Page 136 of Godless Saints

“The bearer has failed to present himself. The Blood Writ is therefore declared failed.”

Thorn students immediately booed.

“Twenty-five Favor is deducted from Thorn Court.”

“What the fuck.”

“Declan, you fuck.”

Another masked Patron carried out the Black Chalice and stepped beside the speaker.

“For excellence in Favor. For command. For influence. The Black Chalice is awarded to…”

“Vesper.”

Vesper went wild, jumping, shouting, throwing hats and anything else they could throw into the air.

Students, faculty and everyone started spilling out of the cathedral. Vivienne came running over to the stage.

“Hyun, honey. You killed it.”

She kissed my cheek. “We’re going to rule Evermourne, just like we did Harvard. We got this.”

She glanced back toward the crowd, then at me. “I’ll see you at the end-of-year banquet tonight.”

“Yeah, see you there.”

She squeezed my arm and left with Aleksei. Sawyer waved a quick see-you-later. Cillian was already coming over. He’d loosened his tie, ditched the jacket, and rolled up his sleeves. Why do opposites attract.

“Your Courtliness.” He took my hand and kissed it.

I rolled my eyes. “Please never say that again.”

He kissed me. “Let’s get out of here.”

He pulled me in by the shoulder, and we walked down the aisle together, leaving the cathedral. The sun was finally out. We walked in quiet.

“What are you thinking, prince?”

I took a deep breath. “I need to call my father. And I’ve decided to tell him I’m choosing you. If he wants to write me out of the will, that’s fine. I’ve thought about some other opportunities to pursue, and—”

Cillian kissed me, cutting me off. I pushed at his chest. “Cillian.”

“Baby, I told you I’d always take care of you. I went to see your father after Ireland.”

“You were in New York?” My brain was already spinning through every worst-case scenario. Maybe he’d done something worse. I hadn’t talked to my father since the call when Cillian left for Ireland. I panicked and pulled out my phone. Cillian snatched it from my hand. I reached for it. He held it higher.

“What did you do to my father?”

“I talked to him. Asked to see him. That’s all.”

“What did you talk to him about? He’s not someone you just go see.” I loosened my tie. It was getting noticeably harder to breathe. Cillian grabbed my cheeks.

“Breathe. Let me talk before your mind jumps straight to the worst thing possible, prince.”

I forced myself to breathe.

He kissed my forehead and took my hand, pulling me toward the benches, somewhere more private.