Page 11 of Oleander
I cannot let it out.
“Eight hundred, you say? Me fucking too, dude! I guess that means we’re roomies.” The new, unfamiliar voice creates a perfectly timed distraction, allowing me to pull myself together and gain control before Zephyr and Hawk see my power flare. The newcomer slings his arm around my shoulder, and everyone in the hallway holds their breath, including myself. But he’s wearing a hoodie, and our skin isn’t touching.It’s fine.
“Name’s Skyler. You?”
This strange-sounding male turns to stare directly into my eyes, our faces inches apart. His ice-blue gaze is piercing against thick dark hair that’s sticking up in every direction as if he gotstruck by lightning. Smudges of dirt streak his cheeks, and there may possibly be a twig or two stuck in his hair.
He doesn’t even flinch being this close to me.
He’s obviously fearless and probably new to the academy if he’s unfortunately stuck with me.
“Oleander,” I whisper, my breath dangerously close to his lips before I step back.
“Prince of Auroria,” Zeph adds in a mocking tone, like it’s an insult. Like he thinks I won’t become king one day. Another person to prove wrong, I guess.
“No shit? I’m rooming with an actual fairy prince? This week just keeps getting crazier.”
My brows crease at his odd response, as do Zephyr and Hawk’s, confusion washing over their features. Before Skyler reveals anything else, I grab his wrist on top of his hoodie, intent on tugging him along, but I’m completely unprepared for what I find. My eyes dart up, widening in surprise. Something hard and unforgiving lies beneath his sleeve. Something I never want to see again. A reminder of a time I’d like to forget.
Iron shackles.
“Let’s go settle in,” I whisper, moving my hand higher up Skyler’s arm so I’m steering him by the elbow instead. “See you two later,” I tell Zephyr and Hawk, not waiting for a response. I definitely don’t know or trust them anymore, and I’m starting to think Skyler may not have the same instincts as the rest of us.
We make our way through the corridor, and Skyler whispers to me under his breath. “Those guys are assholes. I hate seeing anyone get bullied and ganged up on. Even if you are some sort ofprince. You still don’t deserve their shit.”
“T-thank you,” I stutter, unable to fully understand his kindness.
We catch up to my bodyguards further down the hall, and I introduce everyone. “Skyler, this is my personal protectionagent, Suka. Agent Suka, this is my new roommate, Skyler. . .” I trail off, realizing I don’t know his last name.
“Fairfield,” he fills in for me.
“Can you please show us to the private elevator? No need to take the stairs after all.” A few relieved sighs meet my ears, and I attempt to bite back my grin.
“You were gonna make them take the stairs with all that?” he whispers conspiratorially.
I shrug. “It’s good to know all of your exits in case of emergencies.”
Skyler huffs out a laugh and shakes his head.
“Yes, Prince,” Suka replies, leading us past the stairwell and over to the elevator.
Skyler’s intrigued gaze follows me as we hustle down the hallway side by side with an entourage of agents surrounding us. “What exactly are you the prince of again?”
“Auroria.”
He blinks, and his light blue gaze remains blank as if the word means absolutely nothing to him. I’m starting to realize there’s more going on here than I understand. “Let’s finish this discussion when we get inside our suite.Privately.” I purposefully dart my eyes to the side toward the security team tasked with my safe arrival.
Skyler gets the hint, and we ride the elevator in silence until Suka and I say our goodbyes. His team leaves my luggage and a handful of boxes stacked next to the door. Along with all of the plants I could reasonably and safely transport. They lost a few leaves along the way, but all in all, they seem to be doing well.
“We can talk freely now that they’re gone,” I tell Skyler as we stand outside our new home, staring at the gold placard readingSuite 800. I think we both might be a little resistant to this change and hesitant to walk through the door.
“So. . . the prince thing,” he says, sounding unsure of what to even ask.
“Right. . .”
How does he not know?
It doesn’t really matter, and I guess it’s a little refreshing, too, for someone not to know my dark secret.
