I was furious. Darren couldn’t even apologize now that we were five feet apart.
“You coward,” I snapped, racing out in front of him so that the nonheir was forced to meet my angry gaze. “First you assault me, then you try and send me on my way like I’m some lovesick fool? And don’t think for a moment that I am not aware that you are the one behind the hazing. You really have some nerve—”
“You think I assaulted you?” Darren had stopped his retreat to stare at me in blatant disbelief. I was sure he was remembering my body’s traitorous reaction to that kiss.
His doubt only enraged me more. How dare he assume I had liked it! Even if I had.
“Believe it or not, not every girl welcomes the advance of a weakling prince that has no chance at a throne, even one so lowborn as me.” It was cold and untrue, but I knew it would hurt someone as prideful as Darren. And I wanted to hurt him in any way that I could. The nonheir’s earlier dismissal stung more than I cared to let on.
“Well, I am sorry I offended you,” Darren said shortly. “I assure you I will not make the same mistake twice.” His eyes darkened. They were now as unflinching and barren as stone.
“You had better!” My breath caught, and I was dismayed to find my vision was becoming blurry. What was wrong with me? I needed to get away before he saw me cry.
Something flickered in the prince’s eyes, and I realized it was too late.
There was an unbearable silence, and then I spotted the Academy door a couple paces away. I reached for its handle, intent on escape.
Darren paled. “Wait, Ryiah, don’t—”
A sea of red greeted me as soon as I stepped outside. Buckets of sticky, foul-smelling gore covered every inch of my frame. I was drenched, rivulets of scarlet raindrops dripping from my hair, my face… not a part of my skin untouched.
“Go back to where you came from, lowborn.”
It took me a moment to wipe enough blood away to see the person who had addressed me, though I had recognized his voice immediately.
A few steps forward Jake, the speaker, William, and Priscilla stood watching with malignant smiles plastered to their faces.
I was right: the hazings were personal.
“Save yourself anymore humiliation,” William suggested.
Priscilla snickered. “Go home, Ryiah. This school was never meant for commoners.”
My skin burned beneath the plaster of repugnant red. They were just trying to get under my skin, trying to break me.
Hadn’t Ella and I suspected something like this would happen? I was irate, and rightfully so. But that didn’t explain the shattering, the tearing at my chest.
I felt betrayed. I felt used. I was angry. Fire was filling my veins, and a dark loathing was met with unbidden tears.
Darren stepped out from behind me, eyes averted, to stand beside his friends. His clothes were immaculate.
And then I knew for certain.
“I have to say,” Priscilla remarked, “the pig’s blood was a nice touch.” She turned to me, savoring my reaction as she spoke the next words slowly: “When the prince first proposed the idea, I was reluctant. Seeing you now however, I am pleased we went forward with the plan.” The highborn beauty smirked. “I never would have guessed it would take this effect. Darren did a good job, did he not?”
I could not control the shaking of my hands. There was a loud pounding in my head that was threatening to explode. Magic was filling my senses, and I was seconds away from flinging the traitorous prince as far as my limits would go.
“Don’t be a fool, Ryiah,” Darren said.
Fighting back tears of rage, I met the eyes of my enemy. In that moment I didn’t care that he was a prince or the most powerful first-year in the school. All I knew was that he was a boy who had hurt me, tricked me, kissed me, betrayed me, and somehow won my trust against every instinct and piece of advice I had ever received.
“I might not beat you,” I snarled at the nonheir, “but it will sure feel good to try!”
“Give the wench a lesson!” Jake urged.
Flames enveloped my vision.
“No.”
The fire subsided just enough for me to catch Priscilla frowning at the prince. “Why not?”
“She’s not worth it.” The words cut like a knife.
The four of them began to take their leave.
“I am worth a thousand of you!” I shrieked, casting out as much magic as I could summon. I launched the force forward, sending it barreling towards the prince’s unguarded back.
Darren spun around. With the flick of his wrist, my casting was sent staggering into the forest behind. He dark eyes met mine, unreadable.
“It looks like you never needed that apology after all,” I spat, ignoring the baffled expressions of the three that stood beside him.
Let them think what they will.
“It turns out I was wrong,” I continued, “I never made a mistake. You are exactly who I expected.”
Twenty minutes later Ella found me in the barracks, furiously scrubbing the stain of pig’s blood from my skin.
“Oh Ryiah,” she began, as soon as she saw me.