Sophia, who had taken a seat by my side, leaned close and whispered, “What do you think this is all about?”
I shrugged, though the solemn expression on Alwyn’s face suggested it wasn’t anything good.
Of course, she rarely smiled.
“First, we must sadly address what happened a few days ago at the Feast of the Fae. The Summer Court has lost the entirety of its Royals to poisoned blackberries, and several of the realm’s Hunters fell in the subsequent attack.”
Whispers of shock went through the gathered changelings. The Hunters were the strongest fighters in all of Otherworld. They protected the Courts and the Academy from the dangerous creatures spread throughout this land. To hear there were fewer of them left now...well, it was a little bit frightening, especially after the attacks we’d already endured.
Alwyn held up her hand and twisted her lips into a tight smile. “No need to panic. The Hunters are still many, and we have a dozen guards patrolling the perimeter of the Academy grounds at all times.”
Indeed, these past few months had seen a sudden reduction in Watch Duty for us. It was far too risky and far too dangerous in Otherworld for the changelings to continue training that way.
The room quietened, and Alwyn plowed forward. “However, despite our enhanced security, I thought it was important to bring you all together after the events of the Feast. As I’m sure you’ve all realized, the realm is no longer the safe haven it has been in years past. There is turmoil. War is brewing. The Courts will retaliate, and the Autumn fae are likely to respond in kind. We are continuing with your training as planned because your safety depends on your ability to harness your gifts. However, not a single one of you is to leave these grounds under any circumstance. No matter what. Do you understand?”
There were no murmured voices this time. Only open mouths and wide eyes. Fear churned through the room like a thick, invisible fog, one we all felt deep within our bones.
The full reality of the attack on the Summer Court finally sunk in. The realm was no longer at peace. The Courts no longer worked together in harmony. They were at war.
* * *
At the end of the assembly, Head Instructor Alwyn had the Academy cooks pass out freshly-baked cakes. I assumed it was some kind of futile effort to make us all feel at least a little bit more comfortable with the bag of rocks she’d just dumped onto our heads.
But I wasn’t about to complain about eating cakes.
The doors of the Hall flew open, and several fae strode inside, all decked out in cloaks dyed a vicious red. They were quickly followed by Liam and the Summer third-year instructor, a female fae named Shea whose short-cropped hair was cut in jagged lines that looked like flames. They were a procession of fiery fury, their gazes locked on Alwyn’s pale face. Her white-knuckled hands gripped the podium on the dais.
“Alwyn, we need to speak with you,” barked the male fae in front. It was Alastar from the night of the Feast. A scabbard was slung across his back, and two daggers were strapped to each muscular thigh. He’d come prepared for battle, though against who and what? Surely the Summers weren’t turning their vicious anger against the changelings now.
“Alastar, this is highly inappropriate,” Alwyn said, bristling. “You absolutelycannotstorm into the Academy like this and make a scene in front of our changelings.”
“Looks like I can. And did.” He crossed his arms over his chest and levelled his eyes at our Head Instructor. “You can try to throw me out, though it looks like your guards and your instructors are on my side. Or you can come and speak with us. Now.”
Alwyn narrowed her eyes, her steely demeanor a perfect contrast to the stormy anger of the Summers. She was an Autumn fae herself, after all. “I daresay I will not be commanded in my own home.”
“This is not your home, Autumn fae. You belong in the dead leaves with all the rest of them.”
A murmur went through the crowd, and I found my spine going stiff and straight.
“Liam,” Alwyn snapped, her eyes flicking to my instructor. “What’s the meaning of this? Why did you allow this Hunter onto our grounds when he clearly means me nothing but harm?”
Liam’s eyes flashed. “I think you need to hear him out.”
“How dare you,” she hissed, cheeks reddening.
Suddenly, Kael whispered into the center of the room, a perfect mask of calm.
Kael’s icy presence always commanded attention. With dark hair and matching eyes that could rival the thickest shadows, everything about him screamed midnight. Tight-fitting leathers were stretched across his broad chest, tempting me to reach out for just the slightest of touches.
And much more, if I were being completely honest.
“I think we can all agree that emotions are running high at the moment. Perhaps this discussion would best take place behind closed doors, rather than in front of the entire Academy?”
The fury on Alwyn’s face faltered as she scanned the crowd of changelings. Every single one of us was on the edge of our seats, watching the exchange as if it were some kind of once-in-a-lifetime sporting event. It wasn’t often that someone got the upper hand on Alwyn Adair.
“Fine.” She sniffed. “Changelings, go back to your rooms.”
* * *
