11. Loveleena
LOVELEENA
They were a few streets down from the main gates to the Academy, where clusters of soon-to-be first years collected before the threshold, vibrating and talking in quipped voices. They had walked a few hours to get there, and the sun now blanketed them in heat.
Ren’s movements were lethal as he guided them through the city.
Hidden in a side street peering out at the crowd, he had pulled out his dagger and spun her around so quickly that she didn’t even have time to react aside from a small squeak that escaped her lips.
The cool blade of his dagger pressed to her neck as he held her firmly against his chest.
Suddenly, she regretted giving it back to him.
“What are you doing?” Loveleena said through gritted teeth, trying not to move. She was way too close to Ren’s blade for comfort.
“How else do you think we’re going to get you in?” his voice was low in her ear.
“Walk through the gates like everyone else?” she said, her body tense against his.
“Defenders don’t let anyone in through this gate who isn’t pre-approved, not even noble families,” Ren said, “and we don’t have time to wait around.
” He guided them forward and she swore under her breath at his strength.
For a brief moment, she had an opening where his blade was slightly farther away from her skin and she tucked her elbow into his rib, just to spite him.
“For a woman who begged me to get her into the Academy, you’re sure squirming a lot.”
She fought against his grip. Was this really necessary? “You’re probably used to women begging to get rid of you.”
“Quite the opposite actually.” A smile split across Ren’s face, and a groan escaped her lips.
He pulled her down the street, away from the main gate. “Shouldn’t we be going through the entrance? It’s back that way.” She tried to look behind them, to see how far they had travelled, but Ren’s grasp on her was too strong.
“Not that one,” he said, distracted. A smaller, more private entrance came into view. In front of the precipice stood three Defenders.
She and Ren waited as a trolley pulled up to the gates. For a moment, Loveleena thought she saw golden eyes peek out the back, but they were gone from her sight as quickly as they came. Was she seeing things? She needed sleep. Ren pulled them out from the shadows and walked toward the guards.
“Whatcha got today, Elmerian?” one of them stepped forward, eyeing Loveleena up and down.
“A possible traitor that needs to be dealt with by the headmaster.”
Traitor. Loveleena’s stomach lurched. Was this a trap?
She had confessed her intentions to go through the wall.
What if he only agreed to get her into the Academy to arrest her?
A traitor was one thing, but a noble daughter traitor?
That would be the headmaster’s discretion.
Panic rose in her chest and she thrashed in his grasp. “Let me go.”
“Be quiet, traitor, or you’ll make things worse for yourself,” he warned, but she ignored him, sinking her teeth into the delicate underside of his arm.
“The gates, Costa,” Ren said through gritted teeth. Obeying Ren’s order, the men paused their conversation to watch them enter. To watch Loveleena enter. They recognized her.
“Loveleena Alva,” one said, his eyes stalling on certain parts of her body.
What would be unacceptable behaviour toward a noble daughter was fair game with a traitor, and Slayers loved nothing more than making traitors pay for their wrongs.
Their stares made her skin crawl. She wanted to tell them to go fuck themselves, but her teeth were still buried in Ren’s flesh.
“Defenders, I shouldn’t have to remind you to mind your gaze,” Ren said coolly. The men quickly turned to face away from them.
“Ignore them. I’ll deal with them later,” Ren whispered in her ear. “And for fuck’s sake, easy with the teeth.”
Loveleena released his arm and faked a gag in response.
“Try not to vomit, please,” Ren said flatly. “I’d prefer not to have to launder my Academy uniform. It would greatly mess with my day.”
Breathless, her eyes shot daggers as she looked back on the men. “Bastards.”
It was early, but the Academy was already buzzing. And as soon as they made it out of view of the gates, Ren released his chokehold on her. Loveleena frowned, rubbing where his forearm had gripped her collarbone. She still didn’t completely trust Ren, but he made good on his word. She was in.
“Getting you in required a few… half-truths.” He looked down at the blood that seeped from his arm.
Loveleena let out a breath. “Sorry. I panicked.”
“I’ll live.”
“It will probably bruise; you might want to put something cool on it.”
“I can assure you, I’ve had worse. It’s fine, Alva,” he said, dismissively.
She changed the subject as they made their way into the main castle. “Where are we going now?”
“To forge your papers.”