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“He offered to apologize and you refused. An offer, by the way, for something he couldn’t control, something he made clear he’s sorry for. There’s nothing more to be done here, other than for the three of you to walk away,” she told them.

“Fucking angel bitch,” Sorin gritted out. “Release me at once.”

“Oh, you’re not powerful enough to escape my hold yourself? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Do it, or this will get back to the faculty.”

Her eyes darkened dangerously. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

“What are you—”

“Now, listen carefully, the only way you’ll be released is if you apologize and vow to stand down where Nyx is concerned. Keep in mind, assholes, that this is a place of learning and exploring our abilities. Mistakes are bound to happen. He’s tormented enough by that without having to endure this bullying from the three of you foolish shitheads.”

“My girl—”

“Your girl has slept with half the Academy just like you have. You’re not exclusive, so stop using her as an excuse to try to exert your power over others. Only weak motherfuckers do that.”

Collective gasps sounded throughout the Cafeteria.

In my startled state at this whole thing, I hadn’t realized that the entire place had fallen silent, everyone’s rapt attention on the scene.

Sorin snarled and flicked his fingers, his power sparking.

But that was all it was able to do, because Ariana was blocking it. Somehow blocking it from even being used, just withher will, because her hands were already busy elsewhere.Holy damn…that was incredible power right there.

Sorin’s eyes widened as he realized what she was doing.

“You see where the true power lies here?” she put to him.

That changed his tune as the reality of the situation hit him hard. “Yes,” he admitted. It took him a moment, but then he looked out at me and forced the words past his lips, “We went too far. That’s our mistake. It won’t happen again.”

“Does that satisfy you?” Ariana asked me.

I nodded.

It was all I could do with the shock of it all.

She released the three of them then, the vampires able to move, and Sorin touching the ground.

They stared at her for a moment, and then the three of them rushed out of the place.

“Nothing to see here!” I called out when the silence remained, everyone still looking.

My call worked, and then the talking and noise resumed, people returning to their conversations and lunch.

“Thanks,” I told Ariana. “That was really something.”

“I couldn’t just walk on by and allow them to continue threatening you. Or worse. Nobody deserves that, especially not for something that can’t be helped.”

She knew about that. About being reacted negatively to for things she couldn’t control.

She shifted her weight. “It wasn’t a selfless act, though, so save your thanks.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “What was it then?”

“I came in here because I need your help with something.” She glanced over at Kai and then pinched the bridge of her nose, forcing the next words past her lips and clearly hating the taste, “And his.”

“Sure. Come on over and we’ll discuss it.”