The sparkle goes out, and he leans into me, getting right up into my face. “You want to threaten me? You know nothing about my family. MY family transcends blood. My family would die for me. My brothers and sisters are not my family. In fact, feel free to take them out. You’d be doing me a favor.”
I can feel his hot breath against my cheek.
Clearly, I have touched a nerve.Up close, I can see the lines on his face. He looks stressed, like he’s been holding the entire world on his shoulders.
I give him an understanding look. This man is going through something I know nothing about. “Look, all I’m saying is whatever you need weapons for, let us use them. Wrath has the best soldiers in Vail. Use us. Hire our faction and trade for food. We’ll take care of your problem quickly and efficiently—no offense...” I placate him before he can lay into me; I can tell he has some pride in him as well.
“We discuss the specifics, size of the army we’d send, number of commanding officers, the issues and dangers we’d face, and we can negotiate a fair trade of food. Supplies to grow our own food would be even better, but we’ll make it fair. How does that sound?”
He's still leaning close to me, and his eyes assess my face, lingering on my lips, causing butterflies to thrash in my belly.
“Okay, you win. Let’s make a plan then,” he resigns.
We spend the rest of class working out the details of the trade and transportation logistics. After some time, we agree on a detailed planfor sharing food and soldiers with strict monitoring and contingency measures.
After we turn in the assignment, Maddox grabs his bag and goes to leave. “See you next time, little Wrath,” he says with a nod as he walks out the door. I can’t help but glance at his ass.
The bottom half of his body is somehow even better than the top half.
I catch up with Cleo in the hall, feeling upbeat about my day so far. I’ve made some new friends and feel confident in my work for my first class.
“Oh my gosh, are you okay?!” Cleo grabs my arms as I catch up to her with a concerned look on her face. She pulls me into the courtyard.
“Yeah, I’m doing great. Why, what’s up?”
“Your partner… the guy you were sitting next to? That’s Maddox West. He’s one of Councilor West’s children. They call all ten of them the ‘bastard children.' Children of the mafia boss. He’s supposed to be ruthless and leads one of the largest gangs in Gluttony despite being the youngest son. He’s terrifying. I can’t believe he’s at the academy this year.”
Oh!Oh shit.
I just mouthed off at a dangerous gang leader, whose fatherreallydidn’t want me coming to this academy. Maybe this day isn’t going so great after all.Thanks, universe.
My face must reveal my anxiety because Cleo grabs my arm in hers as we walk. “It’s going to be okay. Just lie low and go along with whatever he says during class.”
She adjusts her glasses on her face. “The good news is the professor is probably too scared of him to give him a poor grade, anyway. Everything will be fine, Arwen.”
9
Thou Shalt Not Walk Alone
Arwen
I’m still getting stares and dirty looks, but most of the students are too excited and chattering to each other about the bond ceremony to notice me.
As I step into the auditorium of SinVail Academy, I am struck by the space. It is like nothing I have ever seen before. The little of Pride that I was able to witness left me dumbstruck, but this space is more than the modern and luxurious amenities that I am not used to seeing in Wrath.
Despite my sinless status, I can still feel the magical ambiance that fills the space. Everyone is silent, like the room demands it.
It’s massive, with high, vaulted marble ceilings. I notice intricate symbols that seem to shimmer and move. Large arched windows and red and gold tapestries cover the walls. The light that falls through the windows has an ethereal look to it that adds to the feel of ancient mystery.
I see rows and rows of students already seated in plush red seats arranged in a gentle arc that faces the stage.
The stage is elevated and framed by heavy, expensive looking curtains that shimmer with threads of gold.
A familiar arch stands in the center of the stage. I’ve seen it twice in Furycliff during our city's lasttwo bond ceremonies. The familiarity of it does nothing to understate how powerful it feels.
The bond arch. We learned about it in class the day before attending my first bond ceremony. It’s made of an unknown dark stone that seems to absorb light rather than reflect it. Intricate runes and symbols cover it, appearing as if they were painted on in blood. They glow against the dark stone.
The arch is both beautiful and terrifying in the power it emulates, typical of forbidden relics.
