Page 9 of House of Demons and Bones (Shades of Ruin and Magic #5)

8

Barbie

B ea and I ambled out of the House of Mages, which was mostly empty, all the students crammed into Jubilee Haven for lunch. A handful of mage guards loitered in the pentagon courtyard, side-eyeing me.

I flicked away a spell from the crimson dwarf bushes as we passed the fence. I’d stopped yanking them off—the mages would just slap new ones on, and then Cade would haul me into his office for another chat. The mage house was my last shot at making things work. Annoying Cade enough would probably land my ass on the street.

We can always crash at the House of Fae. My sugar won’t turn us away, Sy piped up. Or there’s the House of Chaos. You’re Killian’s true mate, after all. Even before your prince dropped the bomb, that chaos werewolf said your room there was permanently set aside for you.

It’s not just about having a place to crash, I said. House politics are a whole other mess.

“How’s your grandmother, Bea?” I asked. “I thought of seeking you out at the border before I talked myself out of it.”

“Nana wasn’t at the border,” she said as we walked the cobbled path along the edge of Windsong Woods. The scent of pine and oranges blew with the wind. “She was stuck in a human town, and the absence of magic there was killing her slowly.” She paused. “I never told you why my family was banished to the mortal realm…but it was because of my mom’s crime. Now, Nana is all I have left.”

“Shit.” I blinked, then grabbed her arm. “I’ll talk to Cade and get him to revoke the exile. I won’t rest until your nana’s safe here!”

“Prince Cade already took care of it,” Bea said, her eyes wet. “He got the king to pardon Nana before I left. She’s recovering in the mage city, thanks to His Highness.”

I smiled in relief. Now Bea could visit her grandmother whenever she wanted.

“Cade’s a good guy when he’s not being a ruthless ass like the other heirs,” I said.

The heirs were all predators in their blood, no matter how much kindness they bothered to show. I opened my mouth, then shut it and bit my tongue. I almost said something about Cade’s curse. His secret wasn’t mine to spill. However, I’d hunt that Fury down and take her out.

“The kindest prince heir,” Bea said with a sigh. She still watched him with stars in her eyes from across the room. “I’m so glad we’re together in the mage house.”

I nodded, my thoughts drifting to Killian. A sudden need for him hit me like a barrage of hail.

Jubilee Haven loomed ahead. My stomach groaned, yet I slowed my pace as dread settled in my chest.

Killian had broken my heart when he played cozy with Queen Lilith and her ward in front of everyone. It’d been a ruse, a distraction to keep them away from me, and it hadn’t worked since his “women” came for me every chance they got. Now he was changing his strategy, and declaring me his true mate in private with Rowan there to witness seemed to be the first step.

I didn’t know where we’d go from here, but I dreaded seeing him with them today, even if it was an act. It would wreck me. I stopped in my tracks, suddenly struggling to breathe, panic icing my lungs.

“You okay, Barbie?” Bea asked.

She didn’t know about my last night with Killian. The worry on her face told me she thought I was dreading another show of him with his two women.

“Whatever happens,” she said, her quiet voice steel-hard, “I’m here for you.”

I nodded and squeezed her hand in thanks before squaring my shoulders. Sy pumped strength into me, and Bea and I slid into the dining hall, heads held high, after checking the entrance for traps and nasty spells.

We headed to our corner table, our shoes clicking softly on the marble floor.

A quick glance told me Killian was nowhere in sight.

I reached out with my magical senses, and I didn’t feel him around either. The relief lasted two seconds before my gut twisted. Queen Lilith wasn’t around either. Were they together somewhere? There was no way to know, and the uncertainty burned in my bones.

If he ran back to her after telling me that I was his fated mate, I wouldn’t be able to come back from that. It’d break something fundamental in me.

And if/when the mating fever returned, I’d be helpless against its primal pull. And thinking that I’d have to go to him like a puppet on a string, regardless of his betrayal?—

My stomach churned. I shook my head, shoving away the poisonous thought, refusing to let it take root.

