I feel something shift in the air then, something gathering. My eyes dart to Layla’s hand where a ball of flame is building. Shit. It’s then I remember exactly what I’m dealing with here. I may be able to hold my own in a fist fight, but these people aren’t normal people—they are fucking gods and this girl is about to incinerate my ass.
I feel a pair of strong arms pull me back, just as the ball of flame is about to turn into a flamethrower. My back hits a solid wall of muscle and I hear Raph’s voice from behind me.
“Layla, put the fire out.”
I’m too shocked to register that Raph is intervening on my behalf, and my shock is mirrored in everyone else’s faces.
Baron doesn’t seem too surprised, but Lance and Keller are both looking at Raph as if he’s the one standing there practically naked.
Layla scrambles to her feet and she looks furious.
“Are you kidding me—you’re sticking up for this bitch? Have you lost your goddamn mind, Raph?” she screams. The fire is out, but she’s lunging for me again. Something in Raph’s eyes makes her stop short.
“Don’t fucking touch her, Layla. I swear.” His voice is deathly calm, but I know that that’s when he’s at his most dangerous. Everyone here seems to know it, too.
My whole body is shaking with adrenaline and I think that Raph must be able to feel it, because his arms tighten around me momentarily and I think I must be imagining it.
“What the fuck is going on here, Raph? You started all of this—you hate this whore!”
He ignores Layla and takes the towel from around his neck, draping it over my body.
Her words snap me into action then. Because she’s right—Raph did start all of this. He’s the fucking King of this place, he put the label on me, he made the promise to make my life a living hell. If it wasn’t for him, none of this would even be happening. So what if he just stopped his bitch girlfriend from flame throwing my ass. He probably only did it because he wants to get the killing strike in himself.
Fuck him. Fuck them all.
“Get your fucking hands off me,” I shout as I push Raph away. “I don’t need your help. All of this is your fault in the first place. So, just leave me the fuck alone.”
Raph looks stunned and his eyes darken to a midnight blue. He looks angry, though I couldn’t care less.
Turning on my heel, I walk away from the mess.
“What the hell, Jazmine?” Dani whispers. We’re in the library after classes, studying for tomorrow’s trigonometry test—it’s one of those times when I wish that Eden wasn’t so similar to Earth. I mean who would’ve thought that you could move to a whole different realm and still have to take the same exams?
But Dani doesn’t seem to be interested in passing tomorrow’s test, she’s more interested in grilling me about my earlier fight with Layla instead.
“I’m not saying that Layla doesn’t deserve it. God, if anyone here deserves a punch to the mouth, it’s definitely her. But she’s the queen bee for a reason—she’s going to kill you, Jazmine. Like gut you from head to toe and eat your insides for breakfast.”
I grimace at the mental image.
“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Dan.”
“Although, she’s only the queen bee because Raph’s always had her back … but now I hear he’s backing someone else.”
She looks at me pointedly, and I duck my head to pretend to study the formula on the page.
“Are you fucking him?”
My head snaps up as I stare at her wide eyed. Totally stunned at her choice of words.
“What? Of course not!” I hiss back. I’m blushing so furiously, that Dani starts eyeing me curiously. I don’t like it.
“Wait—you’re not a—”
I say nothing as I go back to pretending to analyze the formula in the textbook.
“Oh my god. You are! You’re a virgin?”
Dani is staring at me wide eyed.
“Well, if you must know, I am.”
“How is that even possible? I mean look at you,” she replies.
I let out a long sigh then.
“I told you I moved around a lot. Not exactly ideal for dating or forming any attachments. Add to that my many trust issues …” I trail off.
“And anyway, since when are you such an expert?” I mutter.
Dani just smirks at me in response.
“Hey, I may be a friendless loser around here in Regency but I’m in a band, remember—I get up to all kinds of things off campus,” she replies with a wink.
Now I’m the one to look at her in shock.
“Kidding. But my first time was with a guy from my last band. We dated for a year back in sophomore year but long distance relationships are too hard to maintain,” she adds.
“So, there’s nothing going on between you and Raph?” Dani prods. “Not even a little kissing, groping, touching …”
I make a face which is meant to be a grimace.
“You mean apart from the fact that the asshole hates me and he’s likely going to murder me in my sleep one of these days?”
Dani waves her hand dismissively.
“You know I’m not entirely sure he does anymore—or if he did at all. You know what they say about love and hate …”
“No, I don’t,” I lie.
“Well, whatever is going on—”
“Which is nothing,” I interrupt.
“—just be careful. Getting in with the Dynasty heirs is a dangerous game. No one comes out unscathed.”
I let out another sigh.
Dani says nothing as she squeezes my hand. She’s looking at me like I’m a dead woman walking and every fiber in my body agrees with her.
Later that evening, Sovereign Hall is blessedly still as I walk through the golden double doors.
My fists are throbbing and I can see the bruises beginning to form around the open cuts which still sting like a mother.
Letting out a long sigh, I head over to the kitchen and open the double doors to the freezer. I grab a handful of ice from the ice tray and dump it in a tea towel.
I’m in the process of putting together a makeshift ice pack, when the front doors fling open. I stiffen at the intrusion and prepare myself for another confrontation, although this time, I’ll probably end up putting my hands out of commission for at least a few weeks, which isn’t ideal, given that I need them to paint.
But instead of Layla’s hateful face, I see Baron walk in. He’s laughing at something and is in the middle of throwing a comeback when I realize that he’s not alone. Raph is with him.
I consider getting up and bolting to my room. But why the hell should I? I live here, too.
Baron surprises me when he walks over and flashes me that wide smile.
“You kicked ass today,” he says and I feel my eyebrows arch. Baron’s been pretty decent to me the last few times I’ve seen him, but the Dynasty heirs have known each other since birth, so I would’ve thought that his loyalties would lie with Layla.
“Really?” I say tentatively.
“Yeah, sure. Seeing the two hottest girls in Regency rolling around on the floor in their swimsuits was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”
The excitement in his eyes makes me burst out laughing, despite the fact that his words totally gross me out.
“I think every guy in class sprang a boner. Hottest catfight ever.”
“You’re always so in tune about when the guys at Regency are getting boners—is there something you need to tell everyone?” I quip.
Raph, who has been standing in the entrance hall watching until now, walks over to us, and throws a smirk at Baron.