“if she makes it to the final round, you know he’ll be pissed, and I’d rather not have to deal with babysitting his temper.”
“He’s not that bad.”
“He wasn’t that bad, you mean. He’s gotten worse in the last few months.”
He? Who’s he?
It sounds like these two have someone else they’re working with or reporting to. I strain my ears, hoping to hear a name, but no such luck.
Merrimer sighs. “Look, just stay calm, and we’ll take her out in the next Trial. All right? There’s no way she can make it through that.”
A chill works down my spine in spite of the anger churning in me. “Take her out” could have several different meanings, and I can’t tell by his inflection exactly what he means.
How far would these men go to stop me? Would they go so far as to—to hurt me? Really hurt me?
Holy shit, would they try to kill me?
I’m still trying to process that thought as the two men leave, slipping through the door after peering out into the corridor to check for passersby. Cam immediately springs to his feet, like he wishes he could run after them and give them a goddamn piece of his mind.
Or his fist.
“What the fuck,” he growls. I’ve never seen him so worked up before. The man has depth, I know, and he’s had a lot of pain to deal with in his life, but he’s generally laidback and always eager to see the positive side to a situation. Seeing him furious like this—it’s hot, I admit, it’s really hot, but it’s also concerning.
“That was…” Even Asher’s normally calm facade is broken, and I can practically hear the gears grinding in his brain as he tries to figure out the best way to handle this.
I cast around for my panties and slip them on when I find them, working them up under the fabric of my dress.
Neither of these guys should have to deal with this mess, and the school sure as hell doesn’t need more bad publicity. And I’m having a hard enough time in the Trials without bigots actively trying to bring me down.
I’ve fucking had it with this shit.
I’m going to go out there and give those two mages a piece of my mind, and God help them when I get my hands on them. Because maybe they can do magic and I can’t, especially with my dampening brace on and activated, but I’ve still got two fists that work just—
Asher and Cam each take one of my arms as I move to storm after the mages.
“Oh, no, you don’t, Sin,” Cam tells me, his voice a little calmer than before.
“I don’t think that’s a great idea.” Asher squeezes my arm gently. “I know you want to confront them, and I get it. But this isn’t a situation you should deal with on your own, Elle. There are too many ways it could backfire.”
“Well, what do you suggest I do then?” I don’t try to pull out of their grip, but my body is still taut with tension. I hate this so much. Asher’s right though, and I know it.
The two friends look at each other over my head.
“I think we should ask Dima what he thinks,” Cam says slowly. “His family’s high up and has connections. He might understand the whole… diplomacy of this better than we do.”
“Dmitri wouldn’t know diplomacy if it bit him in the ass,” I snort.
“Well, who do you think we should tell?”
“Roman,” I blurt out. I don’t even think about it, but once I say it, I know it’s true. I want him to know about this. He’s a professor who understands the administration side of things and how it all works. And as he proved with the whole Raul situation, he knows a lot of things that go on behind the scenes—if anyone can give us some good advice, it’ll be him.
Asher nods. “Roman’s had a hell of a past. I don’t know much, but I’m sure he’ll know what to do.”
Cam shrugs. “All right. I trust him.”
“I’ll get Dmitri,” Asher says. “If you two get Roman.”
The three of us sneak back to the giant white tent in the quad, keeping an eye out for any sign of the Syren and Houdini admins, though I don’t see them. I don’t know what corner Dmitri is hiding in, but Roman’s playing chaperone over by the drinks table when we grab him and drag him out toward Wellwood Hall.
“What the hell is going