Page 53 of House of Mages and Raven

Sy nodded in sympathy.That chick stole your man.

The Maiden waved a hand indifferently. “A pawn is not important. However, you must know this—when you’re in the pit of the darkest place where all lights go out and you think no one will ever come for you, and when you walk through the valley of death, utterly alone, and evil touches you…”

“Fuck it,” I said, really having had enough.

“I now see,” she sighed, weird magic ablaze in her eyes.

Fuck!

I tossed a wave of dark wind at her and broke into a run, fleeing from the oracle. Before I zoomed out of the woods, I glanced over my shoulder. Where the seer had been, a pillar of mist rose into the sky, then her black veil fell into the blades of grass.

What did the Maiden mean by the oldest magic has become flesh?Sy asked.

“Don’t trust her. It’s always the blind leading the blind. That’s what it is,” I huffed, yet deep in my bones, the oracle’s every word haunted me.

We aren’t blind,Sy said.And we can never be led. But what the oracle said about the old magic becoming flesh is kind of deep. Don’t you think?

21

Barbie

Itrekked toward Jubilee Haven after the morning classes. Usually, I was always the first to arrive at the dining hall, but now I dreaded going there despite my hunger. I knew what would be waiting for me at every turn—another confrontation. Another conflict.

What I dreaded most was watching Killian parade his women at the heirs’ table, a constant reminder of the class gap between us and that he had chosen them over me. I hunched my shoulders, my gut telling me that they’d all be in the dining hall, showing off their superiority and “epic romance.”

They ruled the academy as the hottest, most powerful royalty.

Yet I wasn’t going to back down, even though I was all alone. Bea had gone home because her grandmother got sick. I was worried about her and her grandma and wished that I could do something for them.

Well, I’d just sneak into the dining hall, grab something, then get out.

I paused at the door to check for any offensive spells or traps. It wouldn’t surprise me if those copycats pulled aCarriestunt again. When I didn’t spot any tricks, I slid into the hall.

What I didn’t expect was to see a full house, every head snapping in my direction as if they’d rehearsed it. It dawned on me a breath later that Grace had prearranged this scene. She’d gotten every student here before my arrival. What was she going to do? Show everyone how to put me in my place? I was already in the lowest of low places. Yeah, she was still going to kick me, even when I was prone on the ground.

Instead of making an exit as my instinct screamed for me to do, I forced myself to keep jogging toward the buffet tables on the far side of the hall. Many students, including the former underdogs, yanked out their tablets and trained them in my direction, looking forward to catching a dramatic moment of me being a loser so they could go viral on Spinchat.

The seating in the academy was always a game, and Grace was utilizing it to target me. I stayed on course toward the food and caught a glimpse of Killian on his upstairs throne with Grace. Surprisingly, Queen Lilith wasn’t there, but Prince Louis was sitting with them.

The chaos prince had never bothered showing up here before. But lately he seemed to insist on coming for every meal, as if he found cruel pleasure in reminding me that I’d been replaced. He didn’t even eat here, and unlike him, I had to eat no matter how bad I felt.

Grace’s giggles reached me, grating on my nerves. Louis laughed with her. Last time in a situation like this, the vampire prince had sought me out and spared me from utter humiliation. That ship had sailed now. He’d joined their ranks, and I was on my own.

I’d thought my blood was like pure gold to him and he couldn’t get the same elsewhere. But I was wrong. The vampire prince was sniffing around Grace. Barbie 2.0’s blood must taste smoother and more refined than mine, and he would have an easy time sinking his fangs into her neck, while I guarded my blood like a she-dragon.

Now he was telling her jokes and made her laugh to get her on board. The vampire prince had a lot of dirty jokes, and he was more cunning than the shifter prince when it came to seducing women. Silas was more of a straightshooter, but then as an heir, he didn’t need to lift a finger to work the room, since women threw themselves at him. That was why he was so bad at courting me. They spoiled him rotten.

Obviously, Grace now had at least two powerful heirs to back her up. When Medea had gone against me, she’d relied on her leadership skills instead of rallying the heirs behind her. Grace had learned from Medea’s mistake and struck me where it hurt.

I bet she had more reserved for me. A chill slithered up my spine like a cold snake. Fighting back a shudder, I strolled across the hall, humming a song to fortify myself.

Sy sang with me in the background while I marched on.

“Look at that ridiculous idiot.” Grace’s voice floated from upstairs. “She’s talking to herself since no one will speak to her.”

She pointed me out to the heirs, but her voice carried to the entire hall, and everyone knew right away that she meant me. As if on cue, the entire hall burst into mocking laughter.

Grace was a lot smarter than Medea. She had started this social war, but she didn’t directly take issue with me. At least, not yet. Her amused tone spelled that I was far beneath her, and if I challenged her, I would only admit to being an idiot, as she called me.

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