43. Adrianna

ADRIANNA

Istayed the night at Cassian's. I stayed the fucking night. He also kept true to his promise this morning, and my thighs are still relishing the most delicious ache. Scurrying back to my room this morning, I was mortified doing the walk of shame, but thankfully I didn't bump into anyone.

The embarrassment stayed with me, though, and I couldn't face showing up for breakfast this morning in fear of how anyone would react if it was brought up. So, I snacked on a cereal bar from Flora and decided to head straight to my first class.

As I step across the combat field with Flora and Arlo, I can feel eyes on me. With one glance, I spot Kryll and his brother, Professor Tora, with their gazes zoned in on me.

I raise an eyebrow at him as we near, but he shakes his head subtly before turning away with a soft smile on his lip.

"What was that about?" Flora asks, smirking at me when I fail to give her my innocent look.

"I have no idea," I admit with a shrug, moving to join the other students who begin to gather.

"Well, just so you know, I have managed to get my hands on some moisturizing face masks, nail polish, and fluffy slipper socks for Friday night," she explains, changing the subject, and I stare at her like she's just grown a second head.

"I think I should have had a warning before I signed up for this," I muse, and she waves me off.

"I did warn you, but I'll take your place," Arlo offers, a longing look in his eyes as he stares at Flora, but she quickly shuts him down.

"Nope. Girls only."

He takes a step closer to her. "Does that mean you're going to talk about me?" Amusement ghosts over his lips as his eyes darken just a little.

"Why would we talk about you?" she asks, planting a hand on her hip as she gives him a pointed look.

"You know."

"Oh, so you're acknowledging it now?" she scoffs, and all I can do is gape at her and her sass right now.

Arlo's face falls as he takes another step toward her, but before he can get too close, she waves him off, leaving the two of us to get some space.

My eyes are trained on her as I speak to Arlo. "Should I be concerned?"

He clears his throat. "No."

I cock a brow at him, giving him my best don't fuck with me look.

"Fuck, Addi, I?—"

"Gather ‘round; there's no time to waste when we're about to do a practice trial run," Professor Tora declares, interrupting Arlo's words.

"Save it for later," I murmur, waiting until he nods in agreement before I slip off to stand with Flora as Tora continues to explain.

"We're doing a what?" someone asks, and the professor rolls his eyes.

"We're going to do a test run of a trial," he explains, and even Kryll's eyes are wide in surprise, confirming he didn't know about this either. Holy fuck. This is kind of exciting. "So, gather ‘round. We're wasting precious time," he adds, summoning everyone closer.

He wasn't joking when he said now that the ball had come and gone they would be upping the trial preparation.

"What did I miss?" Brody asks, suddenly appearing at my side with a grin. His smile is too infectious, and I can't help but grin back at him, but I quickly remember that there's more going on right now that needs my focus.

"Practice trial," I murmur, feeling a presence behind me. When I peer over my shoulder, I find Raiden looking down at me with a heated glare. Cassian stands beside me, but his gaze is fixed on Tora, paying me no mind.

For some reason, it makes my shoulders relax; feeling him act no differently reassures me of… something. I don't know what, but I like that he still remains himself, even after moments like last night and this morning. He's still a gruff asshole through and through.

"The aim of the trial is to find your way to the center," Tora explains, making everyone frown.

"The center of what?" Kryll asks, sauntering toward us with an arched brow.

"I'm glad you asked," Tora replies, nodding to someone off to the side. I think it's a mage professor. My thoughts are confirmed when the ground rumbles beneath our feet a moment later and a hedged maze appears before our eyes.

"There's a central point to this. You must work independently. Touch the token in the center and it will escort you back here. Only so many will appear, though. So if you're unfortunate not to find one, you'll have to walk your ass right back out the way you came, so I hope you remember the path you took."

"That sounds too easy," Vallie says with a snicker, eyes sparkling with a level of chaos that seems to be her specialty.

"That's probably because I haven't finished explaining," Tora retorts, giving her a pointed look, but she doesn't falter. She somehow stands taller as her friends fawn and giggle over her attitude. I still bite back a smile at the fact that Tora doesn't take her shit. It's refreshing. "Once in there, you'll face obstacles, hurdles, and challenges in the form of… each other. It's a race; get there first."

"And what are the rules for us with each other?" Cassian asks, folding his arms over his chest, but Tora simply shrugs.

His nonchalant approach sets my heart racing, and I instantly feel gazes turn my way.

He just put a target on my head for Vallie and her friends, along with at least half of the female wolves and everyone else who doesn't like that I'm the spawn of the old fae king.

My excitement for the trial quickly dies down, the adrenaline pumping through my veins fixated on getting through this as quickly as possible.

"Are we allowed weapons?" I blurt, needing verification, and Tora scoffs.

"I don't give a fuck."

I nod.

It is as if I knew this was coming when I put daggers beneath my clothes today, in case something backfired from last night at the Kenner compound.

A siren blares before anything else can be said and everyone takes off running. I stutter for a second, gaping at the carnage as people trip each other up and clamber over one another to enter one of the openings in the tall hedges.

This is so fucked.

"Aren't you going?" Tora asks, cocking a brow at me, and I scoff.

"It's not tactful to run into chaos mindlessly," I murmur, making him smirk. He nods, a flash of respect gleaming in his eyes.

"Survive, and I'll make sure that remark is put next to your name in a positive light," he states, catching me by surprise, but I don't respond as I start toward the madness. "Oh, and Addi," he hollers, forcing my gaze back to him. "Be careful with my brother."

I frown, confused by what that means, but I really don't have the time to process it right now. Shaking my head, I up my pace toward the hedges.

