Red Rose Academy Year One

Red Rose Academy Year One M GUIDA Copyright © 2023 by M Guida All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Cover Art by Danielle Doolittle DoElle Designs Created with Vellum Contents Foreword Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Dear Reader About the Author Also by M Guida Foreword Readers, This series is going simultaneously as Ebony’s Legacy. The Great Supernatural War hasn’t been fought yet. You’ll be seeing all your favorite characters throughout this book, including your favorite—Anton! Chapter One My feet pounded against the pavement as I flew down Decatur Street to Café Du Monde. The king had summoned my father for some reason, and I had taken my chance to escape the house. Freedom! The sun kissed my face, and I could feel a soft breeze brushing against me. I was beaming, unable to wipe the smile off my face, thrilled to be reunited with Valentin Dragan after so many weeks apart. His father and brother had broken Vlad the Impaler’s key rule of not killing humans, and now that there was a price on their heads, Valentin had been in hiding and distancing himself from them. Valentin was waiting for me inside, looking as handsome as ever, a cup of coffee in hand. His long black hair flowed over his broad shoulders and when our eyes met, I flung open the door, rushing toward him between the congested tables. He stood up and opened his arms. “Rose! God, I’ve missed you.” Wasting no time, I leapt into his embrace. “Me, too.” He swung me around, laughing. “I can’t believe you hang out with him. You’re supposed to be with my cousin,” a snobby voice said behind me. How could I miss him? Jaxon Reyes sat at a table with his friends, sneering at us. He was Prince Rocco’s cousin. Shoulder length blondish brown hair, brown hair, good looking and a total asshole. I glared. “Shut up, Jaxon.” “Valentin, Rose, I have to talk to you.” I turned around to see Rocco Palazzo coming over to us. His long dark hair was pulled into a man bun and the handsome smile he usually wore on his face was missing today. Vincent and I glanced at each other uneasily. I frowned. “Rocco, what’s wrong?” Rocco flicked his gaze between the two of us and looked around nervously. He lowered his voice, as if he didn’t want anyone to hear, especially Jaxon. “I’ve got some bad news.” Something in his voice sent all my senses on high alert. A flutter of dread beat against my ribs and my breath hitched. Shit, did this have to do with Father? Had I been followed? I scanned up and down Decatur Street and then around the restaurant. “What?” “Did either of you know that my father called an emergency meeting earlier today?” Valentin and I glanced at each other. His face was as puzzled as mine. “No, what about?” I wiped my hands nervously on my skirt. Rocco blurted out the harsh words. “There’s going to be an execution in an hour.” The blood drained from Valentin’s face. “Oh, my God. Dimitri?” Valentin idolized his older brother. He was his hero. He was more of a father to him than his own father. I rubbed his tense arm. “Oh, Valentin.” Rocco squeezed his shoulder. “I’m sorry, but I think so.” The look in Valentin’s eyes set a fire ablaze in me. He’d suffered so much pain already, and I wasn’t going to let him be hurt yet again. Dimitri was many things, but he didn’t deserve to be executed. I looked between them. “We can’t let them kill Dimitri. We have to do something. Is there anything you can do, Rocco? Maybe speak with your father?” He shook his head. “No…” “I’m not going to let my brother die.” Valentin headed away from us as if on a mission. Rocco grabbed his arm. “What are you going to do?” Valentin shook his arm loose. “Whatever it takes.” Rocco's nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed as he spat out the words, “Do you want my father to order you to be killed, just like your brother?” A chill ran through my body as I imagined life without Valentin. Impossible. Valentin stepped closer to Rocco and clenched his jaw. His voice was gentle, yet determined. “He’s my brother. I cannot let him die. You don’t know what he’s done for me.” Memories of three small boys playing on the playground together flashed in my mind and made my heart ache. Rocco held Valentin's gaze for a long moment, then let out a heavy breath. He said slowly, “There might be a way. Follow me.” “Hey Rocco, where are you going?” Jaxon called, but Rocco didn’t give him a second look as we quickly exited the restaurant. Rocco held out his arm. “My car’s parked right out here.” I couldn’t help but admire his brand-new red Mustang convertible that was parked on the street. It had been a graduation gift from his father. We hopped into the car. Rocco stuck the key into the ignition, revved up the engine, and roared down Decatur Street. Luckily, there were no cops around. The execution would be held at the vampire royal court, and we headed there. It was near the uptown garden district that had glorious mansions that were sheltered by thick canopies of leafy green magnolia and cypress