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I kept my body facing the wall the entire night, kept the blankets pulled tightly under my chin. I didn’t want to fall asleep with Wolf just a few feet away, but I didn’t have much of a choice.
He wasn’t going to kill me. Not in my sleep, anyway.
Not tonight.
“Yesterday, you were all simply students. Fresh recruits. New to this academy. Yesterday, you each held an identity; one that was created long ago, when you were growing up wherever you came from. Some of you are from poor cities with crumbling walls. Others grew up with wealthy families in castles with servants. Today, that changes.”
I stiffened in my seat in the back corner of the room, one that allowed me plenty of space to see everyone else.
And gave them no space to see me.
Still, the energy with which Headmistress Katherine spoke sent a chill through the crowd.
“You no longer belong to yourself,” she continued. “You belong to The Golden City. You’ll identify as a defender of the city, as a part of the community. From today onward, you will lay your life down to protect The Golden City. Is that understood?”
The group remained silent.
“Is that understood?” she repeated.
“Yes, Headmistress,” we answered in unison.
Everyone shifted, seemed to sit straighter. Everyone except Wolf, anyway, who sat casually splayed across his chair. With his wings relaxed on each side of him, he took up three seats instead of one.
Figures.
He was gone when I woke up this morning, which made me feel both comfortable and on edge. It was nice that I could avoid interacting with him today, but the fact that he was awake while I slept?
I reminded myself to slow down my heart.
“Today, you’ll be stripping yourselves of those identities the hard way. You’ll suffer. You’ll hurt. Pain will cleanse you, will wash away the versions of yourselves that may have existed before you walked through the doors of Moira.” Headmistress Katherine’s gaze shifted to the fae in the front of the room, the ones who looked as if they were ready to run the place themselves.
I stifled a smile. I’d very much like to see them wash themselves in pain.
“Commander Macanthos will assist with your combat needs. We’ll be training in the courtyard every other day at the minimum. You’ll be in charge of your own recoveries on your off days. And don’t think that the magic training will be any easier on you. Magic will take a deep toll on you, one that you won’t see coming. So prepare yourselves.”
Hells.
Commander Macanthos—the male who spoke at The Blessing last night—stepped forward. He was older, with wrinkles around his eyes and gray hair slicked into a knot behind his head. But even so, he looked as if he could kill any one of us without batting an eye. His shoulders were still large and lean, and he stood with his chest puffed out.
“Now that we’re all settled, we’ll head to the courtyard. Find a partner. We’ll be sparring until midday,” he commanded.
Headmistress clapped her hands, and we all stood, quickly filing out of the room and down the towering halls to the courtyard.
“Hey,” Ashlani whispered, falling into step beside me. “Be Lanson’s partner. He’ll go easy on you, I promise.” She winked at me before moving to catch up with her own roommate, Voiler.
Voiler seemed just as shocked when Ashlani approached her, as if she wasn’t expecting anyone to actuallywantto be her partner. They were similar in size, which would be an advantage for both of them.
Great.I really did not want to partner with Lanson, but I supposed it was better than my other options. I couldn’t stop myself from glancing at Wolf, who sauntered alone toward the front of the group. Surely, a fae would not have to partner with an angel. Everyone knew that would be no match at all.
“Not that I’ll need to,” Lanson said, chiming in on my other side after Ashlani left. “I think you’ll be able to handle yourself just fine.” He grinned.
“Yeah,” I laughed, feigning nonchalance. “Let’s hope so.”
The sun just peeked above the castle walls, warming the cold air around us. Morning frost covered the short grass of the yard, creating a glistening effect that reminded me of mornings in the forest.
“Spread out.” Commander Macanthos’s voice echoed off the stone walls. “Get comfortable. Let’s see what we’re working with.”
Lanson followed me to the far side of the courtyard. I tried to find a spot where we would draw the least amount of attention, but it was difficult. We were exposed out here.
