24. Sax
SAX
Irritation coils through me as I take my seat in the meeting room. Baron falls into the chair beside me, just as tight and tense as I am.
Almost everyone here is; all except three.
Hugo cocks a brow at me and I roll my eyes. He knows they’re on their way. I already feel like we’re teetering on the edge of doom, I don’t need added pressure from him too.
My hands clench on the table in an attempt to stop myself from checking my device for further updates, but the door swings open in that moment, and a familiar flash of blonde hair appears.
Sunshine.
The second Ivy steps over the threshold, flanked by Teddy and Archer, the sweet scent of sex fills the air.
Fuckers.
If the aroma wasn’t enough, the smug grin on Teddy’s face and the ease to Archer’s shoulders confirms it.
I sense my brother stiffen beside me.
His hands match mine, clenched into fists on the tabletop.
Exhaling, I force my fingers to relax, fighting the urge to cause chaos in the room and lay claim to her, right here in front of everybody.
She takes a seat beside Baron, a soft smile on her lips as she glances at us, before her facial expression turns neutral and she stares toward Professor Viola.
Another exhale, and some of the tension seeps from my bones.
She at least looks calm and collected, which is a far cry from the usual circumstances when packages have arrived on her bed.
The second Archer mentioned an unwanted gift, my blood turned to stone, so it's a relief to see her so at ease. Teddy too. Especially after last night.
I didn’t realize how blessed I was with my family until I realized what those closest to me have endured at the hands of those who should have protected them at all cost. It’s fucking disgusting.
I can’t even mention it to my mother, not the whole story at least. She would lose sleep for weeks. Or worse, get involved.
Scrubbing a hand down my face, I glance at Teddy again, discreetly relieved to see him be more present.
I was concerned last night when his mother stabbed her invisible blade into his soul, tainted with twisted words, hellbent on shredding him apart.
The relief of returning home didn’t last long when he plunged into the depths of the ocean.
I was one step away from diving in after him, but I quickly recalled that, for him, it’s the equivalent of losing myself to the forest.
What's concerning is how united we all are as fated mates, for a change, while dealing with internal struggles.
Archer and his treacherous father are only growing more intense now that his mother is affected.
Teddy and his parents are the complete opposite.
His father was his hero; now his legacy is wrapped by shadows created by his awful mother, who seems intent on shattering him for her own entertainment.
Then there’s Ivy and her clusterfuck of parents.
Even with her father out of the picture, her mother seems too calculated to simply disappear into the night.
We’re juggling an insane amount of bullshit right now.
There are parent troubles, on multiple fronts, and Baron is still trying to wrap his head around the fact that the dragon clan is Team Phoenix, in its entirety.
While I'm left trying to figure out who we can and can't trust. Which is only heightened when there's a power outage, and the tension grows more heated as I stare around the room.
The sense of a bonded connection I feel with my fated mate and friends doesn't extend to anybody else in this room, really.
Bar Hugo.
He loves his sister like I love my family. There’s no doubting him or his intentions.
Not even Professor Viola offers a sense of comfort.
Her presence is disconcerting, like there's something we're unaware of. Add to that the fact that the professors in the room seem more useless than the students, and, with the latter not at the top of my preferred list, there’s nowhere else to turn to that I trust.
I feel like this meeting is pointless to begin with, but the power outage demands one, so here we are.
“Thank you, everybody, for gathering. I understand the circumstances are growing more intense as we continue to face obstacles, but I am certain that we can find a way through all of this,” Professor Viola starts, earning a scoff, but it doesn't fall from my lips; it came from Hugo beside her.
I knew I liked him.
“The issue we're having, Viola, is that nothing is safe.
We're aware of that fact because these power outages keep happening closer and closer together. Also due to the fact that Leonardo Corrigan killed another leader, and that he continues to pursue my sister. Not in the Second Kingdom, in his territory; in our kingdom, on our campus, in. Her. Dorm. Which is supposed to be her safest space. Unfortunately, I think the threat is more than just what lies beyond these grounds and this kingdom’s borders.
I think it's bleeding into our system, and we are continuing to react instead of act.”
My eyes widen as he continues to express his doubt, his thoughts matching my own.
