Page 85 of The Reign of Blood

“We can try and just keep walking,” Kryll offers, leaning closer to whisper in my ear, and I shiver.

“Or you could use your shifter speed to bypass it all,” I offer at the same time someone calls outnext.

Too late.

Fuck.

Plastering the best smile I can muster on my face, which feels more like a grimace, I let Kryll guide me along the red carpet. He keeps our pace calm and collected, even waving a time or two, but never drawing to a stop. We’re three-quarters of the way through when my hope for a peaceful passing is shattered.

“Wait. That’s the princess. It’s Princess Adrianna!”

Murmurs increase quicker than we can make it to the door as the photographers rush to block my path. The red carpet disappears beneath their trampling feet, creating a wall of flashing lights as I remain stunned.

“Smile for us, Princess.”

“What happened to your ears, Princess?”

“How are you finding the academy, Princess?”

“Princess Adrianna, where’s your father? Your sister?”

Lights flash, igniting the panic in my veins as Kryll moves his hand from my back and wraps it around my waist, tugging me into his side, attempting to shield me from the chaos.

“That’s enough of your incessant shit, don’t you think?” Raiden declares, stepping in front of me to block me from view even more.

“She’s the princess. The kingdom has a right to answers.”

“The kingdom didn’t give a shit about her for the past sixteen years, but now your questions need answers?” he retorts with a deadly scoff, making my eyes widen.

I don’t want him to fight battles for me. That’s not what this is, but the more I hide between him and Kryll, the weaker I’m going to look. I just need a damn second to adjust to it all and to remember everything my father taught me.

Clearing my throat, I look up at Kryll with a nervous smile. He frowns, but understanding flashes through his eyes. His hold on me slackens and he takes a step back. I place my hand on Raiden’s arm, making his gaze snap to mine.

Thank you, I mouth before stepping around him.

“Princess.”

“Princess Adrianna!”

“Princess!”

I wave my hand, halting their calls as I take a deep breath. “Good evening. I hope you are all having an enjoyable time so far,” I breathe, my hands slightly trembling at my sides as I look directly into the video camera ahead. “I’ll happily offer you a smile in a moment as you initially requested, but to address other matters that were brought to light first, my ears were damaged when I was small and forced to flee my home. My family is of no relevance to my attendance at the academy, and I don’t believe their whereabouts are required.” Clickersand shutters go off around me, making it hard to focus, but I picture that I’m on the mat in combat class, circling my prey. “You do have a right to answers, but I don’t have them. Not with words, at least. I’m here as an attendee of the academy, just like everyone else. My answers will come in the form of action, which I believe is exactly what the kingdom needs.”

Running my hands over my dress, I plant a hand on my hip, jut my chin up, and make myself smile like I mean it. Lights flash, and more questions are hollered, but I block them all out as I give them two whole seconds of this fake-ass shit before turning toward the doors.

I feel the tendrils of freedom surround me as I step into the corridor, relief flooding me until the shrill voice of the most irritating person on campus announces her presence.

“Why the hell are you walking in with her?”

Reluctantly, I turn to find Vallie pointing a blood-red nail in my direction. Her dress is black, and if she weren’t such a bitch, I’d say she looked pretty, but sheisa bitch, and I’m petty as fuck, so I refuse to admit it.

“Vallie, please do me a favor and fuck off,” Raiden grunts from behind me, his hand falling to my waist, and my spine stiffens at the contact.

She cocks a perfectly arched brow over my shoulder. “Raidy baby, my daddy is here, and once he sees…” Her words trail off, making me frown, but I sense a shift in the man at my back before he steps around me.

“Move,” he grunts, pointing at her, and a wicked smile spreads across her face as she peers back at me. “I apologize,” he murmurs, glancing down at me, and I frown.

“For?”

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