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“Fuck off,” Killian said.

“Hmm, I see, you don’t like talking about your own wedding,” Louis said. “Your engagement has been the gossip of the month. Let me in on something, then I’ll be more willing to share whatever you want to know.”

“I won’t get married before graduation,” Killian said grimly. “Who the fuck wants to be tied down in their twenties?”

“Well, we’ll want to if we find our fated mates,” Louis said. “Isn’t this the whole point of hanging out in this academy, where every eligible female in the realm is placed in the Brides Selection? We are all in a race to find our true mate, mate her, and produce the right powerful heir, and then one of us lucky bastards will rise to be the High King.”

“Take the High King’s throne if you want or can,” Killian sneered. “Like I give a fuck.”

“You’re a sour grape, Killian,” Louis clucked his tongue, “since you can’t swim with us sharks in the pool of the Brides Selection. You’re no longer allowed to hunt. You’re so bitter that you don’t show your ass at our breakfast anymore. But think of it this way: if Queen Lilith turns out to be your fated mate, you’ll be ahead of us all. Is she your true mate, Killian? Have you tried her out?”

I strained my ears to listen, acid in my blood, ice in my heart. And I had no reason to react this way.

Killian smiled coldly. “Why are you so fucking interested in my mating life?”

“Everyone is interested in your mating life.” Louis smirked. “C’mon, Killian. If you want to trade information, let’s trade fairly. You’ve never asked about anyone else who works for me except my new squire. You never even care about me. But little Bob has a special talent other than his blood tasting like nectar from a god.”

My heart skipped a beat. My breath hitched.

Killian hesitated for a second, then sighed. “I want to postpone the wedding even after my graduation, but I’m not sure if it can be done. My hands are tied. You know how my father is.” His jaw clenched. “That’s all I can tell you.”

“Tell me one thing that I truly want to know,” Louis drawled. “Is it true that your dragon will come out only when he recognizes his fated mate? Are you even a dragon?”

“You’ll never know, Louis,” Killian snorted cynically. “You and the other heirs gossip like old church ladies. Don’t you have better things to do?”

Prince Louis clapped Killian’s shoulder as if he forgave his attitude already. “There’s no reason to be defensive. You shouldn’t be sulky either. Queen Lilith is a great beauty, not to mention powerful.”

“Back to your pet squire,” Killian demanded.

“His origin is unknown.” Louis shrugged. “He was in bad shape when I caught him. He must be from the slum in the realm.”

Killian frowned at him. “When did you become sloppy, man? Don’t you drink from everyone before initiating them into your house to see their memories?”

Fuck!

A powerful vampire could see his target’s memories when he drank directly from his victim or donor’s veins. I had forgotten this fact and threat because no one had taken blood from me before, not even my father.

I shifted from foot to foot, my nerves on edge. If things went south, I would have to run in the next second.

“Little Bob is immune to my magic,” Louis said.

“Immune how?” Killian asked eagerly, and I focused on their conversation.

“While his blood tastes like the purest magic, like ambrosia directly from a god’s veins, I can’t see his memories,” Louis confessed.

I let out a relieved breath, and tension left my shoulders. He wasn’t wrong about the taste of my blood, only he didn’t really know about my true origin. He should consider himself lucky that he was clueless. If he knew about my dark secret, Sy wouldn’t risk letting him live.

“I’ve been pondering on this,” the vampire prince continued. “He’s also proven to be immune to others’ magic. A whole class threw their magic at him, and he just brushed it off. He can pass wards like they aren’t even there. The boy has a hot temper and a foul mouth, and he doesn’t fear me.” The vampire prince shook his head. “He only worries about his own needs. He might be even more self-serving than you, Killian.”

My face burned in anger and humiliation as they kept trashing me. Maybe I should do something to shut them up!

“On the other hand, that boy is refreshing, as he’s unlike any other,” Louis said. “I caught him when he tried to steal food from the kitchen in a stolen servant’s uniform. I took pity on him and took him under my wing to give him a chance to turn over a new leaf. He’s raw material that needs a lot of work. He thought being my squire meant carrying my sword and flag, then making sure to bury me honorably after I’m killed.”

Killian blinked, then laughed while glancing in my direction. “She—he said that?”

He’d used the pronoun “she” to refer to me three times now. I doubted it was a slip of the tongue. Somehow, I suspected that he did it intentionally. But how could he tell that I was a girl while others never questioned that I was a boy? After being a boy for a week, I’d mostly forgotten that I was still a girl. I took great care when I had to use the bathroom or take a shower. I also bound my chest good and solid.

Hearing Killian’s laughter, everyone turned to look in his direction in surprise.