He ignores that, his jaw tight. “Look, I’m only here for a moment. To talk. I don’t know what you think you’re doing with Ryker, butit’s obvious you don’t know enough about him—or the factions—to be making smart decisions.”
A scoff escapes before I can stop it. “Excuse me—”
He barrels on. “Honestly, I couldn’t care less what you do with your time. But we both know extreme emotions set us off.”
That makes me falter. So he’s been feeling my emotions and having some sort of reaction? Interesting. I didn’t know it had happened more than once.
“I can’t be running around dealing with my bond exploding every time you lose control or put yourself into a precarious position,” he continues, voice sharp. “I have important things going on. Hanging out with Ryker is just going to drag you into danger—or worse, destabilize you. I know you think it’s exciting right now, but it’s a bad idea, Arwen.”
I stare at him, stunned. Broken. Of course, he’s only concerned about himself and his side of the bond. I feel broken when I look at him. My bond feels it too—displeased, but calm. For once, it’s not clawing at my chest, begging me to throw myself at him like some lovesick fool. And that… gives me courage.
“Oh, I see.” My voice drips venom as I rise to my feet. “You’re used to smoke being blown up your ass all day until your head’s ten times its actual size. However, you might be surprised; not everyone is under your control, and the world does not revolve around you. My bond is doing just fine, thank you. So if yours is having hissy fits, that’s not my problem. I’ll spend my time with whoever I damn well please.”
Brushing past him, satisfaction buzzing in my chest, I picture letting out my inner Wrath rage that is burning me up inside. But I’m not in the best position at this school, and he is a Councilor’s son. Pity.
Pausing my (hopefully) confident stride away from him, I turn back just long enough to catch the leashed fury on his face.
“And if you wouldn’t mind following your own advice and staying the hell away from me,” I add sweetly, “it’d be much appreciated.”
His glare is a storm. Smiling at him, sharp and unbothered, I turn to leave.
“I hate that you’ve made me resort to this,” he says.
I turn to face him, confused as his voice changes. It’s hollow, sharp and threaded with something I can’t name. “You will come back here and listen to me.”
Something flicks at the edges of my mind, light and serpentine, like a memory trying to curl its way inside my skull. My teeth grit. I see why people from Pride need mental shields if it feels like that.
I mentally push the feeling away and turn to glare at him. “Don’t you ever try to use your power on me again, Atticus, or I swear to the universe I will stop holding back my rage.”
His look changes to one of confusion as I turn and jog away down the stairs.
***
Walking out to the casting grounds, I spot my friends gathered under a tree on the edge of the field. Their game must’ve ended early.
As I get closer, I see Sly sporting a fresh black eye while Cleo crouches beside Tabby, carefully wrapping her ankle with an ace bandage as she winces in pain.
“Looks like I missed out on all the fun,” I say, sitting down in the grass.
“Yeah, three whole minutes of fun before chaos ensued,” Holly replies dryly. “Brix is no longer allowed to create games.”
Brix clutches his chest in fake affront. “Hey, it’s not my fault you guys didn’t follow the rules.”
“Games aren’t supposed to have fifty rules, Brix,” Cleo shoots back.
I laugh and sink down onto the grass beside them, so grateful to be back in their orbit, soaking in the messy comfort of their company.
“So…” Holly says, giving me a pointed look, “what have you been up to? Something safer than the rest of us, seeing as you’ve got all your limbs intact and no bruises.”
“I don’t know about that,” I reply, leaning back on my hands. “I just ran into Atticus, and I think he tried to use his power on me.”
“What?!” Everyone gasps, voices overlapping, eyes wide with disbelief and a flicker of horror.
“Yeah, whatever. Not a big deal,” I say fast, shrugging like I can shake it off. “His little trick didn’t stick. Just trying to scare me off from Ryker, I guess. Can’t have his precious little corner of the bond getting all… messy,” I say, rolling my eyes.
Everyone goes quiet, their eyes darting everywhere but at me.
“What?” I demand, looking around at them. “You can’t possibly be worried about him?”
