Alpha king is an alpha ass.

As we’d approached the alpha king’s chambers, Rage had pointed at a wooden bench in the foyer and told me to sit. At the time, I’d been pissed, but as soon as the top dog started yelling, I felt nothing but relief. At least, this way I could assess him without him staring me down or using his alpha mind-control on me. I dreaded the day I had to look that sadistic monster in the eyes, the man who’d ordered the attack on my clan, the man who’d banished us to the human world. My blood boiled just thinking about his vicious cruelty, but as alpha king, he held power over all of us. The king had been yelling ever since Justice closed the door, and now I leaned in to listen.

“How dare you leave the island…?” he seethed. “Do you have any idea how dangerous the mortal realm can be for our kind?”

Silence.

“Sir, we were just following orders—” Noble tried to defend their actions, but Alpha Ass was having none of it.

“If someone delivered an order to cut off your own head, would you do it? Cursed mage, boy—use your brain. Why would I send my only heirs to pick up Crescent trash?” He punctuated his declaration by throwing another heavy object against the door.

Yikes. Homeboy was legit psycho and a giant douchebag. Huh, maybe Rage’s winning personality was a genetic gift from this guy’s side of the family.

“But the summons—” Honor’s mild tone was drowned by the king’s temper.

“The summons is forged! Did any of you even look at the signature stamp? That is not my mark.” The king sounded absolutely infuriated. If he stroked out … I wondered who would take his place…

Somehow, I suspected Rage was first in line to inherit Midnight Pack and the alpha king position.

“Should we take her back?” Justice asked, his voice like smooth whiskey.

Silence. Was he contemplating it? I mean going back to my family sounded amazing, but now that I was here, I kind of wanted to explore. Besides, going through that two-hour drive, the portal, and the magic oath all over again sounded awful.

I leaned forward, waiting for him to reply.

“We can’t. The advanced mage already initiated her magic at the boat dock,” he growled. “If you take her back, we’d have to explain why to the High Mage Council. I’m not willing to risk our favor over this. No, we’ll just have to train her early. However, I do want to find out who the traitor is who forged this summons.”

“Traitor?” Rage’s voice could cut glass.

“Yes, find out who forged that document and bring me their head,” the king growled. “Preferably severed from their body.”

Yikes.

“I’ll show her to her quarters, then,” Noble offered, his voice coming from near the door. He probably wanted to get me out of here.

“No,” the king barked. “Rage, you do it. Drop her off, and be done with her. The less you involve yourselves with lowlife Crescent scum, the better.”

Scum. Ouch. My throat tightened, and I blinked up at the ceiling. I’d love to go home for another year. The island usually pulled us after our twentieth birthday. I’d just turned nineteen.

Before I could ponder further, the double doors yanked open. I jerked back as Rage stormed out and grabbed my duffle bag. “Let’s go.”

I jumped up and followed him, scurrying to keep up with his long stride. We exited the foyer, and after the door to the castle closed behind us, I deemed us far enough away to ask questions.

I leaned into Rage and whispered, “Who do you think sent the summons? That’s super shady, right? Got any enemies?”

He stopped walking and faced me, his green eyes blazing. “Yeah.” His nostrils flared, and he leaned down to look me in the eye. “You.”

His answer sucked the air from my lungs, and my jaw gaped. That was mean. Outright mean.

“We’re not on the same side, Nai,” he said, “You’re Crescent; I’m Midnight. Our clans are enemies—and for good reason. Crescent is shady. I wouldn’t put it past one of your own people to have forged that so you could come to school early. So just learn your magic. Then, go back to your cursed lands, and leave us be.”

He marched away, leaving me with my jaw on the ground. We both knew no one from my clan could’ve done that from the mortal realm. He’d said it just to hurt my feelings.

Any delusion I had that we might’ve mended our rift during our two-hour drive dissipated in that moment. What he’d said about being enemies was one hundred percent true. So, why did my heart sting?

“You have a personality problem. You know that?” I hurled the words at his back, wishing I had something—anything—else to throw.

He just grunted.

I stood rooted, watching his lithe form stride away. He still carried my heavy bag, and I let my attention drift to the surrounding courtyard dressed in late summer blooms of reds and oranges, mixed with the vibrant shades of green. All that beauty … and my gaze gravitated back to Rage, only this time, my ire flamed the same colors as the flowers—vitriolic red. Hate wasn’t even a strong enough word.

This was why the king sent Rage instead of Noble. No chitchat. No friendship. Zero bonding. Rage had no qualms about throwing me to the curb. Like garbage.

I passed a few students out in the courtyard, all between twenty and twenty-four years old. Despite bearing different marks, they mingled—mostly. Or they did until Rage strode by. Conversations dwindled as he passed, and their expressions morphed into mixtures of jealousy, lust, and pride. Mostly lust. Pretty sure they all wanted to lick him or be him, both of which pissed me off.

Stupid wolves.

When their attention landed on me, their gazes flicked up to my mark. And then, they scowled.

Judge much, assholes?

Yeah, I hated this place already. A lot.

We passed a large fountain at the edge of the courtyard. Then the pathway led through a hedge, a clear demarcation at the far end of matching buildings. As we walked between the two gray stone structures, I noticed the path led to a massive clearing in the middle of four buildings. Each one faced a different direction, north, south, east, or west. And while each structure was the same height and width, and constructed of the same materials, they were not all the same.

I stared at the south-facing building, its gray stone polished and free of vines. Flowerbeds lined the walkway, the dark mulch a stark contrast to the vibrant growth. Engraved into the dark wood door, a full moon declared the residence to be owned by the Midnight Clan.

Shocker.

I pivoted, scanning past the other students until I located Rage.

“Yours is that one,” Rage said, dropping my duffle at my feet. He pointed to a dilapidated building facing west. “Your cousin can help you—or not. Just be at the atrium in an hour. Opening ceremony starts at five.”

Without giving me an opportunity to ask questions, he pivoted and strode away.

Kicked to the curb—just like I’d thought. Glaring at his back, I wished for air magic so I could force him to kneel before me. Or better yet, fire magic so I could light him up.

Thanks a lot, Prince Asshole.

He froze—which meant I’d probably said that out loud.

Oops.

“That’s Prince Courage to you,” he growled. “Don’t make me teach you respect.”