“As you said, I already ‘know all about that.’ ”
“Oh, sweetheart, no. A bite is nothing compared to the power I can unleash upon you.” He reached up to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear, then cupped my cheek to allow me to feel the energy throbbing beneath his skin. “I could destroy you in seconds, baby.”
“Only because you’ve handicapped me,” I seethed. “Take off my bindings and let’s see what happens.”
His resulting smile oozed condescension. “As entertaining as it would be to put you in your place, I have other plans tonight that are far more important than indulging a little Earth Fae.” His palm landed on my ass this time, pushing me forward.
I elbowed him in the ribs. “Do not touch me there. In fact, do not touch me at all.”
He smirked and produced his wand. “Fine.” With a flick of his wrist, he created a strand of magic that wound around my waist. He gave it a little tug and I jolted forward.
“Oh, come on!” I snapped. “I can walk on my own without all the theatrics.”
“I know, but this is more fun.” Another yank had me nearly falling on my face, but his magic righted me before I could fully trip.
A growl caught in my throat. “Stop.”
He chuckled. “Make me. Oh, right…”
I ground my teeth so hard my jaw popped.
As soon as this rope disintegrated, I would introduce my fist to his arrogant jaw.
We walked the rest of the way in silence, my fury boiling hotter with every step. At least there wasn’t anyone around to witness this humiliation. I nearly asked why the Academy was empty but decided against speaking again. He didn’t deserve my words, my questions, or my compliance.
Instead, I studied the campus around me, searching for escape points.
There had to be a portal somewhere, because the gargoyle-guarded entrance was out of the question.
Of course, I had no way of knowing if my codes would whisk me home or to another part of this realm or to nowhere at all.
Trial and error, I decided. I just needed an exit.
“These are the Elite Blood quarters,” Kolstov announced, his amusement seeming to have faded into a serious tone. He escorted me up the marble stairs to a set of grand doors. “To enter, you need to know the right spell. It also requires a wand.” He glanced at me. “I’ll ask Zeph to get you set up with one this week before classes begin.”
Zeph? And they intended to give me a wand? Does that mean they expect me to learn dark magic? The questions all lined up behind my lips, but my teeth held them at bay.
This monster had already proven to be unhelpful. Why bother opening up to him now?
He arched a brow. “Silent treatment?”
“I’m cooperating,” I bit back at him.
His lips twitched. “Indeed you are.” With a muttered word, the magical lasso around my waist disappeared, and I launched myself at him. My palm connected with his cheek while my opposite hand formed a fist that he caught deftly before spinning me around and trapping me in his arms.
“I’m adding warrior training to your curriculum,” he said, his lips at my ear. “Your form is atrocious.”
“Sprinkle dust!” I shouted at him, squirming against his too-hard body.
“Sprinkle dust?” he repeated, his humor palpable. “Who taught you how to curse? A dessert pixie?”
Gah! “Release me.”
“No.” He held me captive with one arm and pulled out his wand with his free hand. “Listen and learn, as I won’t be repeating myself.” Hypnotic words fell from his lips, the language foreign to me. “Al’damu almalakia.”
The tip of his charcoal-colored wand created an infinity pattern, causing the doors to creak and open beneath his command.
He kissed my temple, his arm releasing me. “After you, gorgeous.”
I practically sprinted through the threshold, just to escape him, but my face burned from where his mouth had brushed my skin. As though he’d branded me with his power via that simple act alone.
He fixed his cloak and hid his magical tool once more, then snapped his fingers.
Flames sprang to life all around us, lighting the interior of a grand hallway with a master staircase to the left. He gestured toward them. “Two flights. We’re on the top floor.”
Not wanting to give him a chance to touch me with his hands or his power, I darted up the steps to the third floor and waited for him to join me.
“Someone’s eager,” he teased when he reached the top.
I didn’t deign to offer him a reply, just waited for further instruction.
He nodded with his chin toward the end of the hall. “Three forty-seven is our suite.”
Our suite. I shivered with the statement. This is temporary. I’m not staying here.
Only, the entire hallway was lined with more of those rattling monstrosities, all of which were watching my every move as though waiting for me to step one toe out of line.
I never did like snakes.
And these appeared to be far more deadly than the reptiles of my realm.
They wriggled along, gliding over the wooden panels I thought might be doors except for the fact that they were all missing knobs. Including our own at the end of the hall. However, there was a knocker with a tiny gargoyle lounging upon it, his blood-red eyes narrowing at me.
I paused so suddenly that Kolstov ran into my back, his hands finding my hips in the process. It aligned us perfectly, sending a shudder down my spine.
No. I’m not attracted to this jerk. Do not get any ideas.
“Sir Kristoff, this is Aflora. Scan her as appropriate, then allow us both entry. She will be staying in the suite for the foreseeable future, so you are to grant her access as you do the others on our list.”
The red eyes flared to life, little black pupils moving over me in lazy regard as the gargoyle’s lips curled to the side.
“Hmm,” the being hummed in a low, masculine tone that sent a chill down my spine. He pushed out of the door, his little hands holding on to the ledge of the knocker while his bottom half remained inside the wood. Almost as if he were hanging out a window. “Something’s not right with this one. Not right at all.”
Right back at you, I thought, mortified by his lifelike form that had been made of rock just seconds ago. Talking-goblin stone thing.
“Perhaps, but you bow to my commands. Now scan her and allow her entry.” Kolstov’s tone brooked no argument.
“Yes, yes,” the thing hissed. “As you wish, Master.”
A blinding light beamed from the gargoyle’s eyes. I would have jumped backward if Kolstov wasn’t still holding me. The damn stroke of the creature’s gaze burned over me, leaving an inky sensation in its wake as if it had marked me with its magic.
“You may enter.” The eyes rolled back into a red gleam, the knocker turning to marble once more.
Kolstov used his hands on my hips to walk me forward through the door. As in, it didn’t open. We moved through the wood.
A shimmer of energy passed over my skin along the way, causing all the hair along my arms to rise.
This isn’t natural.
“Welcome home,” Kolstov said as an elegant living area appeared before us. “I hope you like it, because I suspect you’ll be staying for the year.”