"The Council kills anything they're afraid of." I stand because I can't sit in this office anymore. "You know their history with shifters who don't fit their rules."
"That was different..."
"Was it?" I walk to the door. "Thank you for the representation offer, Headmaster. But I don't think Academy lawyers are going to stop the Council if they really want me."
I leave before he can respond.
The hallway is empty and I lean against the wall for a moment trying to catch my breath. The mate bond is pulled so tight it hurts. Julian felt my terror during the entire inquiry and now his emotions are bleeding into mine until I can barely tell whose feelings are whose.
I need to see him and tell him what happened before he does something reckless like storming into Owen's office demanding to know why I was summoned.
His classroom is on the other side of campus but I don't care if students see me walking in that direction between classes. I need to get to him before this bond pulls so tight it snaps.
I reach his office and knock harder than I should. The door opens immediately. Julian pulls me inside, closing and locking it behind me in one motion.
"What happened?" His hands come up to my face like he needs to confirm I'm really here and unhurt. "I felt your fear. During my entire lecture I felt you terrified and I couldn't leave, couldn't do anything..."
"Chase. He was in Owen's office. Formal Council inquiry."
Julian's hands drop from my face and his jaw goes tight. I feel his anger spike sharp and hot enough to make me flinch.
"What did he ask?"
"Everything. Parents, bloodline, the shift. He wanted Council testing. Bloodwork and genetic analysis."
"You said no."
"Of course I said no."
"Good." But he's pacing now, agitated energy radiating off him. "This is exactly what I was afraid of. The Council investigating you directly."
"I handled it."
He spins to face me. "You shouldn't have to handle Council interrogations. You're eighteen years old."
"I'm not a child, Julian."
"I know that." His voice cracks slightly. "Believe me, I know that."
The bond flares between us. Heat and want mixing with fear and frustration until the air feels charged. We both feel it and both try to ignore it because this isn't the time but the bond doesn't care about timing.
"Chase isn't going to stop," Julian says after a moment. "He suspects something and he's going to keep pushing until he gets proof."
"I know."
"The Council wants you. They want to study you or use you or lock you up."
"I know."
"And I can't protect you from them." The admission sounds like it's being torn out of him. "I can't fight the Council. I can't keep you safe from this."
"I'm not asking you to."
"Maybe you should be."
"What does that mean?"
He runs a hand through his hair, frustration bleeding through every line of his body. "It means this bond, us, it's making everything more complicated. I can't think straight when you're in danger. I can't focus on anything except tearing Chase apart for threatening you."
