Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“Ahhh! Ahhh!”
“Felix?” Dora’s voice pierced through my screams. “Felix, what’s happening? Are you okay?”
“Wow, that was awesome.” I’d only known her for a short time, but I’d recognize that voice, and the lustful sadism in it, anywhere. “Maybe we are all missing out on this sub bond thing,” Raven said.
“Such a silly little thing,” Ronin remarked.
I couldn’t scream anymore for crying, and even that was torture. Every tear felt like my eyeballs were being yanked out through my nose.
“Like she’s the first bonded to try to hurt her bonded and run away. As if the bond would let her get away with either.” A soft hand caressed my cheek. “This odd creature doesn’t stop fighting when she’s trapped, when she’s down, or when she’s beaten. It’s strange...” Ronin’s voice was soft—almost sweet. “But when I see her like this, it makes me want to try even harder—”
A hard, loveless kiss ravaged my lips.
“—to break her.”
Darkness chased me. Pouncing and pulling me under, it took me away from the pain.
Chapter Eight
Charlotte
I was somewhere soft and warm. Pain couldn’t trouble me in this place, nothing could. Everything felt right and safe as it should be.
“—ghouls are foul, hideous creatures that should be slaughtered on sight—”
I frowned, face scrunching up. Who was saying such horrible things in my perfect place?
Blinking away, my surroundings slowly came into focus.
It was the tapestry of the brutal staking and limb-tearing of a vampire that greeted me first, and shoved reality back into my fuzzy brain.
Talking to Professor Radu... losing my phone... Ronin’s threats... his bleeding nose... and my short-lived escape.
It all came back to me, but what I didn’t know, was how I got to Professor Connard’s class, or why my seat was so lumpy?
I twisted around, and came eye to mouth with Ronin’s smirk. Swallowing a shriek, I scrambled off his lap—bolting upright.
Heat flooded my cheeks to see his clothes all mussed and strands of my hair on his jacket sleeve. Had he spent the whole time holding me? Did he carry me to class so I wouldn’t get another absence on my death record?
I touched my face and nose. All fine. No aches or pains anywhere, and not a mark on Ronin’s sculpted-by-the-gods nose.
More importantly, sitting unharmed by his side was Dora. She put down her pen to wave at me, beaming like she hadn’t seen me for months.
Another glance to the left and right revealed empty seats. Where were the princess gangsters?
The back of my neck prickled. Peering over my shoulder, my heart shot into my throat.
Five lethal, hateful glares stabbed me in the back.
Eris, Ursula, Kama, Sauda, and Raven were sitting in their usual seats in the back, while Ronin, me, and Dora had an entire middle row to ourselves. There was plenty of room for all of them to sit in our row, so only one thing could’ve happened: Ronin told them to take a hike, and they hated me for it.
“Charlotte Hunter.”
I jerked, spinning around on Connard. Goodness, if the stares the pretty gangster girls were giving me were vicious, then it was because they were taking notes from him.
“First, you sleep through my class, and now you’re interrupting my class,” Connard said, planting his feet and folding his hands behind his back. “Tell me, did the illness that struck you down yesterday affect your intelligence? Should I expect absences and stupidity from you and your weak mortal constitution going forward?”
My eyes narrowed to slits. Seriously, dude? Like I don’t have enough problems right now? I’m not dealing with your empty-headed bigotry on top of it.
“I—”
“You can expect these absences going forward,” Ronin smoothly sliced in. “As my new bond, her priorities to me are above all the rest. Charlotte was busy yesterday, attending to me all day and all night.”
“Ow, ow, ow,” someone hollered, setting off a wave of hooting and wolf-whistling that set my face on fire.
“Ahh, so that’s the case.” Was it me, or did Professor Jackass Connard sound pleased? “How... fitting.”
My fists balled seeing the knowing smirk on Connard’s face.
The man flapped a hand at me, turning away. “Sit down, girl—”
“No.”
Connard spun back, eyes flashing. “What did you just—?!”
“No, sir,” I continued. “You will not have to deal with these absences in the future. From now on, I will be present, correct, and on time for your and every class—every day.” I spoke to Connard, but smiled mirthlessly at Ronin. “And if I’m not, please feel free to enact the proper punishment against me. After all, within the walls of this hallowed institution, my first priority is and must be to learn all that my esteemed professors are here to teach—”
“Oh, sit down, you kiss-ass bitch,” Connard sliced off before going about his work.
I rocked back, choking on my surprise as raucous laughter hit the air again—but none of them as loud as Ronin Belphe.