CHAPTER 30: KINGS OF THE BONEYARD

The boneyard had gone quiet, with everyone staring at the show that was about to commence.

Aurelius looked at the little guy who stared at him without fear, and a faint grin formed on his lips, "You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that,"

Theo looked completely unbothered, "Thanks. I collect compliments in blood,"

The students nearby stiffened, but Aurelius only laughed. A rich, amused sound that seemed to vibrate through the room.

"Oh, that’s refreshing," His eyes narrowed slightly at her, "You know who I am?"

"Someone with a loud voice and a god complex?"

Liam nearly choked on his food, but managed to quickly swallow it down.

Aurelius blinked, then smiled like she’d just confirmed something he already suspected, "You’re either fearless or suicidal,"

"Bit of both," she replied, "Depends on who I’m dealing with,"

Their standoff was one of dominance against dominance, and it was the kind Theo enjoyed very much. Inside her, Seraphina stretched curiously, also enjoying the moment.

"Oh great," Liam glanced between them and muttered, "Testosterone Olympics,"

They both ignored him, then Aurelius cocked his head, "You’ve got a strong presence for someone not tied to a pack,"

"I don’t need one. This wolf runs solo," she said evenly.

"Solo wolves don’t last long in Gravemont," he said as a half-challenge, half-warning.

"I’m not planning on dying here," she replied so fluidly like it was the most casual thing in the world.

The corner of his mouth twitched. Aurelius liked that answer, maybe a little too much.

Behind him, whispers had started again. Some whispered bets under their breath about who would throw the first punch and who’d walk away first.

Aurelius crossed his large arms together, amusement in his eyes. He then turned to Liam, "Where’d you find this one?"

Liam looked unimpressed, "Does it matter? He’s with me now," He sounded protective and territorial, and Aurelius grabbed the message.

"Lucky you," He replied, but his tone sounded like anything but.

He looked back at Theo, his gaze sharp again, and unreadable. "Careful, Redhead. This school eats people alive. Especially ones who don’t know when to bow,"

She’s heard that statement many times, and she met his stare head-on, "Then it’s a good thing I don’t bow,"

The words hit like a challenge wrapped in silk. A sweet, quality challenge.

Aurelius grinned slowly, that dangerous, wolfish kind of grin that said ’game on’.

"I’ll be keeping my eye on you,"

Theo didn’t blink, "Make sure it’s your good one. You might lose the other,"

There was a collective gasp from the tables close by, followed by a low chuckle from Celeste’s booth across the room.

Just then, a presence filled the door of the boneyard. Something heavier and warmer that had all too familiar and had Theo wishing she could leave right now.

Zeke Pendragon.

He entered with his effortless arrogance, dark hair falling into his eyes, shirt half undone, and his coat catching the wind as he moved.

Her pulse quickened automatically, anger and something she refused to name swirling under her ribs as she watched him with Keen eyes.

He saw her immediately. Of course he did.

Something passed his eyes as he watched her there, right before his gaze slid to Aurelius, and the temperature in the room increased by ten degrees.

"Well," Zeke drawled, walking over, "if it isn’t the Voss dog marking his territory again,"

Aurelius turned slowly, a grin with something even darker cast over his eyes, "And if it isn’t the Pendragon pup pretending he owns the castle,"

"Funny," Zeke said, stepping closer until they were nearly chest-to-chest and everyone held their breaths. Including her, "Last I checked, my family built half of this castle,"

Theo sat back in her seat, stabbing a piece of meat and mumbled, "Oh great. Two peacocks in heat,"

Liam almost choked again, then replied under his breath, "You sure know how to attract the fun ones, Thad,"

Aurelius ignored Zeke’s comment and looked down at Theo again. "Tell me something, Redhead, how does it feel to be the only person in Gravemont who’s actually dared to hit the great Zeke Pendragon?"

Theo gave a faint smirk, "Therapeutic,"

Zeke’s eyes narrowed at her, "You talk too much," he said.

"Only when I’m awake," she replied.

That got a snort from Liam, though he tried to disguise it as a cough.

Aurelius barked out a laugh, then gingerly patted Theo on the shoulders. She stared at his hand for a moment, wondering if it was just the moment or if there was more to it.

Zeke’s gaze flicked to Aurelius sharply, "Back off, Voss. He’s not one of your little lackeys,"

"Relax," Aurelius said easily, "I was just making conversation. That’s all,"

"Yeah? Then go make it somewhere else,"

Their tension was maddening. Aurelius was like the controlled chaos and Zeke was the uncontrolled one. She was pretty sure that if Aurelius said the wrong thing, Zeke would do something that would have him rolling.

And she was sitting right between them like the fuse in a bomb.

"Are you done?" she asked finally, looking between them, "Because your egos are blocking my view of the food,"

That broke the spell in the room, and both of them turned to her.

Aurelius had the usual, controlled grin on his face, "You’ve got guts, Redhead. You better not lose them,"

He turned to Zeke, his smirk still in place, "See you around, Pendragon,"

Then he strode back toward the exclusive booth, sliding in beside Celeste, who hadn’t looked away once during the entire exchange.

Celeste looked at Aurelius, and stated, "You like him."

Aurelius’s eyes were still fixed on Theo across the cafeteria, "I don’t know what he is yet," he said softly, "But he’s not boring,"

Theodora wished Zeke would walk away like Aurelius just did. They can all go back to their fancy booths and settle themselves there while she enjoys her first meal here at Gravemont and talks to someone close to normal.

Instead, Zeke pulled out the empty seat next to her without a word and sat down, leaned back on it and closed his eyes

"Wonderful," She groaned under her breath.

From the corner booth, Aurelius and Celeste were still watching.