Page 65 of The Reign of Blood

The wolf continues to approach me, its eyes giving nothing away, even as it steps up right beside me. Their fur brushes against my leg for a split second as they circle me, making my eyes widen at how soft it is. It’s hard not to stretch out my fingers and feel the softness again, reminding myself that it’s not just an animal; there’s a person beneath it, too.

As if sensing my thoughts, the wolf moves to stand in front of me, and with a single blink of my eyes, they shift before me. My adoration for the animal quickly disappears when I realize it’s the most infuriating one of them all.

“What are you doing out here so early?” he grunts, irritating me instantly.

“That’s none of your business, Cassian.” I fold my arms over my chest. I’m in no mood to deal with his shit right now. How does he shift and still have clothes on? What’s that about?

“Anyone could attack you.”

“It feels like someone already is,” I mutter, cocking a brow at him, which earns me an eye roll. Yeah, I’m definitely not getting an answer to his whole clothing situation right now.

“Don’t be dumb, Addi.”

“Don’t be you, Cassian,” I remark, my chest tightening as if that statement was one step too far, but if he thinks the same, he doesn’t show it.

Wanting to put some space between us, I proceed past him, keeping my arms locked around my waist as I head through the forest. I can sense him a step behind me the entire way, not saying a word, which somehow has the ability to get even more under my skin.

“You can leave now,” I holler over my shoulder as we reach the clearing on the other side of the forest. The fountain is a few yards away and we’re both heading back to different origin buildings, so there’s definitely no reason for him to talk himself into staying.

“I’ll go when I’m ready,” he grunts, making my lips purse in agitation.

Whatever.

Upping my pace, I reach the fountain, acutely aware that he’s still behind me at the same time Professor Fairbourne comes into view. The sight of him after nothing at all the past week makes me halt in my tracks.

“Where have you been?” I blurt, like I have a right to know.

A pained crinkle flickers around his pinched eyes as he swipes at his chin. “I’ll get to that,” he mutters, peering at me for a split second before turning his attention to Cassian. “Are you harassing fae?” he bites, jaw ticking as he looks down his nose at the wolf, and I snicker.

“Not plural, just this one,” I state, pointing at myself, which does nothing to ease the tension rolling off the professor.

“Is that true?” he pushes, taking a step toward Cassian, who shakes his head at him.

“Watch your tongue, old man. My wolf is hungry.”

My eyebrows rise in surprise at his threat, but Fairbourne doesn’t seem to pay much mind to it.

“You’ll do well to stay away from her.”

“Will I?” Cassian inches toward him, shoulders broad, back as straight as an arrow, and the desire to fight emitting from every part of him.

“I think that’s enough from you two,” I mutter, moving to stand between them. I have no idea what’s actually going on but it’s way too early in the morning to be dealing with this. It seems like one problem I have just evolves into another. At least they’re keeping me distracted from the issues that woke me in a fit of panic.

Turning my attention to the professor, I fold my arms over my chest, giving my back to Cassian in hopes that he will just go away. “For a professor who is supposed to take care of the fae, you’ve been pretty useless the past week.”

He clears his throat, glancing at the ground for a second before returning his eyes to mine. “About that,” he starts, but tilts around me to point a finger at Cassian. “You’ve been summoned.”

“By who?”

“By your father.”

“Since when?” Cassian snaps, the news catching him off guard.

“It’s the reason I’m out here. I was going to speak with you later today, Addi, but for now, my orders are to bring the Kenner boy.”

Cassian sneers at the label he brands him with, but instead of giving him another mouthful of threats, he grinds his teeth, nostrils flaring. “Why would they send you and not my own origin advisor?”

“Because I just left a meeting with Bozzelli. It was quicker for it to be me.”

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