Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
And I had all of the above. All they needed to do to get it was stop fighting, and accept the inevitable.
“Daciana, do something,” Devin asked. “Change the judges. Make it fair.”
Looking to me for fairness in a trial that wasn’t legal in any way? Oh yes, they’ve accepted the new queen in town.
“All right, then,” I said, rising up. “So that Nyx can’t say he wasn’t treated fairly, we’ll go half and half. Five alphas and five omegas. Even if the alphas all vote non-guilty, it’ll just give Nyx a chance to explain more about what was going on in his head when he beat and tortured his teammate, because he was taking his stuff out on everyone else.”
They voted eight to two for guilty, and in a surprising but welcome twist, the community decided his punishment would be for Nyx to experience everything he put me through.
“The best thing about you being a pinata bitch,” I called as a despondent Nyx was carried out to meet his fate, “is that you can’t phase. You’re going to feel every inch of that wood, baby.”
I hopped off my throne. “Let’s break for breakfast, everyone. I’ve got somewhere to be.”
After leaving the mess hall, I left the academy behind—shifting the minute paw met grass. I ended up spending the rest of the day with my project out in the woods. They didn’t need me for the trials with Ava there to keep everyone in line.
That night, I retreated to my new quarters.
Dagem was a shady, blackmailing, treacherous bitch of a wolf, but she had excellent taste.
Impossibly soft royal-blue and purple cashmere carpet swallowed my clothes. Heavy royal-blue drapes blocked out the sun, leaving me drenched in the tinkling lights of the crystal chandeliers. A throne of a bed dominated the space. The headboard was covered in golden upholstery and topped with a crowning jewel—which was actually a crown—carved beautifully into the wood.
Instead of a rinky-dink wardrobe, I had an incredibly huge walk-in closet that could fit my entire dorm. A quick run across to the door led me to my attached bathroom. Inside was a gold clawfoot tub, an infinity shower, ceiling-high mirrors, and every scented bath potion known to man and wolf. Seemed Dagem didn’t see the need to bring them since paradise had plenty of fancy soap.
Sighing contentedly, I padded out of my bathroom and climbed into bed. Eventually, I would have to do more as headmistress other than threaten and blackmail the staff, and bask in my new quarters, but there was plenty of time to worry about that.
I tipped over the side, reaching under the bed, and then I remembered.
Mom’s letters are gone.
A wave of grief bowled me over, spilling tears down my cheeks. If hating your fate with everything in your soul was enough to break the bond, my bond with Orion would’ve imploded a thousand times over with the destructive power of the sun crashing into earth.
You can’t fall apart like this, a hard voice said. There’s too much left to do. You have to stay focused.
The internal pep talk did nothing to improve my mood. Flipping over, I drew the sheets over my head and willed myself to sleep.
I couldn’t cry in my sleep.
Creak.
My eyes snapped open. Some time had passed since I fell asleep, a glance at the clock told me that. It was the middle of the night, so what woke me? Holding still, my sensitive hearing listened close to... what? What was that?
Thud.
I stiffened. Someone’s here. The thought hit me before their scent did.
“Lights on.”
Light flooded the bedchamber, ripping a curse out of my intruder.
“What the fuck do you want?” I snapped, shoving up against the pillows.
Edric froze comically on the first step to the bed. Yes, Dagem had them put in a raised platform for her showy, over-the-top bed. The woman dreamed of being a princess when she was a little kid, and I’d put money on it.
“I uh—” Edric stepped back as if moving out of claw-range. He looked rough—like he’d been chained up for the last twenty-four hours. His clothes were all ripped up and haggard lines marred his handsome face. “I’m not here to hurt you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Obviously you’re not since I asked Ava to accidentally leave your chains loosened when they locked you up for the night, and not to stop you when you inevitably escaped. IF you wanted to hurt me, you would’ve gotten a weapon on your way up here.” I arched a brow. “Unless you’re a bare-hands kind of guy, which I admit, is a bit sexy.”
He gaped at me. “You told her to— You wanted me to escape?”
“I wanted to see what you’d do if you escaped,” I corrected. “And what you did was sneak into my room. Again. So I repeat, what the fuck do you want?”