“Groff’s a good teacher. He taught me Protocol when I first came here. Of course, I knew him years before that. He and my father are good friends.” Something sour crossed his face then, and it had absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Groff.
Hesitation held my words back, but only briefly. “You don’t like your father much, do you?”
A shadow passed over him then—one filled with doubt and an immense sadness that I couldn’t comprehend. “Does anyone understand their father?”
“I do. I love mine very much. Enough to come here, just to protect him and my mother.” A familiar lump formed in my throat at the thought of them. What were they doing now? Had they told anyone in Kessler where I had gone? Were they safe? Or, moments after I’d gone, had armed Barrons burst through the door and taken them into custody? Or worse.
His shadows lifted under the strength of curiosity. “Protect them? From what?”
“From the Zettai Council.”
He shook his head, as if I had no idea what I was talking about. “They don’t need protection from the Zettai Council. The Zettai Council is in place to protect people.”
My jaw clenched and the threat of tears made my nose tingle. Turning toward the door, where I knew that Maddox would be waiting, I whispered over my shoulder, hoping that Trayton would hear, and that he wouldn’t follow. “Do you believe everything Quill tells you?”
He might have followed, but I didn’t know. As soon as I pushed open the door and spotted Maddox, I was gone.
C H A P T E R
Eleven
Maddox may have been small, but she was strangely intimidating in the crowded hall on the way to the dining hall—especially when breakfast was at stake. Boys much larger than her stepped to the side, making room, and I followed along, marveling at their reaction. The looks on their faces said that they weren’t being polite or treating her a certain way because she was female—it was something else, something oozing from Maddox’s pores that said if they messed with her, she was going to cause them pain. And even though I had yet to see Maddox cause anyone so much as a moment of pain, I believed the looks on their faces as much as they seemed to feel it. An angry fire burned at the center of Maddox. It was something that everyone believed, but no one dared give name to, for fear the flames might envelop them. As we walked toward the dining hall doors, I found myself enormously grateful that Maddox was on my side.
The room was packed with Barrons and Healers, all hungry for the usual breakfast and socialization that the dining hall had to offer each morning. I scanned the room, grateful not to see Darius, but just as my heart had settled into a calmer rhythm, I spied Trayton sitting at our usual table. Only this time, Melanie was sitting on his lap.
Maddox and I exchanged questioning glances as we approached. I wasn’t about to avoid the situation, and truth be told, Trayton wasn’t technically my boyfriend or anything. He was just a guy…who I happened to be Bound to by blood, ritual, and a hint of forever.
As we approached the table, Maddox’s mouth got away from her, as it had a tendency to do. “So do you two need extra napkins, or will your make-out session be less moist than I anticipate?”
She pulled out my chair and I sat down, catching Trayton’s eye. The shame in his expression was instant. Gently—too gently for my comfort—he pushed Melanie from his lap and turned to face me. “It’s not what it looks like. I swear. We’re just friends.”
Maddox snorted over my shoulder, and Melanie stood to Trayton’s right, folding her arms in front of her, looking indignant. When I didn’t say anything, he looked over his shoulder at her and said, “Just friends. Nothing more.”
Melanie turned and stomped off then, shoving her Healer out of the way as he approached with her tray of food, inciting an eyeroll exchange between Maddox and me.
After she’d gone, Maddox’s voice dripped with irritation. “It’s a nice day out. We could always have a picnic if the scenery in here bothers you, Kaya.”
When I looked back at Trayton, he mouthed the words “don’t go.” Then he placed his hand on mine and said aloud, “Please.”
His eyes were large and full of apologies that I didn’t know if I could trust, but what the situation boiled down to was this: Melanie had already proven to be highly aggressive in her pursuit of Trayton, and Trayton had assured me that there was nothing going on between them. For the moment, that was enough. It had to be.
“Maddox, can you get me some breakfast, please? I think I’ll eat inside today.” I could sense the “but” on the tip of her tongue, but Maddox didn’t give voice to it. Instead, she stalked off in the direction of the food line, leaving Trayton and me alone at the table.
