The three of us exchange stunned looks. In an instant, the battle between them is forgotten, or at least, shoved aside. Something much more serious is happening.
“Mara?” Talon turns to me. “Are you okay?”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Is it awful that the first thought in my head was to thank God for the interruption? What kind of person am I? I was practically enjoying being fought over, and now someone is dead. Shame floods me, chasing away the last haze of lust.
I step out of Talon’s grasp, needing space. “I—I’m fine,”I manage to stammer, though I’m anything but. My knees feel like jelly. “I need to… I should go.”
People are pushing around us, some drunk and confused, others terrified. The chapel is emptying out by the second as word of Toby’s death spreads. Sirens wail in the distance—campus security or ambulances, I’m not sure.
I just know I have to get out of here. Away from the tragedy, away from the noise, away from them.
I turn on my heel, intent on finding Zane and leaving right now. But I barely take a step before Talon catches my wrist. “I’m taking you home,” he says firmly, leaving no room for argument.
I yank my wrist out of his grip. “No. I’ll find Zane?—”
Dredyn steps into my path next, blocking me with his broad body. His expression is stormy, jaw tight. “Don’t be stubborn, Mara. We’ll go with you.”
We.It’s almost comical. They were at each other’s throats seconds ago, and now they’re a united front determined to babysit me.
As if on cue, Zane materializes from the thinning crowd, tall and rumpled but intact. Relief crashes into me like a wave. “Mara!” he calls, skidding to a stop. His eyes dart from my face to the bruising grip Dredyn still has on my arm.
Talon squares up. “Back off, Zane. We’re walking her home.”
“Clearly. Just didn’t know caveman cosplay was in tonight.”
Dredyn doesn’t budge. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Zane sighs and lifts both hands like he’s dealing with rabid dogs. “You do realize someone just died, right? Maybe the testosterone pissing match can take a backseat to basic safety?”
Talon scoffs. “It’s not a pissing match. She’s ours.”
Zane’s grin widens. “Funny. I didn’t realize property law had changed.”
“Zane,” I say quickly, stepping forward before one of them explodes. “It’s fine. They’re coming with us.”
He blinks at me. “You sure?”
No. Not even close. But I nod.
So we walk.
The four of us cut across the damp lawn, sirens screaming behind us, partygoers spilling out in chaos. Zane flanks one side of me, Talon is on the other, his hand brushing my lower back. Dredyn stalks a few feet ahead, hands jammed into his jacket pockets, every line of him humming with a violence I can feel in my bones.
A body. A death. At AGU.
It doesn’t make sense.
This is Ashen Grove. Nothing happens here without permission. And death? Death doesn’t happen at all, unless someone above lets it.
The thought curdles in my stomach.
My father will sweep this clean. The Syndicate will press a thumb on the scale, tip the narrative however they see fit. I know how this goes—I’ve watched it happen. Bad things vanish like smoke when the right man signs the right paper.
But Toby was a student. A kid. Not a threat. Not a pawn.
Why him?
At the steps of my dorm, I stop. “Thanks,” I murmur, not looking at any of them.
