Page 29 of Lost and Bound

“The self-appointed kings of our fine learning establishment effectively told Council to go fuck themselves. The Council oversees Quin-state and comprises representatives from each of the factions. They’re our governing body. But before we can talk about that, we have to go back a couple of steps. It’s imperative to understand that these guys are also the strongest within their own species. If they wanted, they could claim the highest mantle among their kind, despite their age and pedigree, which is unheard of. In our world, the positions of Supreme Alpha, Elder, etcetera, represent power and strength because it’s basically a fight to the death to claim the spot. So many lives have been lost because of ambition and ego.”

He stops talking and turns discreetly to see if anyone is listening. Which only adds more weight to what he’s saying. We eat without talking for a few minutes. It gives me the chance to digest what he’s saying but also shovel as much food in as I can. People might not be listening, but the celestials keep glancing over at me, and I can’t say the looks are friendly. I suspect I’m about to be given another lesson in how holy they are.

I’m not sure whether Orion notices, or if he’s simply more used to their method of intimidation than I am, so can read them better. Around us, though, the atmosphere changes; the air stifled by their ego.

“They’re an anomaly individually and collectively, which paints a target on their backs. Yet they know how to exist in this world.”

“How?”

“By keeping up appearances,” he whispers quietly, but he’s so intent on giving me a rundown, he misses when the guy who tripped me earlier, and the vampire and the shifter who were involved in the fight afterwards, all stand and turn my way.

“Incoming,” I interrupt, barely moving my lips.

I scrape the back of my chair loudly as I stand up, keeping them all in my sight.

Everyone within hearing distance stops to watch. Some of them even stand up.

If I’m going down again, I want people to see it happen. I want them to witness it wasn’t me who started anything. I get there’s no one, aside from Orion, who will stand up for me—no one would answer questions from the faculty—but that doesn’t discount or excuse them from the weight of seeing me suffer.

They eye me, much as I do them. Except they’re smirking, and not in a sexy way.

I repack my belongings. I’m not keen on running, but I’d rather not get beaten up and made to feel like crap again.

“We got off on the wrong foot. Let’s do a restart. I’m Michael,” the guy who intentionally tripped me says, looking overly contrite.

Another group of students arrive at our table. This time, it’s the girls, with Seraphina leading them. She, too, is working hard at looking friendly. Both of them acting so obviously fake has me gritting my teeth, trying to hide how uneasy I feel in their presence.

With the whole student body watching us, I smile, trying not to show my teeth. “Of course we can do that. It sounds great, actually. I’m Maya. Thanks for stopping by, I need to bail, though.” I pick up my stuff and take a step backward. “So much homework.”

“And didn’t you get detention too?” a very helpful magik student offers, his sly smile suggesting he’s faking being friendly too.

But he gives me an out. I make an overexaggerated gasp, acting a hell of a lot more airy than I am. “Thanks for reminding me, I better go.”

All my training from the community center kicks in. We used to teach people how to behave around the enforcers, which is where I learned about predators. My movements remain slow and steady, and I keep the ringleaders in my sight, but I don’t let my gaze settle on them individually. Then I think far-away thoughts to remain calm as I drift past them and out the front dining hall doors, Orion trailing me from behind.

It’s not even the end of day one yet, and I’m tired.

CHAPTER TEN

REMINDERS

“Shit,” Orion grunts as soon as we get outside.

I swing around to see he stopped to pull out his device. His eyes move, and then they close.

“All okay?” I ask.

“Just completely forgot I’ve got a study session booked for a project I’m working on. Will you be alright getting back to Nom House by yourself?”

I reach out, rubbing his shoulder, hoping to ease his stress. “Orion, I will be fine. I’m going to get some studying done, then go to bed early. After a shower, of course.”

I get a small smile, but it’s not a happy one.

“Message me when you get there,” he insists, as he takes a couple of steps in the opposite direction before stopping again.

His reluctance to leave me alone is sweet and probably justified, but I’ll be fine. “Have a good session. I’ll message you as soon as I’m back in my room.”

I turn and start walking before he can say another word. Without him chattering, my head gets busy as I walk from the dining hall back to Nom House, but not so busy that I drop my guard for a second.