30. Raiden

RAIDEN

My gaze bores into hers, an array of emotions flickering over her features. Emerald green eyes delve deep into mine, trying to search for fuck knows what, and there's the smallest crinkle on her nose, confirmation that despite her harsh tone, she's panicked.

Reaching out, I capture a loose blond curl between my finger and thumb. The softness reminds me of the summer days when I was a child, running my grandma ragged in the back garden as the sun beat down on us.

"What are you doing here, Raiden?" she repeats, her nostrils flaring as her hands ball into fists at her sides.

"The same thing as you," I reply with a shrug, making her eyebrows rise.

"I can't imagine so," she snaps, folding her arms over her chest with her fingers still curled as if she might take a swing at me at any moment.

"You came here, so I came here."

It's as simple as that. I expect it to ease the tension seeping from her limbs, but it only seems to make her stand taller before me.

"Wait, have you been following me?" Her brows touch her hairline now, eyes still flicking over mine like the truth will be revealed if she manages to stare long enough.

"You're saying it as if it's a bad thing."

"It is a bad thing," she retorts, pointing her finger at me, and I shrug again.

"Not from my perspective."

"And what perspective is that?" She juts her chin up, glaring at me with a new level of wrath.

It's not a difficult concept to grasp. I'm surprised she can't see it already. "You're a target. I have a vested interest in keeping you alive. That interest won't last long if you're dead now, will it?" I grumble when she doesn't magically seem to garner an understanding of the situation.

She scoffs, shaking her head at me. "You're unbelievable," she mutters under her breath.

"That doesn't sound like a thank you," I state, slightly turned on by the way her lips thin and her eyes darken.

"You won't be getting one," she declares before turning toward the small veil that's nestled between the oak tree and shrub behind us. It's nicely hidden, that's for sure. I would never have known it was there if I didn't witness her stepping through it with my own eyes.

"Where are you going?" I ask, hot on her tail. I've been following her since the moment she stepped off campus grounds. I've spent the entire time hiding in the shadows, so it's refreshing to not have to focus on that now.

Watching her with her family is like seeing an entirely different side to the cryptic woman who consumes my every breath. At Heir Academy, she has an ice princess vibe about her. All standoffish and harsh, but it seems beneath all of that, she has the ability to melt into a puddle at the sight of her loved ones.

What an odd feeling that must be. It was strange to see. It's like they all actually care for one another. There is no backstabbing, no personal gain, nothing.

Just a man and his two daughters.

Not even a king with his princesses.

It is just a wholesome family.

I don't know how I feel about that. I hate her, yet I'm drawn to her. It's exhausting, but I can't seem to stay away, no matter how hard I try.

"Where are you going?" I repeat when she proceeds to ignore me.

"None of your business," she hollers over her shoulder, adjusting the hood on her cloak so it shields her face from sight. She did it earlier, too. It's a natural move that looks as though she's done it one thousand times.

"If it's to the restaurant, I already made sure Flora took your bag," I state, and she pauses in her tracks, whirling around to face me with another pinch of anger knitting her brows together.

"You did what?"

"A simple ‘thank you' would suffice."

"For who?" she gasps, exasperated, as she throws her arms out wide.

"For me." Another flare of her nostrils, another dose of irritation, another shade darker to her green pools. "Your sister looks like you," I acknowledge, which somehow has the opposite effect of what I'm going for.

"Don't talk about my sister." The snarl is harsh, raw, and real. I like it.

"Why?" I can't stop myself from pushing her further, amused as her lips set in a thin line.

"I'm not doing this with you," she grinds out, taking a step back, and I shake my head.

"You're not doing much with me, and it's driving me insane." The truth parts my lips against my will, but I can't take the words back now.

A sickly sweet smile draws across her face, the venom already on the tip of her tongue. "I'm a lowly fae, remember? The trash. That's how you put it, isn't it?" She plants a hand on her hip, waiting for my response. I roll my eyes.

