Page 53 of The Fate of Eternity

“Make way. We’re here for a Miss Adrianna Reagan, but we’re more than happy to take the rest of you if necessary,” the leader calls out as he inches closer. I try to take a step, not wanting to cause any more of a scene than there already is, but I don’t move a single inch before the students are causing a stir.

Everyone is frantically trying to move, pushing me farther into Cassian’s side as I feel Brody step to my left and Kryll crowd me from behind.

“Look,” Brody whispers, linking his fingers with mine. I frown at him, barely able to see a damn thing with Raiden standing right in front of me, but when I realize what he means, I don’t have to.

It’s not something specific he wants me to see. It’s everywhere.

The sea of green cloaks is suddenly mingled amongst various grays and blues.

Faes and shifters.

Holy shit.

“You can’t just take her. An explanation is going to be needed, and even then, the Princess of Dragons isn’t to be manhandled.” The statement comes from a guy in a blue cloak. I can practically feel Kryll beam from behind me, but something twists in my gut.

I want people to trust in me, believe in me, but not like this. Not when I literally killed someone for… mentioning my sister’s name?

Shit.

The reminder flares my anger to life again, my wolf ready to burst free once more, but another part of me is disappointed. Everything my father taught me… it wasn’t for this.

I could blame my wolf, but shifting or not, I would have used my fae magic to slaughter her otherwise.

I don’t regret my actions, not when it comes to Nora, but deep down, I know they’re not the actions of the next heir, the future leader of the Floodborn Kingdom.

It’s not me.

I can’t be it.

I want to feel worthy of these people standing beside me, but instead, I only feel deserving of the fact that the soldiers are here to take me away. I can’t see past that fact, and before I realize it, I’m slipping from the safety blanket of my men. Squeezing through the crowd is just as easy until I’m standing face to face with Bozzelli, who now has the soldiers beside her.

“Is this her?” the leader asks, glancing at Bozzelli. She stands speechless, her jaw slack as her fingers grip the hem of her bright orange blazer. I save her the hassle.

“I’m Adrianna Reagan,” I confirm, taking the final step toward him as protests begin to ring out from behind me.

I can hear the anger in Cassian’s shouts, Raiden’s growls, Brody’s snarls, and Kryll’s bark. I understand their concern, but it’s futile at this stage. There’s just one lingering thought that I can’t seem to shake.

“I’ll come with you, no fight necessary. But what confuses me is the fact that I killed her father on property in front of The Council. Why weren’t you called then? Why wasn’t I detained then?”

The leader steps toward me, a crook to his smile as he shakes his head. “Unfortunately for you, I don’t give a shit what confuses you. All I care about is my job, which is to detain you until The Council is ready to see you.”

“No way! No fucking way,” Raiden snarls from behind me, but the slap of magic curls around my wrists, stiffening my body from head to toe.

I can’t turn, I can’t blink, I can’t breathe.

Magical bindings secure my hands together and render me helpless.

It’s too late to step back and undo everything unfolding here. I’m at their mercy.

26

KRYLL

Fury burns through my veins as the fucker practically lassoes Addi’s wrists together, freezing her in place before he disappears into thin air.

Not alone.

No.

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