Page 64 of Hero of Havoc

A shrill note splinters through the air, only this time, it’s not fireworks demanding our attention, but Professor Carbon with a whistle lodged between her lips. Her face reddens as she elongates the sound, and Baron grunts.

“Is she aware we heard the damn noise as soon as she blew it?” He rubs at his temples as the noise finally stops.

The whistle falls from her grasp, hanging around her neck from a thread as she lifts her hands to cup her mouth. “Dorm rooms now. We’re on lockdown.”

Grumbles erupt at her order, but no one fights against the command. A swarm of students starts toward us, ready to swallow me up and take me back with them, but before I can consider my next move, Sax grabs my arm and tugs me onto the grass and away from the chaos.

Out of the overwhelm, my eyes find Professor Carbon just as she signals toward us.

“What—”

“A meeting,” Archer mumbles as Sax grabs my hand, tugging me against his side as we move in the opposite direction from everyone else.

The air is thick with tension as Baron leads the way.

My pulse rings in my ears, my magic fizzling beneath the surface as I continue to comprehend what just happened.

I’m so lost in my thoughts, trying to wrap my head around the facts, that I don’t realize where we’re heading until we’re already there. We’re not at the arena for an impromptu meeting, but in the familiar yet very random cave system that looks like a rock near the clifftops.

Approaching the entrance, I hold back an eye roll as I spot Francesca and Bonnie. This time, as I draw near, their heads remain higher, revealing the anger and disdain in their stares.

“It looks like my magic has worn off,” Teddy mumbles, stretching his arms out in front of him. “Let me⁠—”

“Don’t,” I blurt, stopping him with my free hand.

“But—”

“No buts, Teddy. I appreciate it, I do, but the reality is, they’re going to be bitches whether their heads are up or down, and I want them to have a clear view when I succeed despite their best efforts.”

Pride shines in his blue pools as he runs a hand down my arm. “I don’t know how you just got hotter, but you did,” he declares with a wink, and I roll my eyes, breezing past the two girls in question.

“Bitch,” they mumble in sync, but I grin, squeezing Sax’s hand in silent support as I pay them no mind.

Entering the usual setup, I eye the exact spot in the center of the U-shaped tables that I took last time. Viola is already standing on the other side, eyeing me curiously, as I stretch my smile wider and take a seat among my hated mates instead of causing a scene.

There are other issues to deal with today; I’ll save my dramatics for another time.

Ignoring Francesca and Bonnie as they sit across the room, I catch my brother as he steps in, eyes darting to mine immediately, and he sags in relief.

“Vee, are you okay?” he asks, and I nod.

“I’m fine; why wouldn’t I be?” I mumble as he hurries around the table, wincing slightly at my question.

“What don’t I know?” I breathe, and he squeezes my shoulder, no offer of a response on his tongue as he continues around the table, taking his spot beside Viola.

They talk quietly between themselves, making my lips pinch, when a gentle tap from an elbow snaps my attention to my right. Baron frowns, eyes trained in the same direction I was just looking, as he clears his throat.

“I can tell you what they’re saying if you like, but it seems like they’re going to discuss it with everyone anyway,” he clarifies, and I offer him a half smile as I squeeze his arm.

“Thank you. I’ll wait, but you can fill me in if they leave anything out,” I reply, and he nods, bracing his arm around the back of my chair as my attention darts across the room.

My eyes find Odesa as she glowers at where Baron’s arm rests.

I preen at her irritation, leaning a little closer to him, and even though it starts off as a move to piss her off, I find myself relaxing against him.

“Okay,” Viola starts, no longer huddled with my brother as she speaks. “I’m sure everyone has seen one of the flyers by now, but just in case, it reads: ‘The Fifth Kingdom needs a champion. Will it be you? Set your kingdom free, and be the hero you were destined to be.’” She sighs, gripping the back of her chair as she lets the room absorb the statement. “It seems the other kingdoms didn’t take our rejection seriously at the ball, and someone has taken matters into their own hands.”

Baron’s free hand falls to my thigh as he leans against me, as if bracing for impact.