Page 27 of Rebellious Royals

I grumbled. That girl was too fucking trusting. She thought these people could somehow help her, unaware that they weren't the ones in control anymore.

"What?" Rain asked. "Worried about detention, Torian?"

"You'rethe Morrigan," I snapped. "You're supposed to be the one handling things."

"We're in school!" she shot back. "Those are the adults, and they're helping. Now, maybe you think you know everything, but I don't. I'm aware I'm only seventeen years old and winging the fuck out of this. So yeah, I'm going to get as much help as I can."

"She's right," Aspen said.

"And Ms. Rhodes is helping you a lot more than I would expect," Keir added.

I just grumbled again, knowing they were right, but what could I say to that? I wanted to hurt someone because I'd been scared? I was pissed off because this sort of bullshit made me feel helpless? None of that would help. Worse, if people realized I had any limits, they'd take that as a dare to do even more.

No, I had to keep Aspen safe. That was all that mattered. I would drag everyone into this if I had to. Yes, I'd rather do iton my own, but Rain did have a point. More help meant more ways to keep my sister safe, and right now, the magic of Faerie depended on her.

Because what no one else seemed to realize was that if anything happened to Aspen, I was next in line for her crown. Me, the boy bound to his mother. The loophole that would corrupt all the magic of the fae - both sidhe and wild.

If my sister lost her crown for any reason, Faerie was as good as fucked, and I had a very bad feeling someone out there knew it.

Chapter Eight

TORIAN

Students were hauled into Ms. Rhodes office while we watched. It didn't take long before the sentinels left there and stopped in front of the administrative desk. A moment later, Hawke and Wilder left, but they crossed the main office area to join us in Liam's office.

That was when the yelling started. I couldn't make out the words, but I could tell it was a girl. Her high-pitched voice was shrill, and she sounded frantic rather than angry. A few of the administrators looked over, making me aware the pitch had to be even higher out there, but the sentinels just stood together quietly.

Axel, Bran, and Pascal. I knew their names, but I didn't really know them. They were Keir's friends and Hawke's acquaintances. Before today, I hadn't given a shit about any of them, but I was starting to think I should. More than that, I owed them something - something big.

"I'll be right back," I told the court.

"Tor - " Rain tried, reaching out as if to stop me. "Liam wants us to wait here."

"I'll come back," I assured her.

But I made sure to close the door behind me. The sound of it made Pascal turn, and the three sentinels looked at me warily. Not that I could blame them. They'd just stuck their nose in my business, and I didn't have a reputation of taking that lightly.

"Pascal," I greeted him as I made my way closer. "Bran. Axel. I was told you jumped in to help my sister without hesitation."

"Look, Torian..." Axel tried.

But Pascal flicked a finger, making him stop. "We did," he said.

So I offered him my hand. "Which means I'm in your debt."

Pascal scoffed at that and his friends looked away. "Trust me, I didn't do it for you," he assured me, but he did clasp my hand.

"Rumors or not," Bran mumbled.

"Keir's our friend," Axel explained. "Rain's the Morrigan, which basically makes her our leader. Aspen's their friend, so yeah, we jumped in."

"Besides," Bran said, "Aspen's cool."

I crossed my arms over my chest and nodded. "And obviously uses Winter magic."

"Fuck that," Pascal said. "Look, this doesn't have shit to do with you, Torian."

"She's still my sister, so I'm still in your debt."