Page 26 of Rebellious Royals

"Take it to the office," Ms. Rhodes said as she marched past us, her heels clicking.

Which made me shove to my feet. "We will move her when she's good."

"And she will be better in the office!" Ms. Rhodes snapped, glaring at me. "Do not push me, Torian. I don't care who you think you are. This is Silver Oaks, and I'm the one in charge here.Do you understand?!"

I dipped my head. "Yes, ma'am."

But Keir was already moving. He scooped Aspen into his arms. "Just get the fucking doors, Tor."

"I got 'em," Rain said, hurrying over for the one that led to the stairs. "Jack!"

A dark streak skimmed the tops of everyone's heads. Rain lifted her arm, and the crow landed on it, leaving me to follow. I tossed a glance back at Wilder, and he nodded once, proving he'd stay to help Hawke.

But I was starting to put the pieces together. Someone had attacked my sister. Four of them, from the looks of it. Rain had stopped it, thankfully, but now I had questions. So many of them. First off was how Keir, Hawke, and Wilder knew to come.

"What happened?" I demanded when we were far enough down the stairs.

Students were still coming up to them, heading for their classes, but I didn't give a shit about that. If they wanted to listen in, then that was their mistake. Rain simply ignored me, though. Her attention was focused on Aspen and making sure she didn't bump into anything.

It was Keir who answered. "I had a shadow grab me," Keir said. "Yes, grab, and that's a freaky feeling."

"It can't grab," Rain said.

"Oh, it can," Keir told her. "Did it get you too, Torian?"

"No, Aspen did," I said, thinking about that. "But who hit her?"

"Some girl," Rain said, hurrying ahead to grab the door that would let us out on the first floor. "I was waving Aspen over, and that girl cracked a tablet against her head. It was like she was swinging a bat or something. I mean, both hands, full force!"

"Why?" I snarled.

Rain spun around to look at me. "I don't fucking know!"

"Tor," Aspen said softly.

It was just that, but it was enough. She didn't have to yell to get her point across. The whisper of a syllable made me shut my mouth and follow Keir as he carried her towards the administration office. Rain got that door as well, but the moment we walked inside, we were spotted.

"My office," Liam said. "Do we need the nurse?"

"I got her," Keir told him, but his feet didn't slow.

I was helpless, and hated it. I was confused, and that pissed me off. Right now, I wasnotin control, and my anger was rising. It was easier to be pissed than scared. It was safer to be powerful than weak. It was -

No, that was my mother's training. Instead, I clenched my jaw and followed everyone into Liam's office, but when Keir set Aspen down on a chair, I claimed the closest one to her I could find. Then I scooted it even closer.

"Asp?" I begged.

"I'm fine," she said, reaching up to touch the back of her head. "I don't even think I'm going to have a lump."

"Fixed that," Keir assured her, reaching in to chafe her arm gently. "Did you see anything?"

Aspen just shook her head. "I heard Rain call my name."

But Rain was pacing the length of the floor on the other side of the room. "I saw her hair in the crowd," she said. "I called out, and just as Aspen looked up, that girl hit her. Pascal and some others started grabbing guys, but I don't even know why!"

From the doorway, Liam sighed. "Stay here. I'm going to find out what's going on."

"We're waiting for Ms. Rhodes," Rain told him.