The students behind Chris shifted. Logan's expression darkened, but he did not move without instruction.
Chris's voice lowered. "This is the first entry point into Veyrhold. Decisions made here affect the entire year. You do not get to decide who enters because you happened to arrive first."
Asher's eyes lit with open contempt. "Listen, late-arriving peacock, if we had waited for your dramatic entrance, your pretty little parade would have walked straight into that." He jerked his blade slightly toward the dead Alpha inside. "So maybe breathe less authority and more gratitude."
Several students reacted before they could hide it, some with discomfort, others with startled amusement quickly swallowed.
Chris felt the insult land exactly where Asher wanted it.
Late-arriving peacock.
Not prince. Not Chris. Not even Rature. Nothing that acknowledged status. Just another insult thrown like a stone.
Liam remained mostly detached from the exchange.
