Page 156 of Rebellious Royals

That evening, I slipped out to visit my dads for a bit. Both of them were worried about me, but I was doing fine. It was everyoneelseI was worried about. Liam was convinced I wasignoring the emotional strain I was under. He was probably right, but what else could I do?

So I talked to them. They talked to me. Not that there was a lot to be said, but my dads wanted to make sure I knew what all was going on. Evidently, a few of the shackled students had immediately called their parents. Most had told them to deal with it. The problem was that some of the other students, the ones who'd been witnesses to the attacks, had called theirs as well.

Now, Ms. Rhodes was getting hammered with complaints. Parents had questions she had no answers for. Since fae children were rather rare, most parents were overprotective and a bit paranoid about any risks to their darling babies. Twice, my dads had to remind me just how young we all were. To people who often lived to be about a thousand years old, a couple of decades was nothing at all.

So the next day, it wasn't shocking to see kids waiting in front of the atrium with their bags packed. Some looked excited - because getting out of school seemed great at first. Most looked miserable, as if they didn't agree at all with their parent's decision. Thankfully, I didn't see anyone I knew well over there.

When Torian and I headed to the cafeteria after fourth period, I looked over again. This time, I didn't see anyone waiting with packed bags. Hopefully, that meant the exodus was over, but finding Aspen, Hawke, and Wilder waiting in front of the cafeteria made me forget all about it.

"Are we early?" I asked, looking at Torian.

But Aspen giggled. "No, we thought it might be wise to stick together. Now all we're missing is Keir."

Torian huffed out something like an embarrassed laugh. "We agreed to stick together with someone, but we've all gotten a little complacent. I realized it when Wilder was alone in the middle of an attack."

"And now," Aspen told him, "you're politely walking Rain to lunch instead of running off and leaving her behind."

"I was neither running nor leaving," Torian countered.

"Oh, you were leaving," I assured him before putting on a babyish voice. "I just figured the big scary prince had to potty before he ate."

Hawke laughed once before biting his lips together to hold it in.

"She's probably right," Wilder said a little too innocently. "I mean, Torian hasn't said she's wrong."

"I am failing to remember why I call all of you friends," Torian grumbled.

"It's because we're so - "

The shriek of a woman made all of us spin. Jack launched off my shoulder, swooping a circle above us, but the scream didn't come from a student. No, my eyes landed on the woman just as she did it again.

"Ivy! Ivy Rhodes!" bellowed a dark-haired woman who looked to be in her early twenties. "Someone had better tell me where I can find the dean, and do it fast, because I will not have my daughter treated this way!"

"Parents," Hawke grumbled, making it clear who that was.

"Still freaks me out that they look our age," I said. "I mean, at least my dad has the grace to look fatherly."

"No, he doesn't," Aspen said.

"Wrong dad," Wilder told her. "She means Liam."

I flashed him a grin, but the crazy woman wasn't close to being done. "I want to know why these Winters are here, and someone had better explain to me why my daughter is paying the price for it! I have sent enough money to this school that she should - "

"Dawn!" The sound of another woman made me look over in time to see Ms. Hawthorne hurrying toward her. "It's lunchtime. The children are - "

As the screeching mother turned toward Ms. Hawthorne, her eyes landed on us. "Winter!" she yelled, storming forward. "You! I want all of you expelled."

"Shit," Wilder mumbled.

I stepped forward, intending to deal with this, but Ms. Hawthorne was faster. "Dawn!" she snapped, catching the woman's arm just to turn her back around. "You will not come in here making a scene. Not unless you want to make sure your daughter is never allowed back. Now, we both know this is the only place on this continent where she can get trained in her magic, so stop acting like a common peasant!"

But Dawn looked back at us one more time. "Theyare the problem. I expected my child to have the best education, Pearl. That was what I was promised."

"And she's getting it," Ms. Hawthorne assured her as she gestured to the office. "But she isn't the only one."

"I want them gone!" Dawn thrust out a finger to point right at us.

Ms. Hawthorne closed her eyes in a long blink, then lifted her chin in our direction. "Students, you should be in the dining hall, getting your lunch."