Chapter 14
Beware the Grande
Sinta
“When you say Kings—”
“I mean literal Fae Royalty.” She confirms. “Tomashi is the third son of the Empress of House Copper and Ruby, Rapid is the second son of the King of House Iron and Wind, Bastien is the Nephew of Queen Skail of the House of Fire and Gold, Elijah’s father is a Lord and manages powerful businesses in House Earth and Bronze, and Fade’s family make up the majority of House Onyx and Bone’s Royal Guard. His sister is Summum Constes’ personal bodyguard and mistress.” She pauses, wincing. “You’ve been dropped literally in the middle of the Academy’s favourite entertainment source.”
Oh. Great. Perfect.
Somehow Tomashi’s asshole-nature makes a lot more sense now.
I also feel a little ill knowing I picked a fight with a literal prince of our species.
“Holy shit.” I croak.
“It gets worse.”
“Of course it does.” I laugh and push away the last slice of my pizza, now understanding why she had stopped eating.
“The females of this school are going to rip you to pieces – the Elite ones, at least. Some of the others might try too, if I’m honest.”
“Why?!”
“Uh, hello. You are living with princes. Five of the hottest bachelors this Academy has probably ever seen. The minute they figure out that you, a virtual nobody, has swooped in and stolen the coveted spot as their roommate, all hell will break loose.” She intones.
I blanch.
“Most of them won’t come at you physically, they know nothing about you and won’t want to risk possible damage. Insults, catty comments, rumours, and blackmail are all likely to occur.” She pauses, her eyes rising to watch something behind me. “There are a few females that will challenge you outright if given the chance. And they are powerful enough to squash you like a bug.”
“That’s reassuring.” I scoff. “Who are they? Better I know who to run from now than later.”
She winces and points behind me.
I turn to follow her stare, and have to stop myself from gawking.
A group of females, all of them likely Elite, are climbing a short staircase to an area with finer seating a floor above us.
I’d assumed it was the teacher’s area, since it was basically a balcony with half a dozen long finely-carved wood tables and velvet upholstered seats.
The upper level looked down into the seating area Kenya and I occupied.
Whereas the ground floor of the cafeteria resembled your average high school eating hall with a decent view of the courtyard, the upstairs area looked more like a high-class restaurant.
The food came from the same five-star buffet here on the ground floor, but staff members in uniform toting large trays carried food upstairs for those seated above.
“The blonde carrying the huge pink Gucci bag and looking like a snow bunny in a ski resort, that is Grande Salvatore. Daughter of High Lady Dalimia Salvatore and Princess Heir of House Earth and Bronze. Next to her, the brunette with the fur coat and regal posture, that is Imelda Skail, Daughter of Queen Skail and Princess of House Fire and Gold. By her side is her bodyguard and best friend Yelana Rathem, a Lady of House Fire and Gold. The rest are Elite Ladies from each of the Houses, not wholly important but will rip your throat out if any of those three demand it.”
“I want to think you are kidding, but I know you aren’t.”
“Not at all.” She commiserates. “Grande has a thing for Bastien, but she’ll settle for Tomashi. She wants to marry someone with Royal Blood, but she also wants a lap dog she can manipulate and control, so neither of those boys have fallen for her crap yet. They do however date her on-and-off out of boredom and maybe just to get her hopes up.”
“I knew Tomashi was a playboy.” I scoff absently as I watch the group of at least twenty females settle at a table, laughing and chatting like they’re out for a spa day.
All except Imelda Skail and her bodyguard, seated at the opposite end of the table to a laughing Grande and wearing more subdued expressions.
I got the impression, just from watching the two princesses, that they were entirely different.
Different, but one no less dangerous than the other.
“She doesn’t want Rapid?”
“Oh, definitely not. They dated for a month in high school, but he got bored – which he very publicly announced – and flirted with another female at a party. Grande tried to cause a scene, and he told her to go cool down, right before he pushed her into a pool while she was wearing a seven figure dress studded with diamonds.”
Remembering my sister’s reaction when the maid accidentally died an expensive pink dress brown, I could only imagine how an actual princess with very expensive taste would react.
“Ouch.” I hiss.
“Yeah, but it was effective. Sometimes they hook up when he’s drunk – but then they go back to hating each other’s guts the next day.” Kenya chuckles. “Oh, that girl is about to get humiliated in front of half the school.” She whispers with a cringe, staring past me.
I turn to follow her line of sight. “Who?”
“Her. Blue jeans, cable-knit white flowy top, sky-high heels, short brown locks. She’s moving up the stairs and watching the Princesses.” She says and points.
Spotting the female, I suck in a breath.
My sister, dressed similarly to the other fae in the perfect winter weather outfit, is gliding up the stairs like some southern debutante and smiling at a female beaconing her over to the table.
Her approach snags Grande’s attention, the princess smiling like a shark and inviting her closer with a gesture.
My sister doesn’t hesitate and moves to claim a seat as close to the princess as possible.
I should’ve known she would integrate herself with the most dominant elite females on campus. It was what the foster monsters had taught her to do.
She would claw any bit of power she could, even if she had to rip it right out of the flesh of Royalty.
I couldn’t believe how long it had taken me to see that in her.
“That’s weird. How does Grande know her, and I don’t?” Kenya mumbles.
“That’s Aletha.” I murmur. “My twin.”
Kenya makes a weird choking sound, and I know without looking she’s staring holes into the back of my skull.
“She was born a unicorn shifter.” I explain shortly as I turn back around, my appetite for food or information long gone. “Um, I have to go get some things done. Put your number in and I’ll….. explain some other time.”
I hand Kenya my phone and she takes her eyes off of me long enough to input her number, her expression shifting from shock to concern at whatever expression I must be sporting.
“I can come with you?”
“No, it’s okay. I have to go back to the House afterwards.” I send her a quick text, just a few smiley faces so she has my number. “Save my number and we’ll chat later tonight. I’ll see you for our first fitness and combat classes tomorrow anyway.”
“If you’re sure.” She agrees, pulling her phone out. “Text me when you get back to the House. So I know you’re safe.”
“Okay. Later.” I force myself to say, my eyes wanting to move back to my sister.
“Sinta.”
I glance at Kenya, her wide brown eyes so warm and sincere it disarms me.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” She asks.
I hesitate, swinging my backpack onto my shoulder. “No.” I admit after a pause. “But I will be. I’ll text you.” I promise, meaning it this time, and turn away.
I made it all the way back to my room before I broke and cried a little.