Cruel Magic (Royals of Villain Academy #1)(41)



Everyone had points of weakness. It shouldn’t be hard to figure out more of hers. She could talk back to me all she wanted, strike her blows where she could, but she didn’t have the grounding of growing up with fearmancers, of knowing how to build her own armor.

I’d find the right vulnerable spot, and then I’d bring all her defenses crashing down.





Chapter Seventeen





Rory





When I returned to the dorm after another morning seminar, it was a relief to find no one but Imogen in the common room. She looked up from the book she’d been reading and immediately waved me over. “How are you doing?”

I sat down when she insistently patted the sofa cushion next to her. “Oh, you know, getting by.”

“Malcolm was horrible yesterday.” She glanced around as if to double-check that no one else was in hearing distance. “I mean, he’s always been kind of an asshole, but since you got here…”

“I bring out the worst in him?” I filled in. Lucky me.

“No one’s ever stood up to him like you do.” Imogen paused. “You know, if you ever feel like you just want it over with, and you did back down and at least pretend to grovel a bit, he’d lay off of you. The scions push people around plenty, but they don’t keep kicking once they’ve knocked someone down.”

Honor among fearmancers. I guessed the problem was I kept getting back up for more. I looked down at my hands. “I think I’d find groveling harder to stomach than anything he can throw at me.”

Her lips curled with a slanted smile. “I was kind of hoping you’d say that.”

I glanced over at her, studying her pretty freckled face. “Why are you so nice to me?” I asked abruptly.

Imogen blinked. She looked away for a second and then shrugged. “Maybe it’ll sound kind of pathetic but—I’ve never been ‘in’ with the favored families. My dad might be head of the school maintenance team, but that isn’t exactly the kind of position that draws a lot of respect. And then on top of that, my magical ability didn’t kick in until later than most… I learned to keep my head down and my shields up, but I was hassled a lot when I was a junior.”

I made a face. “I can only imagine.”

“Anyway, I’m sick of watching people like Malcolm and Victory walk all over the rest of us, even though I’m too much of a coward to do anything about it. I really admire the way you push back.” She scooted a little closer to bump her shoulder playfully against mine. “And I figure it can’t hurt to have one scion on my side, right?”

I laughed and rubbed my hand over my face. “We’ll see if that ever works out in your favor.”

Shelby slipped into the room then, a book of sheet music tucked under her arm. She took in the two of us together, and her forehead furrowed with concern. “Is something wrong?”

By whatever means, Malcolm had arranged that no Naries would witness his spectacle yesterday. I sucked in a breath, trying to decide what to tell her, and Imogen jumped in.

“One of those assholes broke Rory’s charm bracelet,” she said. “Just shattered all the charms. It was awful.”

Shelby’s eyes widened with so much horror that I felt the need to reassure her. “I managed to rescue one,” I said, pulling the dragon charm out of my pocket. I’d kept it on me since yesterday morning, afraid that if I let it out of my sight, someone would destroy it too. “I’ll have to start a new bracelet or something when I have the chance.”

“You know… Just a second.” Shelby disappeared into her bedroom with a swish of her ponytail. When she re-emerged she was clutching a thin silver chain.

“It isn’t anything fancy,” she said, bringing it over to me, “but I don’t like wearing necklaces when I’m playing so I haven’t really been wearing it. You can borrow it as long as you want.”

My heart squeezed. “Thank you,” I said. “You don’t have to.”

“It’s no big deal. Really.”

The chain slid light and cool across my fingers as I took it from her. I strung the glass bead on it like a pendant and clasped the chain around my neck. The dragon settled against my sternum, as if guarding the magic inside me.

“I really appreciate it,” I said firmly, holding Shelby’s gaze. Everyone else here was a jerk to the Naries, which only made it feel more important that she understood how honestly grateful I was.

She flushed as if embarrassed and bobbed her head. Imogen checked her phone. “Shit, I’d better get going, or I’ll be late for class. Hang in there.” She squeezed my shoulder with a quick smile and took off.

Shelby meandered over to the kitchen area to make lunch. She’d just reached the dining table when a shiver ran through her and her hand shot out to grip the top of the nearest chair.

I stood up. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m okay.” She pushed herself straight again and swiped her hand across her forehead. Her earlier flush hadn’t faded away, I realized. “Just a little under the weather. I think I’ve got a fever. Nothing huge.”

Huge enough that I could see a bit of a wobble in her walk. “Isn’t there a medical center on campus? Why don’t you get them to check you out?”

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