Page 50 of The Hunt of Night

“The quicker you make it to the top, the quicker you getthem back.”

21

ADRIANNA

Tora disappears with the mage without any further guidance, and I shake my head in disbelief. Of course he would give us nothing to go on. It’s irritating right now, but my subconscious takes on my father’s voice, reminding me that if I were the leader of the kingdom, I wouldn’t get a heads-up either.

Damn.

“What now?” Raiden asks as everyone floats between the gathered students to form the groups previously assigned. I sense Vallie getting closer, but I keep my stare fixed on my preferred vampire.

“Now, we reach the top,” Kryll states, like it’s simply going to be as easy as that, but something in my gut promises the day will be more eventful than a casual stroll up a snowy mountain top.

“With no abilities,” Raiden grinds back, irritation seeping from him.

I take a moment, centering myself as I focus on my magic, but all I feel is…nothing.

Fuck. That little speech wasn’t just for show then.

“Apparently,” Kryll confirms, still downplaying the inconvenience of it all.

“This is a joke,” Raiden gripes, nostrils flaring in irritation, and as much as I agree with him, this mindset isn’t going to help get us anywhere.

“It’s life,” I state, rolling my shoulders back as I shake the negativity off.

“I can’t do anything,” he continues, making me roll my eyes.

“Oh, you big baby, you’re going to be just fine,” I chuckle, trying not to jab his eyes out in frustration, and thankfully, my words seem to relax him a little, even if he’s still pouting

“What’s this whiny fuck complaining about?” Cassian grunts, appearing at my side, and Kryll scoffs.

“What do you think?” he retorts with his eyebrows raised.

“Fangs is probably sad because he can’t use his pokey peggys,” Brody muses, nudging him with his shoulder, which only makes his pout grow tighter.

“Don’t call me Fangs, and my teeth are deadly. Remember that,” he grunts, straightening his cloak as he stands tall.

“Are you always this mean to my Raidy? You’re lucky he doesn’t kill you. It’s not like you all don’t deserve to be dead!” Vallie exclaims, cocking her hip as she glares daggers at me.

My hands ball into fists at my sides, rage brimming through my veins as I take an instinctive step toward her. I’m more than happy to finally address this bullshit with her, but Raiden beats me to it.

“I’m not your anything. You’re lucky I don’t killyou,” Raiden snarls. “Now, take a step back because these groups might be predetermined and out of my control, but that doesn’t mean I want you in my proximity,” he adds, turning a dark stare her way. His jaw ticks as his teeth bare, and I hate how good he looks.

Clearing my throat, I take a step back, aware of Flora grinning at me from my left. She definitely caught my instinctivereaction, but if I avoid her stare, I won’t have to acknowledge it to her.

“Well, it looks like we’re doing this as a giant group because I’m not leaving you in danger,” Cassian states, cutting through the vampire stare off to meet my gaze.

Vallie snickers. “Would you look at that? The princess needs an army to defend her. You didn’t give my father the same grace now, did you?”

This bitch is so dumb. My fist forms again, and this time I’m ready to smash it into her face, but the second I take a step toward her, Flora speaks, halting my rash decision.

“You’re just salty no one’s defending you, Vallie.”

“Listen here, you little?—”

My fingers are around her throat in the next breath, choking off the bullshit about to come from her lips.

“Please, finish that shit that’s about to spew out of your mouth so I have a reason to remove your tongue and slap the shit out of you with it. You’re going to make my goddamn fucking day.” My teeth grind together as I snarl at her, my fingers flexing against her flesh as I ready my free hand to give her face the pounding she so desperately deserves.

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