Page 36 of House of Mages and Raven

“This is all your fault, vampire!” Killian yelled at him. “You started this, and you’ll pay for it.”

“Yeah? You and what army?” Louis barked.

Queen Lilith sipped her tea and watched the fight, her expression unreadable, yet dark hellfire swirled in her green eyes. Grace stood up, but no one was paying her attention now, not even if she jumped up and down atop the royal table. She resorted to glaring at me, no longer smug but full of enmity.

The two princes weren’t fighting over her, even though she’d been shoving the image of her being my upgrade down everyone’s throats.

She ain’t the shit she thinks she is,Sy said.

But I didn’t feel the slightest victory. Who wanted to be the bone two predators fought over? It only spelled danger for me. And the worst thing? My body still hummed for the chaos prince even now, even after all he’d put me through.

The two heirs from different houses crashed again, one on the balcony and the other on the ground, growling, cursing, swinging their cocks around to show who had the bigger dick.

Killian leapt from his high place, wanting a close-range battle with Louis.

Being in his proximity would do me no good, so I grabbed Bea and zoomed toward the exit. Behind us, one side of the warded wall collapsed under the crushing force of the ruthless princes.

“Fuck you, Killian!” Louis barked viciously.

“No, thanks. Fuck you, vamp!” Killian answered with equal menace.

“Hard pass. And fuck you, asshole!” Louis shouted.

“That’s super confusing,” I told Bea as we rushed out of the hall. “They said fuck you, then they said not interested, then they said fuck you again.”

Bea widened her eyes. “I don’t think they meant it, but this is the first big fight between the heirs.”

I shook my head. “What the world has come to.”

Somehow, the ache in my chest eased a little as explosions erupted behind me, drowning out their heirs’ curses, threats, promises, and shouts about screwing each other.

17

Sy

Barbie was feeling blue, yet her mind actively wandered to the treasure she had left in the House of Chaos. She was worried about thieves, as it took one to know one. I wanted to keep our treasure close too, especially the pink diamond I’d worked so hard for.

After watching the chaos prince cozy up with his betrothed and her inferior copy, Barbie was in no mood or shape to go near the chaos house. I could understand that she didn’t want to receive even more pitiful or scornful looks from her former chaos house members.

That left it up to me to go get the treasure, and I was more than happy to run that errand.

In the dead of night, I took over our form under the shadow of a vast tree. Barbie didn’t micromanage. She withdrew deep within me and let me run wild.

I dashed between the trees, feeling exuberant, passing the white stone building of Infinity Library guarded by two sphinxsculptures. They said the sphinxes moved sometimes at night, but neither Barbie nor I had seen it. I couldn’t feel magic like Barbie, even though I could feel bubbling magic in my belly lately.

A splash of moonlight fell on my face. Wind caught in my long braids. I ran and danced and twirled, celebrating being so alive and wild.

Here’s to another fabulous night of adventure!

I’d seldom come out in my own form, especially in human cities, unless I had to feed or fight to protect us. In Mist of Cinder, I finally had a taste of true life, though I didn’t get to come out to play as often as I craved.

I merged into the shadows of trees and bushes while dashing across the courtyard of the House of Chaos in a blur. Crouching under Barbie’s old room on the sixth floor, I darted my careful gaze around. Once I was sure that no one was looking in my direction, I leapt to a tall branch before swinging up toward Barbie’s room. The window flew open for me, just like before. As soon as I rolled into the room, the house magic twirled around my face in a haze of starlight and whined.

“Miss you too.” I smiled. “Blame your prince, though. But don’t worry—Barbie will visit after she calms down.”

The magic grew more agitated at hearing of Barbie being uncool, sparks of fire going off within the starlight.

“Yeah, yeah, she’ll chill,” I said.

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