Page 107 of Vicious Princess
It’s in my gut.
From afar, I watch the librarian exchange a few words with the soldiers and point a finger towards where I sit.
Their faces are not kind as they approach me.
I don’t move, every muscle in my body tense. There’s no way I can fight my way out of this situation.
What good would that do anyway? I’m fucked either way.
So, when they order me to get up, I rise from my seat without arguing. They let me gather my stuff and drop the books off at the librarian’s desk before I’m escorted out of the building and away from the academy.
On my way to the castle, eerie calmness settles over me. Maybe it’s a sign my training is finally paying off—I’ve mastered perfect control over my emotions.
Or maybe I know there’s no point in feeling any other way.
I’ve made my bed. Now it’s time to lie in it.
To my surprise, the Ezkai don’t escort me to the administration. Instead, they walk me deeper into the castle.
We pass the war room I’ve been to before, but don’t enter. We walk by the door that leads to the hall where the soiree took place what feels like ages ago.
Finally, we reach a single iron door with two dragons caught in a deadly dance. Their snouts are reaching towards the sky, spewing fire as trying to set the whole world ablaze.
One of the Ezkai opens the door and gestures for me to enter. They don’t follow, closing the door behind me.
I stand in front of a large desk carved from onyx that matches the dark stone of the walls. Behind it, in a massive wrought iron chair sits none other than the Ezkai General. On his right, stands Taaslord Noire.
I swallow. Hard.
“Cadet Wildarrow, please take a seat,” the General says pleasantly and gestures at one of the two seats in front of his heavy desk.
Without hesitation, I move forwards and lower my ass onto the hard iron chair. I find it odd to this day that Ezkai surround themselves with so much iron, considering it’s poisonous to the fae.
“Sir,” I say, remembering myself. I bring my fist to my heart and dip my chin low.
The General taps his chin with his fingertips. “Do you know why you’re here today?”
“I would rather you tell me. Imagination is a wild thing when left unchecked,” I say.
A corner of his mouth twitches upwards. “Very well,” he says. From the way he lounges in his chair, you’d think we’re friends having a casual conversation about the weather. “We have received a complaint about you breaking one of theonlythree Ezkai Academy rules.”
The sharp inhale I take is the only sound in the room.
I’m paralyzed by fear. I can’t even open my mouth to speak.
So much for mastering full control over my emotions.
“One of the cadets from Oathsteel squad has come to us, claiming you are having an inappropriate relationship with one of your instructors, Ezkai Major Daegel Talbot. The cadet claims they witnessed you kissing on the academy grounds with their own eyes,” the General says. “As I’m sure you were briefed on your orientation day, having intimate relationships with instructors is forbidden. Breaking that rule is grounds for expulsion from the academy.”
“I’m aware, sir,” is all I can manage.
The Ezkai General laces his fingers in front of his chest. “Are you saying the claims made by your fellow trainee are true?”
From the looks on their faces, I know it’s just a rhetorical question. It would hurt me even more if I tried to lie my way out of this.
So I choose to keep my mouth shut.
Tense silence stretches between us.
