I needed out of here pronto or I’d forget how much I hated him. I did still hate him, right?
Yes!I hated all of them. A little. Every Midnight prince held the secret that could set me free. After last night’s “training session,” it was clear they all knew which one of them was my mate, and like a loyal band of siblings, they told me nothing. Which pissed me off.
“Can I help you with something, Rage?” I snarled.
He cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. “Why are you mad?”
Glaring at him, I snapped, “I didn’t say I was mad. I asked you if you needed something.”
“But you’re angry.” He continued to stare down at me, and his expression shifted from scrutiny to pride as his chin jutted and nostrils flared. Crossing his arms over his chest, he filled the small portico, blocking my path. “Why won’t you tell me why you’re angry?” he asked.
“You already know.” My gaze dropped to his fingers, bare of any marks. Of course.
When he said nothing, only swallowed hard, I pressed on. “It’s just…”
I pursed my lips, stopping my pathetic plea. I wouldn’t chase a mate who didn’t want me. Either him or Justice, I wasn’t going to beg. I was done and changing course. I wanted nothing more than to get away from here, away from his impenetrable gaze. “Why are you here, Rage?”
He shifted his body weight as if anticipating an attack. “I came to tell you thanks.”
I was 71.5% sure what he meant, but that 28.5% wanted confirmation.
“Thanks for what?”
“For saving my mom.” His voice grew softer as he continued. “The potion you got saved her life. She … she’s totally fine.”
Relief washed through me. “Good. Your mom is cool. She’s kind, and it’s clear she cares about the students. All of us.”
Rage tightened his jaw and swallowed hard. “What does that mean?”
“It means I didn’t do it just foryou, Rage.” I leaned closer, and my voice grew sharp. “I did it for Honor and Noble and all of us at the school—but mostly … I did it for her. Since your despicable,lame-assuncle won’t even fight to protect his own wife.”
How could the king slink away in fear and leave his wife to be kidnapped and assaulted? I would never bow to that asshole. Ever.
His pulse feathered in his neck, and even if he didn’t understand the insinuation, he knew I meant the dig to sting. Crouching to meet me at eye level, he snarled. “You have no idea—”
“Well, if I don’t know something,” I hissed. “It’s only because no one bothered to clue me in.Youtreat me like a pariah—”
“Yeah.That’sonly because Crescent Clan doesn’t have the best record for loyalty.”
What. The. Hell?This again?My jaw dropped, and I sucked in a breath, trying to rein in my fury. He didnotjust say that.
“I am so over your ignorance. Stay right there!” I whirled back through the doorway and raced to my room, hands shaking. Grabbing the top yearbook, I flipped through the pages until I found one of the pictures of my uncle with his arm around Rage’s dad. Then, I stormed back down the stairs, still incensed, through the foyer and out the door. Rage stood there, eyes glowing yellow. I reached out, slamming the thin volume of class pictures to Rage’s chest, and growled. “You’re the one who’s been lied to. You’re wrong about Crescent Clan, and as far as I see it, you’ve been wrong about me.”
I shoved past him and stormed across the quad toward Harvest’s dorm, hoping Nell would still be there to hide my mate marks.
If Rage was my mate, fate mustseriouslyhate me.
Chapter 20
I was shockedat how quickly school settled back into its normal, fun-filled routine … with only one tiny exception. Well, maybe two.
First, the entire student body, save the Midnight princes, buzzed with excitement surrounding the upcoming Samhain ball. Apparently, it was printed on the school schedule and everything.
Second, the headmistress disappeared. Her office, once open to students, now remained closed—with guards outside. Guards with guns, tactical knives, and a few extra clips on their vests just in case. Apparently, the king was finally protecting her like a mate should.
I’d heard whisperings of retaliation, that the king had gone into the magic lands and slain some shifter packs in retribution for the island attack.
I still received packages from my mate, but after my fight with Rage, those lost their appeal. While Noble and Honor still said hi when our paths crossed, I kept things brief and ignored their appeals to hang out. I informed Honor our Saturday classes were over. Knowing the brothers had banded together to keep my mate a secret from me made me not want to deal with them anymore. Rage probably still thought my clan was traitorous and shady.Whatever.