He kept his hand on mine, and I let him. After all, I wasn’t nearly as upset by seeing Melanie trying to sink her claws into him as Maddox seemed to be. It bothered me, yes, but technically, Trayton and I had never had the please-don’t-cuddle-with-other-people conversation. I wasn’t even certain I was entitled to that conversation. We were Bound, yes, and I very much enjoyed his company, but did that give me the right to tell him who he could touch in certain ways and who he couldn’t?
He gave my hand a squeeze, tearing me from my thoughts, but before he spoke, he sighed, running his free hand through his hair in a way that made it seem like whatever he was about to say wasn’t easy. “Kaya, I have to tell you something. It’s stupid, but…”
My nerves twitched a little, and I really hoped that this wasn’t any sort of confession to do with Melanie. “What is it?”
“We’re Bound.”
Um, duh. “That much I know.”
“And being Bound, I feel a real connection with you. Actually, I felt a connection with you even before the binding ceremony. But I feel really stupid having to ask you this.” He held my gaze, his voice soft and eager. “Please don’t feel like you have to say yes. I’m just curious, and if it’s not the case, it’s perfectly all right. I just need to know. Being Bound certainly doesn’t assure a romantic relationship, but…I like you. And if you like me, I think maybe we should set some ground rules. Don’t you?”
My heart felt instantly lighter. “I think that’s a great idea. And just so you know, I like you too.”
He smiled with ease. It would have been so fitting for him to sigh in relief at that moment, but he didn’t. His shoulders, however, did release much of their tension. “I’m going to do everything I can to stay away from Melanie. I don’t know exactly what’s gotten into her, but lately, she’s become even more aggressive than usual.”
I hated how happy I was to hear those words come out of his mouth. I hated how jealous I was of a girl who had absolutely nothing to do with my life. “You don’t have to stop being friends with her for my sake.”
“It’s more about what that friendship is doing to me. I enjoy Melanie’s company, but I think she identifies our friendship as something that it is not, no matter how often I tell her that we’re just friends, or how many times I push her away. Granted, I shouldn’t let things go as far as they sometimes do, but Melanie is…persuasive.” He dropped his gaze to the table momentarily. “I’m incredibly sorry about earlier. It won’t happen again. I promise you that.”
And I believed him. No matter what Maddox might have to say about the matter. For once, it was me who a boy liked. For once, it was my heart beating for someone. Not Avery’s. Not anyone’s but mine. And I never wanted that feeling to go away. “Apology accepted. So…we’re kind of a couple now?”
When he smiled, that small dimple showed on his cheek. “It looks that way. If you’ll have me, that is.”
The grin on my face made my cheeks ache.
Maddox returned with a tray of food, and breakfast commenced. I tried to keep the chatter less on the mushy side, to alleviate Maddox’s apparent nausea, but it was difficult. Once the tray had been cleared away, Maddox looked relieved. “Botanical Medicine time, Princess.”
As I stood, Trayton caught my hand in his, his eyes sparkling. He didn’t need to say anything. I could
see it in his expression. He cared for me. And I cared for him. Giving his hand a squeeze before letting go, I followed Maddox dutifully out the doors and outside. The sun was shining brightly.
We crossed campus, and I did my best to not even glance in the direction of the training area as we passed by. Within minutes, I was taking my seat in Botanical Medicine at a table that was piled with bundles of herbs, a mortar and pestle, and piles of obviously well-read books. In the seat to my left was a bookish girl who looked a bit jumpy. To my right was a boy with a cleft chin who looked kind of cocky. At the front of the class stood a woman with an hourglass shape. She had curly, strawberry blond hair and sparkling emerald eyes. And, most importantly, waves of niceness rolled off of her. I could tell that this class was going to be a brief reprieve in my time here at Shadow Academy. “Come in, Healers, come in. And welcome to Botanical Medicine. I am Instructor Harnett and today we will learn all about roses and their significance in the Healing arts.”
My interest was certainly piqued. I’d wondered why a school that focused on training individuals for war would have such lavish, expansive rose gardens, but I’d assumed there was a purpose, some method to their madness.
