“Her loss.”
After being there for a while, I expected to see some students I knew but didn’t. It was sixth and seventh year students, mostly from Collweya, and Legacy and I were apparently special guests. The few girls sneering from across the fire made sure I knew we weren’t supposed to be there.
“If that red-headed wench glares at me one more time, she’s going to regret it,” Legacy said, sipping on her glass of white wine. “I’ll smash this over her head before I beat her face into the dirt.”
“Calm down there, killer,” I said, and took hold of her arm. I spun her around so her back was to those girls. “There. Now you can’t see her.”
“Liola is a bully,” Kyan said, nodding toward the group of three. “I’ve known her since I was a child. She used to try to beat me up, sometimes she did.”
I shrugged, not caring about her at all. Normally I’d be simmering with rage but I felt great, more than great. Until this Liola decided to march my way. Here we go.
“So the Fifth Years think they’re welcome to party with us now?”
I sized her up. She and I were about the same height and weight, though she had thicker legs than me. Her red hair hung loosely down her chest and back and the gleam in her dark eyes was one of hatred.
“I was invited,” I said nonchalantly. I found girls like her hated it even more when I stayed calm and acted as if they weren’t worth my time. “I didn’t ask nor do I need your permission to be here. And you should address me as your highness.”
Legacy stepped closer to me, a subtle protective gesture. She’d protect me with her life, not only because I was her princess, but her family too.
The redhead’s two minions trailed after her and folded their arms, each had a metal mug in hand. The blonde one scowled. “Watch it princess or you’ll wind up with scars on that pretty face.”
Even the joy-enchanted treats couldn’t stop my anger now. “Come near me and I’ll do more than scar your face.”
Taking a step closer but staying out of range Liola touched her sword.
I tensed, readying myself to spur into action. If she drew that thing I’d blast her across the little party before it even left the sheath.
“Just because you’re a princess doesn’t mean I won’t slit your throat in your sleep or perhaps even now.”
“Empty threats as usual.” Kyan lazily pointed to where she’d come from. “Why don’t you skitter along now, Liola. You’re boring me.”
I swore I could see flames flicker in her eyes. “You always were an ass.”
Half his pretty mouth turned up. “And yet you keep coming back for more.”
That did it, her cheeks flamed with color and she stamped away swearing and complaining to her two friends.
“History with that one?” I asked.
His eyes fell to my face. “We may have had a brief liaison but it’s been over for a long time.”
“Too bad she didn’t try anything, I’d have liked to kick her teeth in,” Legacy said, smirking.
A group of boys standing by a table full of drink cups yelled at Kyan and waved at him. “I’ll be right back.” He looked pointedly at me then Legacy, “Stay out of trouble for a couple minutes, will you?”
“We can’t help it if trouble seems to find us,” Legacy said with a laugh.
It was minutes before a boy seemed to come out of nowhere, giving me the most peculiar smirk as he approached. When he looked me up and down, I had the strangest feeling that I’d seen him before, something about his dark hair and that arrogant set to his jaw was familiar, but I couldn’t remember ever meeting him. That was two people now I swore I’d met but didn’t recall. His eyes roamed over me and lingered longer on my neck than was normal. “Interesting. I thought Kyan said you were off-limits and yet he brings you here and leaves you alone with your pretty friend.”
“Who are you?” I made sure to sound bored. “And why are you talking to me?”
“They said that tongue of yours was sharp.” I hated the way his eager gaze wouldn’t leave me. “I like a little fight in a woman.” The longer he stood near, the more I realized there was something dark and dangerous about his presence. A blackness almost rolled off of him, seeping and infecting things around him. And somehow I knew he wasn’t—human. Fear trickled into my veins and I wondered if Legacy noticed it too.
“You’re so far out of your league,” Legacy said as if he wasn’t worth wasting her breath, “and your attempt at conversation is not hitting the mark. It’s creepy actually.”
Then this bastard leaned in and sniffed me. Sniffed me. “Mmm the smell of fear and magic, my favorite.”
His cool breath oozed down my neck and I shoved him in the chest as hard as I could with an extra push of magic that sent him stumbling ten feet. “Back off.”
In a blur, Kyan was in front of Legacy and me, a low snarl thundered in his throat. Legacy and I exchanged a wary look. I wasn’t sure that either one of them was human at this point. I’d never heard a human growl like that.
“I told you to stay away, Senica. Off-limits,” Kyan barked, and they stared at each other in a clear power struggle. I couldn’t see Kyan’s face but I imagined a calm rage. With Liola, Kyan didn’t act like she was a real threat but it was evident Senica was.
My eyes flicked back and forth between them and tension steadily grew. Off-limits? Like he claimed me?
“Or what? You can’t bring her here and
