I parted back my hair, completely unbothered. The Institute’s threats meant nothing anymore.
The Warden needed to know we were the type of people to set ourselves on fire just to make sure he burned.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
CHARLIE
The Warden had made it pretty damn clear upon our arrival at the Institute that he would try to break us. Despite blow after blow, we had yet to completely fall apart. It either had to be the demigod genes in us or a total miracle, because I didn’t know how anyone could be expected to hold it together this long.
Music had been the one thing that made the Institute bearable. It brought the whole gang together, and it was one of the few ways we could express ourselves when the Institute tried its damndest to stomp out all self-expression from its inmates.
I could still hear the clang of metal smashing against the floor. The clash of piano keys and sickening snap of its strings would forever haunt my memories. And the organ pipes— dear ancestors, the pipes. The deafening sound of the pipes crashing to the ground would ring in my ears for life.
If there was one thing that could make it better, it was listening to the Warden grovel at the feet of the Union representatives. It almost made losing our instruments worth it.
“Did youseehis face?” Kallie laughed as the Warden returned inside with the Union reps. “That was golden!”
“He might think twice about messing with us again,” Marcus added. “The Union seems to be the only thing that scares him.”
“Oh, he’s scared of much more than that,” Ava stated coolly. “A fall from his throne would be a travesty.”
I smirked. “You’d think a man with wings wouldn’t be so afraid of heights.”
“His real fear is having those wings chopped off,” Ez said. “And I think I just ripped out some feathers.”
Ava gave a dark laugh. “Be that as it may, we only have an hour until Work-Study begins. We should grab some breakfast.”
I placed my hands on the back of Ava’s chair, and we started inside. We were halfway to the cafeteria when I heard my name.
“Charlie Wahkin? Kalina Nowak?” A deep voice came from down the hall. It had to be a guard.
“Great,” I said flatly. “What’d I do wrong? Forget to tie my shoelaces?”
Kallie nudged me. “These guys have visitor passes.”
My friends and I stopped in the hall, and two pairs of footsteps approached.
“I’m Charlie,” I stated diplomatically.
“Mister Wahkin! And Miss Nowak, I presume. It’s great to meet you both,” one of the men said.
Shake his hand,Oberi told me.
I reached out, and the man shook my hand firmly.
“I’m Killian Ryan. This is my partner, Colter Kaminski,” one of the men introduced. “We’re supernatural bounty hunters. We came to thank you both for the criminal profile you completed this semester.”
“You work for the United Supernatural Union?” Kallie asked.
“We workwiththem,” Killian clarified. “As freelancers.”
I didn’t vibe well with authority, but these guys were different— more approachable. They sounded like the kind of guys who you’d want to have a cold beer with and share stories.
“Thanks to both of you and your report, we were able to get a warrant for the Christoffer family mansion,” Killian continued. “The Arcanean Alliance uncovered quite the mountain of evidence, including the murder weapon.”
“An edged-blade dagger,” Kallie muttered.
“Yes,” Colter confirmed.
