This is some backward space shit.
I don’t care that he’s not my father; if anything, I feel relief. The twisted knot that forever lived in my stomach, connecting the two of us, is gone. The weight I have carried for so long is now non-existent.
It’s the fact that he’s known for a while. I could see it in his emerald eyes.
Kael fucking Forrester.
Waiting around would have led to some bullshit reasoning and excuses, and I’m not interested in either. He effortlessly exposed a part of me that I need time to process and understand. Time that would have been ideal to takebeforecoming face to face with Warren Blackwood again.
Warren.
Not Dad or Father, just Warren.
The tightness clogging my throat eases as my cell phone vibrates again, but when I look at the screen, it’s Thorne’s name that flashes before me.
Fuck him as well. He took me down there with the intention of dropping this bomb.
Agitation gets the better of me as the vibrating becomes incessant, and I toss my phone without a second thought. Ease washes over me at the release of the obnoxious device. With that gone, I stop, planting my hands on my hips as I take a deep breath and scan my surroundings.
I thought I was walking aimlessly, but that can’t be true if I now find myself standing outside the library. New books, it is. Wiping a hand down my face, I hurry toward the door, desperately in need of a distraction, but before I can wrap my fingers around the handle, it whooshes open toward me and Professor Grimm steps out.
His gaze locks on mine for the briefest moment before his eyebrows furrow and he starts shaking his head.
“Elodie, what are you doing here? Everyone is to gather in the dining hall,” he states, waving a hand for me to start walking, and I fall into step with him instinctively.
“Why?”
He raises his eyebrows as if it’s a stupid question that I should already know the answer to, but when I continue to stare at him blankly, he sighs. “As the arrival of rebels compromised the previous Institute Game, The Sanctum has opted to do a retrial.”
“And I’m guessing that’s going to start now?” Isurmise, hoping like hell that I’m wrong, but the way his mouth sets into a thin line and he nods his head diminishes my odds. “Who says we won’t witness their unfortunate arrival again?” I push, recalling the look in that vampire’s eyes as he whispered that awful nickname my way.
“Professionally speaking, Miss Blackwood, it’s within my advisement to discourage such fragile thoughts. The rebellion penetrating our forces so quickly again is impossible.” His words hang in the air, thick and strong, and I try to cling to them but they feel slippery as hell. “But as your institute advisor for the games, I believe you deserve the truth that’s settled in my mind.” My breath stutters as he sighs, but his pace doesn’t falter as he continues to lead me toward my impending doom. It’s only when we’re standing behind the dining hall that he comes to a halt, hands planted on his hips as he tilts his head at me. His gaze searches mine. For what? I’m not sure, but when he runs his hand down his face, he speaks. “I believe the rebellion has someone on the inside aiding them.”
“Who?” I blurt, but he shakes his head with a grimace.
“I don’t have enough knowledge to confirm or deny any suspicions at this time, but my concerns grow as our security weakens. My gut is telling meto stay on high alert, and I always trust it.” He pats me on the shoulder, a glint of sympathy in his eyes, before he starts walking again.
Swallowing my nerves, I follow behind him, watching as students flood the dining hall in a hurry. I clear my throat as I step inside, watching as Professor Grimm scurries toward the rest of my group. I consider holding back a second when I spy Kael, Rion, and Thorne, but then I remember whatever Grimm has to say is essential right now, and I need to put my feelings aside before I jeopardize my safety out of rage.
“Gather ‘round, everyone. Quickly,” Professor Grimm hollers, waving everyone closer. Kael spots me first, his jaw tight as his eyes narrow, but I look away before I do something stupid. Thankfully, Ocean appears in the crowd, like a siren parting the seas and drawing me to danger, but I go willingly.
She links her arm through mine the moment I’m close enough, but doesn’t say a word as she directs her attention to Grimm.
“Listen closely. I have no idea what Institute Game you will be entering this morning, so I can’t give you any advice on what challenges you may face, but stick together, work as a team, and the rest will come naturally.”
I nod in understanding as a few people spoutquestions at him, but I’m distracted by a pair huddled in the corner to my left. Willow and Professor Drayker. Anyone else would believe their whispers were a plan of action for whatever is about to come, but the way they both stared deep into my soul, unabashed and wrought with tension, makes one thing clear: I am the topic of conversation.
Maybe I am overthinking it.
Shaking my head, I glance at the tree that still sits all pretty in the center of the room, and a moment later, it disappears. In its place stand the five members of The Sanctum, with a swirling portal behind them, and a gold dish and stand in front.
I don’t like it, not one bit, and with the way Ocean tightens her fingers around my arm, she doesn’t either.
“Students of The Vale, welcome to the bloodbound trial,” Anya declares, throwing her arms out wide with glee as my veins turn to stone.
Bloodbound? I’ve read about that in one of the books.What was it about? Think, Elodie. Think!
“It is with true certainty that we can confirm that two more institutes will leave the games today. As always, the game on the surface is simple: find the exit with your bound. The challenges you may face are something else entirely,” Saken declares,sending a flood of whispers through the room as a shudder runs down my spine.
