Page 14 of The Kiss Of Death
And how do you destroy a king’s kingdom?
You break his centerpiece.
The one who started it all.
The queen.
“This one is perfect for you.” Yasmine handed me a novel from the hundreds that swallowed her bed—so far, she had only unpacked her books from her luggage. “And yes, you have to read it if you want us to be friends.”
The book in question was titledFalling for the Ruthless King, and just the sight of the shirtless man on the cover made me imagine my father’s disapproving frown.
“I will! In exchange, I made you a study playlist. It’s known to improve the focus of your brain,” I said while attempting to retrieve my uniforms since Baron was lying on top of them.
Yas and I had decided to be roommates since we both ended up being Unifiers like she’d predicted. Our dorm was in the turrets by the east wing of the campus, near the forest. The walls, in line with our house’s color scheme, were celadon green, with plants scattered throughout on the pine bookshelves. The pointed arches in our windows reflected sunny patterns on the desk. Our kitchen was tiny. It might have been small, but it felt like home already.
“No one has ever made me a playlist before. That’s so thoughtful!”
I managed to stow away my final belongings from Baron’s grasp. “Well, no one has ever given me a book before—”
“Lent youa book,” she corrected. “And I hope you’re not the type to fold the pages or crack the spine. The last time my two little sisters did that, I didn’t speak to them for months.”
I chuckled, folding my uniforms in my side of the closet. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Our uniform skirts were available in two lengths: one that reached down to our ankles and another that stopped just above the knees, both in smoky gray tweed patterns. We were required to embroider our blouses with the first letter of our house, while the tweed jackets were black, with bands of colors associated with our house—green for us, yellow for Pioneers, blue for Guardians, and purple for Tacticians. My fingers gently brushed against the green bow, which could double as a tie for girls. Depending on the season, we could choose between polos or long-sleeved pullovers.
“Well, I’m off to the library!” Yas said. “Watching over books is really the dreamiest part-time job ever, even if my TBR is going to be on my will and pass down from generation to generation.” She paused. “You want to come with me?”
“No thanks. I’m probably going to explore around campus.”
By that, I meant unfurling the university’s handbook and studying it until I memorized every corner. I had the perfect Tchaikovsky composition for the task.
“I’ll see you later, then!”
Yasmine left, and I huddled on my bed, poring over the campus map. The structure of Pantheon University was built around the four houses: each house was associated with an academic college and a school facility. I closed my eyes and tried to memorize each detail.
Our house is linked to the College of Classics and the opera house. It’s affiliated with the earth element symbolizing strength.
The Guardians, positioned in the northeastern region by the river, embody the water element, housing the College of Law and the library, all reflecting their essence of wisdom.
On the west turrets, the Tacticians hold sway, anchored with the bridge of sighs by the Sciences College, the astronomy tower, and a chess club nestling within the ancient keeps. Their motto is cunning, and their element is air.
Finally, the Pioneers, in the northwest, oversee the College of Arts. Their motto echoes bravery, so naturally they’re associated with fire. Their dorms are closer to the gymnasium and they’re rumored to have once served as an underground fighting club.
“I nailed it, Baron,” I said to the cat. I leaped off the bed, finally ready to explore, when a knock on the door interrupted my momentum.
“Hi, this is the headmaster of the Unifiers. Can I come in?”
I stopped in my tracks. Our headmaster was Sylas Archambault, the son of one of Dad’s closest friends and business partners. I’d met Sylas’s father several times at dinner, and while I’d heard about Sylas, I’d never met him before. My father had, and I suspected he’d found me a new chaperone.
I adjusted my hair and took a deep breath. “Yes, of course.”
Sylas entered the room, his blue eyes locking onto mine. He was regal with golden hair, a beige Ralph Lauren polo shirt, and a dazzling, trusting smile that would melt any heart—the polar opposite of Levi.
“I’m doing rounds to check on our new students,” he said before raising his brows. “You’re Bruno Mercier’s daughter, right? Your father told me you’d be a first year here and hoped we’d meet. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
My brain was wired, thinking of everything that could go wrong. In my father’s head, I was still eight. “Should I be scared?”
“No.” He chuckled. “Your father is just very proud of you. The last time we had dinner with him, he couldn’t stop talking abouthis daughter coming here next fall. I also recognized you from the picture in your Halloween costume. It’s his lockscreen.”