Another survey of the room told me none of the other heirs were around either. That was new, as if they’d finally gotten bored with the endless drama and moved on.

The bride candidates slumped in their chairs in disappointment, and honestly, I felt it too. Everyone had gotten used to the sexy heirs strutting in like they owned the place—well, they did own the place. Who knew what those guys were up to anymore?

Most tables were occupied, everyone in their usual spots. The seating chart might as well be a map of Shades Academy’s pecking order. I’d tried shaking up their hierarchy once. It lasted all of five seconds, but I’d at least disrupted their order during my brief stay.

My eyes swept the hall. Same scene, different players. Princess Medea, my old nemesis, was gone for good, roasted by my dark flame. Now her former attack dogs, Bellona and crew, had found a new master in Grace.

The demon princess had rolled in claiming to be Barbie 2.0, but she’d flopped at replacing me. That didn’t mean she’d quit yet. Surprisingly, Lady America hadn’t joined Grace’s crew. The redheaded fae, niece of Headmistress Ethel, stuck with her fae noble friends, still commanding one of the prime tables.

Dixie kept to her group too. The shifter beta used to be my friend before the Shriekers had killed her lover, Luna. Dixie wouldn’t look at me, and I didn’t blame her. That wound might never heal. I’d even let her beat me once to let her vent but promised to hit back next time.

Sy kept telling me off for shouldering the blame for every person that my father’s abominations killed. She was right. I couldn’t bring back the dead, but I could stop him from bleeding this realm dry and protect the rest.

Bea and I walked the aisle to our table amid a thick silence. Not the normal kind—this was deliberate. My heart stumbled, as the quiet was more unnerving than the crowd’s usual hateful words and mocking comments. The suspense of what waited ahead made my skin crawl.

“Shush!” My super hearing caught the whisper perfectly. “Don’t look at her. Don’t give the attention-seeking whore what she wants.”

Me, an attention whore? I almost laughed. They had the wrong chick. That was Sy.

Sy smiled.

I shrugged at the new silent treatment. Let them pretend I didn’t exist. It meant I could eat in peace.

Bea caught the shift too—it was the first time no one had even glanced my way, as if I were a ghost. We kept walking, our chins held high. Ever since I’d cleared her magical block, Bea had found her inner warrior. She no longer cracked under pressure. She didn’t even blink when shit hit the fan.

But I hated that my friend took heat for sticking with me. We’d fought about it, and she only got pissed when I tried to talk her out of it.

“We’re in this together, Barbie,” she swore. “I’m with you to the bitter end.”

I’d let her join the fight, but that bitter end was mine alone. Not even Sy could follow where I was headed. Not even Killian. My chest burned with longing every time I thought of him. In my blood, I’d always known he was mine, and now my mind had started to catch up.

Bea’s gaze landed on Jinx and our old geek crew. Jinx had tried to recruit her to Grace’s side, promising her the moon. Bea had shut her down cold, dumping an old friendship that predated my arrival at Shades Academy.

The trio—Jinx, Bea, and Drusilla—had been the real muscle behind the underdogs campaign after I’d kicked things off. Now Bea rode with me, and Jinx had hopped the fence to chase greener pastures. Two-thirds of the underdogs had trailed after her and switched lanes to follow the Underworld princess.

They were surprised, even disappointed that I didn’t crash and burn like Grace had promised. Instead, I sailed through a murder trial without a scratch. Sure, the House of Chaos booted me straight into the mage prince’s backyard. When they accused me of beating up another student, I got a luxury cell with a roaring fire and fancy tea service. Shit, I even scored a selfie with the mage prince and went viral. Instant influencer status.

The top dogs got madder, and the traitor underdogs just stood there scratching their heads.

“Fucking turncoats,” Bea spat. “They joined the machine, the collective bad. They’re nothing but a bunch of socialists, fascists, and religious cultists.”

My once-meek friend’s cussing still threw me. A decade of exile, powerlessness, and unfair crap had turned her into a tiny rage monster.

