Page 22 of The Kingdom of Ruin

Shrugging, I relax back in the chair. “It does.” I’m not going to deny it. I know I’m not wrong.

“I agree.”

I nod softly, impressed that he does, but two people among a sea of thousands aren’t enough. Especially when those two people are both fae.”Not many here do, though. That seems to be the issue.”

“We’ve got two years to hopefully adjust the perspectives of closed-minded people,” he quickly replies, but I can’t bite back the scoff in time.

“Maybe.”

Silence falls on us once again, this time a little more comfortable, but there’s still a level of awkwardness since we don’t really know each other that well. Certain that there’s nothing left to say, I stand.

“Anything else?” I ask, knowing my next class starts in five minutes, and I’d rather not be late because of some stilted silence.

He shakes his head and I turn for the door, but the second my hand wraps around the handle, he speaks. “I checked the data files.”

Glancing back at him, my eyebrows pinch together with confusion. “Okay.”

He assesses me for a moment, lips pursed, before he seems to settle his mind on something. “There’s no record of an Addi Reed.”

My body stiffens from head to toe, panic flickering to life as I school my features and simply blink back at him. It takes everything in me to keep my heart rate calm and facial expression neutral.

“That’s strange,” I murmur.

“It is,” he agrees with a nod before standing. He steps around his desk to lean against it, arms folded over his chest as he speaks, “You know, many years ago, I was on King Reagan’s council. I saw what it was like and felt the full effect of a kingdom led by the fae. I also watched it crumble.”

“Unfortunately for me, I was too small to recall such tragic matters.” My chest is tight, a lump in my throat bigger than I can handle.

“I think you might be the hope the fae people need, and the kingdom needs. Even if you are keeping secrets.”

My pulse is racing so fast it feels like my body is vibrating as I nod.

Clearing my throat, I turn to face him. “Do I need to be concerned?”

“No. Not from me, at least. But if I can check so effortlessly, so can others. Which means you need to keep your head down.”

That feels much easier said than done because we both know drama is following me around with no effort on my end. Hiding away from it will only make me look weak and unfit to be the heir.

“Thanks, I’ll try my best,” I mutter, accepting his nod as confirmation that the conversation is over.

Swinging the door open, I pause midstep when I find the other vampire driving me insane on the other side. His eyes are narrowed, jaw tight, but his hair is perfectly styled and the red cloak draped over his shoulders is definitely working in his favor.

I startle at his proximity, worrying over what he may have heard, but before I can panic about it, Professor Fairbourne speaks from behind me.

“My office is concealed. No vampire hearing can penetrate these walls. I’ll seek out the professor organizing the enchantments and potions class so you can do it to your room, too.”

“I don’t think she’ll be here long enough for that,” Raiden grunts, taking a step back, but I still don’t move.

Fairbourne remains quiet at the remark, leaving me to handle the situation myself, which I don’t mind at all, but it’s slightly amusing that he was just telling me to keep my head down and clear of trouble. Now, I’m openly walking into it.

“What do you want, Raiden?” I grumble, stepping over the threshold. The instinctive desire to fold my arms over my chest is real, but any reaction to his presence would just make me look vulnerable. I can’t afford that. I need to be alert at all times, especially around this guy and his friends.

“We need to talk.”

“I’m good, but thanks,” I reply with a fake smile taking over my face, and his eyes narrow to slits.

“Great, but I wasn’t asking. Now, are you going to play nice, or do I need to escort you a little more physically?”

He wouldn’t.

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