This guy was just like the rest of them—an immature jackass with too much time and money on his hands.
Eight months, I told myself. Eight. More. Months.
Then I would be free of this hellhole and would never have to look back.
Chapter Two
Tray
Mmm, delectable, I thought as I followed Isabella Cinder down the empty corridor of Darlington Academy.
She’d grown up since our first meeting in that alley just under three years ago. As had I. If she recognized me now, she didn’t show it. She’d left me in such a hurry, her sodden slippers a pale blue lump in the dirty street snow.
I wouldn’t allow her to escape again.
No. I’d come here specifically for her. There were things she didn’t understand, and the Council had tasked me with explaining them to her. Well, more like I’d offered. It had been me who found her, after all.
They all agreed to wait until she turned eighteen before recruiting her into our world.
Well, the time had come.
The poor little darling had no idea who her parents really were or the destiny they’d dropped into her lap. She would soon. After we finished a few games first.
“Here,” she said, stopping abruptly at the administrative office. “Have fun.”
My palm hit the wall, blocking her exit. “You’re not going to escort me inside?”
Gorgeous blue eyes narrowed up at me, the color reminding me of the dress she wore the night we first met. “I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine on your own.”
“Maybe I’m shy.”
She snorted. “Yeah, I believe that.” She folded her arms, sassy energy flaring all around her. When she grew into her powers, she’d be a force of nature. I couldn’t fucking wait. “I can only meet for an hour after school each day for our project. So pick two days for our interview and we’ll get it over with as soon as possible.”
“Oh, I already picked a day.”
She waited.
I didn’t elaborate, just continued to stare her down with my arm caging her in. She could have stepped back to escape, but the feisty female remained steady before me, totally unfazed by my nearness.
So very different from the women at Midnight Fae Academy. Cornering one of them in this manner would have led to seduction and sensual fun—the benefits of being a royal.
But Isabella didn’t seem to notice my natural charms at all. If anything, she appeared completely uninterested.
Fascinating.
“And which day would that be?” she prompted, her patience thinning.
I smiled. “Saturday.”
Her brow furrowed. “I meant a weekday. After school. Unless you plan to attend class on Saturdays?”
“No, I plan to go to Homecoming. With you as my date.” I leaned into her, adoring the way her slender form seemed to fit against my much taller one. “Try to wear something nice, Ms. Cinder.” I picked one of the sticks from her bun and let it fall to the floor between us. “I’ll pick you up at six. We’ll interview each other over dinner before the dance.”
I pressed my lips to her cheek and stepped around her as she sputtered something unintelligible at my back.
“What?! You—”
I disappeared into the administrative office before she could finish. The delicious fe