Chapter 20 #2
“That’s rad.” I take a sip of my cocktail. It’s good, but I could make it better. “I can’t imagine simply being able to be a lion. I’ve always liked cats.”
Michi laughs, his full lips turning up at the corners. “Well, I can’t imagine flying, but you can do that.”
“Not really.” I tilt my head. “I don’t know any of my abilities.”
“Oh, I’m sure you will. You’re half human, right? I imagine that impacts things?” he asks before taking a sip of his cocktail.
“I don’t know.” I tuck a stray strand of my hair behind my ear.
“Kian seems to think I’m not. I would think I’m fully human if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m fairly certain about who my father was.
” I regret saying it as soon as it’s out of my mouth.
Everyone at this institution seems to hate me because of my assumed parentage.
But Michi merely nods and asks me about myself.
We talk about the things we’re interested in, the hobbies we both enjoy, books I’ve read, and the places he’s traveled to.
We order some small plates. Things are going surprisingly well.
“So you’re really new to all this?” Michi asks. “What’s been the most surprising thing?”
I consider that while I finish chewing my mouthful of delicious grilled octopus in a romesco sauce.
“I mean, with just seeing magic being used, I’m learning to notice it more.
The big stuff is, of course, the most shocking.
The first time I saw someone shift was at the welcome reception. That was mildly terrifying.”
“Oh I bet! That was a pretty gnarly fight, too! Zev wolfed out, and then Rudy stripped naked in front of everyone!” He smiles brightly. “Must be pretty weird not growing up around all of this.”
“Uh-huh.” I’m only half listening because my phone is vibrating where it rests on the table, with an annoying message.
Kian: Your curfew went into effect 20 minutes ago. Why are you at the Center?
Lena: Creep.
I double down by sending Kian a link to “Every Breath You Take” by the Police. Planning to ignore his pestering, I tuck my phone into my bag.
We order another round of drinks and easily flow through conversation topics, chatting about classes and campus.
“Miss Solis,” a velvety voice cautions, as a shadow falls over the table. “This doesn’t look like your dorm room.”
I look up to find Kian wearing a finely tailored gray suit and a subtle frown.
“Really?” I scoff. “You’re crashing my date?”
“You aren’t answering my texts; you have a curfew to abide by.” He checks the time on his thirty-thousand-dollar watch. I roll my eyes at both his audacity and the ridiculousness of wearing the cost of a brand-new car on one’s wrist.
“It’s Friday. I’ve had a shit week. I’m having a little fun.” My smile barely conceals my irritation at his interruption. “I’m very obviously still on campus. Also, it’s weird that you’re stalking me.”
His face pinches slightly before he quickly smooths it into stony perfection. “I’m not stalking you. You’re required to abide by a curfew. I’m responsible for ensuring that you do so. Let’s go.” He motions to the door.
“I’m in the middle of something,” I whisper-yell at him, because people are starting to stare.
Oh, who am I kidding? People were staring at me even before Kian walked in.
Probably gossiping about the video of my mental breakdown.
“It’s a little ridiculous, you storming in here like a dad who just realized his daughter has a boy in her room on prom night. ”
“Miss Solis, I have about a million other things more important to do than babysitting you,” Kian seethes between gritted teeth. “It appears, however, that I do not have any choice in the matter.”
I narrow my eyes at him in defiance. This curfew is really rather childish, yet somehow he, and this institution’s stupid rules, is making it seem like I’m the one throwing a temper tantrum.
Kian leans in closer and whispers in my ear, “Don’t make this any more of a scene than it already is. If I have to, I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you out myself.”
He pulls back, and we lock eyes for one frosty moment, before I say through my clenched jaw, “Fine. I’ll meet you at the door.” I turn to Michi; Kian refuses to move a muscle. “I’m sorry to cut this short. It appears my jailor intends to return me to my cell.”
“Don’t be overly dramatic.” Kian heads toward the exit.
“It’s okay. I get it.” Michi smiles as we both stand. “Can I see you again?”
Despite my embarrassment, a small smile dusts my lips. “I’d like that,” I say, before I turn to follow Kian, who has somehow managed to become even stiffer. We walk to the elevator in complete silence.