“Did you pick up those terms from human politics?”

“I picked up my ailing nana from a broke human town,” she said, tears burning behind her eyelids. “I saw how much they all suffered.”

“I have to ask you this.” I steeled myself to ask what I’d been dodging. “Did your nana put that magical block in you?”

“I never asked. Doesn’t matter now,” she said, shooting a glare at the former underdogs. “What matters is fighting back. They slander us, and we slander them!”

“If we fight lies with lies, we lose all credibility,” I said. I had nothing to lose—not even my reputation—but Bea didn’t need to join me in the gutter.

“Screw credibility. It’s overrated,” she snapped. “One week in the human world taught me that all truth is skewed. Everyone is a liar.”

“Shit.” I gaped at her. “You’re more cynical than me now.”

Since birth, Bea had been at rock bottom. Everyone stomped her down, but now that her magic ran free and she’d proven her power, she would no longer take their crap. Years of bitterness had made her a mage bulldog.

I got it, but my role hit different. My goal didn’t align with their annoying, petty games. I had to take down my father and save the realm. For that, I’d have to sacrifice my wants, needs, and any shot at a future.

We reached our table.

“The underdogs’ campaign is in the past,” I said. “Leave it in the dust and move on, my friend.”

While Bea sat down and guarded our schoolbags, I made a beeline to grab food. The whispers started up, all hush-hush conspiracy style.

Sy’s super-hearing caught the gossip train.

“She spread her legs for every heir,” Fake Blonde said with disdain but failed to hide the envy underneath. That witch, who’d banged half the less powerful players and now kissed Grace’s feet, couldn’t get within five feet of an heir herself. “She might sleep her way to the middle, but she’ll never sleep her way to the top!”

“She dodged punishment for every crime,” Bellona said bitterly. “But mark my words, justice is coming. The second trial will be her reckoning. She can beat one of us, but she can’t beat all of us!”

My heart skipped a beat and ice crawled up my spine. They planned on ganging up on me to take me out in the next trial. Headmistress Ethel had mentioned something about arena-style combat for trial two—only the survivors would make it to round three. I didn’t want to kill anyone, but if they forced kill-or-be-killed, I’d bloody my hands.

My steps dragged as I thought of Bea. How could I push her clear of the blast zone? I chewed my lip. I needed to figure out how to keep my friend alive.

I loaded up a tray at the buffet. I’d be back for a second serving. With a heavy tray on my arm, I breezed past Jinx and her new crew without a glance, dropping the tray on our table with a grin for Bea.

Grace’s table kept firing toxic energy my way, their whispers carrying across the hall.

“Is it true Ugly Barbie never washes her bottom?”

“Eww, that’s disgusting.”

Bea bit into her sandwich, a brow quirked at my murderous expression.

“What did they say, Barbie?” She knew I could hear everything.

“What the fuck?” I spat. “They’re calling me Ugly Barbie now. Apparently, they also found out that I don’t wash my butt.”

Sy slunk into a corner, guilt rolling off her, before she made a show of yawning. Then she pretended to be asleep, dead to the world, yet her ears pricked, listening to every bit of the conversation.

Cami strode in our direction, two of her friends flanking her. She’d defended me during the first trial and gotten me out of the corrupted ivory tower, but I’d been her housemate back then, and Killian had been my shield.

Was she going to turn against me now that I’d switched houses? Whatever. One more enemy wouldn’t kill me. I’d dealt with worse.

I put on my game face as Killian’s cousin approached. Her blank expression told me Killian hadn’t spilled about the true mate bomb he’d dropped on me. I was still reeling from the shock of the truth.

“So, refusing to wash your bottom these days?” Cami asked, narrowing her eyes at me. “Or just forgetting?”

“Look who’s talking,” I said defensively.

Cami snickered at my pissed-off expression. Her friends dragged chairs over, surrounding our table. Bea stayed quiet, but her fingers curled around her wand, ready for shit to hit the fan.

Then Drusilla rolled up with enough garlic fries and ice cream for a small army and joined us too.