"You're dramatic, and we've already been over this," I state, as tired as I feel revisiting this conversation. I wish we could put it behind us already, but something tells me a woman like Adrianna Reagan isn't going to forgive and forget my stupid comments as effortlessly as I would like.

"Go away, Raiden," she says with a sigh, turning away from me once more as she takes the first turn onto the city's cobbled streets.

"I'd rather we went to eat," I retort, keeping a step beside her, but I don't miss the telltale sound of her stomach grumbling as we start through the crowd of people trying to survive the mayhem around us. "See," I insist, stepping to her side so I can point at her. "Besides, Pearl is expecting you back," I add, making her stop dead in her tracks again. A few passersby grumble at the inconvenience, but if she notices, she doesn't acknowledge it.

"Why were you near Pearl?" she snaps, eyes frantically searching mine.

"Are we going there or not?" I ask, getting bored of this constant struggle against doing something as simple as eating.

"I don't want to go anywhere with you."

"So you keep mentioning, but she's waiting," I repeat, raising a brow at her, which has the opposite effect on her gaze as it narrows further.

"Have you done something to her?" Her head rears back a little, the panic in her eyes flickering with anger as she awaits my response.

"Why would you say that?"

"With the way you're saying that?" she grumbles, waving her hand at me.

Shrugging, I nod for us to carry on walking. "Then come and find out."

Her finger jabs against my chest. "If you've hurt a single hair on her head?—"

I opt to cut her threat short, pulling her to my chest before I take off through the pathways. Her fingers cling to my t-shirt like her life depends on it, but a moment later, we're back outside Pearl's restaurant.

Stepping inside, the chime above the door announces our arrival as I slowly lower her to her feet. "Pearl, we're back," I holler, watching as Addi grips her stomach and brings her other hand to her mouth.

"Raiden, what on Earth have you done to her?"

I hold my hands up in surrender. "She gets motion-sick with the whole vampire speed."

I don't remember it being this bad last time, but I can't change it now.

"Ah, that makes sense. She had to have a weakness somewhere," Pearl states with a knowing grin as Addi gapes at her.

"Hey."

"It's not a weakness. It's almost endearing," I murmur, staring at the wicked fae that has me trapped under her spell.

"Endearing?" she repeats with a frown, and I shake my head.

"I said almost."

Her eyes turn to slits, but instead of giving me the sass I expect, she turns her attention to Pearl. "Did he hurt you?"

Pearl frowns, glancing between us. "Who?"

"Raiden."

Pearl's gaze settles on me, silence falling heavily over the room for a split second before she bursts into laughter. "He wouldn't dare." She wipes at the tears spilling from her eyes before clearing her throat. "I love that you two know each other. My two favorites."

"Wait, you know him?" She points an accusatory finger in my direction, making Pearl chuckle again.

"I don't call just anyone my favorite. Of course I do. Now I think about it, it's hilarious that you two have never been here at the same time before," she muses, waving for us to take a seat. "Now, sit. I'll get your food," she orders before sauntering off into the back.

I tilt my head, giving her the choice of where to sit, and I'm not surprised to see her head toward the same booth she took earlier. I've never sat there before, but as I lower into the booth now, I see why it appeals to her. It's an excellent vantage point for someone who is always on high alert. Someone who is a princess among men. Someone like her.

Silence descends, clinging to us as I stare at her while she tries to look anywhere but at me. I get comfortable. I can deal with the silent treatment if it means I can still be in her presence for a while. Actually, not talking feels like a better option. We won't piss each other off this way.

"Please don't mention my sister to anyone," she breathes after a while. Her voice is so soft I wonder if I made it up, but the way she peers up at me confirms the fear.

"Why would I?"

She shrugs. "I don't know. Just… don't."

My brows crinkle with confusion. "She's not a secret for you to keep, Adrianna."

