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I roll my eyes at myself as I murmur my thanks while Figgins unlocks her office door and ushers us outside just as quickly as we came in. I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but now isn’t the best of times.
Hurried footsteps beyond the classroom draw me toward the doorway, despite my irritation, where students and professors alike rush by.
“The siren is a drill. Everything is shut down and everyone must gather in the courtyard. That’s why the portals aren’t working,” Figgins explains. “Go quickly. I will follow separately,” she adds, and I nod before taking off down the hallway with my men in tow.
Following the crowd of both Silvercrest and Shadowgrim students, my steps slow as we enter the courtyard to find Erikel standing at the far end. Creed’s father, in his usual golden armor, is standing to his right while Fitch hangs back in the crowd with Leila at his side. Her face is downcast, and I can’t see Grave, but that will have to wait until we know what’s going on here.
I catch sight of Sebastian stepping in from the right, his pace slow and measured. He glances through the crowd, looking for someone or something, but is quickly distracted as Genie throws herself at him. They’re a tangle of arms and lips a moment later and I twist my head in wonder. Is it an act? I don’t know, but it’s insane either way.
I may be standing here, wondering what the hell is actually happening on so many levels, but I don’t think it’s possible to get a true answer. Not with so much magic at play, so many people controlled by situations I know nothing about. It’s unsettling. And that’s an understatement.
While everyone gathers, I turn to Eldon, hoping to distract us from all of this with more talk about his vision, but the second our gazes connect, he discreetly shakes his head before noddingto the side. I follow his line of sight, spotting a few of the institute students beside us.
Damn, there’s nowhere for us to talk freely right now. Why is the world against me at the worst possible times? Are there even more suitable times? I don’t think so.
Shaking my head, I heed my wandering mind. I need to warn Ari. I’m not going to be getting there any time soon, but hopefully, it means the other students going to see their familiars won’t be able to either.
“Ari?”I cross my fingers, praying it works.
“Raven.”
Thank goodness he heard me. I sigh with relief.
“Something is going on here. We can’t leave the academy right now,”I explain, and a tightening takes over my chest as I sense his concern.“I’m okay. I don’t think it will be anything to worry about. I just wanted you to know.”
“Okay, be safe, Raven, or I’ll blame those men of yours.”
I smile at his remark, focusing back on the present instead of communicating with him.
“What’s this about?” one of the guys beside us asks his friend, and I peer at them from the corner of my eye.
“Fuck knows, man. You know details never get passed down the chain quick enough,” his friend retorts with a huff.
“For now, brother. For now. Once everything is said and done, you know it will be different. It was promised.”
I want to tell him that promises don’t mean shit, especially among those men, but that’s not for me to be concerned about. Whatisa slight worry, though, is that they don’t know any more than we do, which makes this feel far less planned and way more chaotic. The fact that Erikel’s men are so blindly led also baffles me. Maybe it’s who I am—the need for all of the information and my obsession with control—I can’t understand how people wouldn’t want those things too.
Erikel clears his throat, swinging his arms out wide at his sides to gain everyone’s attention, and when the courtyard is completely silent, he speaks. “It’s been brought to my attention that the peace and tranquility we feel right now will be coming to an end.” Everyone frowns, bewildered with where this is going, but he doesn’t leave us hanging for long. “The Monarchy is coming to invade us tomorrow.” Gasps ring out around us, a mixture of hope and an inkling of horror swirling in the air throughout the crowd. “So we must act today.”
Invade? That’s a bit fucking dramatic. Are they coming? Yes. Invading? No. Not that I’m aware of at least, and I consider myself very well informed on all things regarding The Monarchy right now. But the semantics don’t fucking matter in this moment because the fact remains; he knows. He fucking knows.
How? Fuckinghow?
“Act how?” Ruben asks, catching me by surprise. I thought he would just do as he was told without any questions, but the frown on his face tells a different story. More than that, the question reflects my own. What the hell does Erikel mean we must act today?
“We’re going to Ashdale.”
TWENTY-NINE
RAVEN
How the fuck does he know about The Monarchy?
I can’t get the question out of my head. It’s playing on a loop, even as I stare at him, waiting for what comes next.
“When?” Genie asks, unfazed, while the rest of us are frozen in place with shock.
“Now.” It’s a barked order, a snap of his teeth as his gaze lands on me for a second. I’m certain he’s attempting to suck my breath from my very lungs from across the way, but that would be impossible. Though, under his treacherous gaze, it feels like if anyone could do it, it’s him.
