Cruel Magic (Royals of Villain Academy #1)(65)

“Well, now that you’ve had the chance to adjust, we of the barony wanted to invite you to begin stepping into your ultimate role as baron yourself.”

For the second time in as many minutes, I found myself lost for words. “I thought—I was told that I couldn’t become baron until I graduated.”

This time Baron Nightwood definitely smiled, as coolly as before. “Not officially. But we’ve been without a true fifth in our pentacle for nearly two decades now. It has made effective governing somewhat difficult. We’d like to see you transition in as quickly as you’re able to. The rights and the authority are unquestionably yours. Why should you be denied them even longer?”

This didn’t make any sense. I’d been defying his son at every turn. Why would he want to give me more authority? I had to be missing something here.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” I said cautiously.

Baron Nightwood waved off my hesitation. “We wouldn’t expect a lot from you to begin with. And this situation isn’t without precedent, you know. Declan Ashgrave has been acting in nearly all respects as baron for a few years now even though his position isn’t entirely official yet.”

Something Declan had said before clicked into place in my head. His mother had died in the same altercation that my birth parents had. She must have been the previous Ashgrave baron. He’d been thrust into this role way earlier than I had.

Not that the fact excused him from being a jerk.

“What exactly are you looking for me to do at this point?” I asked. This guy did know that I wasn’t even officially enrolled as a student here yet, didn’t he?

“We have a meeting of the pentacle in two days,” Baron Nightwood said. “We’d like you to attend so that you can… get up to speed on our current concerns. I can arrange your transport from and back to the university. Ms. Grimsworth has already approved your absence from the one class you’d miss.”

He’d thought of everything, hadn’t he? Why was it so very important to him—and maybe the other barons—that I get involved now?

Uneasiness prickled down my back. I didn’t want to go anywhere in a vehicle owned by the Nightwoods, and definitely not into a meeting with the four most powerful fearmancers in the country. And it was conveniently right before my assessment. Could they do something to make sure I failed, something I wouldn’t even be able to identify?

Malcolm had grinned when he’d talked about the pentacle families having me in their power.

On the other hand, it was possible the barons just wanted to get on with their politics, and I might find out something useful there.

As I wavered, Shelby came out the doors of the hall, her ponytail swishing and her stride light with more energy than I’d seen from her in about a week. Whatever she’d been sick from, it must have passed. I caught her eye and raised my hand in a wave with a relieved smile. She bobbed her head with a shy smile in return.

Baron Nightwood followed the exchange with narrowed eyes. His lip curled with distaste when his gaze came back to me. “What was that about?”

“She’s a friend,” I said. Had he never seen someone wave hello before?

“A friend,” he repeated in the same tone. “I realize your upbringing was rather unusual, but one of the first things you need to learn is that a mage of your standing does not associate with the feebs any more than you have to. You certainly shouldn’t be considering them friends. It appears our guidance would be of a lot of use to you.”

My hackles came up in an instant. There was the familiar Nightwood attitude. The words came out before I had a chance to think them through.

“I’m about as interested in the kind of guidance you’re talking about as I am in your son’s, which is not at all. The only person who’ll decide who I’m friends with is me.”

Baron Nightwood sighed. “Miss Bloodstone, I meant no offense, only counsel. Once you get to know the wider forces of our society—”

“And I will,” I said. “Get to know them. This just isn’t a good time. I’ve got too many other things to concentrate on.” Like making it through the next few days without getting crushed by your son and his asshole friends. “Get back to me after I’ve passed my assessment and know what I have to offer, and then I’ll see about attending one of those meetings.”

A flicker of anger passed through the baron’s eyes, but I wasn’t inclined to stick around to find out how much I might regret the decision I’d just made.

“Now hold on a moment,” he said, his voice going from cool to chilling, and I took a few steps back.

“Sorry, I’ve got to run. My mentor’s expecting me for our morning session.”

And then I took off toward Killbrook Hall as quickly as I could walk without literally running.

The barons wanted something, and whatever it was, I had trouble believing it meant anything good for me. Maybe I’d be better equipped to tangle with them later, but right now I was having a hard enough time just defending myself against their heirs.

I hadn’t quite escaped yet. Baron Nightwood rolled a sharp syllable off his tongue, and my feet jolted to a halt beneath me. The soles wouldn’t lift from the ground. I twisted around to see him striding over to me. The haughty expression on his face and the brutal gleam in his eyes brought out the same divine devil I’d seen in his son.