Nolan straightens, flushing, but doesn’t rise to it. I do.
“Really?” I say, stepping forward. “You have to pick on someone who isn’t even looking for a fight?”
Auron’s gaze slides lazily back to me, and the smile turns vicious.
“Oh, look,” he says. “It speaks.”
His friends snicker, low and mean. Auron takes a slow step closer, eyes gleaming with that cold amusement. “Careful, freak. You’re drawing enough attention without picking the wrong enemies.”
The words hit, but I stand my ground, pulse thudding hard in my ears. “Or maybe you’re just afraid of someone you can’t control.”
That wipes the amusement from his face, only for a second. His friends fall silent.
Auron’s gaze lingers on me, cool and calculating now. “We’ll see how long that mouth of yours holds up.”
With that, he turns, striding off down the corridor, his friends quick to follow. The moment they’re gone, I exhale, my heart racing.
Nolan shifts beside me. “That was brave,” he says softly, eyes wide.
I let out a shaky breath. “Stupid, more like.”
He smiles a little. “Maybe. But thanks.”
I glance at him, a bond forming between us. I reach for his hand and tug him back into the flow of students.
“Come on,” I say. “I still need lunch. And maybe a stiff drink.”
Nolan laughs, his fingers tightening on mine. “I think they serve mystery stew instead. No alcohol.”
By the timewe make it to the dining hall, I’m starving. And we’re late. Nolan and I grab trays and slide into line. We move slowly past the first section of food: mystery stew, something that might be bread, a tray of roasted roots.
“Think it’s safe?” Nolan murmurs, eyeing the stew warily.
I huff a quiet laugh. “Define safe.”
Ahead of us, another group shifts into view, half a dozen shifters clustered near the next section of the line. Raiden is with them. Just the sight of him makes my stomach flip over with nerves. I’m not sure what to make of him. He stands loose,hands shoved in his pockets, head tilted slightly as he listens to whatever one of the others is saying.
But as Nolan and I move closer, his gaze flicks toward us. Landing on me like I have a flashing light on my chest that says, ‘Look at me!’. His strange eyes seem to glow as they drop to my feet and slowly move back up my body, snagging at my hand that is marked. I curl in my fingers, hiding it from view inside my cloak. He says nothing. Just watches.
I drag my attention back to the tray in front of me. Focus. Just get through lunch. But before we reach the next section, the crowd parts.
Headmaster Dorian Veyne. He strides in with the Combat professor—River—matching him step for step. The din of the hall dims a notch as students shift aside. As far as I’m aware, the professors don’t eat with us.
They walk straight toward me.
“Miss Blake. Come with us,” Headmaster Veyne orders.
Professor River glances toward the shifters, gaze landing briefly on Raiden.
“You as well.”
Raiden pushes off the counter with lazy ease, but there’s nothing casual in the way his gaze narrows. Around us, conversation halts.
Nolan stiffens beside me. “Do you?—”
“It’s fine,” I say quickly, though my throat is dry. “I’ll catch up. Don’t eat the mystery stew.”
His protest dies before it reaches his lips, but the worry in his eyes lingers. I set my tray down, heart racing, and step out of line. Raiden falls into step a pace behind me as we follow the headmaster and Professor River out of the dining hall, every stare in the room drilling into my back.
