Page 97 of The Reign of Blood

“Vallie will help you,” Raiden answers immediately, waving him off as his gaze settles on me. “I’ll help you.”

“No, you won’t,” I retort, pointing at Kryll. “He’ll help me, right?” I ask, turning to him with hope shimmering in my eyes. He glances between us before a glint of something I don’t like the look of settles over him.

“Actually, it’ll be better if Raiden helps you so I can focus on following since I have no idea where I am or where I’m going.”

“You wouldn’t do this to me,” I breathe, my heartbeat kicking into action as my body grows tense. He shrugs—fuckingshrugs—like it’s no big deal while I gape at him in horror. “You’re an ass.”

“You’ll forgive me, Princess. Remember what I said,” he whispers so quietly against my ear, I’m certain the others can’t hear him, even with their supernatural hearing. Standing tall, he nods at Raiden. “Let’s go.”

“You owe me for this,” Vallie grumbles, stepping up to George, who glares at her.

“I don’t owe you shit.”

“Not you. Him,” she clarifies, pointing her familiar red nail at Raiden.

He doesn’t answer her, stepping up to me with his arms outstretched. I curl my arms around myself, trying to give myself an extra layer of defense between us. “You’re going to want to wrap your arms around my neck, Adrianna. I’ll be able to move quicker, which means this will all be over even faster,” he promises, a wicked smirk tainting the corner of his lips.

“Fucker,” I mutter under my breath as I do just that.

This position presses my chest against his, and he looks down at where we’re touching as I balance on my tiptoes.

“Let’s get a move on, Raidy,” Vallie snaps, and it instinctively makes me press further into his hold.

He smirks knowingly, and it pisses me off even more.

“Yeah, Raidy, let’s go,” I rasp, and he grunts in my ear.

“Don’t call me that.”

“It’s a cute nickname,” I insist, and he pinches the globe of my ass, making me yelp.

“It’s vile.She’svile. But that’s a conversation for another time.”

Before I can breathe a word in response, he takes off, leaving my stomach nestled between the trees. Clenching my eyes shut, I try to keep breathing, even as I press my cheek against his. I hate how vulnerable it makes me feel, being in his grasp like this, but despite my stubbornness and harsh exterior, the desire to pass this trial prevails.

I have no idea how much time passes, five minutes, ten, an hour? But we come to a stop, and Raiden doesn’t miss a beat before giving out orders. “We need to head west from here. Onceyou see the peak of the castle in the distance, you need to shift south. The academy won’t be far from there.”

“How long will that—” Vallie’s question is cut short by the sound of puking, which makes my stomach churn as I dare to open my eyes. I quickly clench them shut again when I realize it’s George spewing his guts from the movement. That could be me at any minute. The stench reaches my nose and nausea churns in my stomach. “What am I going to do about this?” she yells, referring to George, and my nose crinkles.

“Wait for him to be ready to go again. Keep at top speed and we’ll be there in thirty minutes,” Raiden answers, taking off before I can catch my breath. I’m secretly relieved to be away from the mess—both Vallie and the puke.

What I assume are the first ten minutes feel like the longest moments of my life. My stomach swirls like I’m on the most extreme roller coaster of my life, leaving my throat burning with acidity. But as we lead into the next ten minutes, everything slowly, extremely slowly, starts to calm down. The burning nausea in my gut eases to a dull ache, to the point where I even test opening my eyes.

Nope.

Bad idea.

Clinging tighter to Raiden, I feel his hands shift over my hips, pinning me impossibly close to his chest. “Ten more minutes, Adrianna,” he mutters, his voice somehow audible over the wind whipping around us.

I spend the ten minutes reciting facts and tips my father gave me over the years. From slowing my words when speaking publicly to ensuring I don’t become distracted. The latter is where my main focus is because, for some reason, I can’t seem to put those words into action when I’m surrounded by one or all of the four guys plaguing my thoughts.

Plaguing is exactly the right word to describe it.

It’s against my will and I don’t want it.

Especially not with what Kryll whispered in my ear. Claim me? Who? The four of them? Fuck that. My mind is overwhelmed by the mere thought of all of their opposite personalities consuming me.

We come to a stop, my chest tight as my heart races, and it takes a second for me to gather the strength to release my hold on him. The echo of wings flapping in the distance sounds odd, and a moment later I hear Professor Tora’s voice.

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