Stepping between the tall shrubs, I'm alarmingly aware of how much sunlight they block out. They're literally everywhere. This is going to be far from easy, even without the impending inevitability that someone is going to jump out and attack me.

Remaining alert, my hands fall to my waist, ghosting over the daggers pinned to my body as I walk to the end of the pathway. Noise and cries ring from the left. Do I follow the noise because they've figured it out, or do I attempt to take the quieter path?

A snap of a twig from behind me catches my attention and I whirl around, instinctively tugging two daggers from their holsters, but I seem to startle the human more than they have me. He halts, hands raised as he nods to the left. I don't utter a word, and he takes that as confirmation that I'm not going to attack him. He's gone a second later.

Taking a deep breath, I keep my daggers in my hands. One silver, one steel. With my mind made up, I move to the right. I manage to take four turns before I reach a dead end. Backtracking, I take a left where I had previously gone right, and it leads me down a long walkway. It feels like it goes on forever, and by the time I reach the turn at the other end, I realize I must be on the other side of the maze because the sun is no longer behind me.

I roll my shoulders back, taking in my options, and opt to move to the left since that should bring me closer to the center of the maze.

Three turns.

Dead end.

Backtrack.

Right instead of left.

Success.

Four turns.

Dead end.

Backtrack.

Left instead of right.

Success.

Fuck. This is insane. I do like that it's a solo trial though. We're meant to make it to the end by following our own gut, not relying on someone else's.

A bursting sound echoes in the distance, and I look up just in time to see a girl go hurtling through the air. My eyes widen in horror until I realize she's fae, and she did it to herself, aiming for the center.

Holy. Fuck.

Get a grip on yourself, Addi. Use your magic.

Exhaling sharply, frustration bubbles inside of me. I delve into my magic, trying to connect with the earth beneath my feet, but it instantly takes its toll on me.

This fucking kiss of amethyst.

Surviving this trial isn't about being the quickest; it's about following your gut and leading yourself to victory so you will, in turn, lead the kingdom to success. I mean, that's how I see it, but I could be completely off.

Does that mean I should use my magic to speed the process up or not?

Fuck.

Maybe I do need to think smarter, otherwise I'm going to be in here forever.

I tuck my daggers away before dropping to my knees. I swoop my cloak aside, feeling the gem nestled into my skin.

When my father told me what to do, it sounded too simple, but I tried it that night.

The pain. Fuck. The pain.

My muscles bunch together in anticipation, instantly reconsidering what I'm about to do. Is it worth it? Fuck. Yes.

Scrunching my eyes up, I take a deep breath as my fingers skim over the amethyst, wreaking hell on my body.

Three… two… one…

"Ahhh!" I cry out through gritted teeth as pain exudes from every fiber of my body as I twist the gem.

"A kiss of amethyst can be removed, Adrianna. You yourself are one of three people alive who can do it. Only royal blood can remove such a treacherous curse, but no one but myself and Fairbourne know that. Hold that knowledge close to your chest. It won't be nice, and the pain will be excruciating, but you can do it. Use this knowledge to your advantage, though. Let them believe they have a hold on you."

My father's words echo in my head as I bite back the final whimper of pain and the gem falls into my hand.

How can something so sweet and delicate elicit such treacherous pain?

Tucking it into my pocket, I keep low, making sure no one is nearby as I plunge my hand into the ground. I connect with the earth so quickly and powerfully that it fills me with relief and emotion.

I take a moment, embracing the magic that dances through me, so carefree, before I summon it to do as I request.

Bright green vines rise from the ground, a stark contrast to the darkness that consumes the maze. They light up a path that I know will lead toward the center of the maze. Slowly standing, I brush my hand over the first vine, watching it retreat at my touch, before I take off, repeating the same with each one I pass, not meeting a single dead end until I see a token in the distance.

Relief and pride blossom inside of me, but despite the euphoria, I take a step back, making sure no one is around as I pull the gem out of my pocket.

Fuck.

I really don't want to, but?—

"There she is."

I stiffen at the sound of Vallie's voice, quickly stuffing the gem back in my pocket as I turn, but it's too late. Her vampire speed catches me completely off-guard, sending me tumbling to the ground with a thud.

She lands on top of me, pinning my arms and legs beneath her, a sinister look in her eyes, and before I can even buck my hips to get her the fuck off me or channel the air around me to push her away, she sinks her teeth into my throat.

A roar of pain burns from my throat, the feeling excruciating as it consumes me, rendering me helpless. The pain is blinding. My body wants to give in to the toxins that fill my veins, but I refuse. This isn't my time. Not yet.

Flailing my arms, I claw and fight her before I remember my daggers. Squeezing my hands between us, I manage to blindly tangle my hand through my cloak and t-shirt, wrapping my fingers around two hilts.

I don't think, and I can't see, so I swing with purpose and hope for the best.

"Ahh, you bitch," Vallie screams, her teeth finally leaving my flesh.

I swing again and again, her shrill voice tainted with horror with every passing breath, and I don't stop until she says nothing at all. She falls limp on top of me, and I shove her off with what little strength I have left.

Agony explodes through me as I try and fail to blink my eyes open.

I need to get out of here. I need to get to the token.

Rolling over, I push up onto my hands and knees, blindly crawling through the dirt as I let my magic dance over the surface, praying I can make it.

I'm ready to give in, to lay here and let the world take me when I reach out my hand one last time, only to feel something in my way. Running my hands over it, my heart quickens, hope blooming inside of me as I wildly flail my hand around until I feel it.

The ground shifts beneath me the second I connect with the token, but it doesn't ease the agony that consumes me, the terror of what will happen to me. It all stays. Even as I feel the sun beat down on me once again.

"What the fuck? Dagger, is that you?"