AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“None of that matters, Creed. What’s going on? What did they have you do?” I ask, hoping to redirect the conversation.
He sighs, grabbing my hand from his shoulder and running his thumb over my knuckles.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” I repeat, eyebrows pinching in confusion.
“You’re going to have to give us a bit more than that, Creed,” Zane states, leaning forward to brace his elbows on his knees as he stares at the pair of us on the floor.
“There’s not much else to say,” he mumbles, but it’s clear he’s in his head a little, replaying whatever went down. “There were fifteen of us in total. Two nature-based students, three divination, two from conjuring, two medics, four shifters, and two psychics, including me.”
“And?” Brax encourages when he drifts off.
“And they took us to Pinebrook.”
“Pinebrook,” I repeat with a frown. “Why did you go there?” Despite asking, my gut already knows the answer and nausea starts to swirl in my stomach.
Jet-black onyx eyes find mine, pain written all over his face. From the pull of his brows to the tic of his jaw. Fuck.
“To attack them.”
His words echo around us, holding us captive for what feels like an eternity until Zane finally clears his throat, breaking the silence.
“Attack?”
Creed nods. “The news is spreading that the Basilica Realm has taken over the academy. People want to fight back, especially those with children who attend here. They’re trying to fight, demanding more from The Monarchy, who still haven’t issued a statement.”
“How do you know all of this?” Eldon asks, and Creed taps at his temple in response.
“I wasn’t there for my good looks, Eldon. But even if I was doing Erikel’s dirty work, I questioned the citizens of Pinebrook too.” I didn’t think it was possible, but it’s almost as though his eyes got darker.
“Erikel’s dirty work?” I’m like a damn echo, but I need to say the words out loud to register them above my pounding heart and swirling emotions.
Creed nods again but doesn’t respond right away, which only amplifies the tension in the room.
“Creed?” Zane murmurs, trying to nudge him along, and Creed’s hold on my hand tightens.
“Erikel wanted to set a precedent.”
“What does that mean?” Brax quizzes, arms folded over his chest as he looks down at Creed.
“He wants to make it clear The Monarchy is nothing against him and the power he wields.”
Fuck.
“What did he do?” I ask, my eyes drifting closed as I brace for his response.
“He killed them.”
“Alone, with his men, or did he rope you all into it?” Eldon mutters, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Honestly, I don’t know.” He gulps, looking down at the ground. “I just know it happened, I know what the aftermath looked like, but everything else… it’s just not in my mind.”
“Has someone used magic on you?” Brax asks, sounding just as angry as he did when Creed told me to fuck off.
“I don’t know for sure, but it feels like it.”
Fuck.
