Void(82)

At the word threat, my heart plummeted into my stomach. I didn’t want to keep being just a threat. I thought, just now, he and I’d had a pivotal breakthrough.

“Of course,” I choked out.

“Don’t look downtrodden, Miss Cainson,” Headmaster Torne said, this time in a softer voice. “If it’s any consolation, I hope to find that your powers can be used for good. I’ll admit that I didn’t want you here. I didn’t agree with the danger that it was putting my students in. And even though most won’t agree with me, and I’ll admit, my initial shock at seeing you unleash in my dining hall wasn’t welcome...you stopped the fighting. Things could very well have escalated, but you stopped it in its tracks. And despite what happened today, you’ve shown great restraint. I believe you that you aren’t the kind of Void everyone seems to think you are. I believe that you might actually be different because you try to be different. And maybe it’s time that we applaud that instead of doubt it.”

A bud of hope popped out of my rubbled foundation.

“I’ll be organizing something soon to test your limits, so be prepared. Now go. And get those damn paragons under control. Any more incidents, and my hands will be tied.”

Considering the fact that the paragons probably set me up, that was unlikely. Not that I was going to say that to him. “Yes, Headmaster Torne,” I nodded before quickly standing up. I was afraid if I stayed any longer, he’d change his mind.





*



I didn’t know what to feel by the time I got back to my cabin. Hope at the idea of Headmaster Torne giving me a chance. Depressed because of what had happened with the paragons in the cafeteria. I couldn’t stop seeing the gnashing teeth and elemental power displayed between Quade and Gritt as they fought. It had been terrifying, and seeing them be at odds made me feel incredibly unsettled.

Then of course, I was bothered by the whole thing with Quade. I was kicking myself for wanting to hope that it was real, that the thing between us meant something. I’d known him my entire life, had compared myself to him, missed him, hated him.

Loved him.

He’d said his declaration with such truth that I’d felt it in my soul, or at least whatever soul I had left. I wanted to go to him, but I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to talk to all of them. To make them look me in the eye and tell me why.

And then there was Banner. He was an entirely different clusterfuck all on its own. His hot and cold nature gravitated around intense disinterest and then flirtatious compassion, which had me feeling like I was on a tightrope, not knowing which side I would fall onto.

I turned the handle to my cabin and let myself inside, flicking on the light as I went. As soon as I had the door shut behind me, I unbuttoned my shirt and started pushing down my skirt.

“I wasn’t expecting a strip tease when I got here, but please don’t stop,” a charming, husky voice said from the corner, making me jump.

Quade was sitting in my chair, his tie loosened and the top buttons of his shirt undone, as his eyes dragged up and down my body. I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “What are you doing here?” I asked, my eyes landing on the cut on his lip. “Come to gloat?”

He frowned with confusion. “What?”

“Don’t be dumb. That’s what my role was, right? Be the dumb girl who falls for your shit. Trick the Void into thinking you all care, and then make her snap in front of the entire school? That was your plan all along, to get me kicked out.”

Shock crossed his dark features, and he got to his feet. “Devi, you’ve got this all wrong.”

Only the honest look on his face and the conviction in his voice made me pause. I knew Quade. I knew what he sounded like when he lied. I knew the way his eyes tightened when he was putting on fake charm. “You guys...didn’t do that on purpose? It wasn’t some elaborate plan to get me kicked out?”

“Fuck, no!” he said in a rush. “Yeah, we wanted to screw with you in the beginning and get you to leave, but that changed, I swear.”

I blinked at him, feeling the sudden appearance of relieved tears coat my irises. “Oh.”

Quade shook his head. “Gods, Devi. Everything I told you, I meant. I want to do this. We are doing this. And I can’t speak for the other guys, but based on Gritt’s fucking temper tantrum earlier, I’m guessing he wants to do this with you, too.”

“I swear to gods, Quade, if you’re lying…” My voice choked up, unable to finish.

He was across the room in a second, pulling me against his chest. “No lies. No elaborate plans. I’m on your side, Devi. I don’t want you to leave.”

I’d never felt such relief as I did right then. A couple of tears fell out of the corner of my eyes, landing on his shirt.

“Are you okay?” I asked quietly. “From the fight?”

Quade grunted like he was irritated about the whole thing. “Yeah, I’m fine. We’re all fine. Gritt is such a jealous prick sometimes. It’s a shifter thing. I’m surprised he hasn’t tried to piss on you yet to mark his territory.”

I chuckled and lifted my head, wiping my wet cheeks with my hands. I was all too aware that I was standing with him in my underwear, but I was too comfortable with him to care.

“I’m glad you’re okay.”