“I hate to agree with him,” Francesca grumbles from across the room.
“But all that's going to happen is we're going to drain ourselves to perform the Rejuvenating Ceremony, and it’s barely lasting a week. Something needs to change, and we need to stop being on the back foot,” she insists, and my chest tightens.
I take it back. I don't agree with him. Not if she does as well.
Glancing at Ivy from the corner of my eye, I find a twist to her lips, and her eyebrows narrow as she glares across the room. I can't help but wonder if she's thinking exactly what I'm feeling too.
“I understand your concerns,” Viola states, “but we have always been the kingdom of peace, that's what we stand for. Not just for us, but for The Fates. Every kingdom before us has fallen victim to a sodality that believes they should rise above the others. That's not what we stand for.”
“No one's saying it's what we stand for,” Baron interjects, his nostrils flaring. “But why are we not doing something to prove to these other kingdoms that working together as combined sodalities is the right direction? Instead, all we're showing them is how weak we are.”
My pulse quickens, my veins fizzling with adrenaline as the truth sits heavy in his words.
“The fact of the matter is, we don't stand a chance if we continue to play catch up. It's not even just an illusion at this stage. We just are,” I add, running my tongue along my bottom lip as I try to keep my emotions at a simmer.
Hugo nods. “I think it's fair to say we're all in agreement that some things need to change,” he declares, and Viola folds her arms over her chest, lips pursed as she takes a deep breath.
“I am acting as The Fates have asked of me,” she states calmly.
“What is it The Fates have said, specifically?” Baron asks.
He must catch her off guard because her eyes widen a fraction as she places her palms on the table, splaying her fingers.
“We maintain the peace.”
“Where, specifically?” Ivy pushes, and Viola frowns, but it's Professor Carbon who speaks.
“What do you mean by that?”
Ivy clears her throat, sitting up straight in her seat as she rolls her shoulders back.
“I mean, that can be interpreted in many different ways if there's not more to that sentence.
Do they mean keep the peace within the Fifth Kingdom and keep our sodalities united, or do they mean keep the peace among all the kingdoms?
Because from what I can see, and excuse me for my lack of experience, but there is no peace among all of the kingdoms. Otherwise, they wouldn't keep attacking us.
What it seems like to me is we need to keep the peace within the kingdom, strengthen ourselves as a whole, and that's where our focus should be.”
Silence drenches the room as everyone stares at her. Some out of spite, but most in surprise with a good hint of awe.
“If I didn't know you were Hugo's sister already, the determination in your voice proved it,” Silas declares, and I grunt, trying not to roll my eyes at his declaration.
He's at the top of my list of people likely to be working for the enemy, but I'm not currently allowed to prove that, so I keep my mouth shut.
Professor Viola stands, hands still placed on the table as she uses it as a prop, her chin dipping to her chest as she takes another deep breath. After a moment, her eyes skim across the room, connecting with every single person here before she speaks.
“I don't believe I've misinterpreted The Fates, but maybe—”
The room rattles as the double doors shake open, cutting through the air and spiking the tension.
“A breach! We've got a breach on campus!” the girl cries, panting for breath.
“Where?” Hugo barks, rising so fast his chair falls backward with a thud.
Everyone waits on bated breath, trying to calculate who the right person is to respond.
It takes the girl two sharp inhales before she can summon another sentence past her lips. “The breach shows at the edge of the forest.”
I'm moving before she can finish her sentence.
“Sax,” Ivy calls after me, but I don't wait.
One of the others can inform her of what's going on, but right now, my job is to follow protocol, chase the breach, and protect my fated mate.
The second I dart outside, I’m greeted by the cliffs to my right, the academy to my left, and the forest off in the distance. I need to move, and I need to move now. Without wasting another second, I shift, my white tiger taking control as the taste of fury lies heavily on my tongue.
The chilled air around me is like ice through my fur as I race toward the danger, my paws pounding against the ground, and I don't slow until I reach the edge of the forest. Nestled among the trees, the rest of the academy a distant memory, I take a deep breath and connect with my senses.
My ears twitch, seeking out every sound as the smell of danger thickens in the air. I strain, desperate for a hint, and respond instantly to the sound of pattering footsteps echoing in the distance.