Ror

sat down cautiously, the mattress squeak

nt in her voice. "But you'd better get used to it. Because once you walk

bed deeper than

d, "So I'

Call it what you want. Prison. Academy. Hell clothed as a palace. Doesn't

tched, heavy

ound braver than I felt. "Why

d again, but it didn't reach her eyes this time

he door just as it op

tepped

ing, and my heart smashed against my ribs. He looked like he h

rose. "Well, this is fun. I'l

she was gone, the door

e merely stood there, the air in th

ued, "You shouldn'

hink I had a choice

on't understand what thi

uld stop it. "Because all I've gotten are riddles and whispers and

ing sinister in his demeano

hit like

red, "W

Because something in you calls to every creature in these halls. And if y

the words out. "And what about yo

ftened, storm clouds splitting

red. "I'm tryi

ier, pushing us closer even

should I trust you? You won'

e if you don't trust me, y

ess. I wanted to detest him, to toss him out and slam the door, b

breaking, "I just w

"That life is gone. The sooner you em

nking, I reached out to balance myself on the nig

kin met, his bod

azing across his face, and he st

y hand to my chest.

his hands squeezed so hard I t

ng toward the door. "Don

shattered. "What

, shoulders stiff, hi

ch me again, Rory..

nd him, leaving her shaking in the flickering candl

. unless I'm something far mo

I noticed was

as warning me. I swallowed hard, standing at the outside of the circle as students filled t

a muttered near me. "Don't f

t it came out cracked. "

. "You'll thank m

lack robes, eyes like shards of

language Obsidian Academy understands. If you cannot speak it..." S

words weren't for ever

ic and strength sparks, claws, shadows streaming acro

name wa

us Dr

muscles coiled with lethal ease. His eyes burnt