Page 143 of Fate Hollow Academy: Term 2
Carnagefromthebattleat Fate Hollow Academy had been gruesome, but it was war—something I had continued to tell myself but did not bring me peace. The humans and the supernaturals had been at odds for centuries. The war between the two races was bound to happen again, but I had hoped it wouldn’t be in my lifetime. No matter how selfish it was.
Callie’s death happened as sudden as my mother’s.Exactlylike my mother’s. I had re-lived Mom’s death as I watched Callie drop lifelessly into my lap, and it hurt more than I ever could’ve predicted. Samson was a shell, and he left the academy to join with the supernatural army that would be invading the human territory. He said he couldn’t handle being there anymore because he had too many memories with Callie. I understood it, but I truly believed he had a death wish now.
The fae ball field was in ruin, the Vinery had been crushed open, the Elemental Courtyard was no more. Almost every building other than the Fated Dormitory and Arcane Hall had been damaged. It would take weeks to rebuild campus, so Rowan sent everyone home for the rest of the term, that way they’d be ready to take on next term.
I had heard that Rowan killed the students who sided with the dragons, though not on purpose. What happened at the academy would be written in history books. It was the first true battle between the supernaturals and the humans.
But now, we also had a war between the dragons and supernaturals. It was frightening. Numbness trickled through my bone marrow. Damien had fed off of all of my pain, and I didn’t have any more pain to feel. Watching Callie die broke something inside of me. I’d hated humans since before I could remember, but the hatred ran deeper now.
I was thankful Tabitha had made the wards stronger with the help of the dragon scales, and Trixie had made a full recovery. It took her about a week before she could get up again though, and she’s been staying by Norman’s side as he recovered.
“Little bird, you are driving me fucking crazy,” Damien snarled, pinning me on the bed with his hand around my throat.
“I’m sorry,” I rasped.
Rhett shoved him off of me and sat down on the edge of the bed. “She’s suffered a lot of trauma, Damien. It’s rearing its head. Give her space.”
“I don’t do space.” Damien grabbed me up and smashed me to his chest.
“Why don’t you ask her what she wants?” Kian spoke up from the side of the bed, where he sat with Shade in his lap.
“What do you want?” Rowan asked, stepping into the room with Alister behind him.
Concern flashed through my bonds, and I frowned. “I don’t need space. I just need some time to grieve. Alice, Callie, and… Callie died the same way Mom did…” My heart squeezed.
“We understand, sweetheart. You don’t have to explain.” Kian patted my leg and calmness washed through me. Guilt ebbed at our bond as I looked at him. I had been so overcome with grief that I had asked him to reanimate Callie, which wassowrong. My stomach churned at what I’d asked. He shook his head as if he knew what I was thinking. “Please don’t feel bad.”
“It was wrong of me, Kian. I’m so sorry.” My eyes burned with tears.
“You have nothing to apologize for. I understand.” He rubbed his hand up and down my leg, sending more comfort through our bond.
Silence filled the room again before Lachlan came into the room with blood on his hands.
I recoiled at the scent, shoving my face into Damien’s chest and inhaling his scent. His shadows wrapped around me, cocooning me tightly.
“My sister’s alive. One of the captured werewolves knows her,” Lachlan croaked.
My heart swelled with hope for him. It was the first positive emotion I had felt since that day. I glanced over at him and felt my lips tug up slightly.
“Things are going to change around here,” Rowan said, crossing his arms as his eyes met mine and softened. “We are an academy built for this, yet one small battle almost took us out. I’m calling back all the graduated students who haven’t joined with the Supernatural Council’s troops. We need all the reinforcements we can get. This war will now become a draft, according to the Supernatural Council.”
“Blair has seen more supernaturals with powers pop up,” Kian murmured. “I’ve seen a few as well. She’s helping me identify them.”
Rowan nodded. “They will be marked, and we will have new students come this term. We have to do everything we can to ensure victory. I won’t lose any of you.”
I buried my face back into Damien’s chest as he ran a hand up and down my back. “I can’t lose any of you. I’m certain it would kill me.”
All the mated bonds flared with love and protection.
“You won’t, fledgling. We won’t allow it.”
