A group of three witches huddle together, whispering behind cupped hands.
“That’s her—the one the Guardian took down.”
“I heard she’s possessed.”
“I’m surprised she’s even allowed here if she’s carrying a demon mark.”
My skin prickles, absorbing every stare like a physical touch. I feel it all: their fear, their judgment, their morbid fascination.
“Ignore them, Poppy.” Orion quickens his step to walk beside me, bookending me between him and Wylder. He leans forward to catch Wylder’s attention and frowns. “You know you’re going to have to put a stop to the whispering or trouble will brew.”
Wylder grunts. “There’s not enough intervention in all the fae realm to stop people from weighing in after that fiasco with the Guardian. She’ll have to learn to live with it.”
“She’s right here.” I wave, annoyed that they’re talking about me like I’m invisible. Actually, being invisible would be an improvement at the moment.
We climb a spiral staircase and emerge onto a rounded tower landing. A shimmering plaque beside an ornate wooden door reads “Dorm Cluster 9.” Wylder raises his hand, traces a complex pattern over a rune-inscribed touchpad, and the door swings open.
My stomach drops the moment I catch sight of one of the three senior volunteers Wylder had been standing with during the weekly welcome.
Pep Squad Blondie crosses her arms and kicks her hip to one side. “Seriously, Poppy? How the hell did you convince the headmistress to let you stay? You’re still the same entitlednightmare you’ve always been, I see. Geez, why didn’t you just do us all a favor and stay gone?”
I blink and slide the strap of my duffle off my shoulders, allowing my belongings to sink to the floor. “Excuse me? Am I supposed to know you?”
Bitch Barbie gives me a ‘well, duh’ glare. “Oh, you know me.”
I snort. “Actually, I don’t. Sorry.”
Her gaze narrows, but before she can spout off any vitriol, Orion interrupts. “Her memories were taken from her, Amber. She has no idea who you are or why you’re being such a bitch. Actually, Poppy, I’m not sure the bitch thing has anything to do with you. She’s always a bitch.”
“Fuck you, Orion.”
“Sorry, babe, I’m into dicks, not chicks. You’ll have to go fuck yourself.”
Amber rolls her eyes and refocuses on me. “When I got home from boarding school after graduation, they said you’d moved on. You should’ve stayed gone. Nobody wants you here, and there’s no way I’m spending my valuable time sharing space with such an epic traitor to our coven.”
Orion stiffens. “Whatever Zoe did or didn’t do, it wasn’t Poppy’s choice. Shall we start dragging skeletons out of the Draven closet and nail you to the wall for them? Didn’t Daddy Draven have a torrid affair with a fae knight of the Queen’s Court?”
Amber sputters, looking murderous. “Shut your mouth, Carmichael. You can badmouth me all you want, but it won’t change the fact that I’m an Elite and you’re what happens when witches falter and stoop to sully themselves with shifter mutts.”
Wylder’s quick reflexes catch Orion’s charge, but in fairness, he doesn’t put much conviction into taking the bitch down. “Easy, buddy. You’ve already got two strikes against you.Attacking an Elite from your coven will get you shunned for good.”
“It would be worth it,” Orion snaps, a menacing growl vibrating from deep in his throat.
Wylder holds him steady for another half a beat and then turns to face Amber, his jaw tight. “Grab your shit. You’ve been reassigned to Dorm 6.”
“What?” Amber’s voice goes shrill. “You can’t do that! Dorm 6 is practically in the swamp, and half the residents can’t control their transformations during the full moon!”
Wylder shrugs. “Laurel and Briar made the decision. Take it up with them.”
Amber’s eyes narrow to slits as she jabs a finger in my direction. “This isn’t over, freak. Don’t think for a second you belong here, Hallowind. Your mother was an oath-breaker, and everyone knows it.”
Amber stomps into the first room, grabs a hot pink roller suitcase and a leopard print duffel bag from behind the door, and then shoves past me with deliberate force.
I expect a wall-rumbling slam of the door, but even though she yanks the thing on the way out, it settles into place with a peaceful click.
Nice. Magical silent close.
When the hostile energy in the air dissipates, I turn to Wylder and Orion. “Thanks.”
