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I couldn’t let them think they had won.

Couldn’t hide from the truth forever. Couldn’t hide fromthem.

Ashlani and Voiler had snuck in yesterday after Wolf had left, and they insisted on finding out every single detail of what happened. Apparently, Lanson had barely spoken to anyone since the incident, and Espek didn’t show up anywhere the next day.

My chest warmed when I thought about how much Ashlani and Voiler cared. I wasn’t expecting to make friends here, but I was pleasantly surprised by them.

“Just remember,” Wolf whispered, his hand falling to the small of my back as he leaned in, “you say the word and they’re dead.”

“I can fight my own battles, thank you,” I hissed back with a scowl.

Wolf shrugged, his hand lingering on the door of the already-filled study chambers. “Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be satisfied as all hells to cut a few hands off. Fingers, maybe. Toes.”

I shook my head and pushed forward, interrupting the entire class with our entrance.

“Thank you for gracing us with your presence today, Huntyr. Wolf. Take a seat,” Headmistress announced with maximum levels of annoyance before resuming her lecture.

Every single pair of eyes fell on me. The breath left my lungs, sucked out by the need to appear strong.

Emotionless.

Violent.

Wolf’s hand on my shoulder, guiding me to the back of the classroom, was the only thing that caused me to move again. Arguably the only thing holding me up.

I dipped my head, avoiding everyone—especially Lanson—and let Wolf lead me to the open chairs in the back corner.

It wasn’t until I was fully seated that I felt the eyes peel away from us.

Missing training yesterday was bad enough. But showing up with Wolf? If I didn’t have a target on my back already, I surely did now.

My eyes scanned the front of the room, landing on Espek. From this angle, I could see the side of his face, bloodied and bruised to make him almost unrecognizable. He no longer held his head high with confidence. He stared at the ground, tense and nervous.

Wolf leaned in close. “I couldn’t help myself.”

Hells.I bit my cheek to stop from smiling.

“Like I was saying,” Headmistress continued, “your magic outside of The Golden City is still weak. The bond will allow you to wield more power than you’ll be able to on your own, especially when it comes to blood magic.”

“Why would we need to wield more?” Ashlani asked. “What happens during the final test?”

“Nice try,” Headmistress Katherine replied with a smirk. “You already know I cannot reveal any specifics regarding the final test. But this is what I can tell you: What you believe to be reality will change. What you imagine is and is not possible in the world will be altered. Magic will run wild all around you. Your best bet at survival, at standing a single chance against what you’ll be fighting during the final test, is bonding.”

I could have sworn I felt Wolf stiffen beside me.

“I suggest you begin practicing with your chosen partner. There are heavy risks involved in bonding with someone you are not compatible with. They could siphon all of your power and burn you out entirely. You both could lose control, consumed by the extra rush of magic available to you.”

I felt Lanson glance at me from the row of seats ahead, but I kept my eyes glued on Headmistress as she explained thespecifics of bonding, the magic words that a pair would repeat while sharing blood until their magic connected.

It didn’t matter to me. Not anymore. I was a fucking fool to think I could actually bond with Lanson. Wolf was right the entire time; he was a coward.

A nobody.

He left me bleeding out, dying in the middle of the courtyard.

He saw the darkness in me and ran. Just like I always feared he would.

Heat crept up my chest, my neck, my face.