Page 78 of Above
“Talon, maybe she’s right,” I spoke, trying to tug on his arm so he’d face me. But he only stood taller, staring down at his sister like she had a disease.
“You refuse to understand and I can’t make you, but Nova is mine. The stars see her for what she truly is, as do I. So either get to know her and change your ways, or I’ll gladly slaughter all five of you.”
“How romantic. If you need a dagger so you can go carve your initials in a tree, let me know,” Altair drawled, his thumb spinning the snake ring he had repurchased. “And while you’re at it, maybe you can give your little pup a wash, I smell something foul.”
“Don’t you ever compare her to a dog again!” Talon roared, pointing at Altair.
Altair grinned, a feral look darkening his eyes. “I wasn’t talking about her.”
“Okay, break it up,” Elders said, stepping between Talon and Altair. His hands flattened on either man’s chest, his dark gaze flitting between the two of them. “This is ridiculous. We grew up together. We’re all best friends. Whatever this thing is between you two, fix it. Now.”
A humph of agreement came from Otarn, who crossed her arms and nodded her head. The whole thing felt childish, somehow. We were meant to be getting to our companies, not arguing over who knew what. I was here to become an elite for stars sake.
So I walked away. Behind me, I heard a shout to wait, but I was tired of being their toy they tossed around. At that point, I was ready for them to either kill me or move on.
“Wait up!” Dofrel shouted again, his heavy footsteps pounding against the ground as he jogged to catch up to me.
“Go away, Dofrel. I’ve had enough purist garbage for the day.” Waving a hand, I quickened my gait.
Dofrel caught up to me easily, his head leaning down. “You know, if you grew up like we did, you’d understand.”
“Oh yes, so sorry for not taking into account how you were raised when you all belittle and insult me. Maybe the next time one of you tries to cut my throat or throw me out a window, I’ll stop fighting back and say,think of the childhood trauma, Nova.”
“That’s all I ask,” he said, throwing his hands up.
“A reasonable request,” I retorted, my eyes remaining forward. After mere seconds of peace, Dofrel spoke again.
“Curls, I have to know, what in the fuck is between your legs that has everyone so obsessed with you?”
“A cunt. Same as you.” At my remark, he burst into laughter, bending forward and almost losing his balance. I swung open the main doors to the schoolhouse, wishing he’d faceplant.
“Mind if I throw my hat in the ring? You’ve officially turned me on.”
“Didn’t you hear?” I asked, speeding up as we walked down the long, pale hall toward the stairs. “Mistakes aren’t allowed this month. Probably best to stick your cock somewhere else.”
“I thought I had a cunt.” Dofrel rushed forward, tugging open the door and motioning for me to enter first.
“You are a cunt, there’s a difference.”
“Seems someone is feeling especially vulgar today. Extra talkative too.”
“It’s the rush of a new phase,” I muttered as I gripped the railing. “Really gets me going.”
“I can get you going too, if you’d like.”
“Sure, and I’m going to rule the universe someday.” We made it to the fourth floor, both of us reaching for the alchemy door at the same time. Sighing, I rotated, letting my back touch the wood. “What’s your goal, Dofrel? For a group of people who are supposed to hate me, you all sure do spend a lot of time thinking about me.”
“Hate, love, who’s to tell the difference?” A smirk lifted the right half of his tawny face, crinkling the corner of one of his sky blue eyes.
“Me.”
“You know, the Dofrels are one of the lowest of the twenty core families,” he murmured, rubbing the toe of his black boot against a smudge on the white tile floor. “We are nothing special in comparison to the Altairs and the Zades. Even the Otarns and the Elders are more important than us in the grand scheme.”
He wasn’t wrong. There was a sort of hierarchy within the cores. I didn’t know much about it, but the thought remindedme of a book I had stolen from a certain Altair heir, and I knew that tonight I would spend time learning more about it instead of working on my crystal. The curiosity wouldn’t let me do anything else.
“What’s your point?”
“My point is that I have a lesser legacy to uphold. My parents didn’t give me the attention that Az and Talon got. In fact, I’m pretty sure they forgot I existed for a few years. So I don’t necessarily believe in all of the bullshit, because I wasn’t taught it the same way. Just like I told you a month ago.”
