Page 28 of The Hunt of Night

Raiden’s fists slam on the table, shaking the entire thing as he rises to his feet. He inches toward the enemy until he’s looming over her. His eyes are blacker than black, an endless pit of darkness with the tips of his fangs desperate to pierce something…anything.

“Did it feel good? Attacking Adrianna in the trial so your father’s plan could come together?”

She smirks,fuckingsmirks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Do you know what your father’s plan was?”

“I’ve been researching a lot about fated mates, Raidy. I’m going to be so good at it,” she promises, lifting her hand to press against his chest, but he catches it before she can actually touch him. His knuckles instantly turn white as they lock around her wrist.

“You don’t know, do you.” It’s not a question, I can see the hope that still resonates in her eyes, and I’m more than happy to diminish it after everything she’s done to Addi.

“Didn’t I tell you not to speak to me, mage?”

“Is that how you would speak to one of your fated?” I ask, cocking a brow at her before shaking my head. “Ah, shit, that’s right. I forgot. The plan changed, and the center for our parents’ plans is no longer you…is it?”

She rolls her eyes, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she turns her attention back to Raiden. “What bullshit is he talking about, Raidy?”

He smirks, but there’s not a hint of kindness to it. It’s rotten to the core.

“The plan is for Adrianna. You know, her royal heritage makes her a more viable option. Didn’t your father explain to you why they needed her there?”

She takes a step back, and another, shaking her head dismissively with every move. “You’re lying.”

Raiden shrugs. “I don’t care what you think. I would tell you to go ask your father, but well… his lack of breathing will make that a little difficult.”

My eyes bug out of my head as I gape at him, but he doesn’t falter under the surprise announcement that just parted her lips. Vallie, however, the color drains from her face, her eyebrows raising in horror as her bottom lip quivers.

“No,” she breathes, the word whooshing from her mouth.

“Yes,” Raiden insists with a nod, the promise lingers in the air before she hurries from the room. A few people continue to stare at us, confirming that she garnered an audience, but we don’t pay them any mind as Raiden slowly retakes his seat.

I exhale, wiping a hand down my face as I try to alleviate the tension rising in my temples.

“What was that all about?” Flora asks, but before I can answer her, my cell phone vibrates in my pocket.

Happy to take the distraction so I don’t have to answer her question, I reach for it, only to find my father’s name flashing across the screen.

Fuck that.

Disregarding the call, I place my cell phone on the table and watch it. As predicted, it comes to life once again a few moments later.

“How many times has he tried to reach out?” Kryll asks from across the table, his gaze locked on the screen, and I shrug.

It disconnects, and not five seconds go by before it goes off again. The same name is highlighted on the screen.

“Answer. It shuts them up,” Raiden explains, sighing with a sense of defeat I can relate to.

“Are you talking from experience?”

“I’m ignoring my mother right now, but she can find me without a cell phone,” he states with a shake of his head. His mother is the head of the vampire-origin students on campus. I’m surprised she hasn’t come looking for him yet.

I purse my lips as my cell phone falls silent before dancing across the table again, and I relent.

Answering the call, I lift it to my ear. There’s a strange static noise that comes through the line first, but my father’s voice isn’t far behind.

“Brody? Finally, the plan is ready for the next steps, and I need your help.”

13

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