Page 33 of Vicious Kings
Immediately, I feel it. Magic hums through the metal, connecting me to something vast and incomprehensible. The campus wards, probably. Maybe more.
"There." The headmaster steps back, surveying his handiwork with satisfaction. "Much better."
I resist the urge to claw at it. "Great. I feel so much more protected."
If he catches the sarcasm, he ignores it. Instead, he returns to his desk and pulls out another piece of parchment.
"Your dormitory assignment," he says, sliding it across to me. "You'll be housed in Moonhearth Hall, which is reserved for unclaimed omegas. I'm afraid you'll have a roommate. Private rooms are reserved for those who have formed bonds."
A roommate. Fantastic. Because what this situation really needed was a witness to my every move.
"There are rules, of course," he continues, and of course there fucking are. "No alphas of any kind are permitted entrance to the omega dormitory. No visitors after ten in the evening. You're expected to sign in and out if you leave after dark, for your own safety."
"Let me guess," I say, unable to keep the dryness out of my voice. "The collar tracks my every move anyway, so the sign-in sheet is just for show?"
He actually smiles at that, showing teeth that are just a little too sharp to be comforting. "You're adjusting already. Excellent."
He pulls out yet another paper, because apparently the Fae love their bureaucracy, and begins writing in that flowing script my human brain hates.
"Your textbooks will be delivered to your room within the hour. Should you require additional supplies, there are several shops on campus that cater to student needs."
"I didn't exactly bring my debit card," I point out.
He chuckles. "Your collar is all the payment you'll ever need on campus. It's linked to the university's funding system.Anything you could possibly require, within reason, is yours for the taking."
"Just because I'm an omega?" I ask warily.
He gives me a tight-lipped smile that says his patience with my questions is wearing thin. "Don't worry so much about understanding the mechanics of our world all at once, or you'll overwhelm yourself. All you need to know is you are safe here, and you don't need to worry about anything other than focusing on your studies."
"And if I want to leave campus?"
The temperature drops again. "Without a proper escort, that would be quite impossible. The wards are designed to keep our omega students safe, after all. But I wouldn't worry too much about feeling confined. Given your unique circumstances, I doubt you'll remain unclaimed for long."
There's something knowing in his tone that puts me on edge. But I push forward, needing to establish my cover.
"Is it true?" I let a hint of breathless excitement creep into my voice, the kind I heard from village girls gossiping about their crushes. "About Prince Corvinus? That he's actually attending classes here?"
The effect is immediate. The headmaster's expression shifts from annoyed to amused indulgence.
"Ah, yes. Prince Corvinus has indeed returned to complete his education now that the conflicts with the Unseelie Court have settled somewhat." He leans back, studying me with those unnerving silver eyes. "Though I should warn you, Miss Moreau, you're far from the only omega who's taken notice of his presence."
I duck my head, playing up the shy act while I'm actually imagining all the different ways I could separate the prince's head from his shoulders. "I'm sure he has his pick of anyone he wants."
"Indeed." There's something almost pitying in his tone now. "But who knows? Stranger things have happened within these walls."
Yeah, like a hunter infiltrating your prestigious university to assassinate your precious prince. But I keep that thought locked down tight, hidden behind lowered lashes.
Anastasia was right. Male Fae eat this innocent bumpkin routine up.
Headmaster Valemyre stands, clearly considering our meeting concluded. I follow suit, glad to be almost free of his scrutiny.
"Come," he says, moving toward the door. "I'll see you to your dormitory."
He reaches for the handle, and I brace myself for another teleportation nightmare. But when the door swings open, it's not his office hallway on the other side.
Instead, I'm looking at what can only be a dormitory entrance. There's a stone archway covered in climbing vines that glow with soft bioluminescence. Beyond it, a courtyard filled with floating lights and the sound of voices. Young, human voices. The contrast to the austere office is so jarring I actually stumble.
Headmaster Valemyre chuckles at my shock. "Space works differently here at Valemyre. You'll grow accustomed to it. Certain doors lead where they're needed, when they're needed. It's all part of the university's charm."
