Page 101 of The Hunt of Night

“No freaking way. You’ll get back here and explain this,” I retort, waving my cell phone in the air, but he ignores me.

“See you soon.” The teasing smirk on his lips has my teeth sinking into my bottom lip as I bite back my own grin. This isn’t funny. Not even a little bit.

“Kryll,” I call out just before he closes the door behind him, and he pauses, fitting just his head through the gap that remains.

“Yeah?”

I shake my head in disbelief. “You’re insane.”

“But I’m yours,” he replies with a wink, and I sigh, the rising tension easing from my limbs as I stare at him.

“You’re mine.”

“And the others?” he asks, and I know immediately that he’s referring to Cassian, Raiden, and Brody. The four of them together form my Kryptos. Admitting it won’t help me, but denying it hasn’t helped either. So for the first time ever, I relent, throwing caution to the wind as I nod.

“All mine too.”

40

ADRIANNA

“What in the holy fuck am I wearing?” The words tumble from my lips before I can even consider halting them, and the girl behind me chuckles, moving back a step as she takes in her handiwork.

“You look perfect,” she muses, her smile growing with every word.

“I look nothing like me,” I retort, running my fingers over the material that floats at my sides, and she snickers.

“You’re about to meet the ethereal queen of the dragons; you’re notsupposedto,” she states, her eyebrows raised, but it still does nothing to ease the fact that I’m dressed so…excessively.

“This seems…ridiculous,” I grumble, avoiding her gaze, but she pulls at the lace tied at my back, making me stand taller. My eyes narrow, the warning clear, and she offers me a teasing salute before getting the hell out of here.

Looking at my reflection, I cringe. My long blonde curls are loose, but tamed, cascading over my shoulders. A far cry from the braids I’m used to. Fine pink material floats around me in layers, making me appear cute and angelic, while the silver heels encasing my feet feel like death traps sent from Hell.

I hate it. With every fiber of my being, I hate it, but she’s right. I’m about to meet the queen on her territory as the apparent new ‘princess’ and I guess I should probably look like one. I just have to remind myself to never come back here ever again because I’m only doing this once.

My cell phone vibrates on my nightstand, pulling me from my thoughts and away from the mirror with a sigh. The screen lights up and my eyes widen.

One hundred and two notifications.

That’s ridiculous. Not as ridiculous as this dress, but it’s up there.

The longer I leave it, the more messages there will be. Despite my better judgment, I relent, opening the group chat so I can prolong joining everyone for breakfast.

My eyes widen in a mixture of horror and disbelief as I run my thumb across the screen, scanning through the messages that await me.

Raiden: I still don’t know why you left campus.

Kryll: I told you.

Raiden: Yeah, but I don’t understand why we couldn’t come with you.

Brody: There wasn’t time. He’s already told us this.

Raiden: I know, but I want Adrianna to see what we’re dealing with.

Cassian: I’m muting you all.

I shake my head at Raiden’s controlling nature.

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