The sorceress advanced, another illusion growing in her hands. I wasn’t so sure she’d miss a second time.
There were too many of them for me to fight off at once. If the cultists found me cornered by this sorceress, I’d be outnumbered.
I did the only thing I could. I ran.
I had escaped the White Rose, but she still plagued my every waking thought. A week passed, and my painful defeat was still resonating within me at the hands of the mysterious woman. I panicked inwardly, thinking every moment the Arcanea Alliance would storm in here and arrest me for being the Phantom, but nothing happened.
I couldn’t concentrate in my classes. I couldn’t eat. I barely slept. I wandered through the halls of Arcanea University like a ghost, my mind in a craze, trying to figure out what had gone on that night.
What was more— I hadn’t put the mask on since. I’d been out late at night, but walking around as Prince Ethan, not as the Phantom. I considered it too risky, at least for now. I wasn’t sure if I was afraid of of the White Rose, or if I was afraid that whoever she worked for might be onto me. I knew where the Black Claw was hiding, but I couldn’t do anything about it until I understood who was tailing my every move.
The woman knew my name. She knew who I was. That was exceptionally dangerous. The only thing I couldn’t fathom was why she hadn’t turned me in yet... unless she wanted to use my identity against me, for blackmail or otherwise.
Whatever her reasons, I didn’t trust them. This woman was a threat. I had to be very careful.
I got out of Magic Rituals around twelve on Friday. When I headed to the cafeteria, my afternoon was ruined as I heard the sound of Elijah’s mindless babble. He was in a corner booth, bragging. Gabby sat on his lap as he boasted loudly for everyone to hear. A crowd of ten people or so were gathered around him, pressed into the booth or standing beside it.
My cousin had accumulated a lot of “friends” after he’d won the Contest. I caught sight of many recognizable faces in the crowd, and scowled. Quite a few of those people had attempted to kiss my ass in order to gain some favor in the realm. Now they were sucking up to Elijah. It was so typical.
“When I’m king, I’m going to make some changes around here,” Elijah said. “These peasants have been taking advantage of the system for too long. They need to work for a living.”
That was far past ironic, seeing as how Elijah, spoiled and rich as he was, never worked a day in his life. Made sense he wanted to cut social programs to fatten his own treasury.
Gabby fawned in his lap. “Exactly what I’ve been thinking, my dear.”
Elijah gave a smirk. “fae have been in hiding for too long. It’s high time these humans learned who’s really in charge.”
What an ass. Was he seriously considering exposing the supernatural world, and revealing magic to the humans so the Arcanea could try to take over? The last time the fae had considered that, it’d been over eighty years ago, and it’d started a world war between all the magical races.
We’d lost. Did he really want to put the Arcanea through that again?
The people around Elijah nodded like dumb sheep. They didn’t care what Elijah did, only if they were considered favorable enough to share in his power.
I went to the other side of the room— couldn’t stand listening to Elijah blither on anymore— until I noticed Emma. Dammit. She was wearing those knee-length socks again, the ones I liked, along with a large blue sweater that acted as a dress. She looked so undeniably adorable I had a difficult time restraining myself from kissing her on the spot. She must’ve been waiting for me.
“Hey.” She reached out and caressed my hand, sending sparks through my skin. She sent a dirty look at Elijah. “Do you want to get out of here? I can’t take his bullshit any longer.”
“Gladly.” We grabbed takeout boxes and headed out. Elijah’s words were still burning in my ears long after we’d left the dining hall. We found a small alcove in one of the hallways, where there was an empty window seat. We curled up together and ate as we watched the snow fall outside.