Shadowborn Royals - G. Bailey Page 0,17

comment. “I’d like that,” I say, looking around for other inmates. So far so good. “Plus, food is totally the way to my heart.”

“I know. You always liked to snack during my class.”

My cheeks heat up as my lips spread into a smile. “Damn. I thought I was sneaky eating those chocolate orange bars. Sorry. I used to get really peckish after all the braining.”

Scott chuckles and runs a hand through his white hair. “I didn’t mind since they’re my favourite. Perhaps I can bake you a chocolate orange cake for dessert.” He holds out his hand and pulls me back from the side of the wall. “Watch out for those vines. They’re poisonous.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

His grip stays on me even once we pass the vines and make our first turn.

I arch a brow at him, grinning. “So this cake thing. Are you asking me out on a date, Professor Mune?”

He nods, using his sword to cut the vines from our path; they slither aside, hissing at us. “Of course I am. As soon as I get you out of here, I’m going to be treating you like the goddess you are.” His gaze lands on me, his eyes blown with desire. “You will never go hungry or suffer under my watch. You’re mine to protect, to serve, and to love. I plan on doing just that once we’re free again.”

My heart skips a beat at his words, half accelerated by love and the other half fear. “Isn’t it crazy when you stop to think about everything that’s going on? It feels like yesterday I was totally not checking you out at the academy.”

Scott scratches his trimmed beard, his eyes pressed on me. “Things will never be the same as that again. Even when I do get you out of here, I’ll never teach at the academy again.”

Now my heart does a stupid little dance in my chest. “Why not?”

The ground starts to tremble, scattering the sand underneath our boots.

“Because the only place I want to be is at your side. Wherever you decide to go, I’ll go.” He pauses for a moment, then looks down and to the side, flashing me a wink. “Besides, I doubt the new headmistress will hire me back after seducing one of my students.”

“Naughty professor,” I grin at him. “Okay, I tell you what. You can stay at my side for the rest of eternity so long as you let me bake that cake with you.”

He returns the grin, making my pulse speed up. He’s so damn sexy. “Can you cook, Izora?”

“No, but I would like to learn.”

“Then I will teach you. There’s something beautiful about cooking delicious food with the one you love. It’s why I enjoy cooking so much. It brings people together and creates memories that will last a lifetime. It’s why I started doing it after so many years fighting in the war.”

“You fought in the Sans Enfant war?” I gasp, but I’m not totally surprised. He looks every bit the alpha military man.

“For six years,” he answers, his expression hardening. “I’ve seen our lands spilled with too much blood. I try to avoid it now if possible.”

I love how badass and yet sweet Scott is. It’s the perfect, lethal combination. I smile up at him, however, it fades once I look ahead. A nest of humongous plants slither across the dead-end wall, snapping the air around them with razor-sharp teeth.

“Uhh, I think we’ve got a problem.”

Scott follows my gaze and mutters under his breath. “Dead end. Damn it!”

“That’s not the only thing,” I say, watching the wall of plants claw towards us. It takes me a moment to realise they’re not clawing but rather the maze is narrowing, pushing the plants in our direction. They snap and hiss like rabid animals, and I really don’t fancy getting swallowed by one. At least not until I’ve tried that cake. Oh and killed Eva, of course. “I think we should run.”

He takes my hand and nods. “Good plan!”

And then we’re off, running through the maze with the same urgency I usually feel during the Blood Trials.

The walls close in on us and the screams from trapped inmates being crushed is harrowing to my ears.

I grip Scott’s hand as tightly as I can and run with him through the endless stone hedges. The sun is stifling in the auburn sky, beating down upon us with the wrath of a cracked whip. Despite the futility of it, I try to use my wings and