Page 40 of The Fate of Eternity

I remain silent as she steps toward me, but the moment she does, my Kryptos kick into action, filling the space between us while blocking me from her view.

“That’s close enough, Professor Bozzelli,” Raiden states, tilting his head at her in a silent challenge as his right arm brushes against my left.

She raises her eyebrows, unwavering under the intensity that is my vampire, before she continues, “I advised Mr. Kenner that if any student of mine was off campus unauthorized, I would deal with the matter myself.” Her words linger in the air as everyone braces for the consequences she’s prepared. “Lucky for you, authorization was in place.” I wait for the joke, or the manic laughter, but nothing comes, and after a few beats, relief floods my veins. I scramble to find something to say to her, but she pushes on before I get a chance. “I also advised Mr. Kenner that no one will be stepping foot on my campus at this time. Not with the media coverage that’s exploded.” She tilts her head back, looking down her nose at me as Brody steps forward.

“What coverage?”

I rub my lips together, and I could swear Bozzelli smirks, but it’s over quicker than I can comprehend whether it’s true or not. “Miss Reagan made quite the statement with her speech,” she offers, not delving any further into the facts I learned at Pearl’s.

“She did?” Brody peers back at me, a grin on his lips as amusement flickers in his eyes, and I shrug.

“A statement that was enough to garner the attention of every member of the kingdom,” she adds, and I can’t tell if she’s pissed or impressed.

“Good,” Brody states, nodding in acknowledgment as Bozzelli quickly levels him with a stare that could make a grown man wither and die at her feet.

“Is it?”

“Yes.” The agreement comes in unison from Kryll and Raiden, who don’t know the details like Cassian and me, but the fact that they’re unwavering in their stance beside me only fuels our bond.

“Why is that?”

“Because the kingdom deserves to know the truth,” Brody answers, his tone that of someone discussing the weather instead of the fate of an entire kingdom.

Bozzelli’s eyes find mine again. “I think the truth they’re not seeing is Miss Reagan here is dealing with matters that aren’t even on the academy timetable while everyone else on campus is prompt and ready to learn.”

Well, that’s not a lie.

“That only speaks to her importance,” Raiden states, his fingers ghosting against mine as he stares the dean down.

“Does it?”

I take a step forward, ready to defend myself and explain how I haven’t asked for any of this, but I don’t manage a single step before Raiden tucks me into his side, leaving Brody to stand toe to toe with Bozzelli.

“Someone here is already dealing with situations that affect the kingdom, that are an attack on their being and a risk to their safety. Someone here is already trying to protect everyone and everything possible.” His words are sharp and fierce, leaving my pulse to thunder in my ears as he peers back at me, the following words spoken just for me. “Someone here is already the heir, and we all know it.”

20

ADRIANNA

The shower beats down on me as exhaustion continues to linger along my limbs. My brain is mush and I no longer know which way is up. Words are being tossed around, words with a lot of strength and meaning behind them, and they’re all in regards to me, yet I can’t seem to make sense of them.

This is all I’ve ever wanted, all I’ve ever known. My father was training me to behisheir long before the announcement of the Heir Academy was made. It’s all I’ve believed for myself, and the academy was an easy gateway, but noweverythinghas changed.

The first time I walked through the city gates, my focus set on the academy walls, I was a wallflower, floating through the City of Harrows without garnering so much as a sideways glance, but now… people are noticing—not just me, but my actions and my words.

Maybe it’s the reality of all of my wishes coming to the forefront, or perhaps it’s my strength wavering under the pressure. Either way, I sat down on the bathroom tiles some time ago and I haven’t been able to stand since.

Thankfully, Raiden gathered us all back in his room so I could enjoy the privacy of his bathroom instead of the shared option in the fae building. I’m washed, scrubbed clean to the bone, but I can’t bring myself to stand up and shut the water off. The feeling of it hitting my shoulders is somewhat soothing.

My mantra of calm and collected feels like it has gone completely out the window at this stage. Too much is happening all at once, and all I feel is a sense of numbness that I can’t seem to shake.

It seems that my speech is sending shockwaves through the kingdom. I spoke those words a few days ago and I’ve been distracted by some issue or another since then. I haven’t attended a single class since the speeches were given, I honestly don’t know what day it is, and Brody’s words from earlier repeat in my mind.

“Someone here is already dealing with situations that affect the kingdom, that are an attack on their being, and a risk to their safety. Someone here is already trying to protect everyone and everything possible. Someone here is already the heir, and we all know it.”

I had braced for impact at Brody’s words, but to my shock, Bozzelli said nothing. There wasn’t even a disapproving glint in her eyes at his words. Instead, she waved us away dismissively, and now here I am, taking a moment to wallow.

Wallow? I don’t know if that’s precisely what I’m doing, but it’s making me it’s bitch nonetheless.

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