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For my entire life, two zeroes would be staring back at me anytime I did anything. Anytime I threw a punch, or took a sip of water, or braided my hair. I would see them. A reminder that I was nothing.
My fate was sealed.
FOURTEEN
SCOTLIND
After everyone’snames were called, Principal Myers gave his final words before leaving us to enjoy our last night at LakeWood. Tomorrow, we would no longer be students, we would be essential members of our society.
A light hum stirred around the room as everyone was full into celebrating. The mood was joyous. A large number of students and faculty members gathered around the refreshments, chatting amongst themselves. And that was exactly where I planned to go after I found Vallie and Miles to congratulate them on their rankings.
I started to search for Vallie in the crowd, scanning the room for vibrant, red hair as the blonde guy from the party walked over to me.
“You were watching me,stalkingme,” I blurted when he was close enough to hear me.
He laughed lightly as he held out his hand for me to shake. “I’m Peter. I’ll be Sie’s second.” He flashed a half smile, exposing deep dimples on his silken cheeks. He was intoxicating and surprisingly friendly. “And,” he added, “I would call itprotectingyou, not stalking.”
“So you followed me to a party, watched me the entire night, and call that protection? Last I heard, that’s not in the job description as a future second to the King. Some title you’ve got there.”
His smirk turned wide, revealing straight, white teeth. “Sie’s my friend. I would be happy to do whatever he asks.”
“So he asked you to watch me?”
“Yes. He knew you were drinking for the first time and wanted to make sure you didn’t get into any trouble.”
“How did he know it was my first time or that I was even drinking?” I snapped. My voice was getting louder as I narrowed my eyes. “And I don’t need a babysitter.”
“It didn’t seem that way last night,” he teased softly, pointedly ignoring my first question. I jerked myself into standing taller, straighter, even though it barely made a difference. He was average height for an Advenian male, but I still only reached his chin.
“So was it you that told him to come?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t need your help, or his for that matter.”
“I beg to differ.” His smile sent any ounce of patience and reserve I had out the window.
I half growled as I stepped toward him, closing the gap. “I don’t need you watching me and acting all noble like you came to my rescue. Leave me alone. I can take care of myself, and I prefer to not have some pretty boy stalking me.”
His light demeanor faltered, his lips went taut, forming a straight line. “I had to watch not one, but two different males approach you last night. One of which tried to kiss you, and the other had you pinned against a tree. On top of that, you could barely walk straight. So I would think again before you yell at me saying you can handle yourself.”
I huffed, not bothering to try to hide how angry I was. “So what? You’re just going to follow me around everywhere I go?”
I tried to mask how mortified I was about his admission to everything he’d witnessed. I willed my face into a calm expression. The thought of this stranger seeing Miles and Kole with me at the party was unsettling, and I had a sinking feeling that he relayed everything he saw to the Prince.
“I will if you insist on acting like a child and go around getting drunk and vulnerable around asshole males who can’t control themselves. But no, Scotlind, I’m not going to follow you everywhere you go. I’m one of the few Advenians Sie trusts. I hope you can learn to trust me too. I’m not here to make your life more difficult, but to look out for you.” He paused. “I am happy to hear that you find me pretty, though.”
I went to open my mouth to snap some retort back at him, but he cut me off. “We can discuss my good looks later. For now, we have to go.”
“Go where?” I asked as my glaring expression changed to confusion.
He looked at me curiously, as if I should have known the answer. “To the monorail. We are heading back to the castle tonight, and you need to pack if you haven’t already.”
“Tonight…” I started to say. “But the graduation just started. I thought I wasn’t leaving until the morning. The monorail—it’s closed at night, isn’t it? It shouldn’t even be running now.” I was unable to keep the pathetic pleading sound from my voice.
“The monorail is closed to the general public overnight, but not for the High Council and the future King. I’m sorry, but it’s an order that we leave tonight. We have a strict schedule to follow. Your belongings will be taken there by our guards. We will have our own transportation to take us to the rail, so you have to get ready. Sie will meet you outside your dorm in an hour.”
He looked toward me sympathetically. That pitying expression again creeping over his face, but it wouldn’t change anything. Not if it was ordered for us to leave tonight. I wanted to spend this night with Vallie. I thought I had one more night with her.