“That’s a new low, even for you, Ugly Barbie,” the dhampir said, her blue eyes glinting. “Remember when you played Little Bob in the House of Vampires? I practically had to shove you into the shower.”

Drusilla had it bad for Louis. She’d quit being his assistant to join the Brides Selection, just like I’d ditched being his squire. Weird that she didn’t hate me, considering how the vamp prince drooled over me. Then again, she’d watched him screw around plenty—right in front of her.

Everyone except Bea and I cracked up as Drusilla nodded at Cami before she took a seat next to Bea.

“Yeah, as Little Bob, I got mocked and abused over rumors about my tiny dick, which no one had seen since I never showered in public.”

The table erupted in laughter, but I wasn’t amused. I caught Dixie’s eye across the room. The hatred had faded from her gaze, replaced by something sadder, more nostalgic. For a second, we connected, both remembering when I’d snuck into her lover’s apartment for a private shower and gotten busted.

That was when the small-dick rumors started—not that anyone had seen the goods. Luna had collapsed in Dixie’s arms, both of them dying of laughter at my expense. That was the last time I saw Luna alive. A Shrieker got her when I failed at my job of keeping everyone safe.

“But you don’t have a cock, even a tiny one,” Cami said in amusement. “Or do you?”

“She fooled everyone with her boy act, even our princes.” Drusilla flashed me a grin. “Pretty shrewd of you. Had me convinced too.”

I didn’t smile back. “It’s not my fault that everyone ran with Little Bob . I bathe daily and wash every inch, kind of, just not in public. And this stupid rumor about my unwashed bottom is worse than the dick joke. Who started it? I don’t usually duel, but I’ll make a fucking exception!”

My chest heaved with rage. I was done with this humiliating shit.

“Calm down.” Drusilla shoved the fries and ice cream to the center of the table. I snatched a fistful of fries and three cups of ice cream. I was shy, but not with food.

“Your bestie spilled about your bad hygiene habits,” Cami said. “It’s all over Spinchat.”

I stared at Bea incredulously. “Why, Bea?”

Bea’s hands flew up, fury and confusion on her face. “I’d never share something that personal.” Cami’s crew snickered, and Bea whirled on them. “With respect, Princess—your attempt to drive a wedge between Barbie and me won’t work. Barbie might look na?ve, but she’s too sharp to fall for this. She’s one of the most seasoned, sophisticated warriors I know. Plus, she’s quirky and funny.”

I blinked. I was sophisticated, quirky, and funny?

Sy’s ears twitched. Quirky means weird, Barbie.

“It wasn’t Bea,” Drusilla said. “I can vouch for her.”

“Can’t even let me finish before jumping into fight mode?” Cami sighed. “Well, Sy’s the snitch.” Sy stiffened at her name as Cami’s gaze fixed on me. “She broke into your room to steal your jewels—the ones in the shoebox. Prince Killian caught her. When we checked the box, he found his missing pinkie ring. I found my mother’s pearl necklace. Took it back. Still wondering how they landed in your shoebox.”

The chaos house and my ghost familiar had tag-teamed to swipe the goods. The thievery had been done out of love and compassion, born from their need to spoil me rotten, making up for my shitty childhood. Plus, the house wanted me to stay. Mental note: visit the chaos house soon and tell its magic to quit stealing stuff. I’d known it would blow up in my face, but back then, Sy and I were suckers for sparkly things. Cade had warned me to resist the magpie urge. For now, I was behaving. I had to.

“I have no idea either,” I said, my cheeks burning. No way was I ratting out the house and Pucker. “The shoebox came with the shinies already in it. We can call it finders, keepers, or inheritance.”

“Inherited from whom?” One of Cami’s friends—the brunette, Lady Eva—narrowed her eyes at me.

“Whom or who?” I asked her.

“My stuff’s gone missing too,” Lady Lola cut in, looking ready to launch into a full investigation. Unlike Eva, she had pale skin and a high forehead. “Including my favorite gown and dress shoes. Word is, even Lord Cassius lost some expensive wine and rare candles from his room. Who’d be stupid enough to steal from him?”

