19. Kryll

KRYLL

"What the fuck is going on with you?" Cassian grunts, staring at an almost frantic Raiden as he paces back and forth in front of his coffee table. I agree with the question, maybe not as harshly worded, but something definitely isn't right.

He's completely unkept, his hair sticking up in every direction as if he's raked his fingers through it a thousand times, and his creased pajama bottoms hang at his waist. He's usually the most kept, ironed, and put-together guy you've ever met, but the person standing before me is far from any of those things.

Are those bags under his eyes?

"I messaged you all to get here because I need your help, not your grunts and snarls," he retorts, planting his hands on his hips as he glares at the three of us.

Yeah, I'm at a complete loss with him now.

"Where were you yesterday?" Brody asks, slumping on the sofa to my right.

"On protective duty," Raiden retorts, making me frown.

"What does that mean?" I ask, earning the deathly glare again as his lips purse and his jaw ticks.

"Were none of you there when Bozzelli called Adrianna in the dining hall?" Distaste dances across his features as my frown continues to deepen.

"Where did you go after that?" Brody asks, recalling the fact that the vampire before us disappeared and never came back.

"To check on her."

"Why?" Cassian grunts, folding his arms over his chest.

"Have you met Bozzelli?" Raiden retorts, like that should explain it.

"She's harsh as fuck, but what does that have to do with anything?" Brody questions, lacing his fingers behind the back of his head as he gets comfortable.

Raiden glances over the three of us like we've grown a second head or something. "You didn't think something might happen to Adrianna when she was called. You know, after the news of her heritage was spread around the academy like a scandal."

"I mean, it is a scandal," Cassian snaps, and Raiden is in front of him in a split second.

"You're a fucking scandal."

This isn't heading in the best direction. Before I can try to simmer them both down, Brody beats me to it.

"Did something happen to her?"

Raiden spins to face him, completely forgetting about Cassian behind him. "Did something happen to her? Of course it did!" he bites, making my spine stiffen as Brody quickly stands from the sofa. His calm demeanor quickly shifts to one etched with concern.

"What?"

"Thanks, Brody. This is the level of concern we're supposed to be at," Raiden remarks, glaring at Cassian and me.

"Get to the point," Cassian grunts, stepping up to my side as he waits for the details. He's trying to play it off, but I can sense the undertone of worry. Even if it's only a smidge. "And can you make it quick? I'm starving. I'm only here because Kryll said your absence yesterday was a concern."

"So is the state of him and the text he sent," I add. I would be concerned about anyone under the circumstances.

His message was about as cryptic as he's being now. It's exhausting.

"Have you heard of the kiss of amethyst?" he asks, and I shake my head along with Cassian. "Uneducated fucks," he grumbles, and I raise my hands in surrender. I don't need him to start over with the lack of knowledge we have. That's only going to stir up Cassian, too, and I can't handle them both like this.

"I have," Brody interjects, pulling Raiden's attention toward him. "It's a purple gem, shines like it's the prettiest damn thing in the world, but it has the ability to weaken anyone's magic. I thought it was banished years ago?"

"They were. Guess who now has one embedded into her back?"

My spine stiffens as I watch the horror dance over Brody's face.

"No," he mutters with a gasp as Raiden nods, a sneer on his lips.

"Yes."

"It's a torture device," Brody insists, raking his fingers through his hair, and Raiden nods eagerly.

"That's exactly what I said."

"Can't we just get it out?" I blurt, and Brody shakes his head slowly.

"It's not as simple as that. Not without an impossible magic and what I can only imagine is a lot of pain. Definitely more pain than the feeling of it being attached," he explains, making my chest tighten and my spine ache from how stiff it is.

"What do we do then?" I ask, feeling the need to come up with a solution to this situation. I can't believe I hadn't considered Bozzelli would do something like this. But more than that, I can't believe Raiden did.

"We decide," the vampire declares, slapping his hands against his thighs as he looks at each of us.

"On what?" I ask, despite secretly knowing I don't want to know where this is going.

"On claiming her or not." He says it with such a finality that it leaves me frozen in place.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Cassian grunts, the cords in his neck tightening with every breath he takes.

"I haven't slept," Raiden states, starting to list off his points on his fingertips.

"Okay," Cassian bites back, and I'm intrigued to understand how this guy got from A to Z by somehow passing every other letter in the alphabet, too.

"I haven't stopped worrying."

"Okay."

"I kissed her."

