I had no idea why he was even angry. “Princess Viviane is a well-respected senior student in the Academy. She’s supposed to graduate early next year.”
“Cool,” I said. “So you two will get married and have children soon? Sorry, I meant pups.”
“That’s none of your business,” he grated.
Wow, where did this sudden hostility come from?
“No pups then?” I asked. “You aren’t shooting blanks, are you, Your
Highness?”
I could be mean-spirited when my supposed fated mate denied me and
paraded his chosen in front of me like I was nothing to him.
Shade coughed then hurried on, “You’ll have to forgive Pip for being so blunt, Jared. We already know that whatever is in her head will come out of her mouth, unfiltered. That’s why you’re sending her to the Academy to
learn the rules.”
“And shifters’ manners and some fighting too,” I added with a smirk.
“According to Prince Going-gray, there’s no free lunch, and I must be a contributing member of the shifter society. Haha, I look forward to it.”
“I expect you to understand all these rules and follow them to the letter within a week,” Sideburns said.
Even though his expression was stern, he still looked devastatingly handsome. I wondered if this fated attraction made me think he was good- looking or if he was truly easy on the eyes.
“I might need two and a half weeks to get myself sorted out, Alpha Heir.” I wiggled my brows at him when he stared hard at me. “Or at least two weeks. Miracles don’t happen overnight.”
“You need to get serious, Pip,” he grated. At least he was saying my name this time. It didn’t sound sexy or like a caress rolling off his tongue though. “The training in the Academy is not a joke! Not everyone can graduate. It won’t be fun staying at the bottom of the food chain. Perhaps Shade can tell you what it really means.”
What an ass!
I batted my innocent eyes in an exaggerated way. “It’s not a joke? Okay then.”
“There’ll be peer pressure right away,” he stressed.
I widened my eyes. “Fuck me.”
Shade laughed, but Sideburns glared at me.
“Awfully sorry, Highness,” I said, patting my cheek lovingly. “See? I
slapped my face for punishment.” My voice turned stern, deep and mocking. “Remember, Pip, no swearing in front of your betters!”
I probably shouldn’t joke, but anything was better than the awkward silence hanging between us. I also found that when I joked about things, I felt less impact from the mating heat. I decided that no matter how he treated me, I didn’t need to react the same way.
Sideburns shook his head, as if he’d had enough of me. He didn’t appreciate my spunk. Too bad I’d discovered that I had plenty of spunk when I wasn’t being chased by hunters or being cut open on a table.
Whatever happened, I’d pull through this school thing and deal with the bullies by adapting faster than anyone else while not taking things too seriously.