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I should have known that question was coming. I don’t want to answer him, but I know that will only make the situation worse.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I grumble, dramatically rolling my eyes at him.
“Don’t play dumb,” he sneers as one of the others mutters the word bitch under his breath. Nice. Real nice. “Where are they?” he repeats, rolling his shoulders back as his gaze briefly shifts to Brax for a moment before settling back on me.
Biting back another sigh, I stiffen with irritation. “I. Don’t. Know. Why don’t you tell me? We all left for the caves together, and they haven’t made it back. I want to know where they are more than anyone else.” My voice is louder than necessary, but I can’t control the emotion consuming me.
Ruben’s eyes narrow, assessing me when one of his friends pats him on the shoulder, snickering before he even speaks. “Be real, Ruben. They probably got sick of sharing her loose cunt and didn’t?—”
Brax slams his fist into the fucker’s face, cutting off whatever else he was about to say. Ruben is quick to jump to his friend’s defense, but his punch is greeted by Brax’s gargoyle form and the asshole howls in pain, dropping to the ground.
I’m rooted to the spot, aware of the crowd watching as Brax knocks down the final two Shadowgrim students until they’re all flat out on their backs. He leaves them groaning in agony while he stands tall over them, flexing his hands as they go from stone to flesh and bone.
“That’s enough,” Figgins hollers, moving closer, but her steps are tentative, with very little authority in her tone as she steps in too late to deescalate the situation.
“Go back to your fucking perch,” Brax growls, waving his hand toward where she was standing a few minutes ago. “You should have interjected when they first came at Raven. You didn’t. So I had to take matters into my own hands.”
She cocks a brow at him before turning her attention to me.
Shit.
Cutting the distance between Brax and me, I gently place my hand on his arm before stepping in closer. “She’s on our side, Brax,” I breathe, keeping my voice low as he frowns at me.
She was simply saying what is expected of her as a professor on academy grounds. She didn’t seem all that fussed about Brax beating the fuck out of them. He does have a point though, she didn’t interrupt the scene they created.
Brax drags a hand down his face, still watching the assholes on the ground in case they try to retaliate with their own magic, but they seem content to roll around, spitting insults as everyone else watches in amusement.
We haven’t stepped foot inside the academy yet and I’m ready for the day to be over. We really don’t have the time to deal with this. It’s exactly what has me stressed. I would rather be holed up at the house, on the shell with Rhys as we hash out a solid plan.
“Raven Hendrix.” I still at the sound of my name, turning to find Professor Fitch standing in the entryway. His hands are braced behind his back, his gaze narrowed as he looks down his nose at all of us. It’s strange to think I trusted this man more than most when I first arrived, but now… I hold him with more suspicion than anyone else. “Your parents are here for a visit,” he states, sending a shiver down my spine.
That can’t be possible. Rhys mentioned the issues they’re having with my father. That wouldn’t have changed overnight, surely. I can’t say that, though. I can’t confirm that I’m in contact with Rhys.
Instead, I peer at Brax, trying to silently convey my uncertainty, and I see the same understanding in his eyes without having to utter a single word. It doesn’t seem like Fitch sees it, though, as he gives his order.
“Follow me.”
SIX
ZANE
It doesn’t make sense. Erikel could have killed Burton and assumed his position as him afterward, but for Burton to have been Erikel this entire time… it’s impossible.
The thought has kept me awake for hours. Staring into the abyss as I lie fuck knows how far away from Raven for the first time since she waltzed into my life. My heart aches and my mind reels with every what-if that plagues us.
Marieta offered us Brax’s room, but it felt too intrusive on our part, so we decided to set up camp in their living room. Eldon is on the sofa directly above my spot on the floor, while Creed fills the one that sits parallel to us. Both lay still and quiet. I’m not sure if they’re asleep or not, but the silence in the room only makes my thoughts louder.
Kicking the sheets off, I sit. The bite of the rug presses into my palms as I push up onto my feet. I need a minute. Somewhere to breathe and distract me from my thoughts.
I edge my way to the door as Creed and Eldon remain still. Pulling it closed behind me, I head for the messy room scattered with all the details of Marieta and Peta’s attempts at escaping. There’s enough in there to keep me busy for a while.
Flicking the light on, I stand and cast my gaze over every inch of the room. It’s overwhelming at first; it was earlier, too. As much as it’s all organized, I have no idea where to begin, but I need to figure it out if we’re going to find our way back to Raven and Brax.
Marieta and Peta have given us the basics, but I need a deep dive into every single detail if we’re going to find a way out of here. The facts laid before me will give me much more intel, which is exactly what we need if we want to be able to find a way out.
Raking a hand through my hair, I shuffle to the far left of the room and decide to start at the first piece of material I come across. It might not be the best plan of action, but it’s the best I’ve got to focus my chaotic thoughts.
Will I ever regret stepping through the emerald gate that led us here? No. I’m certain of it. But that doesn’t stop me from hating my current reality.
