“I can take her,” Francesca offers, and Baron growls beside me.
“You can fuck off before I permanently shut you up.”
“You're different, Archer. Letting people talk to me like this,” Francesca screeches, and Archer's eyebrows rise in surprise.
“No, I'm just not playing games with my mate's safety.”
“Everybody move out. Now,” Hugo grunts, ensuring there is no room for anybody else to complain.
I move with Sax’s hand at my back and Teddy’s fingers laced with mine, and I reluctantly let go of Baron to be carted out into the night air.
As soon as we make it outside, everybody disperses in the direction they need to go, while Teddy remains at my side. I falter, staring up at the sky in awe of the moon, which is illuminated even more so by the simple fact that there is no light pollution from anywhere.
Uncertainty envelops us.
Sax disappears with the others, leaving the two of us as we take off, keeping a steady pace as we move quickly, without all-out running, toward the Fire Protectors’ building.
It feels like the wild flowers are glowing underneath the moon in a way I've never noticed before, but my whimsical thoughts are quickly eradicated as the distinct scent of remnant fire wafts in the air and we draw closer to the dorms. One glance at the Fire Protectors’ building, and it’s clear the power outage is really happening when I spy no fire protecting the entryway.
Students take off in every direction, but most of them seem to be laughing, all joyous and heading in the direction of the beach for another impromptu party. That’s the last thing on my agenda tonight.
With my heart racing wildly in my chest, I startle when Teddy comes to a stop.
His nostrils flare, his entire body stilling as he tears apart our linked fingers.
I look to him for guidance, and he nods in the distance.
Instinctively, I fold my arms over my chest as I try to follow his line of sight, and my gaze snags towards the Water Protectors’ dorm, where a familiar frame leans against the side of the building.
I remember seeing her only once before, the night of the sleepover.
His mother.
I didn't get a good vibe from her last time, not the way she left Teddy, the way she spoke, the fact that she slapped him, so I don't like that she's here.
My stomach twists. Nothing good will come from this.
“She can't see what you mean to me,” he breathes, his hands flexing at his sides as confusion takes root in my gut. “She'll use you as a weapon,” he declares.
“Teddy, I?—”
His gaze finds mine, fear in his stance. “If I walk you to your building, I'm going to live to regret it because of her. If I don't, and some harm comes to you, I'm going to live to regret that too.”
Even under the moonlight, I can tell all the color has drained from his face.
“Does she need escorting?”
A shiver runs down my spine.
How does this guy always show up at the worst times possible?
“Fuck off, Silas,” Teddy grinds out, but I can sense the ticking time bomb that threatens to detonate beside me. It vibrates in the air between us, and despite my better judgment, I know we're faced with two options: Silas or Teddy’s mother.
“What's worse?” I blurt, and his eyes narrow. “What's worse, Teddy?” I repeat, and he grimaces, his gaze turning from glowering at Silas to looking at me with thick defeat in his eyes.
“Her.”
I straighten my spine as I take a step back, despite my limbs fighting against me. “Then I'll go with him, or fuck, alone,” I declare, taking the choice out of his hands as he shakes his head.
