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If I wasn’t paralyzed with terror of the death I had narrowly avoided, I would have had a comeback. Would have found a sassy remark to hide the brutal truth that hehadjust saved my life.

Instead, I let my head fall back against the stone wall.

“Huntyr!” Ashlani yelled, swimming over to us. Lanson followed.

“This way!” I said, moving as far as I could manage from Wolf in the confines of the ledge. “There’s a window. I’ll pull you through!”

Wolf didn’t take his eyes off me as I kicked the window beyond the ledge, shattering the glass and slipping myself through, sprawling on the floor for just a second before pulling myself together.

It was only a test.

I was alive.

I was breathing.

A few seconds later, Lanson and Ashlani pulled themselves up and collapsed on the floor next to me.

All of us heaved for air in unison.

The sound of the once thundering water grew quieter and quieter, leaving only our breaths to fill the sound of the empty hallway we had fallen into. Besides Wolf, of course. He had hardly lifted a finger. Clearly, saving my life had been no laborious task for him and his fallen angel strength.

“The Blessing is now over,” Headmistress Katherine announced from somewhere beyond the courtyard. Her voice seemed to echo off all four walls. “Those of you who have been deemed strong enough for the trials of Moira Seminary, welcome. You have a long road ahead of you, and this is only the beginning.”

I pushed myself up and peered out the window, which now seemed much, much higher without the water lapping below.

The first thing I saw was Nathaniel’s sunset red hair. He wasn’t moving, and his limbs were contorted awkwardly beneath him.

My chest tightened before I reminded myself to breathe. He was from Midgrave, but he was not a friend of mine. Just because we came from the same home didn’t mean I had to protect him.

Fuck.

I saw four other bodies lying motionless on the grass and countless others vomiting water and gasping for air.

One test down.

Countless more to go.

Chapter

Eight

“Get out.” I barked the order before Wolf made it two steps through the door.

He paused and smirked. “Really, Huntress? That’s how you talk to someone who saved your life for the second time?”

“Don’t call me that, and don’t even try to act as if you actually get to sleep in here.”

“Why shouldn’t I?” he taunted. “You get the cozy bed while I’m exiled to somewhere else in Moira? How does that figure? I didn’t ask to be assigned to this room any more than you did.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and refused to look away. He wasn’t going to charm his way out of this, wasn’t going to talk me down. “I don’t know you very well, but you don’t seem like a complete degenerate. You’re an angel. It’s much safer for you out there than it is for me. We both know that.”

He took a step closer. “Why is that?” The smirk on his face was now a full-blown smile.

“You’re–You’re…”

“Stronger than everyone else here? More powerful?” He took yet another step. “Taller? Faster?”

His closeness became palpable. He craned his neck to look down at me with his bright blue orbs, casting a shadow across his already dark features.