My mother would, along with most of my family. Definitely the tribunal. They could honestly all go suck a dick for all I cared of their opinions on the matter.
“Now I know you’re lying,” she snapped. “There’s no greater shame to your precious pedigree than tainted blood. Even I know that.”
She wasn’t wrong. Prejudices in our world ran deep, but she needed to know one thing about me if nothing else—I didn’t agree with half of our society’s practices. That was why I needed a strong bond. I needed someone to stand at my side while I fought for change. The second I inherited my family’s seat, I planned to shred the tribunal to its core and shake things up. Along with the support of others I knew who shared my thoughts.
There were a lot more suffering in our world than just her kind. The sirens specifically had it bad right now. Our community was on the verge of imploding if we didn’t change our ways. I glanced down at her, so innocent to the darkness of our world, and yet the direct victim of it as well. I didn’t want to fight with anyone else at my side.
“Say that thing about tainted blood to Ezra, and he might just freeze your head.”
“Don’t tell me, he’s an ally?” she snorted. “‘Humans are friends, not food.’ Yeah, I can see him lobbying the tribunal to forgive him the number of co-eds he’s hooked up with on this campus alone.” I cleared my throat, and she rolled her eyes. “Oh my gods, he’s already tried that, hasn’t he?”
“No,” I said, slowly. “He couldn’t get a meeting with the tribunal if he begged.”
“I find that hard to believe,” she muttered. “Isn’t he your cousin?”
“And half human.”
She stumbled, and I instinctively reached out to grab her arm. A slight pulse went from my fingertips on her skin to the center of our bond. When she didn’t immediately push me away, a knot eased in my chest.
“Ezra is half human?” she asked with disbelief and a little awe on her face.
It was the first time she’d looked straight at me without a scowl for days, and I soaked it in. Her green eyes looked tired, but not churning with hate. Those delectable lips weren’t twisted in a sneer but slightly parted. Gods, she was beautiful. I wanted to keep her there, looking at me like that for as long as I could, so I told her about Ezra and how he was hated by my mother and his siblings but beloved by me and his father. He was loyal and my best friend.
The rest of our walk was amicable and silent as she pondered all she learned. I could tell I’d changed her view of me, somewhat. I wasn’t stupid enough to think it fixed anything. We stopped outside her door, and I waited for her to safely step inside. Just when I thought the night would end on good terms, she opened her mouth and shattered my peaceful illusions.
“Rani and I are going to the Kappa party tonight, so don’t be surprised if whatever alarm you have on this room goes off.”
Son of a bitch.
I pushed my way into the room and slammed the door behind me. She stumbled back with a hiss and balled her fists, ready for another round of our never-ending war.
“No.”
I tried to keep the anger out of my tone, but that was tough. My arms were crossed as I leaned back, anything to keep from reaching out and bending her over my knee like I’d already threatened and failed to do.
“It’s the start of spring break. Do you honestly expect me to stay here for aweek?”
“There will be too many people,” I argued. “Ez and I can’t properly protect you.”
Her entire face heated as her eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. “You act as if I’m powerless. I’ll be surrounded by humans, plus you and Ezra can be there like proper stalkers to make sure nothing goes wrong.”
“No.”
She tilted her head, lip curled. “You can’t stop me.”
I met her challenge with a grin. “Wanna bet?”
Her fingers curled, and I knew if I let them anywhere near me, they would be around my neck. Any other time, I’d be open to try it. That simmering fire was attractive as hell, but being murdered wasn’t on my list of shit to get done today.
“This won’t work if you don’t see me as an equal.”
It would work even less if she’s dead.
“I do see you as an equal,” I countered, but my argument wasn’t as solid as hers, and I knew it. “I’d be just as restricted if a kill order was put out on me.”
“Bullshit,” she spat. “You see me as this little doll that you hover over for fear of someone taking it away from you. I’m aliving, breathing person with her own wants and emotions, Kaiden. I’m going to the party tonight. I’m going with Rani. And you’re going to have to deal.”
I ground my teeth, not so full of myself that I couldn’t see her point. That didn’t mean I had to like it.
