“We based our timeline on the assumption that the blood tests would reveal more hybrids,” another man said. It was probably one of the angel professors, though I couldn’t be sure. “We’ll have to adjust.”
“No,” the Warden snapped as they passed by us. “There are more Elf hybrids in this prison. The prince is here— the seer foretold it. We need to find them by any means necessary.”
“But sir, the blood tests confirmed—”
“Then the blood tests are imperfect!” the Warden roared. “I want them done again!”
“On every student in the school?” the man asked in a wavered tone. “That will take time. We only have so many tests left—”
“Then we test the strongest students first,” the Warden demanded. “I want to be there this time, to oversee every blood draw. The hybrids won’t slip through my grasp a second time.”
“Who do you suggest we start with?”
Something smacked, and I was pretty certain the Warden had swatted the professor upside the head. “Use your brain, Gael.”
“Uh oh,” Marcus whispered, and his body tensed beside mine.
My stomach instantly knotted. Was he—?
“Ah-CHOO!” Marcus sneezed so loud, it could’ve woken the whole prison.
My whole body went rigid, but it was too late. Someone grabbed me by the back of the shirt and yanked me out from behind the pews. It happened so fast that my head spun. Oberi let out a deep growl.
“What do we have here?” the Warden asked, sounding amused.
He shoved me so hard that I fell flat on my face in the middle of the aisle. For a moment, I feared he would use his powers on me, like he had in Forevermore. I felt like I was back there, trembling in terror. Oberi barked.
“Please, sir! We were just—” Marcus started, but the Warden must’ve grabbed him, because he gasped. A second later, he landed on the ground next to me. Rishi yowled.
“Well, Professor Gael,” the Warden said. “I think we just found our first subjects for the second round. I want them blood tested immediately.”
Professor Gael’s hands landed on me, and the angel began dragging me away. I struggled against his hold, but he was strong. Overpowering him would require some serious Elf magic I hadn’t perfected yet.
Fuck!
“You can’t do this!” I yelled. “We already got our results!”
The Warden just laughed. “You’re forgetting who I am, Mister Wahkin. Make no mistake; whatever secrets you and your friends are hiding, Iwilluncover them.”
Terror shook my body, because I knew I couldn’t hide any longer. There was no way to con myself out of this one. The Warden was about to find out what I was.
And my secret would be the end of us all.
Ober barked loudly, but there was nothing he could do short of attacking the Warden. There was no use when angels could heal quickly.
Charlie!Oberi screamed in my mind.
My stomach hollowed as I realized there was no way I could tell Ava how I felt now. That would be cruel, because the second the Warden got those test results, I’d never see Ava again. Letting me go a second time after she knew the truth would break her apart.
It was over. I couldn’t tell Ava I loved her, because I was headed straight to the Infernal Underground.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
AVA-MARIE
“Knock, knock.” Kallie entered my cell early in the morning, holding out a drink from Commissary. “It’s pumpkin spice season. Happy October.”
“There’s nothing in it, right?” I asked as I took it warily, sipping the coffee. I’d already gotten dressed for the day, and had a bunch of books spread out in front of me on the bed.
