Rage blinds me, and I tear the illusion off of Sienna, only for Callum’s image to smile wickedly as it dissipates. Sienna’s illusion lingers, her kiss-swollen lips mocking me. Her hand lifts, touching my forearm with false warmth. I know it’s fake. A trick of the mind or the light or however that bastard’s magic works. But itworks, tugging on my heart as she gently turns my face toward hers.
“Revyn.” She sighs so softly that it feels like a caress, and my anger plummets into the frozen depths of my heart.
“Sienna,” I croak, wishing that it were really her. “Come back to me, baby. I can’t survive without you.”
Her smile is kind, but it isn’t quite right, curving in the wrong place and without that same luster I love. “Let me go,” she whispers. “Please.”
It’s that final word that snaps me out of the daze. “You never say please.”
The illusion tries to cover, her eyes widening as she slips her fingers around the nape of my neck, but I’ve seen and heard enough. Growling, I grab her chin and crush her bones, flinchingas they crack but satisfied once the illusion fades into a cold, dissatisfying mist.
A slow clap fills the air. “My, my. You’re growing more desperate by the day. Is it the full moon on the horizon that’s making you sweat? Or is it knowing that she lets me escort her to bed every evening that has you looking a little...” Callum’s gaze rakes down my body. “Frazzled.”
“Escortis a nice way of sayingfriend-zoned.” I cross my arms over my chest and scowl at the bastard. “Stop with the fucking illusions, fanger. When that moon comes, you’ll wish you listened.”
He tilts his head, not the least bit intimidated. “I’ve killed many shifters, wild wolf, and you won’t be anything special. Another name added to the list, and nothing more.”
We both ignore mentioning theno killingrule. There’s always a way around magic, whether that means breaking through it or finding a loophole.
It seems we have the same idea.
“This season’s Mating Games fall on the full moon,” Callum continues, his smile frozen in place on his snow white skin. “I’m curious to see how things play out.” He knocks his knuckles against the book spines beside his head. “But I’m sure everything will turn in my favor.”
Gods, this man is annoying.
Our professors have notshut upabout the upcoming Mating Games. Apparently, it’s a big deal that they’re taking place on a full moon this season—the shifters are antsy, and the vampires are sharpening their fangs and flexing their powers, like it’s some kind of heated rivalry I know nothing about.
“Yeah, well, until then, stay out of my head.” I give a sarcastic half-wave as I walk the other direction, determined to put distance between us and find Sienna. If she isn’t with him, then she’s gotta be with Gemma. Those two have become inseparable,studying more often than not. My head’s gonna explode fromwatchingthem stare at another dusty book.
Sienna’s voice floats through the air, the tinkle of her laugh setting every nerve in my body alight. I automatically walk toward the sound and catch a glimpse of her over the second-story railing. She and Gemma are chatting over what looks like the research paper I’m pretty sure is due next week.
Shit. I haven’t done anything for our classes, and Hardwicke has already threatened that noncompliance results in expulsion. Despite being an academy known for mating over academics, they don’t actually play when it comes to results.
I’m screwed if I don’t start taking my studies seriously, which is something Ineverthought I’d say. Being the oldest shifter on campus has its drawbacks—I’m experienced in life but not with this...Gods, I don’t even know what to call it. Social hierarchy?
Yet Callum and the other vampires seem to navigate Heartsflame perfectly despite being hundreds of years older than me.
Of course they fucking do.
A giggle catches my attention—not from the ground floor where Sienna and Gemma reside, but from behind me. I glance over my shoulder to find one of the bubbly girls from class—an avian shifter, I think, based on her scent—twirling a strand of her hair around her finger as her friend whispers in her ear.
They’re both openly eye-fucking me.
I hold in my sigh and turn on my charm. If Sienna won’t speak to me or help me study, I need to find another way to stay afloat at this school.
“Ladies,” I greet, regretfully turning away from my mate to approach two very single, veryyoungshifters I have zero interest in getting to know. “How about we—” I pretend to give them a once-over and hope they don’t notice how my skin crawls. “—take this somewhere private?”
If I’m going to stick around long enough to convince Sienna to change her mind and take me back, I need to make sacrifices...and play the academy’s game until I can run away with my mate.
And kick Callum’s ass for fucking with me.
A smile pulls at my lips that the girls mistake as theirs. They hook their arms in mine and giggle as they eagerly lead me to a study room—on the first floor.
My gaze locks with Sienna’s from across the room, and the flash of golden fury in her eyes makes me grin.
Game on, baby.
Chapter 17
