Page 24 of Rebellious Royals

"Sentinels, the Morrigan has given orders!" Pascal snapped.

"Heard!" two guys responded in unison just as teachers ran toward us, and Pascal chased after the guy he'd warned me about.

"What is going on here!" the first teacher demanded.

"Rain, remove the magic!" Ms. Rhodes said, proving she was here as well.

But I didn't stop until I reached Aspen, dropping down to my knees to check on her. "Asp?" I begged.

"Where am I?" she asked, looking around with fear and confusion in her eyes.

"The floor," I said. "It's ok. I got you."

"Rain!" Ms. Rhodes yelled this time. "Remove the Wild magic!"

A burst of green light washed across the area and my ears popped as the pressure changed. White came next. Immediately, the crowd around us fell silent, except for the people still struggling to hold the ones who'd attacked Aspen.

And Aspen lifted her hand. Her eyes met mine right before she snapped, stopping everything.

Chapter Seven

TORIAN

Iwas almost to my economics class when a rush of shock hit me. Not mine, though. It was Aspen's, and as I reached for her mind, I couldn't find anything. I wasn't sure if she was dazed, confused - or dead. My feet slowed, my thoughts scrambled to find hers, but on the other end of my bond, there was simply nothing.

But I knew where she was - or at least where she should be. Without thinking, I turned for the closest doorway, snapping, "Move!" at anyone in my way.

Panic. That took over. Something was wrong. I couldn't feel Aspen, and I needed to get to her. One pull brought all the power I needed. By memory, I picked the doorway I'd use on the other side. A push forced the magic to race around the frame, giving me access to where I needed to go.

The gate was barely finished before I stepped through it. I was on the second floor, right at the junction of the main hall and the one where Aspen's second period class was. Across the hall, another gate flared to life, but white. I turned my head to avoid the glare and finally felt her again. There, in the back of my mind, was Aspen - and she was confused.

People were moving. I couldn't see her, and I needed everything to stop, but I didn't have my bearings yet. I'd just gated myself to the spot closest to her path I could think of. Where was she? What was happening? Did she need my help?

Stop time, I thought to her.Just make everyone slow down until they stop except us. Except the court.

Relief. A wave of that washed over my mind, and then I heard her snap. A simple little gesture, but a wash of pale magic flooded the hallway, and nearly everything stopped moving. Across from me, Wilder was removing his gate. I flicked my hand at mine, crushing it ruthlessly, and stormed toward the direction the sound had come from.

Down the hall, I could hear someone running. I made it two steps before the door to the stairs burst open and Keir nearly crashed into me, but Aspen was there, lying on the floor with Rain kneeling beside her. Talking. She was talking!

"What the fuck!" I demanded.

"Aspen? Rain?" Keir panted.

"Who's down?!" Hawke bellowed, proving he was the one struggling to run through the frozen mass of people.

"It's Aspen," Rain called at him.

"I've got Ms. Rhodes," Wilder said.

Each of us were moving in from a different direction, but we were all converging on Aspen. Wilder was the exception. He walked over to Ms. Rhodes and touched her, extracting her from the time freeze. The dean sucked in a breath, looked around, then sighed, but I didn't have time for her bullshit. I had to see my sister!

"Aspen?" I begged, crouching down beside both her and Rain. "What happened?"

"I don't know," Aspen said, trying to sit up.

I couldn't see any injuries. There was no blood. She was lying flat on her back, but I was willing to bet she hadn't always beenlike that. A tablet was on the floor a few feet away, the screen cracked. I wasn't sure if it was hers, and in truth, I didn't care.

Nothing mattered but her. My sister was awake and aware. She seemed fine. I scanned her body, trying to make sure all the pieces were in the right place, because something had happened, and I didn't like not knowing what.