Page 10 of House of Mages and Raven

Not wanting to offend my betrothed, the werewolf didn’t reply but parked himself by the door and directed the candidates who had come before the oracle to file out.

A piercing alarm went off.

“Fire!” someone shouted, joined by others. “Fire in the house!”

I contained a smile. Pucker was causing trouble by setting off the alarm. He was forever fierce when it came to guarding Barbie.

“This isn’t a drill!” The scream sounded like Pucker’s.

“Order!” Rock barked half-heartedly. “Order, please!”

Then everyone was shouting, some panicked, some excited yet nervous, as they rushed out of the door, then the building, without Rock giving any further orders.

I rose to my feet lazily. “What the hell?”

“The fire started in the boiler room and spread rapidly. Archer is leading a team to try to contain it,” Cassius said, strolling in.

“Escort Queen Lilith to safety,” I ordered him.

Lilith pursed her lips, not liking this turn of events. “Fire doesn’t concern me.”

“Your safety is most important, beloved,” I insisted. “I need to take care of the house emergency, but I’ll feel better if you and Lady Moirai aren’t in harm’s way.”

Cassius moved like a shadowy arrow. A blink, and he was right in front of us. Bowing at Lilith, he gestured for her to let him escort her toward the exit reserved for only myself and my circle while I extracted myself from this engagement.

“I could easily assist you with any house emergency,” Lilith said before I strolled away in the other direction. “But I know how important your independence is to you. I’m stepping back in a show of respect, but I expect you to join me as soon as you take care of your house affair. I’ll be hosting a celebration for officially joining Shades Academy as the sixth house. We shall present a united front.”

I nodded solemnly. “Of course, Queen Lilith.”

“I like you calling me beloved.” She smiled, her lustful gaze caressing me, her power warming the bond between us.

I tried not to shudder, and I thought of Barbie, knowing she was no longer waiting for me in my bed.

8

Barbie

Ihadn’t seen Killian after I’d left his bed.

I learned that he’d joined his betrothed in her new compound on the south border of Shades Academy, close to the Veil. He hadn’t returned to the House of Chaos since then.

My emotions were raw and in turmoil, but I restrained myself from asking Lady Cami and Rock if their prince had spent the night with Queen Lilith there. But then Cami mentioned casually that Killian had gone to the court of the Chaos Kingdom, summoned by his father. She didn’t say when Killian had left, and I had no idea if he’d fucked his betrothed or not after he slept with me.

It was common knowledge that all the heirs fucked around. Killian hadn’t been able to do so since Queen Lilith bound him. I was the only female who could prowl through any magic, spell, bond, and curse.

A field of weeds sprouted in my head at the idea of Killian and his legitimate woman being together, so much so that mychest hurt and I could barely think beyond that. But what did I expect? What could I demand? After all, they were engaged, and I was the new woman who happened to take his fancy. Before we parted, he’d promised to tell me later if he was mine. I was sure now I’d never get the answer.

Bile rising to the back of my throat, I traipsed along the cobbed path between Infinity Library and Clockwork, peering at the white pine trees at the edge of the Windsong Woods, which got its name from the wuthering wind traveling in the trees.

Jubilee Haven loomed ahead. Even the prospect of food couldn’t lighten my gait, but I carried on as if my heart hadn’t been broken. I strolled through the open door of the dining hall with arched ceiling and marble floor.

No one had set a trap for me, as the vigilant underdogs kept watching. Shades Academy had never been so divided, and the underdogs had been expecting retaliation from the top dogs, as the trio—Jinx, Bea, and Drusilla—had warned. They were the backbone of the underdogs, the actual leaders.

Every eye trained on me. I didn’t like the attention, but Sy preened, soaking it in. My gaze skimmed over the hostile students to find my supporters. Most tables were occupied. I’d come late today. Everyone was seated where they usually sat. Seating in Shades Academy displayed a strict hierarchy. I thought I’d shaken up the system and changed things in this school, but the division of classes was inbred in everyone’s psyche.

America and the highborn students had claimed the esteemed tables around the royal table reserved for the heirs if they decided to come down from their throne seats upstairs. The only change was that they were more muted since their leader, Medea, was gone.

Dixie had returned to the elite shifters’ table, no longer mingling with Medea’s former crowd. Her dark gaze held minebefore she returned to talking to her friends. An ache bloomed in my chest. I used to be friendly with her and Luna, but her lover’s tragic death changed everything between us. I still grieved over Luna, and I would never forget her. All the more reason I hated my father and the Shriekers. One day, I’d kill them all.

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