Page 9

CHAPTER NINE

CJ

I slam Rayne against the courtyard wall, the stone cracking under the impact. My hand is around his throat, squeezing tight enough to make his eyeballs bulge. Students bay, placing bets on the winner. Anyone who backs Rayne will get what’s coming to them. I smash my fist into his face, breaking his nose and giving him two black eyes, that don’t heal immediately. That’s when you know you’ve been hit by CJ Aquila.

“Let me make something crystal fucking clear,” I growl, my voice low enough that only he can hear. “Isolde Morvoren is off-limits.”

Rayne tries to laugh, but it comes out as a choked gurgle. “Since when do you give a shit about fresh blood, Constantine?” He manages to spit out my full name, which just annoys me further. Constantine is my dad.

I tighten my grip, lifting him higher until his feet dangle. My dragon side stirs beneath the vampire, clashing wildly and making me beyond unpredictable. It heats my blood to dangerous levels.

“Since now,” I hiss. “You look at her again, I’ll tear your eyes out. You speak to her, I’ll rip your tongue out. You touch her...” I lean in closer, letting him see the change in my eyes as they shift to something more sinister than he’s ever seen, “I’ll remove your hands and feed them to you. Are we clear?”

He nods frantically, genuine fear replacing his earlier arrogance. Good. Fear is an excellent teacher.

I release him suddenly, letting him crumple to the ground. He gasps, rubbing his throat, looking up at me with hatred and but a new wariness that I find acceptable.

“Spread the word,” I announce louder, turning to address the gathered crowd as currency exchanges hands. “Touch her and you die.” I scan the faces, memorising those who look particularly disappointed by this declaration. Future problems, possibly. But none of them would dare cross me openly. Not after this display.

The crowd disperses, sensing the show is over. Isaac stands at the edge, arms folded, expression unreadable. He doesn’t look pleased, but he doesn’t look particularly upset either. Perhaps he understands that my methods, while extreme, are effective.

Rayne staggers to his feet, still massaging his throat. “You’ll regret this,” he rasps, but it’s a hollow threat. We both know it.

I smile, all fangs. “Try me.”

He slinks away, and I straighten my shirt cuffs, smoothing down the fabric with deliberate care. Several female students hover nearby, eyeing me up. I ignore them. There’s only one girl at SilverGate who interests me.

I glance up at the window where I sense her watching and catch a glimpse of her face before she steps back. Good. Let her see what happens to those who think they can have what’s mine.

Isaac approaches, his footsteps measured. “Was that necessary?”

“Extremely,” I reply, not bothering to look at him. “Problem?”

“You’re drawing attention to her.”

“She already has attention. I’m just making sure it’s the right kind.” I brush non-existent dust from my sleeve. “Besides, Rayne needed to be put in his place.”

Isaac studies me, those blue eyes—so like hers—narrowed in suspicion. “This isn’t just about Rayne.”

“No,” I admit, meeting his gaze directly. “It’s not.”

“She’s not like other girls, CJ.” His voice drops, a warning edged with something I can’t quite place. “She’s been sheltered.”

I let out a low laugh. “Sheltered? Is that what we’re calling it?”

He stiffens. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” I turn, gazing up at the window where Isolde had been standing moments before. “Just that there’s more to your sister than meets the eye. We both know it.”

“Stay away from her,” Isaac says, his voice hardening. “I mean it, CJ.”

I face him again, allowing a slow smile to spread across my face. “Or what, exactly?”

The air between us crackles with tension. Isaac might be powerful, but we both know who would win in a direct confrontation. Still, I value his friendship, strange as that might be. It’s not something I’ve experienced much in my life.

“Just be careful with her,” he finally says, his tone shifting from threat to something approaching a plea. “She’s not ready for someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” I raise an eyebrow, amused. “And what kind of someone am I, exactly?”

Isaac glares at me, not regretting his choice of words, one bit. “You’re intense. Obsessive. You take what you want and damn the consequences.”

“All true,” I concede with a careless shrug. “But you’re forgetting something important. ”

“What’s that?”

I step closer, my voice dropping to ensure only he can hear. “I protect what’s mine with equal intensity. Nothing will harm her now.”

Isaac’s jaw works as he processes this. “She’s not a possession, CJ. She’s a person. My sister.”

“I’m well aware.” I glance up at her window again, feeling her presence even though she’s stepped away. “Perhaps you should be more concerned about what sent her here in the first place, rather than who she spends her time with now that she’s free.”

His eyes narrow. “Don’t get me started on that. My parents aren’t answering my calls.”

That switches the topic. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“It’s not. So they threw Issy here with no explanation to her or me, and we don’t even know why. Something isn’t right, CJ. I don’t want Issy getting hurt in whatever is going on here.”

“I won’t let her get hurt,” I say, meaning every word.

Isaac’s expression shifts, a flicker of genuine concern breaking through his usual asshole attitude. “You can’t promise that. Not at SilverGate.”

“Watch me.”

Before he can respond, the bell tolls, a deep, resonant sound that vibrates through the stone beneath our feet. It’s a warning sign for all violence to cease or Blackridge will be on our asses. Isaac gives me one last measured look before turning away, his shoulders tense.

I remain in the courtyard for a moment longer, my gaze drawn again to her window. The confrontation with Rayne was necessary. It’s a public declaration of intent. But it’s only the beginning. Something brought Isolde here, something that has her parents hiding and her searching for defensive spells in the library.

The pieces don’t quite fit yet, but I intend to solve this puzzle. Whatever is coming for Isolde will have to go through me first, and nothing will survive that encounter.

With a last glance at her window, I turn and head back to my room to do a spot of snooping via the mirror. I want to find out what she’s doing and if she’s doing it with someone else.