Page 63 of The Kingdom of Ruin

My jaw tightens with annoyance as she eyes me. She doesn’t even bother to look behind me, where I can still feel Fairbourne’s presence, even though he keeps his lips tightly shut.

“The Kenners may not be on The Council, but they are still highly regarded within the community,” she states, the corner of her mouth ticking up, and I know what she’s saying without letting the words actually leave her lips.

Even though they don’t fall under The Council’s ruling, they are still regarded more highly than the fae. Everyone is always ranked higher than the fucking fae. Because people like Mildred fucking Bozzelli allow it.

Irritated, I clear my throat, knowing I may regret what I’m about to say, but I’m done pretending this shit is going to fly. “I’m here at this academy because I believe in my people, and I believe in myself. Just like the enrollment to the academy states. No origins are stronger than others. Everyone is seen as equal. That’s what it said, but I think that’s bullshit in your eyes. That’s just to show that an opportunity was offered to us. But what is more noticeable to me, which is astounding because I have to live every day as a fae who is downgraded and disregarded without plausible cause, is the fact that things aren’t changing as promised. If we’re going to let people’s thoughts and feelings cause disarray in the academy, how are we ever going to create a solid foundation for our future?”

She laces her fingers together as she braces her elbows on the table, and I sense Fairbourne shifting nervously from foot to foot behind me.

“Carry on.”

“Sorry?” I have no idea what she means this time. I’m not even trying to play dumb.

“You clearly have a vision. Explain it to me.”

Shifting in my seat slightly, I shake my head. “It’s not that I have a vision; it’s a clear assessment of everything I’ve seen and experienced here since we began. Changes need to be made to the structure of our leadership, which is the entire reason the academy was built, was it not?”

Calm and composed. I mentally high-five my father for the strength right now.

“It was,” she bites out, glaring at me, but now the gates are open and there’s no stopping it.

“So if we’re here to find the heir, but are going to let The Council and other members of high society dictate our every move still, then we may as well continue as we are. There’s no need for the academy if The Council will continue to wade in whenever they feel it’s necessary. That leaves them as the true leaders still.”

Her nostrils flare. It’s obvious she hates my evaluation of the situation, but she can’t deny it, either. Not when she just sat there and listed off two different people wanting me off campus, thinking they’ll get their way because they rank higher in society than I do. She runs her tongue over her teeth as she continues to narrow her eyes at me. I think what pisses her off more is how spot-on I am; adding to the fact that I’m a lowly fae will only make the poison all the more bitter.

“Do you think I don’t know what I’m doing?” she asks after a beat, and I shrug.

“I didn’t say anything of the sort.”

“You insinuated,” she retorts, using my own words against me, and I shake my head.

“No, I explained my point of view, as you asked. If you’re taking it as the points raised being aimed at you, then that’s your problem.” She’s not putting any words in my mouth. I’d say it’s a good thing I’ve got Fairbourne in here as a witness, but he’s been useless.

Dean Bozzelli stands, wiping her hands down her blazer. “Everything you say may be true, but another point that remains true is how low the fae have fallen. They’re disregarded because they deserve to be. Our kingdom was left in ruins at their hands, and I don’t believe the throne should have to suffer the weight of them once again. The crown belongs to stronger origins like the vampires, or maybe even the wolves.” My blood runs cold with anger at her words, but I still scoff at the fact that she spits out the word wolves, like it’s an annoyance that they’re even a consideration for her. All she wants is for the vampires to be in control. Period.

I may be a lowly fae, but she regards anyone who isn’t a vampire in the same light.

Standing, I match her stance. “Well, it’s a good thing it’s not a decision that rests solely on your shoulders then, isn’t it?”

“You aren’t going to reach the top as you hope, Miss Reed,” she snipes, sneering at me as I roll my shoulders back.

“Are we done here?” I ask, my tone bored, which pisses her off, but I’m done showing this woman respect when she’s so openly willing to tear me down based on my origin.

A fake smile spreads across her face. “If my words offend you, that’s your problem, not mine.” Her attempt to throw more of my words back at me is embarrassing. How unoriginal.

“Your words would have to mean something to offend me,” I bite, my teeth bared in a lackluster smile. “Is there anything else for us to discuss, or can I get back to class?”

Her lips purse as she drags her eyes over me from head to toe, just as she did when I first walked in, but it doesn’t hold the same level of power as before. Now it just feels spiteful and arrogant, and I don’t care for it.

She sighs, glancing over my shoulder at Fairbourne for the first time since he shut the door before finding my eyes once again. “You can leave, but don’t think this is the last you will be seeing of me,” she promises, and I turn the second the words are out of her mouth.

I’m not sticking around to deal with any more of her shit if I don’t have to. Especially not when it’s clear she’s going to make my life hell just for breathing.

Join the club. There are plenty of them painting targets on my back. What they don’t realize is that I can adapt, adjust, and aim for the fucking sky.

When I’m declared the heir of the kingdom, I’ll be ticking off everyone on the damn list that stands in my way.

THIRTY

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