Page 26 of Burdened Bonds

We hug the walls and make our way along the paths.

But we soon realize there’s no need. The battle is truly over. The fighters from the West gone. Instead, students and teachers are picking through the rubble, leading injured people away and tending to those yet to be moved. Intermingled among them are reinforcements from the republic, inspecting the damage and handing out orders.

“It seems safe,” Trent says, “I’m going to head back to my room to pick up those radios. I’ll meet you back here.” He squeezes Winnie’s hand, then races off before we can stop him.

Winnie and I continue along the path, swinging around another corner and walking straight into Summer fucking Clutton-Brock.

She’s dressed in a velvet academy sweatsuit, her hair tied up neatly, her face doused in makeup. She does not look like a girl who just stepped out of a fucking battle. She looks like she’s been to the salon.

Her violet eyes alight on Winnie and then on me and then she screams so fucking loud I think I actually burst an ear drum.

“What the fuck,” I mutter, attempting to push past her.

She scuttles backward, continuing to scream her dumb head off, except now she’s waving a painted fingernail at the two of us too.

“Help! Help me! It’s the werebeast,” she yells as loud as she can. “It’s Spencer Moreau, the werebeast!”

“Shut the fuck up,” I growl at her, but her screeching has already attracted the attention of others. People lift their heads to peer our way and footsteps march towards us.

“And Winnie Wence,” she continues, “best friends with that girl who attacked me with crimson magic!”

“I told you, shut up,” I growl menacingly at her, but shedoesn’t, continuing her damsel-in-distress act, even though her eyes are twinkling with malevolence.

“Remain exactly where you are and lift your hands in the air.” I turn my head and see a group of the republic security forces strolling our way. York lingers behind them.

“What?” I say.

“You heard us. Put your hands in the air. Both of you.”

What the hell? I peer towards York, but she simply averts her gaze to the ground.

“Why?” I say, swinging my gaze across all the faces now staring at me, most – unlike fucking Summer – with real fear in their eyes.

“We’ve been ordered to arrest any magicals who pose a threat to the republic,” he says. “Now do as I say, lift your arms and remain still. There’s no need to make a scene.”

I peer over my shoulder at Winnie.

“Spencer,” she says nervously.

I tune into my senses. Count the number of scents. Twenty. There’s at least twenty of these security agents scattered across the academy grounds.

Could I fight them off? Could my beast? Possibly but then there are the teachers and the students – my so-called friends – too and fuck knows whose side they’d pick.

I stare into Winnie’s frightened face and I think of Rhianna. Alone, in danger, probably even more frightened. I don’t have a choice.

“I’m going to distract them,” I tell Winnie. “You grab that car and get the hell out of here.”

Winnie shakes her head. “That isn’t going to work and I’m not leaving you.”

“It is,” I say with a grin, losing the shirt someone had thrust at me back at Tristan’s place. “And I’ll catch up with you.”

“What are you doing?” the security jerks yell. “I told you, remain still.” A warning shot whistles over our heads and Summer screams again.

“Spencer,” Winnie says, “Rhi will never forgive me if something happens to you.”

“Winnie,” I say, still smiling at her even though I’m sure it no longer reaches my eyes. “We both know that’s bullshit and we both know she will be fucking devastated if anything happens toyou. So go now, while there’s still time. We need that car!”

I don’t wait for her to argue anymore, I toe off the too-tight borrowed sneakers and start to run in the opposite direction to the security forces, magic already pummeling after me.