Page 23 of The Kingdom of Ruin

The look in his eyes tells me he definitely freaking would.

My nostrils flare with annoyance. If I put up a fight, I’m still going to end up hearing what he has to say. I know it. But this doesn’t feel like one of those times where I should be pliant or agreeable.

Open to negotiating it is.

Straightening my cloak, I stand tall. “We can talk after classes end for the day. That’s my offer. Alternatively, I will cause so much of a scene that you’ll have a quieter time with Vallie around.”

My words hang in the air as he continues to glare down at me, but I spot it…the moment he concedes. He steps back, Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as he nods.

“At the fountain that joins all of the origins’ houses. Keep me waiting and I’ll make you wish you never stepped foot on campus.”

“Too late. I wished that before I got here. Your shameful attempts to threaten me aren’t going to change it, but please, keep your efforts up. It’s amusing to watch.”

TWELVE

RAIDEN

Who in the ever loving fuck is this girl and why is she everywhere? Never in all of my life has someone been so damn present. There’s no exaggeration in it, either.

E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E.

Yesterday, when Cass and I were talking about our plans for the coming week, I could sense something was different immediately. Her scent filled the air, all vanilla and musky, and ever since, I can smell it everywhere I go.

Big green eyes, curly blonde hair that looks too damn soft, and a toned body that is firm and soft in all the right places. Then she frowns, with her snipped ears and fucking fae abilities, and my mind is conflicted.

If she were a vampire, this entire issue would be completely different, but it’s just my luck that she’s as far from a vampire as possible. She’s the fucking enemy.

Fuck. I can’t blink without her infiltrating my vision. There’s no getting away from her. That’s why we need to talk. She needs to leave. Today. I’ve got too much riding on this entire academy venture and I don’t need the distraction. Especially not one as sinful as her with her sensual looks, snarky comments, and pouty lips.

I spot Cassian ahead and bound toward him with the same ferocity as I had when I stormed away from Fairbourne’s office.

His eyes widen, then quickly narrow as I approach. “You don’t look like you’ve had a talk,” he states, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans as concern dances in his eyes.

“What do I look like?” I push, knowing his wolf nature is eager to take over. That’s why his hands are stuffed in his pockets, because he knows I don’t like to be touched, and his instincts are screaming at him to fucking hug me.

“Pissed as usual, but not in the victorious way you love or the furious way like you did before when she got one over on you,” he states, eyes narrowing as he continues to assess me.

My jaw clenches as I frown at him, but it does nothing to shake him off. It never does.

“Nope, still not getting a read.”

The voice gets under my skin instantly, just as he intended. I turn to the source to see my least favorite mage to ever exist. “Fuck off, Brody,” I grunt, and his smile grows, much to my annoyance.

“Nah, you love me too much for that,” he retorts, clapping me on the arm with a wink, and I want to wring his fucking neck.

Stepping into the classroom, I have no idea what’s next on the timetable. I’m too caught up in origins distracting me to give it my full attention. A fact I need to change as soon as possible. Starting now.

I turn to Cass as I walk through the rows to take my seat. We haven’t been in here yet, but the layout is the exact same as every other class we’ve been to so far. Seat assignment has been the same all morning, I’m going to assume this afternoon is the same. Stopping by the seat I’m assuming is mine, I glance at Cass. “Cass, please just?—”

He shakes his head from farther down the row, not even letting me finish. “I’m not dealing with his shit. I have enough going on.” His grunt is final as he sinks into his seat, head down and body tilted away enough to double his efforts at labeling himself off limits.

Asshole.

Guilt burns inside of me, knowing things are a mess with his father, but fuck, there’s nothing he can do about that right now, so why not distract himself and handle this instead?

“Maybe I’ll ask her what happened when she gets here,” Brody hollers. When I glare back at him, he wiggles his eyebrows.

“Why the fuck are you here again?” I snap, aware that a few people are peering at me because of my outburst, and that fact only irritates me more.

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