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I bark a laugh of my own as I roll my eyes. “Please, people like me? You can’t even control some whiny little bitch,” I snipe, and he knows exactly who I’m referring to.

His hand is around my throat in the next moment, clenching, testing the weight of my neck in his hand as his nostrils flare even more. “You don’t know anything about what you’re stepping into. I’m struggling to comprehend why you even bothered applying to attend Heir Academy to begin with.”

“The fact that I’m on your radar tells a different tale.” Anger coils in my veins. I can match him with everything he’s got, but one thing is for certain, when someone is crowned heir of the kingdom, they will have to handle all different kinds of people. But it will be me handling him. His hold tightens around me, trying to prove his strength, but I just grin. “Please, tighter. I love the idea of your fingers leaving bruises on my skin,” I rasp, my throat constricting beneath his grasp.

It has the desired effect and his jaw falls slack, his hold loosening ever so slightly.

Balling my hand, I slam my fist into his throat at the same time I kick at his knee. He stumbles backward and I rush the few steps it takes to reach the pathway, putting me out of his reach. His deathly glare remains on me the entire time, and it only darkens when he sees the smugness on my face.

I can’t hide it.

I’ve gotten out of his hold twice now.

Take that, asshole.

“You think because you have earth magic, you can defeat me?” he growls, making me frown. I didn’t use any magic then. That was all physical combat, nothing else. Understanding quickly dawns on me when I recall my run-in with Vallie earlier and the earth magic I used to hold her in place.

I don’t clarify that with him, though. Instead, I sneer at him.

“I don’t think anything concerning you.”

“You want to tell that to your little racing heart?” he retorts, slowly strolling toward me with his finger aimed my way before he taps at his ear.

Fucker.

Gulping, I roll my eyes, trying to fight back the panic. “The bruises, remember? I wasn’t joking.” I mean, I wasn’t, but that’s beside the point right now. His eyes narrow as he stands on the pathway, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “How about I stay out of your way, and you stay the fuck out of mine?”

“It’s not me who needs the reminder,” he retorts, so sure that none of this is his fault.

“I’m trying,” I snap, but he snaps louder.

“Try. Harder.” He comes to a stop in front of me, so we’re toe-to-toe, and as much as I want to put some distance between us, I refuse to back away.

“Fuck you,” I sneer, making his lips lift in a somewhat smile, but there’s no humor there.

“You wish.”

“Maybe if you just got your little dick out, you could penetrate me with it while I pretend to feel it. Then all your pent-up tension would disappear and you would leave me the hell alone,” I growl, my face heating as my frustrations all rise to the surface.

So much for remaining calm. Counting to ten won’t help me relax at this stage.

“I vote for that.”

I startle, turning to find Brody, Cassian, and Kryll all watching with different emotions flashing in their eyes. Cassian seems concerned, Brody entertained, and Kryll impassive. I think.

That’s all I need to encourage me to get the fuck out of here. Now.

Smiling wide, I salute them. “Have a good night, boys,” I holler, taking a step back from Raiden and heading for the quickest way back to my room.

“We’re not boys; we’re men,” Brody yells, making me snicker, and I’m thankful they can’t see me.

“The fact that you need to clarify that is dumb,” Kryll grunts, forcing me to press my lips together as I continue to walk away.

“Whatever. She likes me,” Brody insists, making my eyes widen.

Get out of here, Addi. Get out now.

This whole back and forth is exactly what I enjoy, but not here. I have more to deal with than boys with little dicks and big mouths. I need to remember that. No matter how hot my skin prickles in their proximity.