Chapter 45

[ 1,027 words ]

Rhydian and Caelis agreed on very little. Unfortunately, the future wasn’t one of them.

~ Rebel Beast

Rhydian Drakhar had never found Maverick more annoying than he did at this moment.

Sure, he still had a few inches over the wolf, but somehow Maverick had managed to plant himself directly in his line of sight. Rhydian even suspected the wolf was standing a little straighter on purpose, though he didn’t call him out on it.

What was wrong with him?

More importantly, Rhydian couldn’t exactly crane his neck around Maverick without looking suspicious.

The girl was alive. That was all he needed to know. Which meant the fun wasn’t over yet. However, he now had to figure out how to make it up to Therion somehow.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now p>

At first, Rhydian thought Maverick’s irritation was directed at him. Then he followed the wolf’s line of sight and his brows rose.

Another guest of honor had arrived.

Caelis Cobryn.

“Really?” Maverick threw his hands into the air. “You two picked a crime scene as the perfect place for a reunion p>

The poker-faced bastard continued walking as though he hadn’t heard the sarcasm.

“I heard there was an attack,” Caelis said with an air of nonchalance. “I had to make sure none of my people were about to be implicated p>

Of course, he was lying through his teeth.

Neither Rhydian nor Maverick believed him for a second.

What they didn’t know was that Caelis was here for a completely different reason.

He needed to confirm Karen Donovan was alive. Preferably before his father discovered she was dead and without that busybody, Maverick, poking his nose into his affairs.

“Congratulations,” Maverick drawled. “The serpents don’t appear to be implicated this time. Now get your ass out of here, Cobryn p>

The order fell on deaf ears.

Caelis approached anyway, his sharp gaze sweeping across the damaged residence, the tense patrol team, and finally settling on his nemesis, Rhydian. He stopped a few paces away and clicked his tongue.

“Someone seems to be having a wonderful morning p>

His gaze lingered on Rhydian before shifting to Maverick. Judging by the way the wolf was glaring, half of that hostility seemed directed at the dragon prince while the other half seemed directed at him. It wasn’t anything new.

Rhydian cocked his head and something gave a satisfying crack in his neck.

“You do not want to provoke me this morning p>

“Why?” Caelis taunted. “You’ll send the crows after me too p>

A warning growl rumbled from Maverick’s throat, but the serpent prince was completely unmoved by the attempt at intimidation. Then movement caught his attention and his gaze shifted upward. One eyebrow lifted.

There, pressed against one of the upper windows, a familiar pair of blue eyes stared back at him.

Aria Aspen.

So she was alive.

Strangely enough, he had expected that.

Whatever Aria Aspen was hiding, it wasn’t something ordinary. She didn’t strike him as the type to die so easily.

Good. He intended to find out exactly what she was hiding. And after that p>

His eyes narrowed slightly.

He’d kill her, of course. Human or not, she had to go. Karen Donovan would have to wait until last.

A crease formed between Maverick’s brows as he caught Caelis staring toward the window with unusual focus. Warning bells immediately began ringing in his head.

First Rhydian. Now Caelis.

What was it with both of them being interested in that particular section of the residence where Aria and the other girls stayed?

He didn’t like it. His expression darkened.

Maverick boomed. “Get away from that window right now p>

The girls scrambled instantly, nearly tripping over one another in their rush to obey. Seconds later, the curtains were yanked shut.

Maverick watched until the window was completely covered. Only then did he look back at the two princes.

Caelis was staring at him now. A thoughtful look had settled onto the basilisk’s face.

Did Maverick know something?

The wolf had grown up around humans, had human relatives, and sympathies. Could that be why he was being so protective of them? Or was there something else he wasn’t seeing?

Whatever it was, Caelis was like a bloodhound once he caught a scent. Now that his nose was buried in this matter, he wasn’t about to let it go anytime soon.

“If you two are done wasting my time, then kindly move on to your classes while I clean up the mess both of you seem so fond of making.” Maverick gestured toward the exit.

Rhydian opened his mouth to speak, but Caelis beat him to it.

“How many of the girls died p>

Maverick, who had been about to turn his back on them, halted. He slowly looked over his shoulder, his eyes twitching.

“Why? So you can finish where he started p>

He nodded toward Rhydian, who sighed. Apparently, he wasn’t getting out of this anytime soon.

Of course, which girls died was the question Caelis had actually wanted to ask.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t phrase it that way without drawing attention to himself. If he got a number, however, he could at least estimate the chances of Karen Donovan still being alive.

Or he could simply wait until later. The parrots were probably already digging through the story. Soon, the entire academy would know what happened. Caelis simply wanted answers now.

He didn’t respond. Maverick began walking toward him until the two men stood face-to-face.

They were the same height, but Maverick’s broader build gave him a heavier, more imposing presence, while Caelis carried himself with the lean, predatory grace of a serpent.

“One day, and I hope it isn’t too far from now Maverick began, his voice carrying a dark seriousness that made the air feel heavier.

“You’ll look back at everything you’ve done and regret every single decision p>

His eyes never left Caelis.

“You’ll regret every human life you’ve taken. Every family you’ve destroyed. Every person you’ve convinced yourself didn’t matter. And when that day comes, you’ll wish there was a way to undo it all. But there won’t be p>

Silence settled over the lawn.

“Because the dead don’t come back p>

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