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Every single limbaches from head to toe, but surprisingly, it doesn’t feel as rough as the last time he put us through our paces. I’m relieved to be getting the stamina boost I need, but the pain it comes with outweighs the pros right now.
Genie glared in my direction the entire class, exclaiming that, in her current condition, she wasn’t able to participate. Her friends tossed death glares along with her, and I fought back the eye roll threatening to burn my eyes. I couldn’t give a shit how they look at me. They don’t scare me. Even with the knowledge that Genie will attempt to get her revenge. It’s just another reason for me to be on alert, but fuck, it was worth it.
Getting changed into my uniform, I’m taking extra precautions to avoid putting my back completely to her when Leila clears her throat.
“Hey, I know we’re all up in the air and stuff at the moment, but I just wondered if you wanted to go to the party tonight?”
My eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Wait, is it Friday already?” I ask, completely lost.
“Yeah, are you okay?” she replies, concern thick in her tone as she frowns at me.
“Yeah,” I murmur with a sigh. “My brain is just a mess with everything. I think I’m going to pass, though. Not because of how things are between us. That has nothing to do with it. I need to decompress and I’m not in the mood to put on a fake smile and pretend like everything is great to people I don’t care about.”
She nods with understanding, the smile on her face showing no strain. “Of course, if you decide you need some girl time, let me know.”
“I will.” It’s true. I will. I have to give her the benefit of the doubt. She revealed she was in the Guild pretty much straight away, explained who the other members were without pause, came to get us when she knew other members wouldn’t, and today, with Genie, she showed up as a friend should.
Heading outside with Leila, we find the Bishops standing beside Professor Fitch. I expect Leila to stay too, but she waves me off as she follows the rest of the students heading to their next class. Once everyone is completely out of sight, Zane turns to Fitch with his arms folded over his chest.
“What’s the issue, Professor?”
“There isn’t one.”
“So why are we here?” Eldon interjects, and Fitch takes a step back.
“Follow me.” He heads toward the academy building and, as instructed, we stay a step behind him as he leads us inside, down a few hallways, then through a door with a gold plaque displaying his name on the front.
He waves us inside and we shuffle into the surprisingly large space with a desk sitting in the center of the room. There’s a high-back leather chair on the other side and a bookcase taking up the entire wall behind it, while the view out of the window to my right looks over the main entrance. That probably explains how he knew something was happening earlier with Genie and me.
At the sound of the lock latching, I turn my attention back to Fitch, who trudges around the desk to take a seat, leaving the five of us to stand.
“I believe you’ve been initiated into the Nightmares Guild.”
The five of us remain silent, expecting to wait him out, but it seems he’s better at it than us, and Eldon eventually relents. “It’s possible.”
“I’m still an active member. It’s not a secret to me. I just haven’t had a chance to speak with you until now.”
“Oh,” I mumble. I knew Leila was a member because of who her father was, but I hadn’t considered ifhewas still active himself.
“Why do we need to speak with you about it?” Creed asks with his head tilted to the side as he assesses the professor.
“You don’t, but I thought there might be some questions you were eager to get answers to,” Fitch offers, leaning back in his seat as he glances us over.
“At what cost?” Eldon asks, making my eyebrows rise in surprise. When he doesn’t instantly get a response, he continues. “You’re a calculating man, Fitch. Nothing is without a cost.”
Fitch laces his fingers together in his lap as his eyes narrow at Eldon, but he doesn’t budge or soften the words he just spoke.
“I believe an attack is getting closer and closer to the academy with every passing day. If we’re not prepared, we’ll be destroyed in the blink of an eye,” Fitch finally admits, making my gut clench. That is something to worry about for sure.
“How?” Brax asks, stepping closer to brace his hands on the table as he stares the professor down.
“Well, the Basilica Realm is where our enemies lie, but it’s not the only realm we’re up against. Since we cut ourselves off from them a long time ago, we have no idea what they’re now capable of or who they are allied with.” I’m trying to read between the lines because I know there’s a hell of a lot more to that statement than the impactful words already spoken, but I can’t decipher what.
“What does any of that mean for us?” I ask, folding my arms over my chest as I give him an expectant look.
“It means everything is balanced on a ticking time bomb. As a realm, as a nation, we should have been keeping our friends close and our enemies closer. Instead, we’ve turned a blind eye to anything and everything beyond our borders, choosing defense instead of offense, and I sense a storm is coming.”
“A storm?”
