her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. “Damn right. We’re going to kick ass and take names.”
I nodded, knowing how high the stakes were.
“Hey, I never found you last night. Why did you bail early?” she asked, sidling up next to me with a frown.
My eyes flicked to the hallway, and she gave me a knowing look of understanding. Nolan could be listening.
“Let’s go practice at my place,” she said. “The games don’t start until sundown. Plenty of time to chat about who you hooked up with.”
I nodded and grabbed my cold oatmeal. Then, we shuffled over to Harvest Dorm.
This place was like my second home. The burnt orange curtains, Fiona with her face in a book, quiet Rue either reading or writing. Even the maid staff. Everyone knew me.
But this time was different.
As soon as we crossed the threshold, fear prickled my skin and charged the air. Nerves churned in my gut, and I froze.
“You need to look UP!” Fiona barked, standing over Nell, who lay on her back on the living room rug. “Your enemy can be in the trees, and you won’t see them until it’s too late.”
Whoa.
The furniture was pushed to the walls, the coffee table gone; their entire living room had become a battleground. Fiona was graduating this year, so I knew she was taking it especially seriously.
Nell popped up and glared at her sister. “I’ve got it! I did this last year, remember?”
Fiona laughed, a harsh, brittle, mocking sound. “They grade first-years way easier than upperclassmen.”
Ouch.
“I said I’ve got it.” Nell turned, and her furrowed expression melted into a smile. “Oh, Nai is here. Hey, girl.”
Nell broke away from her sister, shooting her a parting glare, seemingly grateful for the distraction my presence brought.
Fiona and Mele started to spar, ignoring me while Rue and Nell came over to greet me.
“Where did you go last night?” Nell asked.
Rue cocked her head to the side and added, “We were worried until we saw your broken heels at the back door of your dorm.”
I took in a deep breath. I needed to get this part off my chest. “Rage is my mate. He confessed.”
Jaws dropped, and silence descended on the entire group of girls as their eyes widened. I sucked in a breath, followed by another, and then finally, one by one, they recovered from the shock.
“I thought it was Justice,” Rue said.
Nell grinned. “I knew it was Rage.”
“Are you okay?” Kaja reached for me, her eyes narrowed.
I wanted to tell them more, about the marks, about his question: What are you? His words burned their way into my soul until I felt empty.
But if I told them now, I’d become an emotional wreck, and I needed to concentrate on tonight. First things first. I’d tell them everything tomorrow.
“I’m okay. But … it didn’t end well,” I confessed.
Kaja pulled me in for a hug. Then Nell and Rue joined until we were all sandwiched together, and tears leaked from my eyes.
Fiona’s voice shattered our love powwow.
“Nai, you’re next!” she shouted.
We parted, and I wiped my eyes, nodding. I needed the distraction. The games were happening whether I was ready or not. I needed to win.
I strode over to the center of the carpet, and Fiona stared down on me, her eyes yellow.
“They will try to break you,” she warned. “You’ll be outnumbered. Nolan won’t help you, so you have to be smarter.”
Whoa.
Fiona was scary as hell, but this was how she showed love. She wanted us all at our best—even me. All the years I longed to have a sister, and now I did. Five of them. The Harvest girls were my pack.
I nodded, bringing my arms up into guard as I slid my weight back into a defensive stance.
Fiona assessed my stance, and then her gaze flicked behind me.
I spun.
Too late.
A duct-taped bag of flour slammed into my back, and I fell to my knees with a growl.
“You need to have eyes in the back of your head!” Fiona snarled. “Try again!”
I stood, readying my stance for another blow.
Thank the Mother Mage I had these girls.
Tonight would test everything within me, and may the healing mages have mercy on any wolf who got in my way.
“Welcome, students!” Headmistress Elaine stood in the clearing of the forest on the east side of campus, her voice amplified by magic.
She looked beautiful and healthy, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit of personal pride at that.
“And welcome, clans and esteemed guests,” she added.
Just like that, my