Free Elemental Dawn (Paranormal Public) by Maddy Edwards Page B

said, stepping forward. “I am the princess. I
will be queen of the Rapier sect that commands Vampire Locke. I decide.”
    The Lanca I knew, the beautiful
and confident college student, was gone. In her place was a queen, harder,
colder, more beautiful and more confident in her deadly abilities. I had some
adjusting to do. We all did.
    “I will discuss matters that are
important to me with the people I trust. I don’t care what their age is, or
mine. If I’m the one expected to make the decision, I will make it however I
like.”
    “Dad,” said Sip.
    “Never mind,” Hyder snapped,
storming out of the room. “Get yourselves killed.”
    Helen gave a helpless look, but
followed her husband.
    “I’ll show them where to go and
then come back for you,” said Lanca, not remotely ruffled by Hyder’s outburst.
    “So, this is an interesting
development,” said Sip. “And we were worried we wouldn’t see Lanca at all.”
    “I don’t like it,” said
Lisabelle, shaking her head.
    “What’s to like? She has to sneak
around her own mountain,” said Sip, shaking her head. “She has handlers and
they don’t want her talking to us. That’s bad. On the other hand, we have a
friend who has a mountain!”
    “It’s way worse than that,” said
Lough from the doorway. Lough Loughphton stood framed by the little light that
came from the hallway behind him. He had blond hair, a round face, and bright
red cheeks. He smiled easily and laughed even more easily than that. Lough was
a sophomore with Sip and me, in the Airlee dorm. He was one of only two dream
givers on campus. Unfortunately, the other dream giver, Trafton Rooks, was also
in love, or at least in extreme like, with Lisabelle. Luckily, Trafton had
decided to go surfing instead of attending Lanca’s coronation.
    “Yay!” Sip cried happily, racing
forward.
    “It’s about time,” said
Lisabelle, moving at a slower pace.
    “Nice to see you,” I said. The
four of us hugged as one, Lough wrapping his chunky arms around the three of
us. His cheeks were still rosy and he still had that lovely smile. He tried
hard to hide his love for Lisabelle, but when he pulled back and looked at us
it was obvious that seeing her warmed his heart. It made me miss my own
warm-hearted boyfriend.
    “Sorry,” he said. “Lanca just
sent word that you were here and that she was meeting you and that secrecy was
necessary.”
    “Do you know why?” Sip asked
worriedly.
    “No,” said Lough, “But I know
that since her father’s death she hasn’t been left alone. I’m pretty sure she
has a body double in her room or something. I have no idea how she managed to
get away.”
    “Are there other darkness mages
here?” Lisabelle asked. “Is she afraid of something?”
    “There are darkness mages
everywhere,” said Lough. “Like, loads of them. I’ve never seen so many crabby
people in my life.”
    When Lisabelle glared, Lough said
quickly, “None as crabby as you, though.”
    “Where are they all staying?”
Lisabelle pressed.
    “No,” Sip cut in. “Lisabelle, you
are not seeking them out.”
    Lisabelle rolled her eyes. “I
have to talk to them at some point.”
    “Fine, but I’m going with you,”
said Sip, crossing her arms over her chest.
    “Yes, that’s a good idea, take
the angry werewolf to see the crazy darkness mages. Couldn’t possibly go
badly.”
    “I forgot about their bickering,”
said Lanca, coming back into the room and looking at me with another small,
tentative smile. “I have not had much reason to smile recently.”
    “I’m sure you’ll remember quickly
now,” I said.
    “I’m delighted to amuse you,”
said Lisabelle. “Don’t you have some explaining to do?”
    Lanca sighed. “Yes, let’s go for
a walk.”
    “Can’t we just go to our rooms?”
Lough asked. “They could really use a shower.”
    “Excuse me?” said Lisabelle,
pushing one dirty lock of hair out of her face and pretending to be offended.
    “We can’t go to your