I lift my knee up hard between his legs. His hold on my chinvanishes as he grunts, but the grip on my wrist isn’t letting up. It’s not enough. I swing my head forward, cracking my forehead against his. Stars explode behind my eyelids, but he stumbles back a step. It buys me just enough time. My right hand is free.
My fist connects with his jaw with a satisfying crack. His head snaps to the side. For a single, glorious second, he’s just a man I hit. Not a king. Not a mate. Just a man with a broken nose, if I’m lucky.
I don’t wait to find out. I spin and run, pushing through the stunned crowd of students. Their shocked faces are a blur. All I see is the path ahead. All I hear is the blood pounding in my ears. I push harder, my lungs burning as I aim toward two larger buildings connected by shrubs. A smirk spreads over my face. I’m gonna make it! I’m—
A growl ripples through the air as something dark tears through reality like a split, gaping wound.
A fucking portal!
Shit! I try to stop, heels digging into dirt, but the momentum carries me forward and the edge catches me.
“No!”
I’m sucked in deep, my stomach lurching up my throat. My skin burns, the air so tight and hot that I can barely breathe. It’s like falling without landing, just floating through magic without any control.
Then solid ground slams into my knees. Pain shoots up my thighs as I crash down hard and my palms slap against polished stone. My head spins, stomach heaving as I fight the urge to vomit.
Magic. It’s just death that won’t rot.
I cough, splattering forward as my nails dig into the hard surface.
A pair of boots appears in front of me. Not Legend’s worn leather ones. Cleaner.
I drag my gaze upward, past fitted jeans, past the black shirt, and lock eyes with none other than Creed fucking Deveraux.
Of course it’s him. The oldest brother. The one who looks at me like I’m a monster in his precious bloodline.
I push myself up, ignoring the way my muscles scream. Not a fan of portals. I’m going to need to find a better way to get around these assholes.
When he stays silent, I bare my teeth in something that’s definitely not a smile. “Let me guess. You’re here to lecture me about my decorum? Maybe slap some handcuffs on me and drag me back to your little brother like a good boy?”
He doesn’t move. Doesn’t blink. Just stares at me like I’m not even worth the words that come from his mouth.
Finally, he shrugs. “I’m here to give you something you want more than anything.”
I scoff. “I doubt that.”
His eyes drift to mine, lazily. “Willing to bet on it?”
Chapter Eight
Haide
“What do you mean?” I seethe, but it’s too late. Creed’s smug face hovers too close to mine, and I can’t seem to carve enough distance between us to make him evaporate.
“You will go to Rathe University.” His words hang in the air like concentrated venom. “You will learn how to control your damn self.” His pupils dilate like twin voids consuming light. “And you won’t fucking complain.”
I scoff a laugh, shaking my head. “You clearly don’t know me well.”
“And I have zero desire to.” He steps even closer, glaring down at me with his icy blue eyes. “There is something off with you, island girl, and I do not like it.”
“Good. I don’t want you to. Can you pass that feeling onto your little bro becausedamn. He’s a bit much, isn’t he?”
Creed glares down at me, and I feel a sort of pressure roll across my forehead.
“Stop that.”
“Stop what?” He smirks. “You don’t even know what I’m doing, do you?”