Shit, Sy had drunk the wine, and I’d burned the candles while bathing. If I had known the candles were rare, I might’ve saved one of them. They were all gone now, and there was no evidence for the Silent Blade to find.

I kept my mouth shut, blaming the whole mess on Killian. I’d only grabbed that wine and those candles to romance him the morning I left his bed. He never showed up, and I wasn’t about to rehash that shit. Though seriously—wasn’t Lord Silent Blade supposed to be busy assassinating people? Since when did he care about missing trinkets?

Even assassins need to fuck, Sy said. Someone’s gotta set the mood with wine and candles.

That’s not— I stopped short. Cami’s friends were drilling holes into me with their stares. I met their gazes despite my guilty face. Deny wrongdoings till you die, right? Sy flashed me a thumbs-up.

“I didn’t raid your rooms,” I said, throwing up my hands. “You’re not that fascinating.”

“Only Prince Killian can authorize a room search,” Cami said. “Nobody’s brave enough to file that complaint. But we’re not here to add to the rumor mill. Barbie’s reputation has taken enough hits.”

“My reputation?” I sneered. “Please. It’s already in the gutter. Give me your worst. I’ve got nothing more to lose.”

“You’ve got so much more to lose than you realize,” Cami said.

I swept a hard look around the table. “Are you here to ruin my lunch?”

The other bride candidates kept sneaking glances at us, hungry for drama, before darting their eyes back to their plates and companions. They had to maintain that silent treatment. Anyone who sided with me, except the heirs, got automatic enemy status in Grace’s army. No heirs had shown up today, so Bea and I figured we could eat in peaceful exile. Should’ve known better. There was no peace for the nice and meek.

“You might find it hard to believe,” Cami said, “but we’re here to show support.”

I blinked. “I don’t get it. Chicks usually come over to pick a fight.”

“Well,” Cami’s smile turned playful, like she was enjoying this little game, “we’re not your usual chicks.”

“Sadly, we’re not,” Drusilla added. “I do miss the good old days. Remember our vampire house? Pure chaos followed you everywhere.”

“I don’t miss Prince Louis making me watch his threesomes with random blondes,” I said, and Drusilla flushed. “I didn’t get paid for that heavy shit.”

The girls leaned in, faces flushed with embarrassment and eyes bright with curiosity.

“His prowess in bed is legendary,” Eva said, making Lola giggle.

“Once he ordered some bimbo to go down on me so he could get off by watching. I decked her when she grabbed for my groin. Couldn’t risk anyone discovering nothing there.”

Cami snickered. Bea widened her eyes. Eva and Lola sat there, practically salivating over the gossip. And Drusilla’s eyes dimmed.

Then it dawned on me that I was the only one who’d had a front row seat watching the vampire prince’s private performances, feeding habits and all.

“Where were we,” Cami asked, “before we got lost in the dick jokes?”

“We were discussing the mystery woman who claimed to be Barbie’s bestie,” Lola offered. “Someone called Sy.”

Sy preened at the mention of her name. I’m the mystery woman.

“Who’s Sy?” Bea demanded. “If she’s Barbie’s friend, I’d have met her a long time ago.” Guilt slammed into my face at her words. She zeroed in on me. “Or did you make a new friend while I went to get Nana? Another bride candidate?”

“Not a candidate,” Cami said flatly. “She showed up at X Palace as Rowan’s plus-one.”

“Strutting around like she thought she was a ten,” Eva chimed in.

Sy bristled. I’m a ten.

“At least she put Princess Grace in her place,” Drusilla said. “Called her out for being a Barbie copycat, then berated her for not copying Sy herself.” She raised an eyebrow. “Where were you, Barbie? You never skip a feast.”

“Healing,” I said. “I had a run-in with some Shriekers.”

“We heard,” Cami said.

“Are you alright?” Bea’s voice softened with worry.

“Good as new.”

