Page 17 of The Hunt of Night

“Adrianna Reagan. My office. Now.”

8

ADRIANNA

My nostrils flare with irritation as my hands ball into fists. Bozzelli starts to saunter away without a backward glance, like she didn’t spoil my already gloomy day. All the while, Fairbourne peers at me with his brows pinched together in concern. I can sense there’s plenty he wants to say, but with Bozzelli in hearing range, it’s not the best idea to discuss anything. Not even the weather.

He nods, the only signal to confirm I need to follow her command, before he moves to follow her.

I suppose I should do the same.

Fuck.

Running my tongue over my teeth, trying to hold back the snark threatening to burst from my lips, I glance over my shoulder to find a line of four men watching me intently.

Kryll. Raiden. Brody. Cassian.

My anger toward them shouldn’t warm my veins. The lies and secrets that are intertwined between us all should turn me off, but they don’t. Nothing about them should draw me in, yet there’s a pull in my chest beckoning me closer.

Maybe stepping through the door instead of launching myself out of the window would have been the better option. It’s too late to know for sure.

I can’t seem to catch a break, regardless of which direction I take.

Before I can whip my gaze away and follow the dean to my impending doom, Raiden is blocking my path with his enhanced speed playing to his advantage. His back is to me, his arm twisted behind him so his fingers can grasp my wrist. I pull, needing out of his hold right the fuck now, but it only tightens his grip.

“Where are you taking her?” he snarls, earning a disgruntled sigh from the dean.

“That’s none of your business, Mr. Holloway,” she states, pausing her steps. She stands out like a neon sign in her vivid pink suit. She looks ready to work in an office with her pristine cut skirt and silk shirt, but the expression on her face resembles something only found on a battlefield.

“I beg to differ,” Raiden snaps back, not faltering under her glare.

A flash of pink dances in the wind, and a moment later, the immaculate woman is right in front of him. She bares her teeth in anger as she presses two fingers firmly into the side of Raiden’s head. His grip on my hand falls slack as he falls to his knees, crying out in pain. The noise is etched in horror for a split second as I gape in shock.

“What the fuck?” Cassian grunts, but before he can intercept, Raiden is pushing back.

His growl fills the air as he forces himself back to his feet. His hand finds my skin once again as he glares at Bozzelli.

“You can do what you want to me, but the last time you took Adrianna, you implanted a damn amethyst in her, and I won’tgive you the opportunity to do it again,” he bites, and I feel a tremble at the feeling of his touch against my flesh.

“How dare you,” Bozzelli snarls, lifting her hand again, but before she can touch him, I’m moving.

“Don’t.”

One single word from my lips. It’s not a threat; it’s a promise. One that catches me by surprise as much as it does Bozzelli. Even with my other hand in Raiden’s hold, I stand unwavering, ready to defend the man that I truly hate right now.

Bozzelli’s gaze latches on to my hand on her, not a single word slipping from her lips as I silently release my hold. Her jaw tightens with every passing second, her eyes drilling into mine as she turns a crimson shade of anger I’ve never seen before.

I hate that I defend him even when I despise him, but my hatred toward her surpasses it.

“Adri—”

“I’m here for that reason, Mr. Holloway,” Fairbourne swiftly interjects, coming into view behind Bozzelli, who takes a small step back. It’s clear there’s retaliation dancing in her eyes, but having a staff member present seems to make her determination wane. For now, at least.

“You better be,” the irritating vampire snarls, his fangs elongating as I gape at him. His eyes flash with a barely contained rage that makes my spine stiffen when he turns his attention to me. “I’ll wait for you.” The words are far softer, almost lost to the breeze that circles us, but instead of melting the walls I’ve put up to separate us, it only reinforces them.

“Don’t.”

I yank my wrist from his hold, stumbling back a step into Fairbourne, who quietly keeps me on my feet.

---