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I can feel the temperature in the room drop and I’m ready to move. This is definitely not what I signed up for. This is a hefty price for a stronger ward on my room; a decision I’m currently questioning as I try to remain calm and at ease.

This shit is all Brody’s fault, and the anger vibrating from Cassian confirms it. I can dwell on that fact later and give him hell for it, too—once he’s warded my room, of course—but for now, all that matters is getting out of here. I can plan his demise once I’m back on safer ground. I just need to focus on an exit strategy first.

From memory, my gaze darts to the double doors Cassian and the others made their grand entrance through before slipping to the left. I also note the side emergency exit and I’m certain there will be one through the kitchen as well, but I’m hoping I can get through one of these. The kitchen just adds another obstacle to my exit attempt, and I want to keep it as easy as possible.

The double doors are my first option. There are tables crammed with customers to my left, while it’s a straight line down the middle to the main entry point.

My main problem is I don’t know how to get back to the academy from here, but I can figure that out once I’m outside. Once I’m outside, half the job is done.

“I just wanted some good food, man,” Brody says calmly, lifting his hands in the air in surrender, but it does nothing to quell the storm brewing inside Cassian.

I don’t know what’s going on here. I don’t understand why his attendance at the academy has led to his exile, but more than that, I don’t understand why he would come back because we’re eating here.

“There are other places to go. Anywhere else to fucking go,” he bites out, while Raiden and Kryll glance around the room, noting the observers watching intently.

As if I thought I might get a calm evening for my birthday. I should have known that wasn’t going to happen.

“You didn’t have to come,” Brody points out, eyes darting down to his steak like he wants to take another bite instead of dealing with his friend. I have no idea how he can think of food at a time like this, my stomach is twisted in knots and the thought of eating has long since passed.

“I didn’t have to come,” Cassian repeats slowly, like the words are taking a moment to register in his head.

“No.” The insistence from Brody only seems to make Cassian’s knuckles whiter as his hands ball into fists against the table.

“You brought a fucking fae here, Brody. A fae.” He doesn’t bother to glance my way, despite the fact that he’s talking about me, while Raiden peers out of the corner of his eye, disgust twisting his mouth as he does. Ass. “Janie called me because the other patrons are ready to start a fucking riot,” he growls, the sound so deep that I’m almost certain he’s going to shift before me at any moment.

My back stiffens at the truth that falls from his mouth. I’ve been at risk since the moment we stepped through those doors and Brody knew it. That’s why he said what he did outside. That’s why he didn’t confirm whether I would need weapons or not. He left it up to me. All to get a good steak? I might fucking kill him myself if Cassian doesn’t beat me to it.

Glancing around the room, I look at the people instead of the exits, really look at them, and it’s clear their narrowed eyes and muted sneers are aimed my way. A different origin on their land without authorization or connection to the pack. And not just any origin. No, a fucking fae.

Fuck.

I need to get out of here, and it has to be now. The longer I sit here letting these guys argue it out, the longer the pack has to get angrier with me. I’m not usually one to play the innocent victim card, but in this case, I really didn’t do anything to piss anyone off. It happened naturally.

“I can leave,” I murmur, reluctantly moving my hands from my weapons so I at least appear defenseless. I press my hands against the table, but my ass doesn’t lift even an inch before Cassian’s glare turns my way.

“You can sit the fuck down.”

No, he fucking didn’t just try to order me around like one of his pack. Fuck that.

“You can watch your damn tone,” I snap back.

“I don’t need to watch shit. This is my land you’re walking on.” His green eyes swirl with challenge, and it seems I’m more than happy to rise to it.

“That’s not what Brody just said.”

Cassian’s jaw tics and Kryll rumbles a curse under his breath from behind him while Raiden gives me the absolute best deathly glare I’ve received from him so far.

In hindsight, this is one of those moments where I really should have kept my mouth shut, but if someone is going to push me, I’m going to push back with whatever ammunition I have.

Thankfully, Cassian whirls his glare back to my so-called date, and I don’t waste my opportunity, using the break from his attention to dart from the booth. I keep my gaze locked forward, refusing to make eye contact with anyone in here since I’ve already pissed them off by breathing.

The cool night air wraps around me after what feels like an eternity, and the doors slam shut behind me, declaring my exit, but my heart doesn’t calm.

I need to get out of here as fast as possible. The less time I give these people to attack me, the less likely it is to happen, and I really don’t want to have to hurt anyone today. Not on my birthday. It almost feels like a sin.

Planting my hands on my hips, I walk toward the tree line, not really sure what I’m doing when I sense movement from behind me. It’s coming at me swiftly, so I don’t have time to think.

Instinct takes over and I draw daggers from my waist, twisting just in time to press them both against the throat of whoever is approaching. It’s only when the silver glints against their tattooed flesh that I realize it’s Kryll.