“Now, when I say the Healing arts, I am referring to the act of healing the wounded without the aid of bonded touch, which is something that you share with the Barron to whom you are Bound or Soulbound. But make no mistake—the Healing arts can also apply to aiding your Barron, if you are Bound. As most of you realize, being Bound isn’t as strong as being Soulbound. You may be able to heal with touch, you may not. Nothing is certain. But what is certain is that roses are key in many healing potions, and that’s what we’ll be discussing today.”
Instructor Harnett picked up a bundle of roses and sniffed them deeply, closing her eyes for a moment. “Roses fulfill many needs. Rose hips act as a vitamin supplement and offer anti-inflammatory benefits, while infusions created from rose petals offer cures to headaches, dizziness, mouth sores, and uterine cramps. Properly prepared, they also ease the pain of toothaches, earaches, and sore throats. Rose oil is also a key ingredient in fighting against the bacteria in Graplar saliva.”
That was certainly good to know. It was also good to know that my gardening efforts weren’t being wasted on something that just stood there looking pretty and occasionally jabbing someone.
“Now, as you may or may not be aware, the art of Healing is divided into two factions: the botanical aspect and the natural aspect. Botanically, Healers are able to aid in the healing of Barrons and other Healers with the aid of various herbs, salves, oils, and other plant-based medicines. Naturally, Healers are able to heal those that they are either Bound or Soulbound to with touch. Of course, healing naturally is a much easier and much simpler task, but as there are so few Healers compared to the number of Barrons in existence, it’s vital that we understand the botanical method of healing. Not everyone has a Bound or Soulbound Healer, so it falls on our shoulders as Healers to assist all Barrons.” Instructor Harnett smiled at the class. It was an honest smile. One that told me that she understood that being a Healer was more of a duty than a blessing. “Now, if you’ll all please take notes, I’ll walk you through the basics of how to create rose oil.”
Most of the class let out a collective groan, but I didn’t. For the first time since entering the south gate, I found myself mildly interested in what Shadow Academy had to offer. I opened my notebook and poised my pen on the page, eager to hear what Instructor Harnett had to say.
C H A P T E R
Twelve
Instructor Baak was circling me and my fellow Healing 101 classmates like some kind of panicked vulture, so worried that one of us—and I think we all knew which one—was going to positively ruin the day. The sun was a pleasant warmth on my shoulders, and I smiled up into it. Beside me, Trayton was smiling. I couldn’t see it, but I could sense it. He’d been smiling ever since we found out he’d be joining me on this little field trip. At first, I was terrified when Instructor Baak told us we were venturing outside school walls. But knowing that Trayton was joining me—he and a sizable group of well-trained Barrons—settled my stomach a bit. Even though butterflies were dancing inside of it.
“Please line up in an orderly fashion: Healers on the right, Barrons to the left. We’ll proceed through the gate as quickly and orderly as we can, but remember that it will take time considering the size of our group. A Master Healer and three guards are awaiting you outside the wall. I will follow you, along with three more guards, for your safety.” Her eyes fell on me briefly, and I stepped in line beside Trayton, forgetting about the sunshine momentarily. The smile stretching across my lips was genuine, and when Trayton laced his fingers with mine, my smile stretched on into eternity. He gave my hand a little squeeze, sending a small flutter through my heart.
About ten groups of Barrons and Healers stretched out in front of us, with another ten or twelve pairings behind us. As we all shuffled forward, happy chatter erupted through the crowd. Clearly I wasn’t the only one who was excited about seeing my Barron. Someone behind me laughed, and I gave Trayton’s hand a squeeze. It was a good day. A much needed one. And it wasn’t often, I was certain, that such an optimistic vibe rippled its way through the stone walls surrounding Shadow Academy. For a moment—one that I was certain would be all too brief—I was hopeful, positive, and happy. Three things that I hadn’t experienced much of since leaving my parents behind in Kessler.
