Page 80 of House of Mages and Raven

Quite a few students gasped, but none dared to contradict the vampire prince.

I sighed. The more I denied the accusation, the more I’d paint myself black. This was Rule Number Seven I’d written down for myself a long time ago—when being accused wrongly, the worst you could do was explain yourself.

“I appreciate it, sir.” I spread my arms. “And think of it, why would I want to pounce on a bug when I can take on a dragon?”

I almost heard a growl rumble from Kilian’s chest even from this distance, sounding furious and turned on all at once. He had a dragon in him, and I didn’t care if I provoked his beast.

“That’s the spirit,” Silas said in approval.

“Didn’t you tell me to be more ambitious, high prince?” I asked.

“Ambition won’t kill you,” Silas said encouragingly.

I darted my gaze around at the other princes. “Do you sometimes wonder why you can never get a break?”

“All the time,” Rowan said, and the other heirs nodded.

“Barbie has a history of violent behavior,” Headmistress Ethel said firmly. “She’s dangerous to everyone in Shades Academy.” She gestured at Wyatt. “I won’t allow this to happen again.”

She hadn’t been willing to go toe-to-toe with Killian, since he was too ruthless, but now that I wasn’t in his house, she believed that she could finally do whatever she wanted with me.

“Arrest Barbie,” she ordered her men. “Seize the snake in the garden!”

The academy sentinels advanced toward me, and I pulled my lips back and bared my teeth in a vicious grin. No one fucking took me without my allowing it, even though I no longer had Killian’s protection. He hadn’t left as he’d said he would. The chaos prince lounged at the heirs’ table at the front of the hall. He hadn’t bothered to move his ass one inch since the fight between his new squeeze and me had started. His betrothed leaned toward him, saying something into his ear, while they both looked in my direction.

Before the sentinels could reach me, a ring of fire shot up from the floor, surrounding me. At the same time, a shockwave of fire and wind tossed the sentinels away from me. Even Headmistress Ethel staggered back a few paces, her eyes widening in surprise.

Cade stepped into the ring of fire, joining me, his fashionable scarf flapping in his magical wind.

“Who permitted you to take a new mage in my house, Lady Ethel?” Cade asked, and flicked his wand like a conductor. I moved to his two o’clock, since I didn’t want him to hit me with his wand by mistake. He wasn’t as calm as usual. He’d barely said a word until now.

“Not you too, Prince Cade,” Headmistress Ethel said in dismay.

“Yeah, me too,” Cade said coldly. “My house affair, my rules.”

“What about Barbie’s crime?” Headmistress Ethel demanded.

“What about it?” Cade asked lazily.

“Will you also turn a blind eye like the others?” Headmistress Ethel followed up like a dog with a bone.

“Innocent until proven guilty,” Cade said. “That’s my house’s golden rule. And it’s for my house to investigate whether Barbie assaulted that boy or not. He looks like a bad liar to me. But make no mistake: no one touches Mage Barbie.”

I beamed. I liked the sound ofMage Barbieway better thanChaos Barbie, orWicked Barbie.

Cade tilted his head and glanced at the other heirs outside the ring.

“We respect and support Prince Cade’s decision,” Rowan said, then darted his gaze around. I knew he was hoping to spot Sy, and I had to clamp my mouth shut to prevent her from shouting out:Here I come, sugar Rowan!

“It’s a mage house affair,” Silas snarled.

Louis raised his fist, and then all the heirs, except the chaos heir, raised their fists to show solidarity.

Cade turned to look straight at the chaos heir across the expanse of the dining hall. All eyes turned to him, as did mine. Killian’s gaze homed in on me. Even from this distance, I could feel his wrath raging underneath his skin. My breath hitched. Was he going to put me in my place for beating his new plaything? I pulled my lips back and bared my teeth in a silent snarl.

Killian’s gaze dipped to my mouth briefly, a faint smile seemingly ghosting his lips, sensual and amused. Anyone else would’ve missed his fleeting expression, but not me. It onlymade me madder. He didn’t take my challenge seriously. He turned to Cade and nodded at the mage prince.

Queen Lilith glanced at him, but the chaos heir’s emotions were shuttered now. She then turned to look at me, her expression utterly blank.

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