7. Villains
Chapter 7
Villains
WONDER BOY
“ I like her,” Ezra declares, his eyes following Beth until she disappears between the bushes with her fiancé on her heels. “The Iris chick is smoking, but this one… there’s just something about her.”
“Iris is Idris’ daughter. He’ll make your life hell if you try anything.”
“And the moth is engaged, so there’s not a lot of fresh meat for us to sink our teeth into this year.” A wide grin overpowers his face. “Thank the Flame that the Summer Princess is hot.”
I click my tongue and bare my teeth in warning. “Where Willow is concerned, consider yourself a eunuch.” If he so much as looks at Willow funny, best friend or not, I’ll cook his balls and serve them for dinner.
“Just kidding, of course. Will’s my buddy, as you well know, and I’m not her type.”
“No new girl for you to seduce means you’ll get to study more,” I joke, trying to appear high-spirited despite my egregious mistake. Ezra knows me pretty well. I can’t let him know how interested I truly am in Beth and how I risked my reputation for her to be admitted here. “Evelyn is always berating you to spend more time in the library.”
Ezra cringes as if I’ve just crammed a fistful of myrtle seaweed into his mouth. “Study? Library? I think not. It’s our last year, Aidan. We have to make the most of it. Besides, I wouldn’t count the first-years out so quickly. The moth won’t stay with that tool Zeke for long, not now that she’s made it into the academy.”
“If Zeke’s father isn’t an idiot, he would have made a proper deal with her to prevent her from changing her mind.” As I say the words, a heavy knot coils in my stomach. Fuck. I hadn’t thought of that until now.
Ezra licks his lips, unaware of my turmoil. “We don’t have to change her mind, boo. Just convince her one night is worth the transgression.”
He’s beginning to sound too interested in my girl.
“What did you need?” I ask sharply.
“Your key to the cabin.”
We built a log cabin in the heart of the gardens back when I was a first year. It’s meant for special occasions when we want privacy and don’t want to be disturbed. I wove an enchantment over the whole meadow, and only someone in possession of the key can find it. Since we’re both expected to inherit a throne, our secrets are a coveted currency. At the cabin, we can talk, laugh, and love freely, away from our father’s spies and nosy peers.
I stare at him, unimpressed by his predictable need to put his Faehood first. “The party hasn’t even started, and you promised to introduce the new villains.”
“Don’t get your fiery panties in a twist. I just like to plan ahead, that’s all.”
I pretend to hand over the key, only to pull it out of his reach at the last second. I’m not a fan of him using our oasis of peace for a random hookup, but who am I to judge? “You can get the key later, when you’ve done your duty. Diana told me you refused to rehearse with them last night.”
“My best performances are always spontaneous, as you well know. Come on, Aidan. I’m horny as hell and optimistic about tonight, though my plans might be shifting as we speak.” He glances down the stone steps to where Beth and Zeke disappeared. “Do you think the new girl might be persuaded?—”
I answer too quickly, a flicker of jealousy igniting in my chest. “No. I don’t think she liked your attitude.”
“I like a challenge, but you’re right. I should stick to old favorites tonight. The twins let me know they’re ready for round two.”
The twins, two third-years with wild sexual appetites, have history with Ezra, and I chuckle, happy to hear he’s not going to go after Beth. “Have fun.” I rub the piece of leather acting as a keychain between my fingers before handing it over.
Some silly part of me wants to hold on to that key, just in case, but taking Ezra out of the equation is worth it. Besides, I’m willing to be patient. After what I just learned, my genius plan to seduce Beth and make her fall in love with me might take a few days more than I’d originally planned.
Ezra and I stroll over to the beach, exchanging playful jabs and lighthearted banter as we go.
The alumni have reserved the north beach, preferring to keep bad decisions away from the prying eyes of the students. As a result, the crew huddles on Saffron Cove, a small, secluded orange beach at the foot of the Lovers’ Leap cliffs.
I grab a cloak from the pile on the table next to the buffet, pulling the hood over my head and pressing my mask back in place. The attire allows me to reflect in private as we wait for all the first-years to settle down in front of the bonfire.
The seasoned students are wearing their cloaks and masks, adding to the atmospheric vibe of the initiation kick-off.
When the last of the six initiates has arrived, Ezra plants himself in front of the bonfire, facing the half-circle of students. His gaze is angled downward, leaving only the bottom of his prismatic opal mask visible.
The conversations die in an instant.
“I’m Ezra Lightbringer, last year’s Master of Mischief,” he announces gravely. “Tomorrow, you will meet your Keepers. They will try to convince you to play nice, follow the rules, and act like good little sheep.” He slices his arms in denial and shrugs off his hood and cloak.
The fucker spreads his wide, powerful white wings on either side of him, and the crowd gasps in surprise and excitement.
Ezra might not be a Spring Fae, but he’s got his own lust magic, rooted in his godlike aesthetics and sharp wit. My mouth dries up as I catch Beth with her lips parted, ogling him. The way she bites her bottom lip makes my throat bob.
Fuck me.
“We were born to rule, not to be meek. We are the heirs of the gods, the chosen ones, the most powerful beings in the worlds.” Ezra raises one finger in the air for us to wait as he grabs a pitcher of Nether cider from the table and gulps down the entire thing. After he’s done, he rubs the back of his hand across his mouth and exhales on a satisfied “ha.”
The corners of my mouth quirk up at his theatrics.
“Tonight, I present to you your new villains.”
Diana removes her hood, her dark auburn hair red as blood in the night. “I am Diana, your Big Bad Bitch.”
“And I am Johan, your Master of Mischief,” Johan announces, the Storm Fae’s skin crackling with electricity.
Ezra nods at his fourth-year friends like a proud mama duck presenting her black, evil ducklings. “Your villains will impart challenges upon you, one at a time, and when summer comes, we will tally the results. The loser will be sorry, and the winner will receive a special prize.” He pauses for effect. “A behind-the-scenes tour of our capital, a chance to get a glimpse of the Eternal Chalice, and try on the throne of your choosing—all escorted by our resident Crown Prince: the heir forged in flames, the resplendent phoenix, the legend himself, Aidan Summers.”
Ezra motions for me to join him. “Consider yourselves lucky. This is the last year such a prize will be offered.”
I walk to the center of the circle and slip off my hood to a flurry of encouraging whistles. “I promise the winner a night of scrumptious chaos and revelry that’ll rival the best coronation feast this continent has ever seen.”
“Hear, hear!” Ezra cups his hands in front of his face. “Come on, you know what the ladies want… It’s a tradition now. Show us your mark.”
Claps, cheers, and enthusiastic shouts blare through the circle.
Shaking my head as if I’m only humoring them and not at all flattered, I disrobe and toss my cloak into the fire before unfastening the buttons of my formal, embroidered shirt.
The howls pick up as I throw it into the flames, too, revealing the bright orange phoenix mark scorched in the depression below the v-line on my abdomen, right above my left leg. I hold down the hem of my trousers to showcase the entire thing, my hand covering my crotch.
Most of the girls chant and whistle in cheer, but Willow hides her face in her knees with a loud and dramatic, “Eww.”
Next to my sister, my Songbird appears rather distraught by my public display, shielding her eyes with her hand, and my stomach plunges.
Ezra encircles my shoulders with one arm. “Hephaistos branded it into his flesh when he was just a wee babe, and we’re all fucking jealous. We’re bound to lust after his mark until the day we get our own,” he trails off dreamily before raising his cup. “Now, let’s show these first-years how to have fun!”