Chapter Thirty
Sky
I ’m a little stunned when Cade walks me all the way to my seat in Mr. Rykes class, and then confused as he plops down next to me. He’s been transferred out since the first week, but he turns, stretching his long legs out and crossing his boots like he’s never missed a day.
“Ahem,” Rykes clears his throat.
I snap my attention forward, noticing that Cade doesn’t do the same. Rykes sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, his beady stare flipping between me and Cade. I want to molt into my seat and disappear. I already just barely made it on time. The man already hates me. I don’t need anymore attention, and I don’t know how convinced I am that Cade isn’t going to make a scene about my skull-faced friend.
“Mr. Haven, care to tell me why you are in my class today?”
I look at Cade from the corner of my eye. I’m dying to know the same thing. We had a night, yes , but what does that mean? Between all the running, and then all the orgasming, I knocked out without a second to wonder. I barely recall getting back to my room. And then Ruby didn’t even wake me, and I almost slept through class. I’m a mess, and it’s not something I’ve ever allowed myself to be.
Chairs creak as everyone spins around to see Cade’s answer, obviously excited for drama. I swear I see him wince at being in the spotlight, but his voice betrays it, coming out unaffected and confident.
“Take it up with the headmistress,” he says, not even bothering to look at the professor.
Snickers whip through the room, and even I have to pull my jaw up from the floor. Only in my wildest dreams would I have the gall to speak to a teacher like that, or even my father. What could Cade possibly have on the headmistress that makes him think he can get away with it?
“This isn’t how things work. My class isn’t a revolving door. You transferred out. That’s the end of it.”
“And now I’m transferred back in.”
Rykes scoffs. “Well, until I’m notified of such, you can find the exit.” He turns toward the board dismissively.
Cade’s jaw clenches, and his foot takes up a jittery tempo. Tension suddenly wafts from him as I watch his features darken, one after the other. His jaw hardens, his brows lower, and if I thought his eyes were sinister before, the shadowy pitch now tells me how much I underestimated that.
With a deafening crack of his neck, he turns and yanks his hood back.
“I’m not leaving.” His voice is cold and warring.
Gone is the stoicism, and in its place is an enmity that leaches into my bones. I can taste the contempt as if it’s on my own tongue and it tastes… good. It’s how I wish I could have spoken to Rykes when he scolded me for missing class.
Rykes spins around, a seedy little vein popping up on his forehead. “What did you just say?”
“I said, I’m. Not. Leaving. ”
The room goes silent as we all witness the wave of emotions that crosses Rykes’ face. Shock, uncertainty, embarrassment, and then indignation.
“Get the fuck out of my class, Cade.”
The room erupts in whispers and ooh’s at the professor’s curse.
“Try and make me.”
I silently cheer, a depraved part of me suddenly excited for Rykes to see just how small he is; The way he made me feel small. I could never stand up to him, but Cade can.
“Oh, you childish little shit.” Rykes loses his cool and storms down the aisle of desks. “I bet your mother is so proud. You think you can talk to me like that?”
“I just did.”
Rykes comes to stand over Cade, and while it should be intimidating, a teacher looming over a student, Cade is clearly the threat here. Even with his jacket covering up what I know he hides beneath, it’s his eyes that show how deadly he is. The coldness and promise remind me of a snake, one who knows just how fatal its bite can be. He doesn’t even flinch at Rykes presence, not bothering to look up, and I bite back a smile at his snub.
“Leave. Now.” Rykes barks, pointing at the door.
But Cade still doesn’t acknowledge him, his knee bouncing rapidly. It’s the only thing that reminds me he isn’t made of stone, and I wonder if maybe I don’t know just how lethal wild animals can be.
“That’s it.” Rykes huffs and grabs the scruff of Cade’s hood.
I cringe, somehow knowing that’s a grave mistake even before the screech of the chair. Its metal feet gouge the wood flooring, and in a flash of black, Cade is towering over Rykes. The professor stumbles back at the proximity, right into my desk. It tumbles over in a crash, but Cade advances, staying in Rykes space as I scramble to get out of the way. My chair falls over as I back up against the wall, my heart hammering.
“Don’t you ever fucking put your hands on me,” Cade roars, muscles straining in his neck, and he shoves his hands into Rykes chest.
I suck in a breath at the way Rykes fear breaks through his scowl, at the way his back arches unnaturally, but my gasp isn’t of apprehension, it’s with excitement. This is chaos, anarchy, something I should avoid and try to stop, but the justice feeds something I’ve been starving for.
“You’re a fucking bully,” Cade seethes. “A fucking joke. You’re supposed to be an adult, but you’re no better than everyone else in this godforsaken place.”
“You… You’re a delinquent…” Rykes stutters.
“I’m a delinquent?!” Cade shoves him again, and this time he falls, crashing between my toppled over desk and abandoned chair. “At least I don’t have to make women feel small to make up for a tiny dick.”
Whispers break out as my jaw hits the floor. Others get up from their desks, backing into the fringes of the room, but no one makes a move to help Rykes, whose eyes have gone wide.
“That’s—”
“A fact,” Cade cuts him off, tremors rolling through his shoulders. “A disgusting fucking fact that is going to pin your soul to this soil when your times comes. You’re never getting out of here, Rykes. You’re going to rot in this hellhole for the rest of eternity. I’m going to make sure of it.”
I’m too entranced by Cade’s fury to grasp what he means about souls, but I do recognize the fracture hidden beneath his words. My gut twists, a hatred for the man on the floor blooming to life like poison under my skin. What woman did Rykes demean?
“You’ll be out of here for this,” Rykes voice shakes as he gapes at everyone, his humiliation reflected back at him.
Cade laughs, actually laughs , the sound a maniacal trill, terrifying, but oddly glorious to hear. The smile that goes with it is unsettling, though. It’s the brightest I’ve ever seen him, the most alive, but it’s all dripping in malice. A malice that breaks my heart.
“No.” Cade shakes his head, snapping into stone again. “I’m not going anywhere.” He bends and grips the leg of the desk, hovering over Rykes with a sudden coolness that makes my skin chill.
He lowers his voice to a cruel whisper, “I’m going to burn right beside you.”