Chapter 70
“Some serpents wear a savior’s face p>
~ Rebel Beast
___________
At first it was Liv. Then Olivia and Fatima joined in.
“Karen, don’t p>
“Please… don’t do this to us p>
Their voices were filled with desperation. They couldn’t imagine being left behind. Not after everything they had done for her.
They had turned against their own friends without hesitation, choosing Karen over everyone else. If she walked out that door now, Charlotte would undoubtedly make them pay for it.
Karen let out a weary sigh. Desperate people were exhausting.
Still, she couldn’t deny they had their uses. A house full of serpents was hardly somewhere she intended to fend for herself. Someone would have to attend to her needs.
“Wait,” she called after Caelis.
Caelis stopped. Slowly, he turned to face her, a scowl settling across his features.
“What is it p>
“I won’t be going alone.” Karen gestured toward the three girls behind her. “They’re coming with me p>
As though fearing there might be some misunderstanding, Liv, Olivia, and Fatima immediately stepped forward, separating themselves from the rest of the girls.
The sight did nothing to improve Caelis’ mood. Instead, his brow furrowed even deeper.
“What did you just say?” he asked with dangerous calm.
Confident that her father had already arranged everything, Karen lifted her chin.
“I’m not going anywhere without them. You’re taking me to a house full of serpents. Naturally, I need people I can trust p>
“Yes,” Liv quickly agreed. “Karen can’t stay there by herself. Someone has to look after her p>
Karen’s lips curved with satisfaction. If only Liv realized how accurate that statement truly was.
Caelis slowly rubbed the back of his neck.
For the first time in a very long while, he found himself wondering exactly what kind of trouble his father had saddled him with.
For a moment, Caelis looked as though he might actually consider it until Karen spoke again.
“Besides,” she said with unconcealed arrogance, “I’m sure my father is paying you an exorbitant amount to make sure all my needs are met p>
The air changed, and a dangerous gleam flashed through Caelis’ silver eyes. He had tolerated her arrogance because his father had ordered him to. But treating him like a servant?
That crossed a line.
Before Caelis could act, Venus stepped smoothly into his path.
“Your Highness,” he said carefully. “Remember your father’s orders p>
Caelis said nothing.
Venus lowered his voice another fraction.
“Besides, if she must die, let it be by dragon hands rather than yours p>
For a long moment, Caelis remained perfectly still. His expression softened just enough for Venus to believe the crisis had passed.
He stepped aside.
The instant he did, Caelis made a low, guttural reptilian sound from the back of his throat. His jaw unhinged wider than any human’s should have, revealing a pair of gleaming ivory fangs. Thick strands of translucent venom gathered at their tips before spilling free.
Without the slightest warning, he spat, and the venom struck Liv squarely in the eye.
“Ahhh p>
Liv’s scream ripped through the room. She clutched at her face, stumbling blindly across the floor.
“It burns!” she shrieked. “Oh my God… it burns! I can’t see! I can’t see p>
Panic seized the room.
Karen recoiled instinctively, dragging herself backward across the floor while Olivia and Fatima did the same, horror written plainly across their faces.
Only moments ago they had believed Prince Caelis represented safety. Now it dawned on them that they had jumped from the frying pan into the fire.
“You… you hurt her!” Karen cried, staring at him in disbelief.
Caelis regarded her without the slightest hint of remorse. If anything, the cruelty only sharpened the elegance of his features.
“Let’s make one thing perfectly clear,” he said, his voice as cold as polished steel. “I am not your servant, nor will I ever become one p>
He took an unhurried step toward her.
“My patience does not resemble Professor Maverick’s, and I don’t play games like your resident dragon, Rhydian Drakhar p>
He stopped.
“The only reason you continue to draw breath is because I have chosen to allow it p>
His silver eyes settled on hers with chilling finality.
“So do not mistake my compliance for foolishness. Your safety exists only for as long as I decide it does p>
The room fell silent. Or at least, as silent as it could with Liv’s agonized screams echoing through the common room.
She was on the floor now, clutching her eye and writhing in pain as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
Without sparing her another glance, Caelis turned to Venus.
“The girls wish to reside in House Ophidian.” His tone was perfectly composed. “See that all four of them are given comfortable accommodations p>
Then his attention shifted to Karen.
“And you were right.” His lips curved into a smile devoid of warmth. “I should charge your father an exorbitant fee for these additional services. I’m certain he’ll be delighted to pay it p>
Karen could only stare at him, speechless. For someone who thrived on having the upper hand, Caelis had dismantled every illusion of control she thought she had.
She wanted to scream. To break something. Anything.
Humiliation and fury churned together until she could scarcely tell them apart.
A laugh suddenly broke out from Charlotte.
Still lying on the floor, the chuckle began as a weak, breathless sound. Then it grew louder and louder until she was laughing hysterically, openly mocking Karen.
And, as expected, the laughter provoked Karen. She let out a shrill scream and charged at Charlotte.
“I’ll kill you p>
Venus intercepted her with ease, catching her around the waist before she could take another step.
Karen kicked, struggled, and hurled every curse she could think of, but Venus held her effortlessly, as though restraining an unruly child.
Caelis paid the commotion no further attention. He walked out of the residence and into the evening air.
Something brushed against his shoulder, and he looked up to find the sky filled with drifting envelopes, carried across the academy by birds.
Caelis plucked one from the air, broke the seal, and unfolded the letter. His expression shifted as his eyes moved down the page. First came curiosity, then amusement, and finally, a scoff escaped him.
“Game on, Rhydian he murmured, folding the letter neatly between his fingers. “This should be entertaining p>