Raden was standing at the gate with a clipboard, running through names. He seemed very distracted by the entire ordeal, and I could only imagine the security risks involved for taking so many ill-trained Healers outside. Couldn’t we stage this battlefield inside the wall? After all, it was supposed to be a mock-up of post-battle trauma and how we should handle the situation. Did we really need to be in actual danger? Yes. Apparently, according to Instructor Baak, we did.
“Next!” Raden barked, and we shuffled forward. Trayton parted his lips to speak, but apparently, Raden already knew our names. “Next!”
A bizarre mixture of thrill and dread rushed through my veins as we crossed over the threshold, not knowing what the day might hold. I’d half expected the woods outside to be filled with shadows and haunting sounds, but instead I was met with the twittering of songbirds and generous sunshine filtering in through the leaves above. Several yards outside the gate, our group gathered, awaiting further instructions.
Once everyone was outside and our Barron guards were standing sentinel around us, Instructor Baak instructed several Healers to pass out bandages and other medical supplies. As they did so, she said, “Now, despite the beautiful day, a terrible battle has just taken place here, leaving your Barron terribly injured. Inside each of the medical kits, you will find a slip of paper indicating how your Barron was injured. You have twenty minutes to locate any additional supplies and treat the wound. Your time begins now.”
A Healer boy that normally sat in the back of our class handed me a small box then, and I flipped open the lid. Inside were bandages, a small jar of ointment, scissors, and three small bundles of herbs. Stuck to the inside of the lid was a piece of paper. As I unfolded it, Trayton sank to the ground dramatically, peering up at me with a smirk. “So what’s wrong with me?”
Nudging him with my toe and chuckling, I read the note aloud. “Your Barron has suffered a shallow Graplar bite to the left pectoral.”
“Ooh. Sounds painful.” His eyes were sparkling. “How on Tril will you fix me?”
I took a seat beside him on the forest floor, mulling over my options and trying hard to ignore the irresistible flirtatiousness that was coming off Trayton in waves. Two of the herb bundles were fairly easy to identify. One was Sprigweed and the other Cragbark. But neither would be of much help when it came to a Graplar bite, and I had no clue what the third bundle even was. It smelled vaguely fruity and felt like silk on my skin, but I had no idea what its healing properties might be. Biting the inside of my cheek in deep thought, I sighed. “I?
??m not sure I can. You might not survive this.”
Trayton propped himself up on his elbow and surveyed my medical kit, a frown on his face. “Damn. It was a good life. I was hoping to continue living it.”
Laughter rolled out of me, and I gave him a light shove. “Stop it! I’m trying to fix you.”
“Maybe you should start by cleaning my wound?” He raised an eyebrow at me, a dangerous twinkle in his eye.
I rolled my eyes. “Just take your shirt off.”
“I can’t. I’m injured.”
When our eyes met, we both laughed so hard that Instructor Baak shot us a glare, killing our revelry. Clearing my throat, I said, “Seriously. I have like ten minutes left to fix you.”
“You’re the boss.”
Ten minutes later, Trayton was wrapped haphazardly in bandages and slathered in gooey ointment. Instructor Baak surveyed my handiwork and uttered one word that should have hurt to hear, but didn’t, for some reason. “Fail.”
As she walked away, Trayton frowned. “Fak. I died.”
Laughter ripped out of me so hard and so fast that tears spilled down my cheeks.
Hours later, Trayton and I were sitting in the dining hall, munching on freshly baked oat cookies and telling Maddox about our misadventures in healing. Maddox wasn’t nearly as amused as either of us had been, but I guess it was one of those things where you really had to be there in order to truly appreciate the humor. She sighed, rolling her eyes. “I don’t see what’s so funny about killing your Barron.”
“I didn’t kill him. Not exactly.”
Trayton smirked. “To be fair, you didn’t exactly save me, either.”
I gave his arm a light smack. “Whose side are you on anyway?”
“Mistroot.” Both Trayton and I looked up when Maddox spoke, confusion filling our eyes. Maddox rolled her eyes again, as if the reasons behind her drastic subject change were obvious. “The herb you couldn’t identify? It’s Mistroot.”