“Yeah?” He stared down at me with those piercing irises, causing my breath to catch in my throat.
Why were all the Midnight Fae so good-looking? Even his brother was a sight to behold.
“Where do you plan on going?” Kolstov asked softly, taking a step closer.
I didn’t release his wrist, even though I probably should have. But his nearness had me frozen before him. His rich, masculine scent swathing me in a cloud of intoxicating male.
“I…” I trailed off, my throat constricting tightly.
His gaze dropped to my lips. I licked them on impulse, my mouth going dry. Something about Kolstov called to my inner fae. His power was a worthy mate to my earth essence, only because we both possessed royal bloodlines. I’d felt it when our energy danced in the living area a few days ago.
But he wasn’t an Elemental Fae and therefore not truly an ideal match.
Even if my instincts said otherwise.
“Hmm, I think you do want a taste,” Kolstov whispered, his free hand going to my hip. “If you’re good, maybe I’ll allow—”
“Why is my new suite next to yours?” Zephyrus demanded from the doorway. “The whole purpose of this new assignment, according to your father, is to provide students with my superior knowledge. Students, being Warrior Bloods, not Elite Bloods.”
Kolstov released me, his wrist easily leaving my grasp as he spun around, giving me his back. “We both know it’s a temporary assignment.”
“My living next to you? Or my playing the role of teacher?” The bitterness in Zephyrus’s tone matched his expression.
“The latter.”
“Right. Because you plan to fix it when you become king.”
“Are we really going to have this argument again?” Kolstov suddenly sounded tired. “Come on, Zeph. You know why this happened.”
The headmaster’s eyes narrowed for a long moment before he turned and left without another word.
Kolstov sighed, following him. “You can keep punishing me all you want. It won’t stop me from—”
“Don’t,” Zephyrus interjected. “Just. Don’t.”
“Then stop being a dick” was the reply.
“Fuck you.”
A crashing sound made me jump. I poked my head around the door just in time to see Trayton leaving a freshly kissed Ella behind in the hallway. She blinked after him, then glanced at me. “Welcome to the Nacht family drama. Never a dull moment.”
Sounds of a scuffle came from the living room, which suggested the guys were fighting. An image of Zephyrus pinning Kolstov entered my mind, provoked by the first time I’d seen them together.
Zephyrus struck me as the stronger of the two, but I’d tasted a glimpse of Kolstov’s power, and yeah, they were definitely evenly matched.
“Don’t worry. Tray will make sure they don’t destroy anything too valuable,” Ella said, moving past me into the room. She glanced around, much like Kolstov had. “Boring maybe, but I get it. You don’t want to be here. Shade’s a fucking prick for biting you.”
My lips twitched. Finally, someone who gets it.
She faced me, adding, “My mate at least introduced me to the Midnight Fae realm before biting me.”
“Introduced you?” I repeated, her statement confusing me. “You mean you weren’t born here?”
“I’m a Halfling,” she informed me, then paused as if waiting for a reaction.
“So you grew up in the Human Realm.” It was a guess based on her earlier claim about entering the realm.
“I did.” The challenge in her tone confused me.