Marked By Pain (The Marked #2)(38)

“We received images from a guard undercover with the rebels, who we thought was dead, showing us a rough location in a local shipping yard not far from here,” he says, and I smile before feeling confused.

“Wait, why would I freak out about that?” I ask and Dad L takes over.

“They also showed Kelly beaten and tied up.”

“No!” I shout, horror filling me as I stand up, and shaking my head in disbelief. Ryan wouldn't let that happen to Kelly, and if he couldn't stop it, what have they done to him?

“Show me the photos and then we need to go there right now!” I demand, and my parents all look at me.

“The rescue and attack party leaves tomorrow morning, but you will not be going,” mum says gently.

“I can’t stay here when she needs me!”

“I will go to get her and Ryan back, with some of the others. Your parents are right, you can't come and get captured. It's what they want,” Mr Daniels says, and my guys all mumble agreements.

“I know you're right, I just can't bear the thought of her dying while I stay here and do nothing,” I say, feeling useless because I know I can’t go.

“We are all going as well, and I will heal her as soon as I can,” Dad P says and my mum gets up, walking over to me.

“I will stay with you in the academy because I'm not a good fighter or healer. I want to go to save Ryan, but I know when it's not the time to be overprotective, and when it’s time to trust your partners,” my mum tells me before turning back to the rest of the room. “Let's go back to the main school and leave Mackenzie with her boyfriends to discuss this. I could use a drink,” she says and my dads all get up, kissing me on the cheek before leaving.





Chapter 25





Mackenzie





“What do you mean, you want me to go to class? You’ve got to be joking,” I say, gaping open-mouthed at the two headmasters standing in the doorway to Mr Daniels’ cabin. They'd shown up, asking why I hadn't gone to class, as it had started fifteen minutes earlier, and they were expecting that I would attend. What the hell are they thinking?

“We think it would be best to return you to a level of normalcy,” one of them says.

“You and Mr Black will remain here, and resume your classes, whilst the others will be assisting Mr Daniels and the council,” the other adds.

“You can’t just expect me to go back to my classes, to act like nothing ever happened?” I sputter, not believing they could really suggest something so incredulous.

“That is not what we are suggesting, Miss Crowe. We simply believe that it would be best for you to resume your schedule as soon as possible. You're already behind now as it is,” the first replies firmly. He goes to step into the cabin, but I hold firm. I doubt Mr Daniels would want them in here.

“But with everything going on, can't it wait?” I whine pathetically. I really don't want to go. Everyone will be looking at me after what happened.

“No. The decision is final, and you are already late for class. You should get going now, before you miss the whole thing,” the other answers.

“Fine, give me five minutes to say goodbye and get changed. What day is it anyway?” I question, and they both give me exasperated looks.

“It's Monday, Miss Crowe,” he answers dryly.

What classes do I even take on Monday? Headmaster Lockhart must see my confusion, as he lets out a deep sigh.

“You're currently meant to be in healing class, followed by pain this afternoon,” he says in an unamused tone.

“Great, thanks,” I say, and then I slam the door shut in their faces. I'm too pissed over having to go back to classes already to care about how rude that may have been.

“You didn't just...?” East asks as he walks in from the bathroom.

“Maybe.” I shrug. It's too late to worry about that now.

“You're probably going to live to regret doing that,” he says in a serious tone, but his eyes are shining with amusement.

“Yeah, yeah. I'll risk it. Where are the others?” I ask. I hadn't seen the others since late last night. It had been eerily quiet in the cabin this morning. I'd fallen asleep on the sofa, and I woke up tucked up in Mr Daniels' bed, alone. I had much preferred the large bed with company.

East hesitates before answering, “They already left to get Ryan and Kelly. They left at about five in the morning, they didn't want to wake you since you've been getting so little sleep.”

“We were all still up talking at one, they couldn't have had any sleep,” I say, my worried feeling slipping into my tone. East crosses the room to me and pulls me into his arms.

“It'll be fine. They'll be okay. They planned on sleeping in the car on the way to the meeting point. Someone else is driving, so they'll all have a chance to catch a few hours,” he reassures me. I bite my lip, not quite believing that they'll actually sleep. I hate the idea of them going into a fight when they haven't even gotten enough rest. He rests his fingers under my chin and tilts my head up so I'm looking into his hazel eyes. “Don't worry yourself about them, Kenz. They've got this,” he says softly, brushing his other hand across my cheek tenderly.