Page 24 of House of Mages and Raven

“Barbie could be the true mate to any of the heirs,” Cade drawled, seizing the opportunity. “So she shall get the maximum protection from the law of the Brides Selection. And thus, I declare the trial to be over, and Barbie will be transferred to House of Mages.”

Kilian growled, yet he didn’t dispute it. He was letting me go. While I was somehow relieved, pain seared my heart. He’d given up on me.

“That murderer will go free, just like that?” Queen Odette demanded in outrage. “Where’s my justice, my king? Am I not the Queen of Kingdom of Chaos? Is there no respect toward me in the realm?”

King Vasiliy pondered as he glanced at Killian, Queen Lilith, then at me.

“The Council shall vote,” he decided. “But before the ruling, Barbie must be jailed in the dungeon of Kingdom of Chaos for a week. After all, she caused the death of Princess Medea, my beloved queen’s only daughter. This sentence is final.”

Queen Odette zipped her lips, knowing that “accidents” could happen to me while I was in the dungeon of her kingdom.

The heirs traded a look. They were good at playing politics, and this was the best deal I could get.

So, sitting on the damp, moss-covered ground in the dungeon, I waited for assassins to come.

13

Barbie

On my third day in the dungeon, there’d been six attempts on my life. Rock and Cassius prevented each endeavor—they were just that good. Rock also insisted on my only eating the food he brought, even though poisons wouldn’t work on me unless it was the Seed of Heaven, or something like that.

When the queen’s guards had tried to take away the blanket Cassius brought me while I slept in a corner on the ground, he almost gutted them. Cassius was lord of assassins, and I was thankful that he was on my side.

Killian hadn’t visited me once, but I heard that he’d put a stop to the idea of torturing me. He put the word out that whoever dared to torture me would suffer tenfold and more. I appreciated this the most, since I had a low tolerance for pain. Whenever Sy took the pain meant for me into her, I broke a little more every time.

On the seventh day, I was released from the dungeon of Kingdom of Chaos. I didn’t look too bad, as Killian and his team had made sure of it. Rock escorted me back to the academy, and Prince Cade and his mage entourage waited at the end of the leyline, a spark in his turquoise eyes, a grin on his handsome face.

A river of metaphysical energy rolled across the leyline before it shut down. The magical wind tussled the mage prince’s wine-red hair. My golden curls also bounced in the air current.

“Barbie!” Cade called, as if he was pleased at spotting me at the flea market. “Congratulations—you’ve officially been transferred to the House of Mages, where you truly belong.”

In a nutshell, I was kicked out of the House of Chaos.

This time, Killian hadn’t fought for me to be in his house. He’d let me go. I’d done a lot of thinking in the dungeon, sussing out my feelings about the situation. Yes, we’d fucked each other, but it didn’t mean that we owed each other any promises.

This was a clean break. It’d take time for me to heal, but I’d heal.

At least you fucked him and fed on him a couple of times,Sy said.Not all is lost. We’ll have a good time with Cade. He’ll feed us as well.

Cassius had disappeared like a silent shadow as soon as I was safe on the academy grounds. Rock and Archer still hung back.

“Should I go back to my former room in the House of Chaos to pack my stuff?” I asked.

“No need. Everything is taken care of, including your new house uniform,” Cade said. “You’ll stay in the spare room next to my penthouse.”

“What about the s—smutty books and the rocking chair in my old room?” I asked. “I like them.”

What I was really worried about was the jewelry in my shoebox. I bit my lip and vowed to hunt down anyone who daredpoach my treasure. I might not be a dragon, but I was just as possessive when it came to my shinies.

“Those smutty books were returned to their rightful owners,” Archer said. “They had no idea how those books ended up in your room. The rocking chair belongs to Prince Killian.”

“That sucks, man,” I said. “Now I’m back to square one and own nothing.”

“Don’t pout, Barbie,” Rock said. “Even though you’re now a member of another house, you’ll always be one of us. That room will always be yours. The house magic refuses to let anyone except His Highness enter your room. You can sleep over in your old room any time. I heard that the House of Vampires, the House of Shifters, and the House of Fae have also made the same arrangement. No house can lock you out anyway, and you don’t need to raid any of the houses, especially the kitchens. But officially, you’re now a mage and will live in the House of Mages.”

“Let’s go.” Cade waved his wand. “You’re now under my protection, Barbie. And you’ll obey my every order.”

“Even bad orders?” I asked, following him gingerly.

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