Chapter 4 My Chair

Zarek’s POV

I definitely wasn’t looking forward to today. Honestly, I hadn’t been looking forward to any part of Kingsveil.

The academy was filled with powerful heirs from every supernatural bloodline in existence. Future rulers. Future leaders. Future headaches. Most of them had spent their entire lives being told how important they were. Which meant they were usually arrogant. Entitled. Annoying. I already had enough problems without adding a castle full of spoiled heirs to the list.

That was exactly why I was sitting outside on the front steps instead of attending orientation.

The speech had started nearly an hour ago. Maybe they’d be done soon.

I leaned back against the stone pillar and stared out across the academy grounds. The weather was perfect. The campus was impressive. The company was nonexistent. Exactly how I liked it.

A group of students passed nearby and immediately changed direction after noticing me. A smirk crept up on my face. Being the Dragon Prince definitely had advantages. People generally avoided problems. And most people considered me a problem. The crest stitched onto my blazer sleeve usually handled introductions before I ever opened my mouth. A dragon wrapped around a crown. Simple. Effective. And… Terrifying.

I glanced toward the academy doors. The orientation packet was the only reason I was even bothering to go inside. I needed my room assignment. My schedule. Maybe a map. Then everyone could leave me alone.

Pushing away from the pillar, I headed toward the entrance. The moment I stepped inside, the familiar sounds of Kingsveil surrounded me.

Students talking. Staff moving through the halls. Doors opening and closing. I ignored all of it.

I pushed through the doorway. The room was still packed full. A few heads immediately turned. Then a few more. Then half the room. I resisted the urge to sigh. Apparently showing up late wasn’t enough to stop people from staring.

“Sorry I’m late.” The sarcasm practically dripped from my voice. I shoved my hands into my pockets and headed toward the back row. My usual seat sat exactly where it always did. Unfortunately, someone was sitting in it.

A girl with dark brown hair and bright hazel eyes. Very pretty. Not that it mattered. She was still sitting in my chair.

I stopped directly in front of her. “You’re in my seat.”

The room instantly went silent. Apparently people expected a fight.

The girl blinked up at me. For a second, I thought she was going to move. Instead, she rolled her eyes. Actually rolled her eyes. At me. “Excuse me, Mr. Lizard Boy, but I was here first.”

Several students gasped. Someone choked. A laugh nearly escaped me. Well. This was new. Most people avoided eye contact. This girl had insulted me within five seconds.

Bold. Possibly stupid. Definitely entertaining.

My gaze shifted toward the three guys surrounding her. Two sat beside her while one more occupied the seat behind. All three had gone completely still.

I looked back toward her. “Princess.” The nickname slipped out before I could stop it. “You need to get up.”

“No.” The answer came immediately. Not a second of hesitation.

I reached down and grabbed the orientation packet sitting in her lap. The moment she realized what I was doing, she lunged for it. I lifted it above my head. Out of her reach.

The room watched with the sort of fascination usually reserved for train wrecks.

“Give it back,” she said as she reached for it.

“Move,” I asked once again.

She looked at me right in the eyes. Her eyes narrowed. Mine narrowed right back. For a second, neither of us moved. Then she stood.

Victory.

I slid into the chair before she could change her mind. The packet remained safely in my hand. Problem solved. Or so I thought.

“Hey.”

I looked up. The girl stood directly in front of me. Her hands rested on her hips. “That’s my seat.”

“No. It’s my seat,” I reminded her.

“You stole it,” she pointed her finger at me. The smile that appeared on her face immediately made me suspicious. A second later, she dropped onto my lap.

My entire body froze.

The room exploded with laughter. Several people looked ready to pass out.

Meanwhile, the girl settled comfortably against me. “My chair.” She smiled triumphantly. Then she wiggled.

What. The. Hell. I immediately grabbed her waist. “Get off.”

No.” Her smile widened.

I was beginning to understand why her brothers looked perpetually exhausted. One of them had buried his face in his hands. Another looked like he was trying not to laugh. The third had completely given up and was openly enjoying the show.

The instructor finally appeared beside us. Sir…”

I looked up at him. The poor guy immediately lost confidence. His eyes flickered toward the dragon crest on my sleeve. Then back to me. Then away again. “Uh…”

“Yes?” I asked with a huge smirk on my face.

The instructor swallowed. Hard. Then he looked toward the girl. “Miss.” His voice sounded much stronger now. “There are plenty of available seats and…”

Before he could finish, the girl casually raised her hand. Her fingers flicked through the air. A second later, every empty chair in the room tipped over.

The girl looked extremely pleased with herself. “Looks like there aren’t.”

I opened my mouth. Immediately closed it. Then opened it again. I had absolutely no response prepared for that. None. Whatsoever.

Then something changed. The amusement vanished from the girl’s face. A sharp groan escaped her lips. Her hand flew to the back of her neck. Pain flashed across her features. Real pain. Something strong enough to instantly erase every trace of triumph.

My eyes narrowed. The reaction was too sudden. Too genuine. The girl looked toward one of the boys nearby. Something unspoken passed between them. Concern immediately appeared on his face.

Then she stood up quickly.  Without another word, she turned and rushed from the room. The door slammed shut behind her.

I stared at the empty doorway. The room slowly returned to life around me. Conversations resumed. People started whispering. The instructor looked relieved the crisis had ended. I barely noticed any of it. Instead, I found myself staring at the doorway. Thinking about the pain I’d seen in her eyes. Thinking about the way her hand had flown to her neck. Thinking about the fact that she’d called me Mr. Lizard Boy.

A grin slowly spread across my face. Well. Kingsveil had just become a lot more interesting.