Page 125 of The Hunt of Night

“Yeah, something isn’t right.”

“You feel it too?” I ask, my hand clenching tighter around hers, and she nods. “What are you catching that’s setting you off?” I’m intrigued to know what’s knocking us all off-center.

“Not here,” Brody murmurs, guiding Adrianna off to the small alcove to the left, and we all follow after them. Flora and Arlo included.

It’s a rather tight squeeze, but we all nestle in. Cassian and Kryll are watching the crowd around us, but I set them aside and keep my gaze locked on the hot fucking fae that infiltrates my nightmares and my dreams all at once.

Brody chants under his breath, and Adrianna watches his lips move until a grin spreads across his face, earning a smile from her sweet mouth too.

“My father is here. He keeps nodding his head for me to follow him,” Brody states, keeping his back to the rest of the ballroom, and Cassian scoffs.

“My father is here. He’s pretending I don’t exist, but that’s worse than his demands. That means he’s up to something and he doesn’t want me to get a read on him.”

Wolves.

All fucking assholes.

They’re no damn better than vampires, even if they like to think they are.

“My mother is always here, but she’s not standing with my father,” I say with a sigh, not bothering to look away from my girl. “Which means she’ll be with Vallie’s uncle, hanging off his every word and up to no good,” I grumble.

Vallie is watching us, which means whoever her uncle is, he’s up to no good too.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Flora blurts, waving her hands to get all of our attention before she taps her ear.

I frown, along with everyone else, the sound of jazz music ringing in my ears before I hear it.

“Kenner,” I rasp, glancing at Cassian, who nods in acknowledgment.

“Repeat the plan, Bozzelli.”

“Is that really necessary? We’ve been over this enough times.”

“Not with me, you haven’t. Let me hear it.”

“Fine. The plan is for me to announce the immediate trial, which will allow you time to slip away and set up by having the students give surprise speeches.”

“And then?”

“And then the trial begins. You can gather the students you want, and no one will be any wiser.”

“Excellent, and then we’ll have the luxury of the future fated mates under our control. Make it happen, Bozzelli.”

“You’re a genius, Kenner.”

Fuckers.

I can’t decide who sounds more cunning. Bozzelli will have definitely been the one who looked the most smug, but Kenner will definitely have been giving her a run for her money.

“They’re talking about us,” Adrianna states, confirming what I’m sure we’re all sensing.

“How do they expect us to fall under their control?” Cassian bites, his jaw tight with anger, and Brody sighs.

“Because when fated mates are linked, they’re in a weakened state immediately after,” he offers, pinching the bridge of his nose as I smash my molars together in irritation.

“Which means?” I give him a pointed look, my question going unheard until he finally lifts his head up.

“Which means they would have time to cast a puppet spell.”

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