Stefan started forward before I was even ready. He sank his giant claws into the ravine walls and began scaling them like a gecko. I clung to Ethan, because I was worried if I tried to grab onto the spikes like the rest of them, I’d accidentally slice my hand open. They looked sharp.
When we got to the top of the ravine, Stefan stopped. “We’ll get off here. Stefan will fly faster with just two,” Ethan said, and he slid off.
Stefan looked at him with glittering, red eyes.“Back off on the snacks and it wouldn’t be an issue.”
“Ha ha,” Ethan said dryly. Stefan rumbled with laughter.
As I dismounted I ended up losing my balance. I would’ve fallen forward on my face if Ethan hadn’t been there to catch me. I collided into his chest. I looked up, and for a moment caught his eyes. My heart skipped a beat. My breaths became faster as we shared a glance between us. It was so brief, I barely noticed it.
Back off, Emma. You belong to the Phantom, not this dude.
I pulled away. Ethan seemed regretful to let me go. I stooped down to grab my backpack and our bag of books from the ground. “I’ve got these, Kiara. Meet you back at the dorms.”
“Okay.” Kiara was barely paying attention to me. Her eyes were too fixated on the boy in front of her, studying his face like he was some sort of puzzle.
“Kiara, he’s a griffin,” I teased.
She blushed. “I know.”
“Oh gods, don’t start this shit,” Stefan complained. “At least not with me around.”
Stefan spread his wings. The black dragon lifted into the sky and carried the two of them off to school, in the direction of the medical chamber.
The moment he was gone, Ethan whirled on me. “Why are you always getting into trouble?”
My mouth dropped open in outrage. “Me? Yeah, because I golookingfor things to kill me. It’s a pastime of mine.”
“It sure as hell seems that way,” he growled under his breath.
“Look, if you didn’t want to save me, you didn’t have to. You could’ve walked away and let the spider eat me. At least you wouldn’t be bothered to take time out of your day.” I crossed my arms.
“You’re impossible,” he grumbled. “Come on. We need to get back to the school.”
“Nah, I think I’ll just stay out here and look for something else to attack me. After all, I’m good at that, right?” I asked sarcastically.
“Now, Emma.”
I knew better than to resist the command in his tone. I shook my head and followed after him. Ethan remained close by my side as we got back on the path to Arcanea University, our shoulders nearly touching. I’d figure he’d put his arm around me if he wasn’t so pissed.
“This isn’t my fault. Bad things just happen to me,” I argued.
“Apparently. I’m in half a mind to lock you up in your room and never let you out.” He gave me a half-smile that was rugged and intense.
“A princess in a tower, eh? Funny. Usually the wolves who come to play want to keep her out, not in.” I gave him a harsh stare. “You know, so they can keep reminding her of her mistakes.”
“Look. I’m sorry for the way I treated you in Monster Hunting on your first day. It was uncalled for,” Ethan said. He took a big sigh, as if this was a hard thing for him to do— admit he was wrong. “But I… lost someone. And I don’t think I could handle it if I saw the same thing happen to you.”
My anger softened. “Your father.”
He nodded. “Yes. So please don’t take it personally. Being an Arcanea is serious business, and I don’t want to see anyone else get hurt.”
My stomach sank. I wasn’t anything special to him. Just an Arcanea he didn’t want to become another statistic, like all the others.
I crossed my arms around my torso and held myself. “Well, believe it or not, you’re not the only one who’s saved me. I went for a walk the other night and was cornered by the Black Claw. The Phantom chased them off. He saved me. So maybe you’re right when you say I go looking for trouble, even though I say trouble finds me.”
A thoughtful look crossed his face. “So you’ve met the Phantom. I wouldn’t consider yourself lucky. People who get tangled up with him often end up hurt.”
“I beg your pardon?” I asked. Anger boiled beneath my skin. HowdareEthan talk about my mate that way? It wasn’t right. He had no fucking clue.
