Emma was safe, for now. The Black Claw wanted her blood for other reasons, but if I found their hideout first, and destroyed them, I could kill two birds with one stone. The city would be secure from their wrath, and so would Emma.
If only Lucien hadn’t stolen my one good chance away.
Arcanea University remained silent and passionless around me as I fled the sanctity of the school grounds. Dolinska itself didn’t seem welcoming in this biting cold. I was bitter as I hurtled over the walls protecting the royal palace and slunk past the guards watching the great gates.
As I climbed the tower to my room on the topmost floor— something I’d done a hundred times— I considered using my part of the royal treasury to buy my own mansion somewhere else. Somewhere more discreet, so I wouldn’t have to do this anymore. I was getting tired of clinging to the shadows in my own home.
Elijah and Gabby hadn’t yet moved into the palace, thank the gods. They had to pass their proficiency tests to become king and queen first— something that I was planning on stopping at all costs. For now, the castle was still mine.
Wouldn’t be for much longer, though. The thought of my smug cousin kicking me out of my own palace...
I suppressed a growl as I pulled myself through the window. Snow flew past me and landed on the bed. I closed the window and removed the mask. I flung it to the side, and it clattered against a wall. I scowled as I watched it lay there.
Close. So close, again. It was like my life was an endless round of watching the things I desired most be snatched away from me, right when they were about to be in my hands.
“Temper, temper. Didn’t your mother teach you not to throw your things?”
I stiffened. As I turned, a monster of a man came into the moonlight. Stefan smirked— he raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms as his eyes roved up and down the cloak, then over the mask. “You didn’t go to a costume party, I take it.”
I could hardly breathe. Stefan had seen me take off the mask. He knew my secret... was the only person that did. He knew I was the Phantom.
Yet he didn’t seem surprised by it. Only irritated. How much had he guessed?
Stefan cracked a sarcastic noise at my silence. “You know, you can break the act. Broody doesn’t work well on you.”
Anger flickered in my stomach. “What the hell are you doing here?” I snarled under my breath. “These are my chambers. You are not permitted to be here.”
“Don’t pull that royal bullshit on me,” Stefan shot back.
“By law, the prince’s quarters are—”
“Shove it up your ass.” Stefan gave a casual snort before he placed a hand on my shoulder and pushed me back. “What are you gonna do, behead me?”
My eyebrow twitched. “How long have you known?”
“That you have a weird complex that makes you dress up in tights? Ages,” Stefan replied with a snicker.
“That’s not an answer.”
“Relax.” Stefan rolled his eyes. “You were hardly around last semester. Plus, your dorm was always empty at night. The Phantom didn’t show up until after your dad died. It wasn’t hard to piece two and two together.” He shrugged.
“Does anyone else know?” The sickening feeling of being exposed pressed in all around me, until I felt like I was being crushed.
“How should I know? I don’t read the news.”
“Stefan!”
“Would you chill out? No one knows you like I do.” Stefan leaned against the wall lazily. “I doubt anyone else has figured this out.”
I relaxed, but only slightly. “You’re taking this a bit too casually.”
“This isn’t a surprise. I always knew you’d do something freaky when we got older,” he said. “I thought it’d be male stripping, but this is weird, too.”
I threw a pillow at him. He smacked it away, and it fell to the floor with a flop. “I’m not a male stripper,” I said.
“With abs like yours? You’d make a killing. I’ve been thinking about a side gig that shows the ladies what I have to offer myself.”
Stefan flexed his muscles, and I hit him. He made an oof sound and held his gut.
“This isn’t the time for jokes!” I said. “Are you going to keep this a secret?”
“Naw, I’m gonna run and tell your mom.” Stefan gave me a scathing look. “Do you really think I would