Page 113 of Destined Dawn

The entire hall erupts into chaos and this time it’s only Coach lurking at the back and blowing his whistle that silences everyone.

“But who is the girl?” the gum-girl calls out. “Is it Summer?”

Everyone swivels around to stare at someone standing in the shadows at the back of the hall. Her arms are crossed tightly across her body and she’s glaring at us with fierce hatred.

I hold her gaze and snort so loud it makes the kids in the front row leap up in the air.

“No,” I say. “No, fucking way.”

“I would actually die of shame if I was bonded to a diseased mutt like you,” she spits, stepping forward.

I laugh like that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.

“Nah, it’s not Summer,” I say. “It could never be someone so selfish, self-obsessed and cruel.” She goes to argue and I cut right over her. “Our mate is someone … someone who understands what it’s like for the world to kick you around, to treat you like shit. Someone who’s got back up each time and kept fighting despite her bruises. Someone …”

How do I even begin to describe what she’s like? Why she means so much to me? I don’t have the capability with words. Not to make them understand.

Luckily, my friend steps in. One with more charm in his little finger than I possess in my entire body.

“She’s funny and smart and caring and … I’d follow her to the end of the earth and back. I’d lay my life down for her.” He scrubs his hand through his floppy locks. “In fact, I already have.”

“Who is she?” the girl with the gum asks with annoyance now.

“Rhianna Blackwaters,” Tristan says.

I know it’s going to be difficult to win people around to this idea. But until the giggles and the scoffs start, I guess I don’t realize just how difficult.

“Are you serious, man?” Al says. “Pig girl?”

“Don’t call her that,” I growl.

“Summer said she’d cast some love spell on you,” Fiona sneers at Tristan, “and I guess she was right.”

Summer nods her head. “And she tried to kill me with crimson magic. She’s evil and dangerous.”

The little kid I knocked over pipes up.

“Didn’t she save you from that dragon when the academy was attacked?”

“No!” Summer says, with a pout.

“I definitely saw that,” the kid says to those around him.

“Summer is never right about anything. Do you know whose bed she’s been climbing into?” Tristan hisses.

“Your dad’s,” someone yells out, and this really isn’t going our way. Fuck!

“So, is this like some kind of revenge on her and him?” the girl with gum asks, clearly confused.

“No!” Tristan says, the charm slipping away and his annoyance clear now. I don’t blame him. Most of these kids have struggled to keep up with him. It’s always been clear to me, his oldest friend, how frustrating that has been. He’snever shown it before, though. “We’re doing this because the Lord Protector – my father – is restricting your liberties, terrorizing your friends, killing your families.”

“And keeping us safe from another attack from the West,” Summer says. “And degenerates like you!” She points at me.

“You’re on his wanted list!” some other kid says. “That has to be for a reason.”

“Really?” Tristan says, the frustration brimming in his features. “You really believe in all that bullshit? You’ve actually fallen for it? I know my dad better than anyone else in this room.” He scowls at the cheerleaders. “Better than fucking Summer. All he cares about is himself. His power and his control. You’re fooling yourselves if you believe anything else. And I can tell you, it’ll only get worse.”

The hall is silent while the other kids take this in. Then someone mutters: