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Chapter 20

Istare at the large dark building looming before me. “This is it.”

Bash squeezes my hand. “How people treat you is how they’re treating King Tiberias. You should be fine. Nobody ever wants to disrespect him.”

I frown as memories of the students breaking down my door floods my mind. “What if it isn’t enough?”

“It will be. Everyone loves him.”

“I’m still Drake’s daughter.”

“Then they have to keep their ire to themselves.” He pulls me toward the building.

I resist. “You think they’ll still hate me?”

“If they do, they can’t act on it. And besides, you’ve won these people over before. You can do it again. Come on and enter that building with your head held high. Show them you’re still the confident Marra I fell in love with.”

I straighten my back. “You’re right. When have I ever been known to cower?”

“Exactly.”

We make our way to the door, and he holds it open for me. Inside, everything is dim and quiet. Most everybody is probably sleeping at this hour. In fact, climbing into my bed sounds like a dream. I’ll just have to figure out what to do about the door. Hang a blanket over it or something.

Bash and I head for the dorm and only come across a few students on the way. None of them react to seeing me. Once we reach the dorm, all is quiet there too.

Oceana, the PA, crosses our path. “It’s past curfew ... Oh, Marra. Good to see you. Anything I can do for you?”

I pretend not to notice the special treatment. “Sorry for being late. We were—”

“Don’t worry about it. Just let me know if you need anything.”

Great. Now I’m going to get special privileges. That isn’t going to make people resent me at all.

Bash puts his arm around my waist and guides me down the hall to the suite. The first thing I notice is the door has been replaced. How did they manage that so quickly? At least I won’t need to worry about the blanket.

My old key works for the new door, and I open it.

Bash kisses my cheek. “See you tomorrow.”

I sigh. “I never got to study for any of my classes.”

He frowns. “We should’ve studied instead of watching movies.”

“No. I didn’t have my things, and we didn’t know if we’d even return. Or if I’d return.”

“You think I’d come back without you?”

“I’d make you. You’re one wrong move from being expelled, remember?”

He gives me his crooked smile. “You’d make me?”

“I can be very convincing.”

“That you can.” He brushes his lips across mine. “For the record, that kiss was for you alone.”

“Noted.” I give him a quick kiss and duck into the room before I find myself staying up even later.

Inside, Halen is sound asleep in her bed. Everything that had gotten broken when the mob trampled inside has been replaced already.