The force of his movement threw me off balance, and I crashed into Kaja, both of us tumbling back into the row of cabinets.

“What the hell, psychos!” He waved his arms as he bellowed. “What is wrong with you?”

Oh. My. Mage.

I stared, unable to take my gaze from his neck, now fully exposed. I shook my head and glanced toward Kaja, who likewise stared, jaw gaping, at the bright, red … hickey.

Dammit.

“Oops,” I said lamely, wincing as I climbed to my feet.

“So… sorry. We, uh… slipped.” Kaja smiled and raced to the stack of golden pancakes. Holding a short stack of three on the spatula, she extended the peace offering. “Want one … or some? I heard it takes a lot of sucking to do that well—”

I snickered as he ripped the stack of pancakes from her and stormed out of the room.

“Well, there goes that theory,” I told Kaja.

She eyed the doorway Nolan had fled through. “I dunno,” she said, shaking her head. “His voice was raspy, and that hickey could be a magicked mark. I still don’t trust him.”

Yeah. Definitely not. He was sketchy as hell, but was he a killer?

Kaja checked her watch. “We have class in thirty minutes. Time to go.” She pointed to my left hand and said, “Better get Nell to cover that.”

Crap! My mark was slowly coming back. Hopefully, Nolan hadn’t seen it.

I nodded, grabbing two pancakes to munch on the way. “Thanks for all your help, girl.”

She put down the spatula and gave me a hug. “Just watch your back. I hope this was an isolated incident, but…”

Yeah. “You and me both.”

A half-hour later, I stepped into Fire Studies to find Rage already there, talking it up with the professor. The two of them stared at the giant, perfect fireball resting in Rage’s palm.

I hadn’t seen Rage since my near-death experience, or Justice for that matter, and I took a moment and stared at the beautiful boy who’d carried me from the beach to the hospital wing. My gaze flitted to the orange and red sphere and stayed.

Yep, I was one hundred percent done with this book-reading business.

I marched up to the desk nearest where they stood and slammed the giant textbook down with a loud thwack. They both jumped, Rage far less than the professor, and then turned to me.

“I’ve read it,” I announced, grinning like a loon. “Front to back, three whole times. Now, teach me some magic.”

Rage’s eyes warmed as his gaze roamed over my face. Then, his attention slowly drifted down my body, and his eyes hardened into ice when he glanced at the fine scar on my arm.

Master Carn cleared his throat and looked to Rage, and I almost lost it when he—Prince Rage—nodded. Even the teachers took orders from him? The fireball in his hand dissipated, and then he said to the professor: “I’ll go practice in the back.”

Wasn’t he going to say a word to me?

We’d had that big fight where he admitted to hating me and all my pack for one wolf’s betrayal—which wasn’t even true—then I almost died, and he saved me, carrying me all the way to the castle. After all that history, all I got was a look? That man was infuriating. If I knew how to make fireballs, he’d be dodging them right now.

“I’ll be right back,” Master Carn said. “We need water.”

In case I set the building on fire?

Yikes.

With the professor gone, I refused to play Rage’s game. I crossed the room, but my steps slowed when he kept his back to me. I owed him a debt of gratitude even if he was a bastard. Reaching out, I grabbed his shoulder and tried to turn him toward me … to no avail.

Seriously?

“Hey … Rage!” I called, waving my hand in front of him. “I want to talk to you.”

He sighed, and I almost stomped off. But when he turned and faced me, my rehearsed speech evaporated, and my mouth dropped open, stunned by the emotion in his eyes. They were glittering with … rage.

“Yes?” he growled.

Why was he mad? At me? And now that I looked closer, he looked exhausted.

“Thanks…” I shook my head, trying to clear the shock, and then mumbled, “You know, for saving me.”

He nodded stiffly. “I take my charge over the safety of the alpha heirs seriously. It’s a job bestowed on me and one I need to prove worthy of if I want to rule someday.”

Oh. So that’s why he saved me.

“Okay…” I wasn’t sure where this was going anymore. “Well, why are you acting so pissed at me? Other than your usual hatred…?”

He clenched his jaw and forced a swallow before answering, his voice tight with fury. “I don’t hate you, Nai. I do wish you’d tell me if you have any inkling as to who attacked you. I want to make sure this island remains a safe haven.” The fire was back in his eyes. “For you—and all of the heirs.”

I wanted to tell him Nolan, but I was even less sure now after we’d talked this morning. And I was still 64.5% certain Rage would kill him. His coiled body seemed ready to attack.

“I wish I knew,” I said, lamely. “But I really don’t.”

Rage sighed, his eyes again falling to my injured arm. “Well, I’m… glad you're not dead.”

His halting words registered, and I grimaced. Wow. “That’s so sweet. They should hire you to write Valentine’s Day cards.”

I’d totally buy that. Not.

He rolled his eyes but said nothing.

“Okay, well, this was constructive,” I muttered, turning to flee this bizarre convo. I could take a hint.

Rage cleared his throat, making me pause before rubbing the sides of his temples.

“You’ll need to push the professors to train you. You’re here a year early, and they’re setting you up for failure by making you read books. If you don’t pass the practical mid-year exam, then you can’t come back to finish the rest of the year. You’ve got two and a half months to prep, so step it up.”

My eyes bugged, and I stepped toward him, seething. “What! They can do that?”

I’d assumed each year had some kind of practical elemental exam, but I didn’t know they could kick me out halfway through the year.

He nodded, stepping closer and bringing the scent of sandalwood with him. My heart flipped and then thumped against my ribs as if it could lurch me forward and close the gap.

“Time to be an alpha, Nai.” He growled: “Demand what you want. You need practical lessons every day or you’ll never be ready for the test.”

I swallowed hard and nodded, again noticing how tired he looked. “You okay? You look exhausted.”

He was silent a moment before his gaze dipped to my lips, “I was up late.”

And then he left the room.

Just like that.

I wiped my mouth just to make sure I didn’t have pancake crumbs leftover from breakfast, or maybe drool. Nope. All good on that. I shook my head, certain I’d never figure that man out, but not gonna lie, watching his cute butt leave a room wasn’t half bad. I only hoped ‘up late’ wasn’t code for hooking up with a girl because, as much as I didn’t want to admit it, I’d care if he did.

At least the eye candy partially made up for his winning personality.