Bea’s jaw tightened. “So this Sy, your supposed best friend, tried to tank your reputation by telling everyone you don’t wash your butt?” Old anger bubbled up in me as she spoke. “It’s the worst kind of hit job, Barbie. Our foes are running wild with it on social media. They’re trying to get the heirs to dump you. Who wants a bride with questionable hygiene? And it might actually work this time.”

Everyone stared at Bea as realization sank in.

“Shit,” Drusilla said. “Got a plan to save Barbie’s reputation of questionable hygiene?”

I growled at Sy. What else did you say and do at the party?

I’d been slumbering, not wanting to see Killian with his two women draped over him. Since he owned X Palace, I’d assumed that he’d parade them around like trophies.

I was trying to help, Sy protested.

You weren’t helping, I said . You just made another mess for me to clean up. Like always.

Why do you keep blaming me for your every failure? she fired back.

Thanks to you, I’m literally the butt of the joke.

You lied about daily baths, she said. Remember when that shifter prince caught your scent and shouted at you, “You stink, Little Bob!”?

I was running from the vampire hordes and had a skirmish with my attackers that day before I could sneak into anyone’s place to shower, I yelled at her. And who scrubs their ass 24/7?

If it helps, we’re goddess-grade clean by default, she said with a bored yawn.

“No one knows anything about Sy,” Cami said, “except Rowan, and he’s not talking. She vanished right after turning every male’s head at that party, like a ghost in the night. Academy security has been sniffing around since we’ve had a few breaches lately. The sixth house launched their own investigation after multiple witnesses reported Sy threatening Princess Grace at X Palace.”

My heart skipped a beat. Queen Lilith was behind it. Had she caught on to the connection between Sy and me? I couldn’t afford to let her discover and endanger Sy.

“At least we’re done with the butt jokes,” I said.

“What butt jokes?” a deep male voice asked, and I nearly leaped out of my skin.

Rowan straddled a chair backwards, fixing me with a look. I’d been so caught up in my viral butt drama that I hadn’t noticed the fae prince’s arrival. Sy’s eyes locked onto her lover with lust. She hadn’t alerted me to his presence—her petty revenge for our fight. These days, we clashed more than we aligned.

Every gaze turned to us like sharks scenting blood the moment the fae heir appeared. So much for Grace’s followers giving me the cold shoulder. She’d overestimated their loyalty when real power came to play.

“Are you well, Barbie?” Rowan started.

“Of course.” I kept my face blank. “Why?”

“Won’t you say hi to Sy?” he asked.

I put on a confused look. Rowan scanned the table, catching my predicament. Sy and I were meant to be under wraps.

“You need better nutrition,” he said, and waved a hand.

Two fae guards materialized, loading my table with a dozen fresh dishes. Every girl’s jaw dropped. I beamed at the food, then at the prince.

“From my personal chefs,” Rowan said. “You and…need to stay strong.”

“Too kind,” I said. “Thank you, Prince Rowan.”

Now that he knew Sy and I kind of shared one body, he’d taken it upon himself to feed her through me. Sy went misty-eyed at his gesture.

Best. Mate. Ever! she croaked. He’s taking good care of us.

Whatever, I said, and ditched the cafeteria food for Rowan’s spread. I waved my friends over to dig into the five-star fae cuisine as well.

Sy’s scent bloomed through me—her love note to him. Rowan’s silver eyes lit up as he breathed her in. I pushed Sy back instantly.

“I’ll walk you to class,” Rowan said, his gaze locked on mine, or rather, on Sy, who was peeking through my eyes.

Everyone else probably thought he was trying to get into my pants. Sy snarled at that thought.

“That’s unnecessary, good sir.” I waved at my packed table. “Got my entourage already.”

“If you see Sy, tell her I want her to come to my place tonight,” he said.

Sy preened. Tell my sugar I’ll be there.

“Just DM me,” I said, trying to brush him off.

“I believe a message delivered in person is better received and less likely to be ignored,” said the fae prince almost threateningly.