Alexis
Augustus left me reeling.
When I regained my wits enough to walk (stumble in a forward direction), I hurried over to the study tables where the rest of the boys were spread out in their usual spots.
Initiates recoiled as I passed with Fluffy Jr., and Titus shot us both death glares, his leg still bleeding.
If there was any justice left in the world, he’d get gangrene.
When I finally got to my seat, I fell into it. The luxurious throw blanket that someone had gifted me was draped across the back, and I wrapped it around my arms gratefully.
“Wow. You bonded with thatthing?” Drex whispered as his golden toucan glared at me.
I repositioned Fluffy Jr.’s head on my lap. He was not a thing; misshapen creatures deserved love too.
“Yep,” I said as I busied myself pulling out textbooks. I didn’t want to talk about it.
“Look.” Maximum held up his arm and showcased a yellowsquirrel creature with five legs. It screeched when it saw me and climbed under his shirt.
Never mind, that thing is weird and does not deserve love.
“Very . . . nice?”
Maximum beamed and pulled his seat closer to mine.
I tried to scoot away, but there wasn’t any room with the chair on my other side.
“Wasn’t it crazy?” he said. “I can still feel his presence right now, a hot pressure at all times in here.” He tapped at his forehead.
“Yeah,” Drex responded. “My head is low-key killing me ever since we bonded. The heat is constant. It’s almost like when I use my powers but a little more intense.”
I looked back and forth between the two boys, stomach dropping.
“Did you feel anything in your chests?” I asked, trying to look casual.
“No,” Maximum said.
“No. Why?” Drex asked.
I opened my textbook. “No r-reason,” I muttered. The throbbing cord in my chest was unmistakable.
There was nothing in my head.
Nada.
Zilch.
Why can nothing in my life be normal? Can something go right for once? Is that really too much to ask for?
Apparently, it was.
Six hours later, we ran the circuit in a blizzard.
Snow whipped in a frenzy, burning my eyes, and the visibility was zero. I could barely see my arms as I pumped them. Nyx was an icy block around my stomach.
Patro and Achilles jogged on either side of me. Nero and Poppae ran at our feet, easily navigating the mountain, like they were born to run.
The rest of the initiates were in front of us, except Titus, who limped behind us with a wounded leg.
