Page 67 of The Reign of Blood

26

CASSIAN

Fucking Fairbourne.

Fucking Addi.

My fucking father.

My brain can’t deal with any of it. I was hoping to start the morning off strong, giving my wolf a moment to stretch and enjoy a calm and peaceful environment before the day began, but all that seemed to do was bring more drama.

I should have stayed inside. Instead, I’m marching across campus toward Bozzelli’s office to face my father, who has been incessantly calling and messaging. I was hoping he would take the hint that I didn’t want to talk with him, but I should have known it would only push him to pursue more drastic measures.

Hindsight is a bitch.

So is Fairbourne.

Who the fuck disappears for a week when one of his origin members needed him? He’s lucky I didn’t slam my fist into his face; professor or not. Maybe if he had been present, he could have prevented the amethyst from being lodged into Addi’s back. Not that it matters to me. Or it shouldn’t, at least.

Warning me away from Addi only makes my distaste for him grow. I don’t take orders from anyone, not even her, so why would I take his? Fool.

Theherin question, the thorn in my fucking side that I can’t shake, needs some sense knocked into her… and fast. What the hell was she thinking running across campus alone when so many people are gunning for her? Is she that delusional? Surely not.

Maybe she is. Maybe she thinks she’s so invincible that she can’t be knocked off her feet. I know I haven’t seen it happen every time she fights off a wolf, or Vallie for that matter, but that doesn’t mean life is smooth sailing like that. Fuck, my father can get on campus. Imagine if it had been him she bumped into. His wolf wouldn’t brush against her in a friendly, heart-warming way.

He’d slaughter her.

Dead.

It’d be too late to regret the lack of safety then.

She’s lucky he only sliced her ears the last time she met him. Now, I can imagine him being even more ruthless.

My gut clenches, an indescribable ache that settles inside of me every time I think about the fact that it was indeed my father who harmed her like that. I don’t want to admit it to myself, but I’m fairly certain that’s the reason why I can’t bring myself to see him.

I want to kill him with my bare hands for laying a single finger on her, and whatever he did to her sister… the pain I saw in her eyes at the mention of it makes me want to double down my efforts so she never gets that look again.

Entering the main academy building, I shut down my thoughts and focus on clearing everything from my mind until the only thing I’m focused on is my father’s presence. Bozzelli’soffice comes into view far too quickly. The door is ajar, and just as Fairbourne mentioned, my father awaits me inside.

At least he wasn’t just saying it to get me away from Addi.

Stepping into the office, my father’s gaze shifts from the large, arched window behind him to me.

“You took your time,” he grunts, and I shrug.

“Did I?”

“I watched you. You could have used your speed.”

He’s right, I could have, but I wasn’t ready to hurry this along. I’m not ready to deal with him now, either.

Taking the seat across the desk from him, I get comfortable, slumping back a little as my knees spread and my foot starts tapping. Quickly halting the action, I ball my hands into fists, purposely digging my nails into my palms to keep myself in check.

“Why are you here?” I ask when he doesn’t proceed.

His gaze narrows on me as he leans against the desk. “Because you’ve been ignoring me.”

No shit.

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