Page 84 of The Reign of Blood

She’s in trouble later.

Bringing my attention back to the stalker vampire who seems to be everywhere I turn, I give myself a second to absorb his ridiculously chiseled and handsome looks. He’s dressed head to toe in black—suit, shirt, shoes, tie—everything.

He looks like a mafia leader out of one of those movies I’ve seen. He has that same edge about him in real life. Maybe he is a part of something insane like that outside of the academy.

How would I find out?

Shaking my head, I look past him to where Kryll stands with a smirk teasing the corner of his lips. He’s wearing a tailored navy suit that reveals how broad his shoulders really are. His shifter cloak has been hiding a lot of him, that’s for sure.

Black ink curls up his throat and across his hands, leaving me to wonder how far they go. His white shirt is open at the top and there’s no tie in sight, which only reconfirms the shifter that he is.

An irritated growl comes from the asshole at the back, drawing my attention his way as he folds his arms over his chest, glaring at me with an intensity that makes it hard for me to breathe.

His suit is almost an exact replica of Kryll’s, but he’s wearing a pale blue shirt with a navy tie and tan shoes. Even pissed off, he looks sinful in all of the right ways, which only serves to irritate me more. “Are we moving or not?” he snaps, pursing his lips as he turns for the fountain.

Brody rolls his eyes at him, offering me his arm, but I shake my head. Raiden does the same and I smirk as I sweep between them both, opting to walk alone.

“Such a loner. Are you sure you’re not a shifter?” Kryll muses as I pass him, falling into step with me without offering me his arm.

“I know my ears are lacking, and my magic is somewhat contained, but it’s all still there,” I reply.

“Are those combat boots under there?” Brody hollers, and I peer over my shoulder with a grin.

“You shouldn’t have expected anything different,” Arlo adds, making Flora chuckle as she clings to his arm.

“How would you know what I should and shouldn’t expect from her?” Raiden grunts, turning a deathly stare Arlo’s way, forcing me to stop in my tracks.

“Leave him alone.”

Dark eyes turn my way. “Have you fucked him?”

I rear back in horror, my chest clenching at the accusation on his tongue as anger builds inside of me. “I don’t answer to you, but to save Arlo from your bullshit, no, I haven’t,” I snap, offering the man in question an apologetic look, but he shrugs with a grin as if it’s not needed.

The energy around us is tainted with agitation, but I embrace it, letting it remind me where I am and what I’m walking into. Which I don’t actually have a clue about. Other than the fact that there will be food and dancing, everything else is a mystery, but I know people from the outside world will be there, and that leaves me on edge.

We walk the rest of the way in silence, groups of other students joining us as we continue along the path. Everyone looks completely different without their academy-issued cloaks. I can’t tell who is who. You can’t differentiate an origin tonight, and I like it.

As we round the corner, the entrance to the main academy building comes into view, but it looks nothing like it usually does. Everything is so… grand. A red carpet has been roped off, leading in through the double doors, while photographers stand on either side, snapping pictures of everyone.

Fuck.

I hadn’t considered the media would be here.

Nerves spike through my limbs until a hand lands at the base of my spine.

“Let’s go, Princess. Two loners together can get through this madness, right?”

I peer up at Kryll, nipping at my bottom lip, and before I can think better of it, I nod.

His hand remains in place, a warmth I didn’t know I needed as we near the masses. Students ahead of us stop and pose for pictures, enjoying the attention as I look for an alternative entrance, but I come up empty.

“Your brother doesn’t have a secret access point so we can avoid all of this, does he?” I ask hopefully, looking at Kryll again, who gives me a grim smile.

“I wish.”

Entering the ball suddenly seems like an even more ridiculous task as we wait for everyone to have their moment in the spotlight. Nausea burns in my throat as I step up to the rope, next in line.

“Do we have to stop?”

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