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“I don’t know.” I shrug, my emotions coiling in my stomach and leaving me queasy. “But there’s a compound on academy grounds where the magical creatures are held until they’re brought into the Gauntlet or whatever else they might want them for. But it’s no wonder they’re taking out students without care if they’re being kept against their will.” I know I’m rambling, but if there’s a fresh set of ears to hear me out, I’m going to take it.
A soft smile glosses Leila’s lips, despite my upset, and I frown, but she quickly explains. “You’re passionate about this, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Ari was kept there, and he’s only out because he's my familiar, but that doesn’t help his love, Gia. But more than that, if there’s so much at stake around us, why don’t we have allies in these creatures instead of using them as tools?”
She purses her lips as we take a left turn down one of the corridors, approaching our next class.
“Do you want me to try and find out from my father if I can?” she offers, and my eyes widen. That’s not what this was about. I hadn’t even considered it, but if it’s available, who am I to deny a source?
“I mean, I wouldn’t say no, but that was not my intention here.”
“I know, that’s why I’m offering,” she replies with another genuine smile. “I’ll speak to him later and see what he can tell me.”
A burst of hope sweeps through me but I tamp it down, not wanting to get my hopes up too much. “Thank you, Leila.”
“Yeah, thanks, Leila,” Zane adds, stepping into my side as we walk through the doorway of our next class. Her smile widens, but before I can consider anything more, a gust of wind smacks into me at full force and I’m whipped off my feet and pinned to a wall before I can even understand what’s happening.
What the fuck?
Laughter bubbles around me and my gaze darts around the room until my eyes land on my new victim.
Genie.
I can’t move a muscle but that doesn’t stop my men charging at her. Brax looks like a charging bull, but when he gets within arms reach of her, something stops him. Her friends chuckle louder and I realize there are three girls just a step behind her. Their magic must be at play, too.
My insides burn as I try to fight against the hold on me. What’s weirder is I can practically feel every inch of it touching me. If I could just move my hand, I might be able to help myself.
Keeping my gaze locked on Genie as Zane and Creed also fail to reach her, I take a deep breath and try to calm my rising frustration.
Eldon stops short of the others, tilting his head as he assesses Genie, who pulls her stare from me to look at him. “Come closer, Eldon,” she purrs, seductively sweeping her tongue along her bottom lip, and my whole body stiffens even tighter when he doesn’t miss a beat, edging closer to her, just as she wants.
He sidesteps Creed, Zane, and Brax, no magic holding him back as he stops beside the table Genie is sitting on. Leaning in close to whisper in her ear, I think I’m going to be sick as fury burns the back of my throat. His hand grips her chin and she smirks as she blinks up at me.
My body aches from trying to fight against the magic, but it’s useless. I’m not going anywhere. My lungs burn with every breath I take as I try to understand why the fucking hell Eldon would even be entertaining her right now.
Then a scream rips from her lungs, her face heating, and her focus on me shifts as she recoils from Eldon’s touch. I slump to the floor with a thud, unable to ready myself to land solidly on my feet.
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” I bite, scrambling to my feet and racing between the chairs and desks to hunt this bitch down.
By the time I get there, Eldon has released her and she’s sobbing into her hands uncontrollably.
“I’m sorry, are you a little hot?” Leila sings, stepping up to her side as Genie’s friends simply gape in surprise at the fact that their plan failed. “Let me cool you down,” she says with a smirk before squeezing Genie’s hands that are cupping her face. She screams even louder as icicles erupt across her features.
“Enough!” Professor Figgins screeches from the top of her lungs, and the whole room goes still. My chest heaves with every breath as I continue to stare at Genie. I don’t care if Eldon and Leila have already caused her pain; I’m ready to let her have a taste of my anger, too.
Professor or not.
“Find your seats. Now.”
I hear people shuffling around me but I don’t budge until Zane moves to my side and places his hands on my shoulders. “Come on, Dove,” he murmurs against my ear, and I release the breath I didn’t realize was lodged between my lips.
This isn’t over. Far from it. And when Genie looks at me, I know she feels the exact same.
I drop down into my seat and Leila goes to take her usual spot beside me, but before she gets a chance, Eldon is moving her out of his way. “Take my seat,” he grumbles, pointing over his shoulder to his usual spot beside Brax.
Leila looks nervously between me and the seat and decides against arguing. Although, in my current mindset, I think that would have been fun to watch.
“Raven,” Eldon starts, brushing his hand over my knuckles, but I’m already shaking my head at him.
