“Raze Mournfall.”
Zuko’s friend made his way up with a slower, more calculated kind of swagger. His spiked white hair didn’t look out of place, and his pink eyes—unblinking and eerie—swept over the crowd. He stood still as Dad pinned him then walked into our line.
“Lorian Stonepaw.”
A bear shifter, whom I didn’t recognize, walked up with heavy, controlled steps, shoulders broad enough to block the stage light. His red curly hair was tousled. Despite his intimidating build, his dark brown eyes were soft as he bowed to my dad.
When the pin was placed, Lorian smiled.
“Hawk Moonfang.”
The last to be called for our class was another man, a werewolf I was pretty sure, I didn’t recognize. His features were sharp beneath a fall of messy brown hair that brushed his jaw. He smiled as Dad pinned him then stepped beside Lorian easily.
When we were all in line, ten of us now, freshly pinned with the emblem of AEA, Dad stepped forward again. His expression was probably unreadable to most, but I knew he was proud.
“This,” he said slowly, “is the first class in over a decade to break every entrance record in place. Squad One.”
Murmurs rose in the crowd, and we walked over to the other side of the auditorium in awed silence.
As we stood there, trying to comprehend that not only had we passed, wehadexcelledand broke a fucking record, the rest of the ninety students were called one by one.
My dad remained stoic and methodical, pinning each new emblem with a flick of his hand. No more speeches. No more praise. The squads of ten students grew, and we stood aside, watching as the new agents of the future were forged, one pin at a time, until the five applicants with the lowest scores were shown out.
At the end, there were ten squads.
“You passed the written exam, combat, arcane exposure, a simulated mission, enduring torture, psychological interrogations, and ethical testing,” Dad spoke loudly. “And all of you still stand. You will represent this year’s elite. These pins bind you to the academy. They will track you and remind you that excellence is expected at all times.”
My heart soared.
I told you so, Dad.
“You are first years, meaning you are not specialized yet. That will be determined later.” He lifted his chin. “Two hundred students began the entrance trials. Historically, by the time year one ends, there are no more than eighty. Many will fail or worse. After year one, only ten students are chosen for each house in their second year at the academy.”
He paused, running a hand over his jaw.
“You will be challenged again. You will lose friends. You will lose pieces of yourselves. But if you endure, if you grow, this academy will forge you into something that only the Fates could predict.”
The room fell completely silent.
“Dismissed. Year one begins tomorrow. Go home and pack. Come back and get situated in the first-year house tonight. Sleep. Eat. Train. Study. Take it seriously, and if you don’t…someone else will.”
Slater slung his arm around my shoulders as everyone started heading out of the auditorium. “I know you’re venomous, but I promise, I come with an anti-venom heart.”
“Actually,” Zuko drawled, wrapping an arm around my waist on the other side. “Clearly, I’m the one immune to her venom. She stabbed me with it, and I had no reaction. Remember?”
“How is that?” I huffed, irritation spreading through me. “That hasneverhappened before.”
“Don’t worry, pretty little poison. I’m sure you’ll get the reaction you want from me soon enough.” His grip slid to my hip and squeezed gently before he let me go and started walking away. “We’re going to have so much fun this year.”
I swallowed hard. Heat pooled in my lower abdomen, and Slater stiffened.
“Zuko’s right,” he groaned. “This year is going to be so fun.”
rune
. . .
“Are you ready, Roo?”Tibby asked with a big grin on his face, adjusting his red duffle bag on his shoulder as we stepped off the wayfaer crystal and onto Apex Elite Academy’s campus.
