Page 34 of The Reign of Blood

I shake my head subtly, focusing on the present rather than taking one too many steps down memory lane. Instead, I focus on Bozzelli. Her canary-yellow suit is even brighter in person. I didn’t think that was possible, but I almost consider a pair of sunglasses in here to shield myself from the glare.

She looks down her nose at me as she taps her finger on the desk. “How do you feel now that your plan has been unraveled?”

“My plan?” I ask, frowning at her.

“Don’t play coy with me. I’m no fool.”

“I really don’t know what plan you’re alluding to. Why don’t you enlighten me?” I offer with a raised eyebrow, which earns me a sneer as she leans forward and laces her fingers together on the desk.

“Your plan to ruin the academy and everything it stands for,” she snaps, face reddening with anger.

I shake my head, lips set in a thin line. “I must admit, I don’t recall that one.”

“Why else would you be here?” Disbelief ripples from her.

“To win.”

A bark of laughter rumbles from her as she shakes her head at me. “You’re never going to win.”

I should have known she would say that. I don’t let her words get to me, though. Instead, I shrug. “I like my odds.”

“Which are what?”

“Part of my plan,” I retort, smiling wide as her lips curl in disgust.

Leaning back in her chair, she unlaces her fingers to grip the arms, digging her nails into the leather as her eyes burn into me.

“You think you’re smart.” I don’t utter a word; I just let my smile grow. “But I don’t think it’s fair for you to attend the academy as a more powerful student than your peers,” she adds, making my stomach turn to stone. What does that mean? Is she going to kick me out? She can’t. Not on these grounds, surely.

“I didn’t realize fairness was a part of this. Each origin here has different abilities, some even have none. Yet they still show up, filled with determination and motivation. Why am I any different?”

“Because you deceived us,” she snarls.

“No, I wanted to prove who I am and what I’m capable of without titles or prejudice. I want to prove that the kingdom can be in the hands of the fae again.”

“That will never happen.” Despite the anger and fury in her words, her grin spreads from ear to ear.

I’ve walked into something here. I know I have. I just don’t know what. The longer I sit here without her getting to the point is another second of my agitation increasing. I can’t act rashly or she’ll use that against me, but I don’t really know what the rules are and I need to toe the line the best I can, which means not attacking the venomous bitch despite the burning desire to do so.

“I can tell you’re barely containing yourself, so why don’t you spit it out and save us both the time and effort,” I grind out, making the anger radiating from her rise.

“I’m your superior. You will respect me.”

“It’s really cliché for me to say, but respect is earned, and technically, you’re not my superior, not in the way you would like. That’s my father, the king, remember?” I shouldn’t goad her, not when I don’t even believe what I’m saying, but she pisses me off. Besides, the pinch of her lips is worth it.

The gleam in her eyes, however, isn’t.

She doesn’t take her eyes off me as she opens the desk drawer to her right. A glimmer of something purple, as deep as amethyst, flashes in her hand as she turns it over.

“Since I can’t kick you out or contain you, I’ll have to restrain you.”

Her words hang heavy in the room, twisting my stomach into knots as uncertainty wars inside of me. I don’t like that I can’t predict her at all. It makes me uneasy.

“How?” I ask, despite not wanting to know, but like my father said, information is key. Bozzelli turns the golf ball sized gem in her hand and I watch the way it absorbs the light, making it look regal and elegant, but something tells me it’s anything but. “What is that?” I push, but she continues to give me the silent treatment.

Without a word, she stands, slowly prowling around her desk until she’s beside me. Her proximity is off-putting, but when I go to stand, I find it impossible.

“Why can’t I move?” I bite, my body completely rigid. I can’t even wiggle my damn toes.

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