Another sneaky glance around the room from my new spot, I notice the four large circular tables, two sitting on either side of the stage.
“Who's who?” I dare to ask, my body instinctively leaning toward Archer, who leans in, wrapping his fingers around the chair beside me.
I suck in a breath at his close proximity, desperate to inch forward slightly so I don't fall under the control of his touch.
“Straight ahead is the First Kingdom, led by Mallen Ferris, who is a strong leader of Fire Protectors. Beside him is Deandra Dormer, the dragon-riding leader of the Third Kingdom. Across the stage is the Fourth Kingdom, with the Land Protector, Polasara Stanford, at the helm. Unfortunately for us, the SecondKingdom is beside them, completely centered around the motherfucker that is Leonardo Corrigan.”
I gulp, my eyes finding the side profile of a man who bleeds an aura that screams sinister. I don’t need to see him head-on to know it’s him.
They’re all here now, making it all real.
I'm just thankful that Leonardo is on the opposite end of the hall. It fills me with a little reassurance, at least. I'm ready to get the night over with, and hopefully, things will settle down among the kingdoms so I can focus all of my attention on actually attending this academy.
As if sensing my thoughts, Professor Viola appears on the stage in a deep-purple dress. Her eyes shimmer as she smiles, clearing her throat, and her voice rises as her magic activates.
“Thank you for gathering today. It brings me great pleasure to unite us all on such a beautiful night.”
I can feel eyes burning into me from across the room, and I know it's not one of my hated mates because it's coming from the top tables. Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I’m not surprised when I spy Leonardo smirking in my direction.
My veins feel heavy with fear, consuming my attention, making it impossible for anything Viola says to register in my mind.
I can't help but feel like something isn't right.
A round of applause cuts through the air, dragging me from my thoughts as Archer’s hand goes from the back of my chair to my thigh. I hadn’t even realized he had taken a seat.
“Are you okay?” he breathes, and I nod.
“I’ll be fine.”
“That wasn't a good enough answer when I said it earlier, Fireball,” Silas states from the other side of me, and I grimace.
How had I not noticed his arrival either?
Regardless, I scoff. “You were being an asshole then,” I mutter, earning a laugh from my left, and I startle at the sound coming from Archer.
Seeing him be carefree, even if only for a split second, alleviates something inside me, and I can't hide the grin on my face.
Music plays, and food comes and goes.
It feels just like one of my mother's events, only, when someone clinks their knife on the nearest wine glass, it’s not my father and his close circle that rise and disappear, but the four tables filled with members of the kingdoms, and I can only assume they're ready to discuss things with Viola.
Does that mean I can get the hell out of here now?
I take a sip of my water, placing the glass down when a shadow passes over me. Peering over my shoulder, I’m surprised to see my brother staring down at me with his eyebrows pinched.
“Your presence has been requested.”
“That doesn't sound good,” I mutter, feeling Archer stiffen beside me, and my brother grimaces.
“It doesn't feel it either, but I've got you,” he promises.
I worry my bottom lip for a moment before extending my hand and letting him pull me to my feet. With his hand at my back, he leads me through the filled ballroom. Nerves threaten to get the better of me, but as we bypass the Land Protectors’ table, I spy my best friend, smiling wide as we wave giddily to one another.
She taps her watch, reminding me of the plans for another girl's night, just the two of us later tonight, and I nod eagerly.
The brief moment of peace is quickly obliterated as Hugo guides me out of the ballroom and down a hallway.
Nausea threatens to get the better of me.
