Gods, I hoped Kiara knew what she was doing. This exorcism we were planning had to go right. There was no other option.
I was walking to class one day when I felt someone’s hand lock against my throat, pinning me against the wall. I gasped, and looked up. Theo was standing there, breathing raggedly. His fingers were tight around my neck. Stefan and Alexei were behind him, Stefan’s eyes wide and Alexei panicked.
“What the fuck are you playing at?” Theo snarled. He was so close, I could feel his hot breath on my face. He waspissed.
Alexei went to intercede, but Stefan flung out a hand to hold him back.
I didn’t do anything to defend myself, just let my hands hang limply at my sides. “I don’t know.”
“You’ve got a penchant for the dramatic, and I think I speak for everyone when I say we’re all sick of it,” Theo spat. “Whatever the case, hanging yourself isneverthe answer. So buck up and stop giving Emma more trauma than she already has, because come hell or high water, wewillget this demon out of you. I damn well suggest after that, you get your shit together.”
I felt the leshane’s anger rise at Theo’s words, but me? I was impressed. I’d never seen Theo stand up to anyone. That he was challenging me as an alpha was pretty damn spectacular.
And a massive indicator of how much I’d screwed up.
“I apologize. I don’t deserve Emma. I’m a shitty mate.”
“Here’s the thing about that,” Theo said viciously. “You keep repeating that over and over, but instead ofdoing somethingabout it, you just keep getting shittier. So when are you going to change?”
Guilt swarmed in my stomach. Theo was right. I kept complaining about how I needed to change, but I never put in the effort to do so. “Iwant to change, but I don’t know how. I need help.”
“Good thing you finally admit it.” Theo’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe you need to reach out to your friends, instead of keep pushing them away.”
“I will. I’ll do better. I’ll try.”
“I sure hope so. Emma’s tired of your bullshit, and frankly, so are the rest of us.” Theo shoved me away. “It’s time to put away the theatrics and start living your life.”
Where Theo grabbed me had hurt, but I resisted the urge to rub it. Alexei’s eyes moved between us, as if sensing when to intercede. I felt his calm empathy magic wash over me, easing my bad mood.
Theo instantly snarled. He slammed his shoulder into Alexei as he walked past. “Don’t bother. I don’t need an emotional boost from you.”
Theo changed into an alicorn. His teeth gnashed and his eyes rolled back as he shook his head, mane going everywhere. He trotted down the hallway with his tail held up, clearly agitated.
That he couldn’t contain his rage enough to maintain a human form was telling. He was beyond furious with me.
Alexei was eyeing me. “I understand your position. You’re backed into a corner.”
Alexei had been the most helpful. His empathy magic had been the biggest factor in my recovery the other day. And I was extra appreciative of Stefan’s large bribe to the doctor after my visit to the infirmary, so he wouldn’t go running to the press. My friends were the only reason I was still going. Whether or not I wanted to rely on them, I was.
Stefan made a face. “I know why you did it, and I get your reasoning behind it. If I attacked Irena, I’d have chosen the same option. But you have to know we aren’t going to let you do it again.”
“I wouldn’t anyway. It’d be pointless.” Whatever method I tried to end my life, the leshane would always make it go wrong. And I would never consider hurting my friends again in the same way— especially Emma.
I checked my watch. “I’m going to be late for class. Tell Theo I’m sorry.”
I changed into a wolven and bounded off. At this point, I wouldn’t make it to my Communing with the Gods class unless I ran, and it was on the other side of the school.
I shifted back just as I walked into the classroom. Professor Victor strolled in the center of the room. Pillows and rugs were laid out in a circle around the room. I smelled incense burning, and watched the smoke rise to the ceiling. The curtains had been drawn, leaving the room in darkness except for a few candles.
I took a seat on one of the last pillows. Most people were looking upward at Professor Victor, waiting for instruction.
Victor sat in the middle of the circle. He glanced at me before he began the lecture. “I’m glad to see all of you could make it, as this is an exceptionally important day for this class. We’ve been mostly working on theory, but today, we’re going to attempt to connect with the Seven Gods themselves.”
Murmurs of excitement ran throughout the classroom. Victor held up a hand. “Keep in mind, all Arcanea have a natural connection to the gods. We serve them, and they wish to help us. During your Choosing, each of you will bind yourself to a god or goddess, whom you will follow all your life. Some of you have already found your mates, and made that choice.”
I did. I chose to bind myself to Luka, the thief god— though I hadn’t heard from him since. My connection with him wasn’t like the connection Emma had with Milonna. I’d asked the god of peasants for help many times since the Contest, and it was like he refused to hear me. I hadn’t heard a word or had a sign from him since before my Choosing.
Perhaps he was annoyed I was a royal and I’d chosen to serve him. He was a god of the common people. Maybe he didn’t think I deserved his help, as I’d already experienced so much privilege in my life, due to being a prince.
