same time.
My magic seems to be taking over a bit, flowing out of me instinctively, like it always does when I’m in danger. I’m mirroring more quickly than I can even keep track of, and thank God for that, because it’s the only thing keeping my head above water. If Dmitri were around right now, I’d actually thank him—our intense sparring and his constant push for me to be better have made it so I don’t even have to think, I just have to react, and I manage to throw a second-year over my head, sending her crashing to the floor.
Another student tackles me. A big guy named Carl.
Shit, they’re trying to grapple me.
More hands land on me, and in that moment my chest goes tight and I can feel myself starting to panic. I release a sonic boom, just enough to get them off me, and pray that nobody’s too badly hurt. I don’t want to injure anyone, but I’m also starting to feel like I might not make it out of this room alive.
I’ve never felt so helpless. My magic is powerful, and I’m a tough, scrappy fighter. But I can’t turn the tide here. I shove two off only to have three more pile on, and I can’t keep this up. I’m drowning under bodies and spells and—
The snarl that comes from Roman is practically unreal as he shoves me behind him, appearing out of nowhere, magic crackling in the very air around us like a veil’s been torn open.
“What the fuck do you all think you’re doing?” he demands.
Roman’s known as a popular professor. He’s aloof and hard to read, but he’s also young. He gets the slang, he’s a snazzy dresser, and he relates personally to the students, calls them into his office if he sees they’re having a hard time, that kind of thing. He’s the kind of stern but fair guy that people appreciate, and I think a lot of students look up to him as an older brother figure—the ones who aren’t crushing on him, anyway.
But right now, everyone’s seeing their favorite professor look at them with complete and utter fury, and I gotta say, it’s pretty hot, but it’s also pretty damn vindicating.
“I wasn’t aware that Lord of the Flies had started,” he snarls. Magic is still crackling around us, like he’s keeping it leashed by the thinnest of threads and will call up a demon the size of Godzilla if someone so much as steps a toe out of line.
My body aches all over as I stand on wobbly legs. I’m bruised, exhausted, and out of breath—but it’s not until the students all start to back away, giving Roman and me space, that I realize I’m shaking.
“Cuffs on!” he barks. “If you can’t stop yourselves from using magic to attack someone, then you shouldn’t be allowed to use your magic at all.”
The students all stare at him, slack-jawed, and I know what a blow this is. Unpredictables are already in danger of having their magic taken away by the Circuit, and now to have a favorite person tell them they might not deserve it? Ouch.
He’s got a point, though. They attacked me without any evidence, out of nothing but panic, fear, and misguided distrust. They hurt me, and they could’ve killed me. I don’t know how much longer I could’ve held out, mentally or physically, if Roman hadn’t stepped in.
A few people shuffle out of the way as healers move in, and I realize Roman must’ve come in with them. Kendal is standing near the door of the large classroom, her blue eyes wide and her freckles standing starkly against her pale skin. Her gaze darts from me to Tandy to Roman and back again as she tries to figure out what the hell she missed while she was away getting help.
“I said get your cuffs on,” Roman intones as the students continue to stare. “Now.”
Everyone scrambles to obey. Nobody seems to want to look at him, or at me, for that matter. Alyssa looks pissed, but also… embarrassed? I know she’s one of the students with a crush on Roman, so maybe having him yell at her has finally knocked some sense into her dense blonde skull. Maybe now she’ll stop and logically think through whether I could’ve been the one who stole Tandy’s magic.
Or maybe not.
“Josephine?” Roman turns toward Tamlin, his voice gentling a little when he speaks to her. “If you could make sure those cuffs are