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Chapter Fifty-Two

B riony

The doctor releases me from the clinic the next day, instructing me to return in three days time for a follow up.

The Princes are waiting to escort me back, and to my utter surprise, they’ve come bearing gifts – a bunch of red roses and a very large box of chocolates.

“What are these for?” I ask with suspicion. Apart from the clothes Clare gifted me, the dress Fly made for me and the necklace I’m pretty sure Dray stole, it’s been an exceedingly long time since anyone gave me a present.

Dray looks down at the bunch of flowers he has in his hand with confusion.

“Isn’t this what you’re meant to get people when they stay in hospital?” He glances at his friends. “Isn’t this what girls like?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t like them,” I say. “It’s just … you’ve ne ver really given me gifts before.” My gaze flits around them with embarrassment, trying not to let Odessa’s words bug me.

“Huh?” Dray says. “Seem to remember gifting you several mind-blowing orgasms, Kitten.”

“And a collar,” Beaufort growls. I nibble my lip and he seems to soften. “You’re our mate,” Beaufort whispers. “And we want to buy you things. So if there’s anything else you want …”

“Err, thank you?” I say, gazing at the gifts, a warmth spreading through my chest.

“How are you feeling?” Thorne asks me from two paces away.

“I feel dandy as a daisy.” I sigh. “However, apparently, I’m not 100% cured yet and once all the medication wears off later today, I’m going to feel the beating I underwent.” I sigh even more dramatically. “And let me guess what we’ll be doing this afternoon – circuits.”

“I think it’s another assault course,” Dray says. “Want us to get you out of it?”

I shake my head. After that attack, it’s even more clear to me how much everyone in this academy hates me. I don’t want to give them yet another reason.

Despite the relatively early hour, students are already out on the pathways this morning, many gathered in groups and gossiping to one another.

As usual, the appearance of me with the Princes has them halting mid-sentence and gaping at us open-mouthed.

It’s even more blatant today and I’m guessing that’s because the vultures have been feasting on the news of my attack and my visit to the shadow weaver clinic.

The climb up the stairs to my room is not as easy as usual. My legs feel weak and I’m forced to stop once when I wobble.

“I’m definitely getting you out of that assault course,” Dray mumbles.

“I’ll be fine by this afternoon.” I’m going to need to be. The next trial is only two weeks away and I can’t afford to miss out on training and learning.

These Princes may have convinced themselves that I am their fated mate – that they’re going to whisk me away to Onyx Quarter no matter what the outcome of the trials.

But I know differently. The doctor said it herself – commoners without magic cannot have fated mates.

They’re mistaken. And yet, a little optimism must have rubbed off on me from somewhere, because I seem to believe I can score some points in the next trial and make it out of Slate.

At least, I think I can if I can walk without keeling over.

At the top of the stairs, we meet Fly who flings his arms around me and hugs me tight.

“Jeez,” he mumbles in my ear, “were you always this tiny?”

“Apparently I lost quite a bit of blood.”

“Not the best way to lose weight,” he says, looking me over. “They’re not seriously making her do classes today, are they? She looks hideous.”

“Thanks,” I say flatly.

“I said we could get her out of it, but you know Briony.”

“Hmmm,” Fly says, taking my hand and dragging me into my room, closing the door in the Princes’ faces.

“Hey!” Dray protests.

“She needs to get changed into her uniform,” Fly calls through the door.

“And you get to watch that happen and we don’t because … ”

“No one is watching me change,” I call back, going to lie down on the bed and catch my breath. Fly flops down beside me, the biggest grin on his face that I’ve ever seen.

“Are you okay?” I ask him.

“Am I okay? I’m freaking ecstatic. This may be the best day of my life and that is something considering one time Caelan Manship took it upon himself to show me where my prostate–”

“Best day of your life?” I interrupt. “Because I’m back?”

“No! Well, that too but …” He examines my face. “You don’t know, do you?” He glances at the door and shakes his head. “They didn’t tell you.”

“Didn’t tell me what?” I say, rolling up to sit. This doesn't sound good. “Is it about Blaze?”

“No!” He takes my hand in his, grinning even more widely than before – so wide I’m scared his cheeks may split. “Odessa.”

“Odessa?”

“Odessa has been expelled from the academy.”

I stare at him in absolute shock. Expelled? Odessa? “No … that can’t be …”

“It is. I, along with most of the rest of the students and faculty, watched her being marched off the academy grounds last night. And,” he says, doing a little dance of excitement on the bed, “that isn’t even the best bit?”

