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Before I can say anything to them, snow crunches ahead and I turn to find Elias slowly making his way toward the group. His breath curls in the cold air, his white hair catching the last remnants of the sunset.
Arthur looks him up and down, probably noticing the same thing I am: for once, Elias is not covered from head to toe in blood. “How many strayed?” Arthur asks as Velis disappears into dust.
Elias cracks his neck and stretches. “Eleven.”
Arthur looks down grimly while Elias’s face is as impassive as stone. “Edgar and Corvus were the first to arrive. You both will have immunity for the first stage of the exam, the name of which will be announced tonight in the mess hall,” Arthur says before dismissing us to our Shadow Houses.
The five of us start to make our way back inside when Elias grabs my arm. “I need to speak with you,” he says in a hushed voice.
Raine and Finn glance back at me but I shake my head at them. Finn hesitates but follows Raine back inside.
“What is it?” I pull my cloak around my arms to edge out the cold. The sun is setting and the spring air has a bite to it.
He grabs my hand and leads me to the west side of the castle so we’re out of earshot of anyone. His hands are freezing. Eleven students, that’s how many he killed today. A shiver runs down my spine.
I don’t want to care about someone like him, vile and sinister. But how do you carve out a cancer that has already grown? I should’ve stopped his roots before they spread.
Elias leans me back against the cool stones of Alkrose and lowers his head so he’s looking straight into my eyes. I take a deep breath at his closeness and swallow hard.
“Two things: the headmaster knows the hearts are gone and the professors are going to place additional casts on your brother.”
35
Terra
“What do you mean additional casts? He won’t be able to protect himself if that’s allowed.” I shove Elias back and he glares at me.
“I wanted to be the one to tell you.” His gray eyes soften but his brows remain pulled tightly together. “The others don't think he can control his Nova, like last time.”
I stalk toward Elias and try shoving him back again. This time, he’s ready for me and he doesn’t budge an inch.
“Push me again, sweetheart, and I’m going to have to punish you,” Elias whispers dangerously, grabbing my wrist and baring his teeth at me.
“Who’s going to place those casts on him? You?” I throw back at him. When his jaw sets and he doesn’t respond, my heart drops. “Elias, you can’t. He’ll be helpless in the exam.” I try tearing my wrist from his grip but he won’t let go.
“I don’t have a choice. The others have outvoted me. I wanted him dead. Now let’s talk about the more important issue at hand. The hearts?—”
“I fucking hate you!” I scream in his face and bury my teeth into his hand. He finally releases me, eyes wide with rage, and he curses. I open my mouth to scream more, when?—
“I DON’T HAVE A FUCKING CHOICE!” His voice is louder than I’ve ever heard it, unhinged and wild—cracking and filled with agony.
My eyes are wide and tears threaten to escape. His hands are on either side of my head and his entire body is trembling with emotion. He takes a few labored breaths, staring into my soul as his shoulders heave and his breath mists into the air around us. Then he whispers, “I don’t want to do these things, Terra, but I have to.” He pauses, unblinking, as he takes another few deep breaths, regaining his composure. “I never wanted to be the villain, especially not yours, but what am I supposed to do? Do you know what happens if he gets out of control? I’ll tell you. I get sent to kill him. Even if I take back my heart and disobey Cein and the headmaster, what do you think happens to me? I’m the Assassin of Fernestia. I’m the death bell, the reaper, the void. What could they possibly take from me? Guess. I’ll fucking wait.”
I stare at him, my lower lip trembling until I gnash my teeth into it.
“Me.”
“You. And that’s something I cannot risk. Not ever. So hate me if you must, but you’ll be safe and you will be mine. I don’t need your affection in order to be happy. All I need is for you to still exist,” he rasps. His glare is anything but loving.
I grab his face and dig my fingers into his cheek so his teeth pierce them beneath. He growls but I speak over him. “You aren’t even capable of affection. You’re just an empty puppet. The only thing you want is to possess me.” I press harder on his cheeks and he doesn’t even flinch as blood starts to drip from his lips. “Fuck. You.” I release his face and shove him back again.
He staggers for a few seconds, blood spilling down his chin and onto the muddy grass. Then he looks up at me like a predator watches their prey.
“I’m going to give you five seconds to apologize.” A manic grin spreads across his lips. His normally pearly-white teeth are stained red with blood.
I’m paralyzed with fear.
“One.” His eerie voice is all I need to snap back to reality. “Two.”
