Chapter 72: Red Ballon

Theo

The heavy wooden door of the dorm slammed open with enough violent force to rattle the glass in the high-arched windows, the sudden vibration sending a sharp shudder through the frame. If any more forced was used on the poor door it would have reached the end of its lifespan, just like that.

Theo, hearing the loud ass sound, brought his head up the couch looking toward the door, a glass of amber liquid resting loosely between his fingers, the man slowly lifted an eyebrow as he froze mid-sip, his eyes widening in pure disbelief at the spectacle walking through into the dorm looking no different then a big red ass balloon.

It was Malric or whatever broken remnant that was left of him. The prince’s dark hair was plastered to his forehead in soaking-wet, unkempt clumps, his skin flushed a deep, angry crimson that made him look like he had been boiled alive in a cauldron. Thick, suffocating clouds of steam were practically rolling off his broad shoulders in visible waves, carrying the stinging, heavy scent of scorched cedar and overheated, furious alpha blood into the cool room.

Theo blinked, letting out a low, breathless whistle that cut through the silence. "What happened to you?"

Malric didn’t even grant him a glance. He shoved past the entry table, his clawed fingers ripping his damp shirt off his shoulders and hurling the soggy fabric directly at the polished floor with a lethal, air-cutting snap.

"Don’t ask," Malric growled, his voice a thick, raspy ruin, sounding as though he had spent the last hour swallowing open fire and smoke. "Just mind your business, Theo."

Theo smirked, leaning his head back against the soft sofa cushions, entirely unfazed by the terrifying, suffocating aura radiating off his brother. "Oh, you’re pissy. You’re really pissy." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Yeah, of course I am!" Malric roared, turning his fierce eyes on to Theo like a cornered beast. He threw his massive frame onto the neighboring couch with a heavy, bone-rattling thud, burying his face in his large hands as his chest heaved in ragged gasps, trying desperately to cool his burning core.

Theo watched him in quiet, holding back a laugh but as time passed the teasing smirk slowly began dying on his lips as the suffocating weight of the room settled over them both.

Everyone has been angry for this entire month, Theo thought bitterly, his jaw clenching until his back teeth ached as he stared down at the swirling amber liquid in his glass. The past thirty days at Moonside Academy had been an absolute, agonizing nightmare of mounting frustration and restless nights. You would think finding our mate would give us some peace, but no. I feel like it has made everything worse. If she was going to just disappear off the face of the earth, why on earth did we find her in the first place? We have searched every single inch of this school, and she is nowhere. I’m starting to think I was either too drunk or was hallucinating that night and she was never there, cuz that’s how it feels like.

Malric let out a long, shuddering exhale that rattled through his chest, staring blankly up at the crystal chandeliers above. The raw, volcanic rage in his eyes flickered, leaving behind a hollow, desperate exhaustion that cut far deeper than anger ever could.