“Really?” I say, because Fly is right, that news has made my day. Probably my year. “Guess where she was sent back to?”

“Iron Quarter. Isn’t that where she’s from?”

“Nope, Slate.”

“Fuck the stars above! What did she do?”

“What did she do?! Oh Cupcake, did most of your brain cells get knocked out in that beating? ”

“Quit the wisecracks and just tell me.”

“She was behind the attack. She masterminded the whole thing – recruited some of the other students and then led them to attack you. And each of those students has been punished too. They’ve each lost one hundred points off their score.”

“Oh.”

“Oh? That’s all you’ve got to say about this?”

“Are you nearly ready in there?” Dray calls through the door.

“Nearly,” I yell back, going to fetch my uniform out of my closet.

“But Odessa’s done loads of shitty things like that before – remember my nose,” I point to my face, “remember how she pushed me off that cargo net?”

“Yes, but you never reported those things before. So she never got caught doing them.”

“I didn’t report this attack either,” I point out.

“I think you have Beaufort to thank for that,” Fly says, inclining his head towards the door.

I motion for him to turn around, and start stripping out of the clothes the clinic lent me for the short walk back to my room.

“And possibly Professor Tudor too – although I’m not entirely sure how he’s involved in all this. ”

“He found me,” I explain, threading my arms through my shirt and quickly fastening the buttons. “How about the Hardies?”

“What about the Hardies?”

“Their thrall just got herself expelled, aren’t they going to be pissed about it? Won’t they come for Beaufort?”

“Their thrall tried to kill you!” Fly points out. “I don’t think they can exactly complain. Anyway,” he shrugs, “I guess they’ll just find another. ”

“Because we’re that easily replaced,” I deadpan.

“Nope,” he says, waving his arms above his head. “You are irreplaceable, Cupcake.” He peeks over his shoulder to find me dressed. “Which is why I’m so damn pleased you’re okay and that psychopath is gone.”

“Yeah,” I say, letting out a long exhale. Funny, but I am relieved she’s no longer here. One less person to watch for over my shoulder.

The Princes aren’t happy about me breakfasting in the canteen with my friends, using a combination of threats, persuasion and offers of sexual favors to tempt me into coming with them to the shadow weaver dining hall.

I resist, although I have serious second thoughts when it dawns on me that the events of the last forty-eight hours are like nothing the students have experienced so far.

This gossip is so hot it’s burning literal holes and as a starring role in the events, the interest in me will be quadrupled.

We grab the table in the far corner and I hunker down as best I can but people crane their heads to get a look at me and several invent reasons to walk past our table simply to stare.

“I need some sunglasses,” I mutter, trying to shield my face with my arms, “and a wig. Jeez, why can’t people stop staring?”

“Because you got Odessa Gunvald expelled, and she was hated by most people in the academy. You’re a hero,” Clare explains.

“Hated?” I sniff. “Odessa was worshipped and adored.”

“Worshipped maybe, not adored,” Fly says. “People were scared of her and what she’d do – that’s why they sucked up to her.”

“Tell that to her best friend,” I groan.

The girl with no teeth who broke my nose is glaring right at me with a hatred that’s palatable.

“She’s down to forty-three points. Plus, Adrianna has been in love with Odessa for like forever,” Fly dismisses, “because Adrianna has even fewer brain cells than you now own.”

“Did something happen to your brain cells?” Clare asks with concern.

“Doctor says she lost about half in that beating,” Fly teases.

Clare gasps with horror.

“He’s joking, Clare,” I tell her, ripping a corner off my toast and chucking it at Fly’s head. “My brain is fine – at least I think it is.”

“Your brain was never fine, Cupcake.”

“I assume neither was yours – that’s how we became friends.”

“Touché!” He turns to Clare. “In conclusion, I think her brain is working just fine.”

I laugh, which has everyone in the canteen looking my way.

“Oh, jeez,” I mutter, relieved when the bell clangs meaning it’s time to head off for classes.

“Will you be here for lunch?” Clare asks, gripping my arm as we follow the crowd out of the canteen. “Considering you weren’t gone that long, you missed out on loads. I have so much to tell you.” She glances through the crowd toward the boy from her History class and I understand.

“I can’t wait to hear all about it.” I squeeze her hand. After all, I have quite a bit to tell my friends myself.