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“Yeah, but you know how the Princes work.” Carter gives me an incredulous look before he pops the trunk. “Information is what they trade in, and your reaction gave him everything he needed.”
He’s right. I know he’s right and yet, I can’t seem to stop myself from rising to Denver’s baiting. I know what’s at stake right now, and I can’t risk Denver spreading anything around. I was stupid for letting me and Greyson be seen, even though the hug had been almost completely platonic. Given my mother’s history, I know it won’t be seen like that if the elders, let alone Glenda, get ahold of that information. I can’t trust that she won’t take matters into her own hands.
“I need some time to cool off,” I huff, my eyes never leaving Denver’s form as he nears the thick wooden doors of the entrance. More like, I need a moment alone with Denver to see what the hell he’s playing at. It’s not like I expected the asshole to be in love with me or anything, but I didn’t expect him to go for the jugular the moment he laid eyes on me. Most of all, I need to make sure he’s not going to say anything to his family, both for my sake and Greyson’s too. Glenda wouldn’t take her granddaughter and sole heir getting too close to a wolf. No way in hell.
“Fine, I’ll put your suitcases in my room for now,” Carter says, groaning exaggeratedly as he heaves one of my suitcases from the back. “Just make sure to meet us by the front doors in half an hour so we can get your room assignment.”
I wave to Carter and silently tuck that information away as I stride after the Prince heir as he climbs the steps to the main entrance. Harper grumbles something behind me, but she doesn’t insist on coming with me. Just another reason why she’s my third.
“Aria,” Greyson says, the concern in his tone causing me to pause.
“I’m fine,” I say over my shoulder, already striding after my one-night-stand from hell. I give him a weak smile, which doesn’t seem to fool him judging by the crease that forms between his brows. I can’t let that sway me though, not when those golden-brown eyes just might make me stay all on their own. Dammit.
Turning back to the path, I increase my pace, silently hoping I can catch up to Denver in time. My heels click on the cobblestone pathway, and I carefully avoid the divots. There aren’t many of them thankfully, the top families invest more than enough money into this place to do regular repairs.
A few people I pass try to catch my attention but I fly past them, giving them a nod of acknowledgment as I go by. Sorry Becky from potions, today is not the day to reminisce on the time you made a transport potion explode. Not when time seems to be ticking away with every beat of my heart, the time floating away on the wind, gone forever, never to be recovered.
I grit my teeth as Denver sweeps into the school, turning left down what must be a hallway. He seemed to stop by the entrance, almost as if he’d been waiting for me. But no, he couldn’t make it easy on me by actually standing in one place until I caught up, because where would the fun be in that?
I hurriedly climb the stairs, internally cursing the warlock for ruining the moment when I first walked through these doors as a student. Guilt churns in my stomach, wishing I’d done this with Carter by my side, but this is important. He has no idea that there might just be a chance to undo the mess I’d made just moments before, to hopefully keep Denver quiet ... not that I’m exactly sure how the hell I’m going to do that yet.
Cathedral ceilings and the stained glass above that cast an array of colors down on the stone floor before me. Students mill about the main entrance, some climbing the grand stone staircase in the middle. Emerald green carpet trails up it, adding some color. I wish I could take in more of the details and study the oil paintings lining the walls ensconced with intricate molding surrounding them, but I still have to find Denver. Looking to the left, I take in the nearly empty narrow hallway where it seemed like he went. I glance to the other side where it’s much more open and students mill about, entering some of the ancient wooden doors which must be classrooms.
No, if Denver did actually know I was following him he wouldn’t double back and go that way, not if he actually has any intention of having a private conversation. Pulling in a deep breath, I steel myself for this meeting, only now realizing the way my body thrums with anticipation.
I push aside the fluttering feeling in my stomach and stride forward, not wanting to get caught up with any of the former classmates that had attempted to stop me outside. I carefully scan the hall, noticing a few students leaning up against the stone window sills and catching up with their friends.
Where the hell is this asshole? I stomp a few paces further, searching for any sign of the annoying Denver Prince, but soon I’m left in an empty hallway with no sign of a hidden alcove where he might be hiding.
A small door lines one side of the wall, but I immediately dismiss it and turn on my heel, cursing him under my breath as I pass it.
I pull in a sharp breath and slam to a halt as the door bursts open and a hand reaches out, roughly grabbing my arm before I even have time to react.
My magic flares in my palm, its golden light bathing the closet in a warm glow and illuminating the face of the man before me. A grin spreads across his face, his cobalt blue eyes sparkling with delight.
“Hey Hart,” Denver murmurs, his sensual tone sending a shiver of desire up my spine. “Miss me already?”
Chapter Five
Aria
“Youwish,Prince,”Igrumble, tugging my arm out of his grip. His smile only seems to grow as he reaches above his head to switch on an overhead light. Sweeping my gaze around us, I take in the cramped supply closet. Chemicals and cleaning supplies line the shelves, and particles of dust float through the air.
“I love when you call me your Prince, Hart,” he growls, his brow lifting as he scans his lust-filled gaze over me. My skin prickles at his attention, a shiver of desire running up my spine as I realize just how close our bodies are to each other in the small space. I take a deep breath and my breasts nearly brush against his chest with the movement.
My teeth pull back in a snarl but I hold back my retort, not wanting to rise to his baiting. That only seems to coax a chuckle from his lips.
“What the fuck was that all about?” I ask, cutting right to the chase. I honestly don’t know if I can trust myself alone with him in such a small area for very long. My heart is nearly beating out of my chest already just from the anticipation of his hard body so close to mine—not to mention the fact that we’re in such a secluded area. No one would hear if we—
“Whatever do you mean, sunshine?” he quips. I grit my teeth at the nickname he’s apparently come up with for me. Sunshine is the last term that would describe me. If I wasn’t in this damn uniform right now, I’d be head to toe in form-fitting black clothing, and he knows that.
I swear this guy knows how to push every single one of my buttons—good and bad.
“You know exactly what I mean,” I growl, my hands fisting at my side in frustration. “Blackmail? Really? I mean, I didn’t think very highly of you before, but I never thought you would stoop so low.”
He bristles at the slight, his eyes narrowing on me with an incredulous glare. Taking a deep breath, he seems to find his composure a moment later and a mischievous grin spreads across his lips.
“Is that what you thought I was doing? Oh no wonder you had that delicious scowl on your face.” He huffs out a breath of amusement. “I was only trying to help you, Hart.”
