Page 95 of Vicious Princess
My chest is flooded with warmth.
“But… We can’t, can we? You’re my instructor and mentor. If we continue like this, they’ll find out. Kata already knows. I have no clue who else she told about the kiss! I can’t risk my future, my goals. Your whole career and reputation.”
“I don’t want to stay away from you or pretend I don’t want you. You can say whatever you want, but I can tell you don’t want that either. We’ll be careful until you graduate and join the Order,” he says. “Once you’re an Ezkai, there won’t be anything standing in our way.”
I still have doubts and fears. Yet I allow his assured words to soothe and convince me it’s true. If only for one night.
Daegel pushes a strand of wild hair away from my face. “Tell me, honestly,truly, how are you after the solitary confinement?”
I purse my lips. “It wasn’t fun. I felt like I was stripped of my personhood. Like I was just a shadow of who I truly am.”
The last words come out as a whisper.
“I’m sorry, Phoenix. Why did you get into a fight with Nightingale? Was it because she threatened you again?”
I shake my head. “She said something about my father that completely made me lose control.” I sigh and close my eyes. “But I guess this confrontation will make things worse now. I was trying to convince her we’re more similar than we’re different, and look how it ended.” My eyes snap open. “What if she already went to the administration?”
Daegel runs his fingers up and down my back in a calming way. “She hasn’t. I’d know about it.”
I frown. “Why are you so calm about this situation?”
He smirks, eyes focused on my back where he now draws a number of different shapes. “That’s because I know she won’t talk. I told you I’d take care of it. Don’t worry your pretty head about it, princess.”
My stomach is in knots. I don’t like that he doesn’t tell mehowhe’s handling this. I don’t like that he keeps me in the dark.That he doesn’t involve me in whatever it is he’s doing about our situation. Does he have friends in high places who can protect us?
“How will you take care of it?”
“I’ll tell you all about it when the time is right,” he says.
Before I can ask any more questions, he rolls me over onto my back and pins me to the floor. All thoughts scatter the moment his lips are over mine, and his hips settle between my thighs.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
The next two and a half months fly by in a blink. Our training pace becomes more rigorous, which makes sense considering we’re rapidly approaching graduation.
The day when some of us will be gravely disappointed, while others will receive an invitation to join the Order.
I spend my days in lectures, early evenings in the library, and late evenings into early mornings training with Daegel. Once in a while, I use the permission slip and train at his estate.
The privacy the setting offers us almost makes me forget the threat looming over our heads. Especially when every training session there ends with hot and passionate sex. I think those earth-shattering orgasms are the only things keeping me energized, considering how exhausting my schedule is.
Whenever we’re around people, though, we act professional.
While Daegel doesn’t refer to me ashumananymore during his lectures, his eyes and voice are cold whenever he addresses me.
“Cadet Wildarrow, wait for you turn,” he snaps.
I glance at him over my shoulder and lower my bow. It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes.
That would be disrespectful, and he’d have to punish me.
I’m definitely not against a punishment, but the kind I desire can’t be administered in front of the whole group of cadets…
So, instead, I say, “Sorry, sir.”
With a bow in hand, Kata passes me close enough our shoulders brush when she whispers, “He’s so good at pretending, isn’t he? Doesn’t fool me, though.”
My spine goes rigid, and I cease breathing. But I will my face to remain neutral. Her malicious chuckle as she walks away makes my hands tremble with fury.
