Page 36 of The Reign of Blood

“For now, no, but I’m watching you, Adrianna. For the good of this kingdom, I’m watching you.”

16

ADRIANNA

The door slams behind me, echoing just as it did on my way in, but this time it burns through my veins. The weight of the gem cutting into my back is unbearable. I need to get the hell out of here, and fast.

I take one step and immediately collide with a firm wall. I have no chance of keeping my balance. My arms flail, making the pain in my back worse, but I don’t hit the floor as I expect. Hands grip my arms, halting me mid-air before I’m slowly brought back to my feet.

Blinking up at my obstacle and subsequent savior, I’m surprised to find Raiden. His black hair is slightly out of position compared to his usually perfect strands. His jaw is so tight I’m unsure whether it might snap, and his eyes are narrowed on mine.

He stares down at me, and with every passing moment, his eyebrows knit further together. His fingers flex on my arms and I’m locked in his grasp.

“What did she do?” he rasps, and I shake my head in confusion. Too much has just happened. I can’t think straight. “What did she do?” he repeats, pulling me closer to his chest.

“Why are you here, Raiden?” I ask, trying to breathe through the sudden tightening in my chest. After Bozzelli, I can’t deal with his shit as well. Exhaustion clings to me from head to toe. I won’t be able to give him my best fight right now. That’s probably why he’s here, to catch me at my most vulnerable.

“I’m here because I could tell she was going to do something ridiculous. I just don’t knowwhatunless you tell me.” I cock a brow at him, my vision blurring slightly as I try to understand. “I tried to get in there, but the door was sealed shut. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now because I would have stopped it from happening.”

“Stopped it from happening,” I repeat, the words heavy on my tongue. None of it makes sense.

“I tried.”

“To come in,” I clarify, and he shrugs.

That doesn’t align with my previous idea of his motivations. That would mean he wouldn’t want me to be weakened and vulnerable. It doesn’t make sense.

“Why?” I shake my head, trying to clear the fog, but it does nothing to aid me in my time of need.

“Don’t deflect from the actual situation, Adrianna. What did she do?” His tone is firmer this time, and his grip on my arms tightens so much that I’m certain bruises are forming.

Shaking my head, the weight of the gem increases. “I need air,” I rasp, and after he searches my eyes for what feels like an eternity, he nods. His hold on my arms loosens and I manage to head toward the door with him a step behind me the entire way.

Without him so close, I manage to think a little clearer, but whatever she actually did is wreaking havoc on my body, magic, and soul.

The fresh air hits me as soon as I step outside. My hands fall to my knees as I lean forward, attempting to stop myself from completely keeling over. Taking a few deep breaths in throughmy nose, slowly exhaling past my lips, I’m acutely aware that I have an audience in Raiden as he watches my every move.

There’s no chance I’m going to my next class. Or any of them for the rest of the day. Not like this. Not with the new target branded against my back. If the vampire attacking me at lunch is anything to go by, then whatever I thought I was handling before has exponentially increased.

“You’re bleeding.”

I slowly tilt my head to glance up at Raiden, whose gaze is now focused on my back.

“What?”

He doesn’t speak. Instead, he grabs the collar of my gray cloak, yanking it from my body and discarding it at our feet. Before I can give him a piece of my mind, his fingers skim over the neckline of my t-shirt, and a moment later, I feel the whoosh of air against my delicate skin.

I wince, managing to bite back the whimper threatening to burst from my lips.

“That bitch,” he breathes, disbelief and shock laced in his words.

Standing, his hand falls from my skin, and I fold my arms across my chest nervously as I turn to face him. The fury that he emits is overwhelming, and it takes everything in me not to soak it in and act on it myself.

I’ve already talked myself out of something foolish, but the look on his face tells me the same can’t be said for him. His gaze repeatedly swings between me and the door behind me, as if he’s considering going back in there.

I don’t need that on my conscience.

“What is it?” I ask, rolling my lips together, hoping like hell to distract him from whatever he’s thinking.

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