Page 64 of Stormbreaker

As if my father will care when she’s the one responsible for me, but I’ll keep that to myself.

“Then get going,” she replies. “You don’t want to be late.”

24

I hurry through the hallways, glancing at my phone as it dings with another notification. My heart lifts when I see it’s our group chat.

silver: what did the general want???

hazel: everyone’s talking about it. what happened?

silver: what about you, trin?

silver: feeling better?

A moment later, my heart nose-dives in the other direction. I miss my friends so much, but what would I tell them? I can’t assume anything I say will remain a secret between us. A young woman’s place in Society is always precarious, and the inside track on two of the school’s most talked-about students is a form of social capital. I don’t know if they’d use it, but Amery is changing us all.

I tuck my phone away without answering and quickly head toward my destination, putting Silver and Hazel out of my mind.

I turn the corner to find a Storm Guard standing by a set of tall metal doors banded with iron and bolts controlled with an electronic panel. He’s huge, his bulging arms revealed by his sleeveless black jumpsuit and metallic purple harness running across his shoulders and chest. He dips his chin in welcome.

“Name?” he asks.

“Poet Graves,” I say as his head snaps up.

“Raine’s sister.”

I nod, my throat tightening.

The man says nothing, just tips me a nod that feels like a gesture of respect before he presses a finger on the control panel.

The doors hiss open, and he waves me inside. I slip in to find a massive room, the ceiling stretching overhead. It’s filled with a row of beds, each surrounded by glass walls, next to various machines and instruments. It almost looks like a hospital, though I doubt we’ll be healing anyone here today.

About two dozen other students have already arrived, and my gaze immediately finds Rook leaning against the wall at the far end of the room, his hair hanging in his eyes and his arms folded across his chest.

I receive cool looks from a handful of House Fiama members, but no one I know very well. Only my closest friends are aware that my father wouldn’t approve of my presence in this room, so there’s no reason for anyone here to tell him.

Most of the students come from House Aria, and they’re all eyeing me up and down. The rest are a small mix from Asale and Tera.

Then I spy Domino with her chatty cog friend, Journey, standing at the edge. They smile at me, and I wave, relieved to see some welcoming faces. I desperately need allies. Maybe even friends?

Finally, I turn to the front of the room, where three Storm Guards stand, including Henry, Raine’s ex-boyfriend. I didn’t realize he’d become an instructor.

Behind them is a sight that sends chills down my spine. Two Extinguishers, marked by their bloodred uniforms, similar to the Storm Guard but with black leather harnesses.

Why are they here?

Several others have noticed them, and most people seem just as uncomfortable with their presence. I suspect it’s because both men are terrifying with their hard expressions and weapons, and not because they’re all hiding a secret, too.

Henry steps forward and clasps his big hands behind his back. He doesn’t utter a word for the class to fall silent. He simply watches us until we’re all focused on him with rapt attention.

“Welcome,” he says in a clipped voice. “You are the only ones brave enough to attempt initiation into the Storm Guard. Congratulations on this first step.”

It sounds like a compliment, but it feels more like a warning. And I don’t think I’m the only one who feels that way, thanks to the nervous glances darting around the room.

“I am Lieutenant Henry Crawford, level-four Breaker.” He gestures to his left and right. “With me are Brooklyn Lee and Chandler Pierce, both level-three Breakers.”

Brooklyn is lean and tall while Chandler is built like a tree. They both nod at Henry’s introduction. “The three of us will be leading you through all aspects of cadet training over the next few months. And that starts with these.”