"You kissed Addi?" Brody reconfirms, and Raiden nods.

"Adrianna? Yes."

"Okay," Cassian grinds out before Brody can interject. There's a glimmer of excitement in his eyes that tells me he's happy to agree with whatever Raiden suggests at this stage.

"I am not comfortable with any of these feelings," Raiden continues, swirling his hands around, and Cassian scoffs.

"You're telling me." I press my lips together to bite back the smile, but it quickly vanishes at Raiden's worry.

"But I'm even more uncomfortable with her out of my sight. It feels like my skin is crawling."

Well, damn.

"I'm not claiming her," Cassian declares, taking a step back.

"I thought you already had?" I interject, cocking my brow at him, and he sticks his middle finger up at me.

"Technically, she claimed me," he corrects, his eyes continuing to darken.

"Not by choice," Brody chimes in, earning a glare from the grumpy wolf.

"We're not asking for specifics right now."

"It feels like now is the time for specifics," I add, amused at the way they're acting in the midst of all this.

"Do you even like her?" Cassian bites, turning his wrath my way.

"What does that have to do with the situation?" I push back, instantly regretting opening my mouth. I'd rather not be put under the spotlight right now.

"It has everything to do with the situation."

"I'm quite certain it doesn't. Besides, you guys are too amusing to distract from. Please, proceed," I repeat, my fingers starting to tingle with their gazes all turned my way. No, thank you.

"I vote we claim her," Brody announces, lifting his hand in the air while bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Thank you!" Raiden hollers, swinging his arm around his friend's shoulder as they find some kind of solace in agreeing with each other.

"I don't," Cassian barks, and it's no real surprise.

"That leaves it to Kryll," Raiden states, making all eyes aim back at me.

Fuck.

"So your opinion does matter in this situation. Would you look at that?" Cassian points out with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't get smug. It's unbecoming," I grumble, folding my arms over my chest.

"Unbecoming? Fuck off. Place a vote so we can go and eat."

"I'm not placing any vote." I'm standing my ground on this shit right now. There's no way.

"That's how this works. We vote. On everything. Now isn't any different."

"Thanks for reminding me," I mutter, squeezing the back of my neck to try to ease the rising tension, but it does nothing to calm me down.

I need to get out of here. With all their opinions and thoughts consuming the room, I can't breathe.

Turning, I don't make it one step before there's a hand on my arm, halting me in place. It's Cassian. I know it without looking. He's the only one who would dare to touch me without warning, irritating the animal inside of me.

"Where are you going?" he grinds out, and I shake out of his hold to glance at all three of them.

"Away from the drama you guys are swimming in. I've had a shower already this morning. I don't feel like getting wet again."

"That doesn't make any sense," Brody says, rubbing at his chin in confusion.

"Neither does any of this crap," I retort, and he rolls his eyes at me.

"You have to vote, Kryll," he states, keeping his tone soft and calm, but it doesn't change my mind.

"No, I don't."

"I'm not waiting around for your decision. I need to go and check that she's okay," Raiden suddenly declares, shaking his head in frustration as he stomps off toward his bedroom.

"She's fine."

He comes to a stop, slowly turning on the spot to face me with a weird look in his eyes. "How do you know that?"

Ah, fuck.

There's no point denying it—not when they'll be able to see right through me. "I flew past her window on the way here."

"The fae building is in the complete opposite direction of the vampire building."

I shrug. "I needed to stretch my wings."

"So you do care. Vote yes," Raiden murmurs, his eyes wide with hope.

I take a step back. "I think you're forgetting who and what I am."

The three of them frown at me. "Be specific," Cassian says with a sigh, his irritation at the situation clear. But it's almost as if he wants me to vote yes even though it will go against him.

They're giving me a damn headache.

"Now you want specifics," I mutter, shaking my head in annoyance.

"Don't be a dick."

"Then don't force me to tie myself to someone. I'm a shifter. That's not what we do," I growl, my emotions rushing to the surface before I can harness them.

"So you don't want to claim her," Brody interjects, confusion written all over his face.

You and me both, my friend. You and me both.

"I never said that."

"Then what are you saying?" Raiden pushes, and I can't contain the agitation any longer.

"I'm saying nothing right now." I turn for the door again, and thankfully, no one tries to stop me this time.

Relief floods my veins as the door opens, and I step through the threshold.

"Leaving isn't going to help," Cassian states, but I don't bother to turn back to them to see how pissed they are.

"It's going to help me immensely."