Holly: Been itching to knock someone on their ass.
Brix: Count me in.
Sly: Wait, are we talking friendly sparring or bloodbath sparring? I need to mentally prepare myself.
Me: Casting grounds in 20.
My grin is sharp as I sling my bag over my shoulder.
As I stand, I don’t bother hiding the scrape of my chair this time. Let them hear it. Let him hear it. I catch Atticus’s eyes once more, that smug curve tugging at his mouth as if he’s won, as if he knows exactly how much he’s under my skin.
Instead of giving him the satisfaction of a glare, I just walk away. Keeping my spine straight, and my head held high, I’m already picturing the satisfying crack of impact when I land my first strike.
I walk toward the casting grounds, my thoughts raging at Atticus. What the hell is he playing at? I’m giving him what he wanted—space, distance, silence. Could he really be this cruel, or is there something else pushing him to torture me like this?
“Ah!” I stumble backwards as an arm grabs me from behind and yanks me into a classroom.
Not this time. I’m ready.
I drive my elbow hard into Alexi’s gut and flip him over my shoulder. He crashes onto his back with a heavy thud.
“I can’t believe you’re at this again,” I snap, anger rushing hot through me.
He’s wheezing, struggling to breathe from the impact. “No… different… sorry…”
His voice is raw, broken between gasps.
“You’d better get it together right now and tell me what this is about,” I warn, fists tight at my sides.
He pushes himself up onto his knees, catching his breath. “Wow, Wrath girl—you pack a punch.”
“Wrath girl?” I repeat, narrowing my eyes. “Did you not even bother to learn my name?”
“Of course I know your name!” he fires back, his anger finally matching mine. “I remember everything about you I can learn at a distance. The bond wouldn’t let me forget if I tried.”
The way he says it twists something sharp in me. As bad as my bonds are, it’s clear his are tearing into him too—maybe worse. But I don’t trust him. Not after the last time. The sour taste of that encounter still clings to me.
“Tell me what you want right now, or I’m leaving,” I say.
“I just wanted to warn you,” he says, bracing himself. “Rumors are swirling about you and Ryker. You probably think I’m a piece of shit, but this… it’s not a good idea, Arwen.”
I bark out a bitter laugh.
“Seriously? This is a warning about another guy? Last time you cornered me in a classroom, you basically tried to bribe me into sleeping with you. I think I’ll take my relationship advice from literally anywhere else. Do you even understand what a relationship is—being from Lust?”
His jaw tightens. “You know nothing about where I come from.”
His voice trembles with anger and something else—shame, maybe. “I felt horrible last time. This is my first year here too. Things are… different where I’m from. I know it’s not an excuse, but I’m sorry.”
For once, he sounds almost human. I’ll give him two minutes.
“I don’t actually want you to get hurt, Arwen,” he adds, softer. “I just wanted to give you a warning. And now I have. So… I’ll just go.”
He walks out before I can reply, leaving me standing there, my mind spinning in a complete 360.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. A text from Holly.
Holly: Where are you?
