Before he could recover, Dad’s voice rolled over the crowd, amplified by the enchantments. “Congratulations to House of Fortitude on their victory.”
Cheers erupted from all of us as I put the noodles and potion in my bag for safekeeping and gave it to my brother to hold on to.
“And now,” Dad continued, “we welcome the first-years. Tonight, you’ll be placed into your houses.”
The auditorium shook with the roar of cheers and applause. And my stomach clenched tight. Despite all my excitement, my hands trembled at my sides.
Something just felt…off.
I wasn’t sure if I was nervous or if it was my instincts trying to tell me something.
All but fourfirst-years passed the written exams. None from my squad failed, but the ones who passed filed toward the right-wing simulator.
Simulator 1.6 loomed ahead of us, smaller than 2.0 which the House Gauntlet had been held in.
The placements were an individual exam.
One by one, every single first-year went in before me, and I stood with my squad as they eventually went in. Their names flickered on the monitor with the timer and the feed of what happened inside.
Most of them passed. All but one of my squad members did. Dimitri, Koa, Slater, Zuko, Raze, Eleanor, Lorian, and Aura.
Everyone except Hawk.
He stumbled out last, his black eyes wild, and his face crumpled.
Dad’s voice cut through from the speaker.“Hawk Moonfang, fail.”
My heart twisted as he looked at me as if I could fix it. “I failed,” he croaked.
“Aw,” Eleanor cooed, hugging him. “It’ll be okay. You can always come back next year.”
“Thanks, Eleanor.” He pulled back and sniffled, looking at me, but Aura gave him a quick hug as Lorian patted him on the back.
“It’ll be okay,” Aura murmured softly.
“Yeah, Hawk. You can always come back!” Lorian assured him.
His gaze was locked on me, though. “I’ll come back, but maybe I’m not cut out for being an agent.”
I opened my arms without thinking, and he walked in for a hug. “Don’t say that. You’ll get another chance. Failing doesn’t define you. Giving up will.”
“I won’t give up.” His hands shook against my back before they slid down to my ass. His fingersactuallycurled over my ass cheeks. “I won’t give up onyoueither.”
“What the fuck are you doing?” I stumbled back from him, my hand flying with paralysis venom on my palm before slapping him across the face.
In the same move, Jesper’s shifted talons pierced straight through Hawk’s chest, sharp and merciless. His heart was in Jesper’s hand as my hand met his cheek.
Hawk’s body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Jesper stood over him, dropping Hawk’s heart onto his body. “Forgive my rashness. I—I don’t know what came over me, but he assaulted you.”
“Don’t apologize, Jesper.” I swallowed hard, my heartbeat rattling. “Thank you,” I said quietly.
Zuko’s sharp laugh cut in as he put the knife in his hand away. “Fuck, Jesper, I didn’t know you had it in you to be so brutal.”
Slater’s demon form receded. “You were faster than I was.”
Koa’s flames burned out in sync with my brother’s.
