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Hunter’s dorm was quiet when I stepped in, and I realized none of the boys were there.

Hunter’s combat jacket was draped over the back of the sofa, and his boots were by the door, but other than that, the place was empty.

I pressed my lips together, wondering if we had meant to meet somewhere else and I had just simply forgotten.

After Sariel’s class the other day, Hunter hadn’t necessarily acted like his usual self.

Well, he did, and he didn’t. It was strange, almost like something was up, but I couldn’t quite place if I was the one overthinking it or not.

I stepped back into the hallway, my boots echoing against the wooden floorboards. I was halfway down the long corridor when I heard someone call my name.

I turned to see Matias casually leaning against his door with a smirk plastered across his face. He hadn’t spoken to me much since I surpassed him on the ranking list, but that didn’t stop me from being set on edge by how he stared at me.

“Matias,” I said cautiously. “Are you... okay?”

He nodded. “Oh, I forgot to tell you that Rael had some paperwork for you to complete after you left the class. I have it all in my room. Wanna come in, and I’ll go get it for you?” he said, gesturing toward his dorm.

I frowned, not moving from where I was standing.

Matias sighed dramatically. “Come on, Grace. Don’t look at me like that. It’s just stuff on celestial hierarchies and something about the Reclaimers? We all have to complete it.”

Against my better judgment, he seemed genuine for once, so I agreed to go into his dorm. He pushed the door open, motioning for me to enter. I hesitated, but curiosity and foolishness made me step over the threshold.

The room was different from Hunter’s. Matias’s was far messier, with papers scattered all over and uncleaned plates stacked against the sink.

“Where are your roommates?” I asked, trying to sound casual as I glanced around the living room area. Matias shut the door behind me, and the sound of the lock clicking shivered through me.

I spun around, my fingers shaking slightly. “Why did you lock the door?”

He leaned against it, his eyes trailing over me in a way that made my skin crawl and my stomach churn. “You’ve been doing well, haven’t you? Better than me even.”

“Okay... your point?”

His smirk faltered. “My point is, do you know how hard I’ve worked to get where I am? And then you come along—just a human—and suddenly, you’re above me.”

My unease grew, and I started toward the door. “You know what, I think I’ll grab the work from Rael instead; you can keep the others,” I tried to say, but Matias blocked my pathway.

“You really think you’re better than me, don’t you? Well, newsflash! You don’t belong here, Grace. You never did.”

I took a step back, but he closed the distance between us, his hand brushing my arm in a way that made me flinch. “Stop,” I whispered.

“Don’t be like that,” he said, his voice dropping into something unsettlingly soft. “I can always show you what it’s really like to be part of this world.”

I shoved him hard enough to make him stumble. “Don’t touch me!”

His expression twisted with anger, and he lunged. I reacted without thinking, remembering every lesson I’d had so far with Hunter. I sidestepped before he could grab me and ran for the door. I managed to reach the lock before I was yanked back by my hair and fell onto the floor.

The side of my face slammed against the corner of the sofa, and I cried out as pain erupted across my eyebrow.

I scrambled to push myself up, the sting of the hit still radiating through my head as my heart raced and I knew I couldn’t let fear freeze me now.

Matias towered over me, leaning down as his hand reached toward me again. “Stop pretending you’re so innocent, Grace. You’re just—”

I didn’t let him finish. Summoning every ounce of anger and every lesson Hunter had drilled into me, I swung my leg out and kicked hard against his shin.

The impact made him hiss and stumble back, giving me just enough room to roll onto my knees.

He lunged again, but this time I was ready.

I surged upward, my fist clenched, and landed a solid punch square to his nose.

A sickening crunch followed, and he reeled back, clutching his face as blood began to stream down.

“Shit!” he swore, staggering as his other hand flailed to balance himself. My chest heaved as I backed toward the door. My knuckles throbbed, but the satisfaction of seeing him doubled over in pain overpowered it.

“I said don’t touch me.”

He glared up at me as blood dripped onto the floor, and I took the opportunity to twist the lock behind me, yanking the door open.

As I sprinted down the stairs, my heart pounded until I collided with someone solid, the impact nearly knocking me off balance.

“Grace?” Hunter’s voice was sharp, his hands steadying me as I gasped for breath.

I looked up, tears burning the corners of my eyes. “I—”

“What happened?” His voice was edged with something sharp as his fingers gently tipped my chin up. His gaze scanned my face before it drifted lower, catching the scratches along my arm and his entire body went still. Then, his voice turned cold. “Who?”

Before I could answer, Matias stumbled onto the top of the stairs, looking disheveled as he held a bloody hand up to his nose.

Hunter didn’t need me to say anything as his jaw clenched and his expression darkened. He didn’t ask for confirmation. He didn’t need it. He just knew.

“Hunter don’t—” I started, but it was too late. He stormed up the stairs before his fist connected with Matias’s jaw. The sickening crack echoed in the foyer as Matias stumbled back, clutching his face.

Hunter didn’t stop as he lunged at him again and they both came tumbling down the stairs, trading blows.

Each one more ferocious than the last. Their Warrior powers sparked in flashes of light and sound as furniture splintered and walls cracked, attracting people from their dorms to come down and see what was going on.

I shouted for Hunter to stop, but he seemed so consumed in his rage that he couldn’t hear me. I was pushed back into the surrounding crowd of Ascendants, and I desperately tried to reach him.

Silas and Brandon luckily arrived. Their eyes widened as they took in the chaos and realized it was their friend fighting. Without hesitation, they barged through the crowd and joined Hunter just as Matias’s friends tried to intervene.

“Stop!” I screamed, but my voice was drowned out by the sound of cheers and fists meeting flesh.

Hunter had Matias pinned against the wall, his fingers digging in as power thrummed beneath his skin, coiling like a predator ready. He looked unrecognizable. Almost primal. “You lay a single hand on her again, and I’ll make sure you never get the chance to regret it.”

“Hunter, stop!” Something in my voice broke through his fury. His hand faltered, the light dimming as he turned to look at me. His expression was a mix of rage and regret, his chest heaving as he stepped back.

Before anyone could move, Celestial teachers appeared, their wings casting sharp shadows across the wreckage as they sprang out from their backs.

Eden stepped forward, her voice cold and commanding. “Enough!”

Hunter didn’t fight back as the Celestials closed in, seizing him, Silas, Brandon, Matias and his friends.

Their grips were firm as they began dragging them away but of course, Matias didn’t stop for one bit.

Even as he was hauled off, his voice rang through the foyer, spitting insults at Hunter and taunting him like a man who had no idea just how close he’d come to being obliterated.

“Where are they taking them?” I asked Eden, my voice breaking.

Her gaze softened slightly. “They will need to speak with the Council.”

Hunter turned his head, and his eyes met mine in an instant. There was a quiet resolve in them but also something unspoken—an apology, a promise, a plea.

I watched him be led away, my chest aching, knowing that I might have just ruined everything .