Page 7 of Wicked Heirs

I’d been out on my own for the last two years since I was nineteen. I’d been renting my own apartment while experimenting with several different jobs, like being a server, a barista, and a club promoter. And it had been a blast being out there by myself doing my own thing, being wild and free.

Well, what I’d thought had been wild and free.

But I guess I had been restricted in a way then too, through my issues with my abilities, and my denial of a massive part of myself—my supernatural heritage.

I followed the signs to the parking lot, ignoring all the stares my way and the turning of heads as a bunch of college students took in the newbie coming into their midst.

Really, I knew it was more than that. It waswhatI was and who my mom was. It had put me under an unwanted spotlight my whole life.

Two years of avoiding all of that had come to an untimely and very reluctant end.

As I reached the lot, I noticed a few really sweet vehicles settled into parking spaces.

A tricked out Harley Davidson V-Rod and a neon-orange Corvette ZR1 caught my attention in particular.

I found a spot right in front of the parking lot entrance into the main building, the place I knew I needed to be in order to head to the dean’s office for my induction meeting.

I parked, then grabbed my multicolored beaded messenger bag, one of my favorites, with lots of tassels and fringe.

I’d just slung it over my shoulder and locked my car when a flash of pink magic pulled me up short from heading to the trunk to grab my luggage.

A moment later, a middle-aged woman with beautiful midnight-black curls materialized right in front of me. They brushed the shoulders of her back Chanel jacket. A matching ruffle blouse was beneath it, giving way to a white pencil skirt. She had to be way over six-foot, completely eclipsing my five-foot-three height.

She smiled brightly, then told me excitedly, “Welcome to Electi Academy, Miss Rose. We are thrilled to have you here.”

I returned her smile, pretending that it actually meant something to me that she was so happy to welcome me here.

If only it was the truth.

But it wasn’tmeshe was overjoyed to have enrolled at the Academy.

It was the idea of me.

The heir of the great Fallen, Abigail Rose.

It was always the same.

That shadow followed me everywhere.

“Thank you,” I managed.

“Don’t concern yourself with your luggage. It will be transported to your chambers for you via magical transference.”

“Okay, thanks again.”

She gestured to the door into the main building. “Instead of you sitting through a dry orientation meeting in my office, I’ll give you a tour of the campus and we’ll discuss pertinent information during that.”

“That sounds great.”

Actually, it really didn’t.

What it sounded like was special treatment, something I really wasn’t a fan of. I’d spent the last two years—basically my whole adult life so far—on my own and paying my dues without people having a clue what I was or who my family was. And it had been great. I’d loved the independence of it all, the detachment from everything else.

ButI was here to embrace that which I’d been denying and also running from. It included not just my supernatural heritage, but all the other stuff too.

“Perfect,” the dean said brightly, before leading me in through the parking lot entrance.

I sucked in a steadying breath.

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