Once the doors close us in, he turns on me.
“Do I have to remind you that your enrollment here is conditional? You’re expected to abide by the rules set forth for you.
” With burning eyes, he berates me, “It’s only been one week, and I’ve already received complaints that you’ve disrupted coursework both in-person and online, you’ve made a spectacle of yourself by jumping in the lake at a formal reception, you’ve talked back to teachers and been unprepared for classes.
Not to mention, your abysmal performance in combat, showing up late and refusing to participate. Then there’s the fact—”
“Literally none of that has been my doing,” I cut him off.
“I didn’t go for a dip in the lake for the joy of it, and I certainly—” I’m interrupted by the elevator door opening to reveal Boden shooting me a venomous glare.
I’m herded out the elevator and through the front door by one very pissy prince and one cranky king.
We walk through the door and into the cool evening air, and they both crowd me in, glowering down at me.
“We have put our necks on the line to give you this opportunity, the least you could do is not squander it,” Kian reprimands.
“Violating the contract has severe repercussions for all parties involved but primarily you. I had to excuse myself from an important meeting to come and deal with you. I will not be so lenient in the future.”
He’s fuming. Subtle black wisps roll from his shoulders and down his arms, collecting in his palms and swirling around his fingertips.
His stygian magic is nothing I want to get involved with, that’s for sure, and it’s clear he isn’t in the mood to hear me out.
I silently gnaw on my tongue in vexation.
“There is more on the line than you could ever know.” He takes a deep breath, the shadows fade into the air like smoke in the wind, and his face is once again the picture of aloofness.
“However, I understand things are handled differently in the human world, so this is your one and only warning. Get it together.”
“Alright.” I bite my lip, trying my hardest not to cry. It’s not that I’m sad; I’m frustrated.
“Sir,” Kian says.
“W-what?” I stutter.
“You can call me sir, Your Majesty, or King. You owe me the respect I have shown you, Miss Solis,” he commands.
“Yes, sir,” I mumble, and choke down the lump in my throat. A large part of me wanted to say Your Majesty and perform an exaggerated mock bow, but I don’t think it’ll play well at the moment.
The back of my eyes prickle. Like waves of a salty sea, frustration batters my retinas, forcing my delicate eyelids to hold back an impossible swell. Whenever I’m really angry, my outrage always comes out in tears.
“Boden will escort you back to your room,” he says, as he straightens his tie and stomps back inside the Center in his overpriced loafers.
“What’s got his…” I pause for a moment as I consider the things I know about Kian. “Tom Ford boxer briefs in a twist?” Just doing what I do best, overcompensating with humor.
“We have shit to do,” Boden growls, “and don’t have time to play nanny to you. Next time you decide to fuck around, could you do it when I’m off campus so one of the others has to come babysit your stuck-up ass?”
“Fine, fine, I get it. I’m sufficiently chastised.” I flick my wrist in the air. “But was I right?” I crack a mischievous smirk, perfect for hiding my embarrassment.
“Right about what?” Boden huffs as he types on his phone.
“The Tom Ford boxer briefs?” I give a nonchalant shrug, “I’m guessing the silk kind?”
His only response is a glower.
We walk without speaking before I realize if I don’t keep myself distracted, the dam holding back my frustration tears will break. “So you’re like the quarterback of the Sciathán ball team?”
“No,” he says sharply. “It isn’t football. I’m the fly-half and captain.” He continues as we breach the steps into Havard Hall, “And it’s not the ‘Sciathán ball team.’ It’s just the Sciathán team.”
“I know the syllables coming out of your mouth are forming words, but the way that you put them together makes little to no sense.”
“Go to bed, Solis,” Boden says, as he uses his card to access the elevator to let me in and pushes the button for the fourth floor.
Once I open the old wooden door to the spiral staircase, I let go of my death grip on the floodgates in my eyes.
At first it starts as a trickle, just a few salty drops here and there as I take the first lap up around the staircase.
By the end of my third lap, I’m sniffling and have a consistent river streaming down my face.
As soon as I unlock my door and stumble into my room, I’m heaving for air through stuttered sobs.
This is all too much. The last week, the last month, the last two years. I curl up in my bed and cry myself into waterlogged nightmares.