She rears back again, disdain etched into her features. "No, she's my sister to protect at all costs. Do you know my face has been plastered all over the media?" she barks, irritation coming through thicker and thicker.

"Yes."

"Do you know the threats that are now connected to her and my father?"

"Yes."

"So you understand?" She looks at me as if that should all make complete sense. And as much as it does in some aspects, in others, it's the complete opposite.

"Not entirely, no, but I guess that's because I'm a vampire, and we're far too self-centered to worry about others. Family included," I admit, glancing down at the table to avoid her intense stare from across the table.

"You worried about me today. That's why you followed me. It's like that feeling, only more intense," she states, and I shake my head in disbelief.

Nothing could be more intense than what I'm feeling lately, and it's all because of her.

Thankfully, before I have to worry about finding a response, Pearl appears at the table with two plates, both loaded with the exact same food. "My two favorite people both with their favorite dishes. It could be fate," she says with a wink, making Addi choke on thin air. "I'll go and grab some sodas," she adds before darting off as quickly as she appeared.

Steak, medium-rare, with cajun fries, a dollop of garlic butter, and sauteed vegetables.

Yes, please.

We eat in comfortable silence, enjoying the best food in the City of Harrows. Time passes, and with every minute that goes by, Addi's shoulders slowly relax. When they're no longer touching her ears with anger at my presence, I decide she might be calm enough for a conversation.

"So, yellow, huh?"

"What?" she barks, shoulders lifting but only a millimeter or two.

"Your dress."

"You saw my dress?" Her jaw falls slack.

"I had to peek," I offer, shrugging, but as she leans closer, elbows braced on the table between us, I know that's not enough of an answer for her.

"In the box or when I was in the shop?" Her tone is low, too soft, like a predator circling their prey with whimsical words to lure them in.

She's fucking good.

"In the box, of course. I'm not a stalker," I retort with a roll of my eyes, and she tilts her head at me.

"Are you sure?"

"You're a handful."

She scoffs. "A fact I don't believe has changed since we've met. It's not going to change any time in the future either, so you better run for the hills now," she threatens, but the warning only makes my body react to her more.

"I didn't say I didn't like it," I reply, watching as she shakes her head at me. Again.

"I don't think you should."

Matching her stance, I push. "Is that because you don't think we should?—"

"You know I'm at the academy to be the next heir, right?"

I frown at her interruption, but nod in acknowledgment. "I assumed."

"What are you at the academy for?" she asks, and my tongue peeks out, sweeping along my bottom lip before I answer.

"The same."

"So that puts us at an impasse, and I've worked too hard for anything to get in my way. Especially a vampire who treated me like dirt on the bottom of his shoe the first time I met him." Her chin tilts up, making her look down her nose at me a little.

"We've talked about this," I say calmly, knowing I am fighting an uphill battle with this woman.

"No, you have. You've made it abundantly clear that who I am and where I come from disgusts you. That is, until you found out I am royal, the single part of me that truly means nothing in comparison to everything else."

Her words are like a punch to the gut, confusing me and leaving me breathless all at once. How can that be the part of her that means nothing? To a vampire, that's all that would matter. But as much as she may think that, it's not that she's a royal that draws me in. It's the fact that she's a survivor.

This kingdom has done nothing but cause her pain and anguish from a young age, yet here she is, still fighting for herself, her people, and the kingdom.

That's a trait in a woman I've never seen.

Not until her.

"You're overreacting," I breathe, unable to express the thoughts in my head so she can hear them and understand.

"I'm a handful. That's what I do, remember? I'll make my own way home," she grumbles, and my defenses rise at her dismissal.

"Suit yourself," I grumble, folding my arms over my chest as I lean back in my seat.

"Don't bother following me," she hollers over her shoulder, and I scoff.

"You can't stop me."

Not now, not tomorrow, not ever.

I'm Raiden fucking Holloway. I get what I want, when I want, and if I want that to include her, it fucking will.