Chapter 181 First Class

Chapter 181 First Class


Arabella’s POV

I wasn’t looking forward to today. Not even a little. The academy had barely been open a day and they’d already split me from my brothers. Why? Why couldn’t at least one of them be in my first class?
The entire walk across campus, I found myself grumbling under my breath.
The morning air was cool and crisp as students moved through the stone pathways surrounding Kingsveil. The massive castle-like academy looked even more impressive beneath the early sunlight. Towers stretched toward the sky while banners bearing the crests of powerful bloodlines fluttered in the breeze.
Beautiful…. Annoying. Mostly annoying.
I stepped through the classroom door and immediately understood why the classes had been divided. There were only five desks. Five. That was it.
The room itself was small compared to the grand lecture hall we’d used during orientation. Bookshelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling while strange glowing crystals floated inside glass containers. Ancient symbols had been carved into the stonework near the ceiling, and a faint scent of herbs lingered in the air.
Magic Control. Now it made sense. The academy couldn’t exactly teach hundreds of students to control dangerous powers at the same time.
I walked toward the final empty seat. The first two desks were already occupied. A witch. And a fae. At least I assumed they were. The crest stitched onto their sleeves made identification pretty easy.
The blonde fae seemed incapable of sitting quietly for longer than three seconds while the brunette beside her looked permanently exhausted by her existence. Interesting friendship I thought to myself. 
I took my seat and glanced around the room. A moment later another student entered. Tall. Dark hair. Bright blue eyes. Pale complexion. My gaze drifted toward his sleeve. A vampire. He crossed the room and settled beside the blonde fae. Neither girl looked surprised. Apparently they already knew each other. Lucky them. I was still stuck doing everything alone.
The instructor looked up from his desk and slowly scanned the room. His eyes landed on the empty seat beside me. Then the clock. Then the seat again. A sigh escaped him. He muttered something beneath his breath. I couldn’t make out the words. Probably because the bell rang at that exact moment. A figure slid through the doorway. 
I looked up. Then immediately groaned. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Several heads turned. I didn’t care. Zarek strode across the room like he owned the academy.
Arrogant.
Annoying.
Infuriatingly confident.
He stopped directly beside my desk. “Princess.” I already hated that nickname. “You’re in my chair.” He motioned for me to move.
I pointed toward the door. “Your seat is out there.”
A laugh escaped him. “Don’t you wish.”
“More than you know,” I mumbled under my breath. 
“Move. Princess,” he insisted. 
“Mr. Lizard,” I said as I stared right at him.
The instructor pinched the bridge of his nose. “Zarek,” he said sounding very irritated already. 
The Dragon Prince finally looked away from me.
“Sit in the empty seat.”
“But that’s my…” he began to say. 
The instructor pointed toward the remaining desk. “Sit.”
The room fell silent. For a brief moment I thought Zarek might actually argue. Instead, he rolled his eyes and dropped into the chair.
Good. Maybe class could finally begin. Unfortunately, my luck apparently hated me. A sudden sharp pain shot through my neck. I inhaled sharply. The burning sensation vanished almost as quickly as it arrived, but it was enough to make me reach for the spot automatically. My fingers brushed the skin beneath my collar. Please not now. Not here. I lowered my head briefly. Just a second. Just long enough for the pain to pass. Unfortunately, somebody noticed.
“Instructor.” Zarek’s voice carried across the room. The smirk on his face told me exactly where this was going. “Princess seems to think sleeping during class is acceptable.”
My head snapped up. “I was not sleeping.”
His grin widened. “Sure.”
“My neck hurt.” The words escaped before I could stop them. Immediately regrettable. “Which is none of your business.”
“Your neck?” His eyebrow lifted. “Interesting.” Before I could react, his hand shot forward. My wrist was caught. The movement happened so quickly I barely registered it. Zarek lowered my hand. The room immediately went silent. The girls on the other side of the room leaned forward. Nothing attracted attention faster than public embarrassment.
“What’s on her neck?” The witch blurted out.
Every muscle in my body tightened. Because Zarek had gone completely still. His eyes were fixed on my neck. He wasn’t  teasing. Not smirking. Not laughing. He was just… Staring. The expression caught me off guard. Almost as much as the look of recognition that flashed across his face.
I jerked my wrist free and immediately covered the marks. “It’s nothing.” The lie sounded weak. Everybody knew it. Especially him.
“That’s clearly something.” The Dragon Prince leaned back in his chair. “What kind of markings are those?”
I glared at him. “None of your business.”
“Are you secretly a witch?” His eyes flickered toward Bernice. “Because that would explain a lot.”
A few laughs echoed through the room. Before I could launch something at his head, the vampire finally spoke. “Does it matter?” The room quieted. Everyone looked toward him. He looked thoroughly unimpressed. “Can we continue the lesson?” His gaze remained fixed on the instructor. Not me. Not Zarek.
The instructor looked grateful. I certainly was. “Excellent suggestion.” The older man stood. “Let’s begin.”
Relief washed through me. The attention shifted away immediately. Thank the goddess.
The instructor moved down the row and had everyone introduce themselves. Bernice went first. Then Miranda. The blonde fae somehow managed to wave enthusiastically at everybody while introducing herself. When the vampire’s turn arrived, he barely looked up.
“Adrian.”
I froze. Adrian? My eyes immediately shifted toward him. Adrian. As in Sebastian’s son. The vampire heir. The name was impossible to miss. I’d heard stories about him for years. Stories about his father. Stories about wars. Stories about attacks against the palace. Yet the guy sitting across from me looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.
When Zarek’s turn arrived, he actually stood. Then bowed. Of course he did. Arrogant ass.
By the time introductions finished, the instructor clapped his hands together.
“Today we’ll be working in pairs.”
I immediately looked toward the girls. 
There were five students. Five. Which meant somebody would be left out.
The instructor pointed. “Miranda and Bernice.”
The two girls smiled. Then he pointed again. “Adrian. With me.”
I blinked my eyes rapidly. Wait. That only left… My eyes slowly shifted sideways. Zarek looked equally unimpressed.
“Oh no.” His groan matched mine perfectly.
The instructor smiled. “Wonderful. You two can work together.”
Fantastic.
Absolutely fantastic.