Queen Antonia’s eyes narrowed. Then she let me go. I collapsed to the floor— I held my neck, choking for air though I knew I’d been breathing fine all along.
Her heels clicked as she approached. She looked down on me like a stain upon the earth as she said, “I will not harm you, as taking your life would be of great pain to my son. But I cannot say the same for your friends or family. Mark my words— you will pay for losing my son his crown. I will make sure of it.”
My body quaked. She could hurt my mom. Or Delmare, or Odette, or Kiara. She could do anything she wanted to me, and I had no way to fight back.
Just then, the doors flew open with a powerful burst of magic. Lady Magdalina prowled into the room with all the rage of a warrior, flanked by Lord Lucien. Her head was held high and shoulders thrown back as she glared at Queen Antonia like the sun.
Lucien saw me on the ground and immediately went to help me to my feet. Lady Magdalina’s eyes burned. She rounded on Queen Antonia and bellowed, “You have some nerve, coming into my university and attacking one of my students. I’m well in a mind to make you pay for it.”
“I’d advise you to observe who you’re speaking to,” Antonia hissed. “I am the queen!”
Magdalina’s tone was full of hatred, condescending and cruel. “You have authority in Malovia. But within the walls of this school, the authority is mine. I am headmistress, and you are no longer the queen— you arequeen regent. Your power here is limited. So I suggest you gather yourself and leave quietly.”
Fuck, these two hated each other. For what reason, I didn’t know. But I felt like their animosity went far beyond me.
Queen Antonia’s eyes narrowed. She lifted her chin, and refused to look at Magdalina.
But she had eyes for me. As she strolled out, she said, “You are safe here, girl, but only within this school. fae don’t do well in prisons, and once you stride outside these stone walls, you are mine.”
The lump in my throat had fallen to my gut, making me feel nauseous. Lucien swept the hair back from my forehead. “Emma, are you all right?”
I couldn’t speak. Lady Magdalina, the general she was, stopped before me and said, “Don’t let what she said bother you, Emmaline. The wicked old crone doesn’t dare to cross me. She’s tried before, and she will fail a second time.”
I knew her words were true, but still, I worried. Lady Magdalina could protect me from Queen Antonia— but only if I remained in the safety of Arcanea University.
And I was terrified for the people who resided outside of them. The main one being my mother.
* * *
The morningof Valentine’s Day arrived, and I woke up feeling like complete shit.
My throat was sore, and my body ached all over. My skin was hot, and I had a cough that felt like it was sent straight from hell. My nose was stuffed up, and snot kept pouring out from my nostrils. I got up to look in the mirror and observed my red, puffy eyes and cracked lips.
I looked like death warmed over.Sexy.
Dammit. Ethan was right. I had been pushing myself too hard in my classes lately and become vulnerable. Not to mention Queen Antonia’s threat had left me freaking out. Complete with the lack of sleep, it’d turned into a dangerous combination. Now my immune system was taking a shit, and I was paying for it with a nice cold.
Well, I wasn’t going anywhere today. Might as well get a head start on my infusion. I forced myself to stagger to my desk, so I could fill the plastic syringes with plasma and prime the four needles for insertion. As I was putting the needles into my stomach, Queen Antonia’s words popped into my mind.I could take away your medical care.
I scowled. Only evil people threatened to take treatment away from sick people. The cold-hearted bitch. She could go suck an eggplant.
I hated how my treatments made me vulnerable like that. She knew I couldn’t live without this stuff. I’d die without it. And she was willing to exploit that in an act of revenge.
Well, screw her. Whatever she did, I’d stay alive out of spite, just so I could stick it to her. I was an Arcanea, too, and I could be just as big an asshole as she was.
After I got my needles in, I turned on the infusion pump, then climbed back in bed and propped up my pillows so I could breathe. I pulled my blanket over me and hoped the plasma would work miracles. I really didn’t want to be sick all weekend.
There was a knock on my door. Ethan poked his head in.
I hadn’t told Ethan about his mother’s threat. I couldn’t. How did you tell the love of your life that his mother was a venom-spitting cobra?
His face fell when he saw me. “Oh, Emma. I was going to ask if you wanted to go skiing, but you’re obviously not feeling well.”
“Don’t rub it in,” I groaned. My voice was stuffy. “I knew you’d sayI told you so.”
“Your pain is never a cause for my celebration.” He entered the room and shut the door behind him. I shoved the infusion pump underneath the blanket so Ethan wouldn’t notice, but he caught me doing it.
“Can I see?” he asked curiously. He sat on the bed beside me. “It’s fine if you don’t want to.”
