, but it's what always gave me the information I needed to make the right decisions.

Except for that one time. In that instance, there was no opportunity to find strength within the kingdom or to rely on my friends and allies. They were all gone in the blink of an eye.

I shake my head subtly, focusing on the present rather than taking one too many steps down memory lane. Instead, I focus on Bozzelli. Her canary-yellow suit is even brighter in person. I didn't think that was possible, but I almost consider a pair of sunglasses in here to shield myself from the glare.

She looks down her nose at me as she taps her finger on the desk. "How do you feel now that your plan has been unraveled?"

"My plan?" I ask, frowning at her.

"Don't play coy with me. I'm no fool."

"I really don't know what plan you're alluding to. Why don't you enlighten me?" I offer with a raised eyebrow, which earns me a sneer as she leans forward and laces her fingers together on the desk.

"Your plan to ruin the academy and everything it stands for," she snaps, face reddening with anger.

I shake my head, lips set in a thin line. "I must admit, I don't recall that one."

"Why else would you be here?" Disbelief ripples from her.

"To win."

A bark of laughter rumbles from her as she shakes her head at me. "You're never going to win."

I should have known she would say that. I don't let her words get to me, though. Instead, I shrug. "I like my odds."

"Which are what?"

"Part of my plan," I retort, smiling wide as her lips curl in disgust.

Leaning back in her chair, she unlaces her fingers to grip the arms, digging her nails into the leather as her eyes burn into me.

"You think you're smart." I don't utter a word; I just let my smile grow. "But I don't think it's fair for you to attend the academy as a more powerful student than your peers," she adds, making my stomach turn to stone. What does that mean? Is she going to kick me out? She can't. Not on these grounds, surely.

"I didn't realize fairness was a part of this. Each origin here has different abilities, some even have none. Yet they still show up, filled with determination and motivation. Why am I any different?"

"Because you deceived us," she snarls.

"No, I wanted to prove who I am and what I'm capable of without titles or prejudice. I want to prove that the kingdom can be in the hands of the fae again."

"That will never happen." Despite the anger and fury in her words, her grin spreads from ear to ear.

I've walked into something here. I know I have. I just don't know what. The longer I sit here without her getting to the point is another second of my agitation increasing. I can't act rashly or she'll use that against me, but I don't really know what the rules are and I need to toe the line the best I can, which means not attacking the venomous bitch despite the burning desire to do so.

"I can tell you're barely containing yourself, so why don't you spit it out and save us both the time and effort," I grind out, making the anger radiating from her rise.

"I'm your superior. You will respect me."

"It's really cliché for me to say, but respect is earned, and technically, you're not my superior, not in the way you would like. That's my father, the king, remember?" I shouldn't goad her, not when I don't even believe what I'm saying, but she pisses me off. Besides, the pinch of her lips is worth it.

The gleam in her eyes, however, isn't.

She doesn't take her eyes off me as she opens the desk drawer to her right. A glimmer of something purple, as deep as amethyst, flashes in her hand as she turns it over.

"Since I can't kick you out or contain you, I'll have to restrain you."

Her words hang heavy in the room, twisting my stomach into knots as uncertainty wars inside of me. I don't like that I can't predict her at all. It makes me uneasy.

"How?" I ask, despite not wanting to know, but like my father said, information is key. Bozzelli turns the golf ball sized gem in her hand and I watch the way it absorbs the light, making it look regal and elegant, but something tells me it's anything but. "What is that?" I push, but she continues to give me the silent treatment.

Without a word, she stands, slowly prowling around her desk until she's beside me. Her proximity is off-putting, but when I go to stand, I find it impossible.

"Why can't I move?" I bite, my body completely rigid. I can't even wiggle my damn toes.

"Because I haven't deemed it so," she breathes, making my eyes narrow as I try to twist my face to her, but again, I feel only restraint. The only thing I can seem to do is move my damn mouth and my eyes.

My teeth grind together as she yanks at my cloak, pulling it aside before tugging at the neckline of my black t-shirt to reveal the top of my back.

"What are you doing?"

My heart races, panic clawing at my skin as I try to act as unfazed as possible, but it's harder than I care to admit.

"This will hopefully only hurt… a lot," she muses with a chuckle before something slices into my skin.

I wince. The hiss from my lips is impossible to deny as she pierces my skin at the top of my spine. Pain vibrates through me, even when she takes a step back. As she comes into view, I notice the gem is no longer in her hands.

Is that the weight I can feel pressed against my flesh?

What the fuck has she done to me?

Leaning against the desk, she grins at me, pride erupting from every fiber of her being. "If anything, I'm doing you a favor."

"What have you done?" I ask, my head feeling light and fuzzy as a sense of dread clings to me.

"I've weakened you."

"Stop giving me bullshit answers. What have you done?" I snarl, eyes narrowed so tight they're almost closed.

"I've limited the magic you can access."

She did what?

That's bullshit. I haven't even been abusing my magic. I've spent a solid ninety-eight percent of my time here so far pretending I could only access earth magic.

"You can't do that."

"I just have," she retorts with a devilish smirk consuming her face.

"This is torture."

"You're welcome."

"You won't get away with this," I promise, the weight on my back becoming heavier the more aware of it I become.

"Oh, but I will, and I am. No one will challenge me, not when it's for the safety of our people. Besides, The Council has agreed."

"The Council isn't supposed to be in charge of the academy as we try to find the heir," I snipe, and she shrugs.

"The Council are still our leaders until someone is deemed the heir. Until then, you'll do well to fall in line."

She waves her hand dismissively as she saunters around her desk once more, and the restraints confining me to the seat ease. I'm up on my feet in a flash, eager to ruin her, but I can't.

I fucking can't.

The glimmer in her eyes begs me to. She wants to paint me as the bad guy. Going for her will only make me out to be the villain.

Fuck.

Hands clenched at my sides, I take a deep breath, which does nothing to quash the anger burning through me.

"Is there anything else you need?" I grind out, eager to get as far away from her as possible.

With a shake of her head, she waves a hand toward the door.

"For now, no, but I'm watching you, Adrianna. For the good of this kingdom, I'm watching you."