“I’m still trying to find two new casting professors,” he tells us with a sigh. “But after the attacks our academy has suffered, finding good professors has been challenging. So, in lieu of written and practical exams, Professor Hayes and I are going to come around and evaluate your progress. You’ll be asked to perform the spells we would have tested you on during midterms, but this is purely a benchmarking exercise to make sure no one is falling behind.”
The headmaster and professor spend the class going around from worktable to worktable, but by the end of the class, Headmaster Langford looks relieved. While losing Professor Cadigan was a blow and a disruption, we all excelled under Ian’s instruction. Losing Ian as a professor and faculty member was the far greater blow.
And one of the best things that could have ever happened to me.
* * *
We havean actual midterm in Professor Hayes’ Applications of Magic class, and Alyssa and I cram in a few more minutes of review over lunch, though I’m positive we’re both going to ace the exam.
I’ve just finished the short answer portion of the exam and am starting into the essays when my vision goes blurry.
Saints, no. Not another attack on campus! Didn’t we suffer enough during our fall midterms?
I go to warn Marcus, but pain spikes through my head and I clutch it in my hands as the vision overtakes me.
Hexes fly in a smoke-filled hallway I don’t recognize, alphas in office wear and armed guards stepping in front of masked intruders, all hidden behind gruesome black leather Baphomet masks.
The Soldiers.
But they’re not at Fairhaven.
My phone chimes—I must have forgotten to silence it—but I recognize the text tone immediately. It’s the one Simon programmed for the forwarded texts Rad sends.
I whip my phone out of my pocket, despite Professor Hayes’ gentle protest, and swipe it open.
>
“Miss Rose, you really can’t have your phone out during the exam…”
A second message pops up on my screen. A short URL to a live streaming site.
My pulse thunders in my ears as my heart pounds in my chest. I tap the link with shaking fingers, and shouts spill from my phone’s small speakers.
My classmates gather around me, and finally Professor Hayes comes to look over my shoulder.
“Saints above,” he says, his voice thready and weak. “That’s the Hall of the Council of Nine.”
My heart plummets, and the breath is knocked from my body.
Gerard Leclerc is in session with the Council today.
Cassian’s father.
Oh, saints, no…
“Professor, permission to take my client off campus to some place safe?” Marcus asks, setting his hand on my forearm.
“Granted,” Professor Hayes says in a shaky voice before steeling himself. “Yes, Mr. Haley. Please get Juniper to safety. The attack may not be on campus, but we can’t be too careful. Miss O’Neill, I’ll escort you back to the omega residences. Your mate is free to meet you there or on the way.” He turns to the class, puts his fingers between his lips and whistles sharply to get the class to quiet down. “Class, I’m locking you in the room and warding it behind me. Stay away from the doors and windows until I return, or another professor comes to escort you to your dorms.”
Alyssa squeezes my hand between our desks. “Be safe, girlie. Text me when you get back to the pack house.”
“Same for you, Lys. Let me know when you’re safe.”
Marcus grabs my hand and leads me from the room, checking up and down the hallway before stepping through the door. A few faculty members rush from classroom to classroom as word spreads, but they don’t give me and Marcus more than a cursory nod.
Luca meets us outside Saint Briac’s Hall, boots scraping on the concrete as he skids to a stop. He immediately drags me into his arms, hugging me tightly. Together, my alphas protect me and get me to the SUV, and I’m glad for their vigilance because fear has my breath sawing heavily in and out of my lungs.
My phone rings the moment we pull out of the parking lot, and I answer it and put it on speaker immediately.
