My head snaps to the right, where I spot Jed strolling casually through two trees. Twin flames glowing like beacons in his hands. He walks toward Isla and Marcus, who is groaning on the ground, holding his chest.
Isla suddenly takes off as well, in the same direction as Moira.
‘Marcus, you’re out!’ Jed calls. ‘Get your lousy ass off the ground and head back to the Training Centre.’
When he doesn’t move, and continues to groan, Jed huffs out a sigh, extinguishes his flames and hauls Marcus to his feet. ‘Make me repeatmyself, acolyte, and I’ll burn your fucking feet until you’re running to put them out.’
Marcus takes off, holding his chest with one arm as he barrels toward the academy. I hold in my laughter by biting my cheeks, until I notice that Jed isn’t chasing after Isla or Moira. No, instead I watch, appalled, as he starts to whistle like he’s going on a pleasant scenic stroll through the woods.
My mouth practically drops open when he pulls an apple from his pocket and plonks himself down, right beneath my tree, and has himself a little snack.
What the fuck?
My legs start to burn the longer I’m crouched here. The second I attempt to stand though, the branch creaks and I freeze. It’s deadly silent now. Silent enough that if it were any louder, Jed could simply look up and see me perched above him like a giant, muddy and sweaty bird.
So, I do the only thing I can. I wait and breathe through the burning in my thighs.
Time seems to slow, every minute feels like it takes five. Until, finally, the sound of a horn blasting through the forest pierces my eardrums. My eyes snap open. I had to close them to focus on staying still and maintaining my meditative breathing. I sigh, relieved.
I made it. Holy crap. I made it.
A cheer erupts somewhere in the distance, along with another holler. I picture Cillian Foy and Aiden, possibly the strongest in our year, walking out of here triumphantly.
‘You can come down now, Silver!’ Jed’s voice singsongs, making its way up to me.
My chin drops. He stands there, hands on his hips with his head craned back. A smile plastered on his face.
How in the—
‘Bastard,’ I curse, using the rope to keep me steady as I pull myself into a standing position. My legs practically scream at me in protest as I climb around to my first branch and start to untie the rope. Did he knowI was up here all along? Stars. I exhale, hoping I don’t fall down the tree due to my own legs giving out on me. That would be a shit way to die.
Dredging up the last of my energy and will to live, I slowly begin the descent toward the forest floor, climbing down branch by branch until I make it to the bottom one and start the process of unravelling my rope and tying it again so I can hoist myself down.
‘Just jump down, I’ll catch you,’ Jed calls up.
I shoot him a withering glare. ‘Hilarious.’
His brows furrow. ‘I’m serious. Don’t bother with all that, you look like you’re about to collapse.’ He gestures to the rope that my tender fingers are struggling to unravel.
I’m sure he would just love that.
I ignore him, focusing on pulling the rope off my body and looping it around the branch, but my hand cramps up just as I’m about to start the knot. The water canteen sends it careening down.
‘No!’ I shout, grasping for the rope but it’s too fast and my arms are too tired. It collects in a pile beneath me. Right at Jed’s feet, who lifts his arms to make grabby hands.
I scowl down at him, which only makes him chuckle.
‘Come on,’ he calls. ‘I didn’t sit down here this whole time to make sure those idiots didn’t come back, just so I could drop you.’
That piques my interest. ‘So, youdidknow I was up here?’ I ask.
He nods, proudly. ‘They don’t call me the best tracker at ValAc for no reason.’
Huh. I didn’t know that about him. I curse beneath my breath.
‘I’ve got eyes like a hawk, baby,’ he jokes. ‘Now hurry up, I don’t have all day.’
My thighs squeeze around the branch, wondering how long I could hold myself up here. But ultimately, I decide, not long at all. My muscles are aching, and my skin is itchy from the rope and tree bark and my hair feels disgusting.
