Page 104 of Vicious Kings
"You like it?" Olivia asks knowingly, and I realize I've been eating a bit too enthusiastically.
At least Corvinus doesn't appear to be stalking me at the moment. I'm sure he'd have plenty to say aboutthat.
"It's good," I say with a shrug.
"You're eating it like you've never had ice cream before."
I purse my lips, heat creeping across my face.
"Wait, you'veneverhad ice cream?" she asks in disbelief, her golden curls spilling over her shoulder as she leans forward. "Seriously?"
"Hunter food is made with nutrition in mind, not taste," I say with a shrug. "Dessert is frivolous, and hunters don't do frivolity."
"Huh. Oh!" Olivia grabs my arm, nearly making me drop my cone. "Look!"
She points toward the center of the courtyard where the grass has started... moving. Not like wind, but deliberately, growing and weaving itself into patterns.
Flowers bloom in fast-forward motion, their petals unfurling in bursts of brilliant color. The water fountain splashes in rhythmic pulses that catch the light and toss rainbows across the gathered students.
A nature spectacle. I've heard about these but never seen one. The Fae showing off their connection to the natural world, bending it to their will for entertainment.
Not unlike blood bending, I guess, just less gruesome.
It's beautiful. I hate that it's beautiful. Especially since I know this display, like all the other pretty absurdities of this campus, exists for the sole purpose of entrancing omegas.
If the cage has enough flashing lights and soft, luxurious surfaces, the prisoner won't notice the bars.
Students gather around, oohing and aahing like it's the most amazing thing they've ever seen. The grass continues its dance, forming the shapes of everything from a herd of deer to a crouching dragon. All made of living plants, all impossibly detailed.
Then, I realize who the conductor of this verdant symphony is. Standing apart from the crowd is a male Fae who towers over the rest. He has long red hair and eyes so purple they stand out like jewels even from a distance.
He's lean and muscular with bronze skin and strange silver markings weaving up his left arm that glow and pulse in a way that seems to be controlling or at least connected to the moving grass. His hands aren't moving, but he's clearly the one behind the spectacle.
"Isn't it gorgeous?" Olivia breathes, and yeah, she's definitely the type to appreciate this kind of flashy magic.
"It'ssomething," I admit, unable to tear my eyes away despite myself.
The display builds to a crescendo, all the elements coming together in a final burst of color and motion that makes the crowd gasp.
Then, just as quickly as it started, it's over. The grass settles back to normal, the water returns to its gentle fountain routine, and the flowers remain but cease their frantic blooming.
Applause ripples through the courtyard.
The red-haired fae takes an elegant bow, a vaguely bored smile on his handsome face.
Show-off.
"Damn, he's hot," Olivia breathes, and when I look over, she practically has hearts in her eyes.
"Down, girl," I tease. "You're going to meet your new pack tonight, remember?"
"Oh, that's right!" she gasps, sitting up ramrod straight. "I still have to pick something to wear. But I haveno ideawhat the rest of his pack is even like."
"You're going to be fine," I tell her as we start walking. "Just wear something that's comfortable enough to run in. And that you can hide a knife under."
"You're a terrible life coach, you know that?"
"I prefer to think of it as realistic."
