“Get them in the cells,” the woman directed the others.
The shifters roared and snarled as the GRIMM dragged them away. The vampire’s gaze flicked to me as they led him out.
Just as they left, another group of guards entered along with familiar faces.
I sighed in relief as Javi, Grayson, Brady, and Shiloh were escorted in. They were bleeding and bruised, but alive.
Javi stood straight, his eyes bravely meeting his father’s. I winced. Poor Javi. He was about to get it. We both were, but unlike him, I didn’t care what my tío thought about me.
Tío motioned him over. He obeyed.
“Javier. Rosa.” His words could cut through stone.
I steeled myself. “Before you start yelling at us, Javi needs a doctor.”
His eyes snapped to Javi. “What happened?”
Javi’s ears reddened. “Fairy bite. But I already drank the antidote.”
Tío’s face hardened. Even I flinched at the look of disgust on his face.
“The prison is secured, Warden,” a guy interrupted.
The woman nodded. “How many dead?”
“Twenty prisoners. Ten wounded.”
A chill went up my spine. Twenty.
“You notified the headmaster?”
“Yes, Warden.”
She nodded at the guy and turned back to us. “I trust you will deal with the students?” Her eyes narrowed at us.
Tío straightened. “Yes, Warden. They will be dealt with.”
Javi and I exchanged glances. Translation: there would be hell to pay.
The warden led the guards away, the prisoners in tow. Though I was staring at the back of the vampire’s head now, I couldn’t help but picture his piercing eyes. Guilt needled me as I thought of the lonely cell, we’d found him in. How long had he been there? Was he truly as innocent as he claimed?
Tío towered over us. “You will return to the school with me. To begin with, you will serve detention every day this week and complete the extra written assignments for each class. Should the board vote to suspend or expel you, you will comply.”
Brady scoffed. “They’re not going to expel us. We’re the top students. Well, except for Rose.”
I glared at him. Thanks for that.
“I’m the president of House Dragon,” Brady continued.
“No, you’re not. You gave up your position,” Javi interrupted.
“Enough. You three will return to campus at once. Report to the headmaster first thing in the morning.” Tío pointed Grayson, Shiloh, and Brady toward a glowing portal that appeared.
He turned to us. “You two will come with me to the house.”
My hackles rose. “Why can’t we go back to campus?”
Javi shot me a dark look. I threw back one of my own. If he wanted to stand there and take the unfair punishment, fine, but I wasn’t going to lie there and take it.
Before I could say more, Javi caught me by the arm and hissed into my ear. “Stop. Before you make it worse. We can deal with this at home.”
Grayson noticed our exchange, his eyes narrowing on Javi’s grip. Concerned about me? I yanked out of my cousin’s hold and fumed at both of them.
I didn’t need their concern.
Brady smirked. The ass. He was probably going to get off scot-free with his dad being the headmaster.
“Glad you’re finding this amusing,” I shot at him.
His smile widened. “Oh. It is amusing. Extremely amusing.”
Anger curled around me. One minute he was helping us and the next he was back to being a royal douche?
“Enough. I will not tolerate any more of your hysterics.” Tío’s eyes flashed. “You three. To campus. Now.”
My mouth snapped shut. Rage burned inside me. He was using his control again to make me comply. I shot him daggers with my eyes as my body straightened like a pin.
Oh, it was so not going to end like that.
“Wait. Give the portal another minute. It’s warming up.” One of the guards stopped the others.
Javi winced, catching Tío’s eye.
“Let’s deal with that fairy bite. Javier, come with me,” he commanded my cousin.
Still burning up from Javi’s lack of assist, I ignored his guilty look as he walked off.
I just saved your life. Some thanks I get.
“Portal’s open. Go on through.” The guard waved at the others.
“Well, children. I better get back to my party.” Brady saluted us and sauntered off.
My eyebrows shot up. Just like that he was going to go back and party? Anger pulsed hot and bright. My skin flushed and the bracelet shocked me, making me gasp.
“Are you going to be okay, Rose?” Shiloh bit her lip.
I nodded, trying to reassure her without being able to open my mouth. She followed Brady, glancing back at me before disappearing. The remaining guards were busy, looking at their strange devices and talking with each other.
“I hope this means Cassiano won’t be expecting me for practice,” I grumbled.
Surprise filled me as the words tumbled out.
“I… I’m talking.” I scanned the area for my Tío.
Did he release his hold?
Grayson paused in front of the portal and glanced back. “What?”
I flushed. “I… never mind.”
His eyes flicked to my bracelet. A frown marred his perfect face. “Is that a compulsion ring?”
I fingered the thin silver band. “Yeah.”
Anger flashed in his eyes. “Did your cousin do this to you?”
“No. My uncle.”
The anger didn’t leave his face. “Compulsion rings are not for GRIMMs. They’re used to detain criminals.”
“I’m not a criminal.”
“What is it for?” He glanced around and moved closer to me. “Are you in trouble… Do they make you… do things?”
My face turned scarlet. “No! Gross. It’s not like that. I didn’t want to come here with them or become a GRIMM.”
He was still frowning. An awkward silence filled the space between us.
“Then why didn’t you opt out then?”
“What?”
He folded his broad arms across his chest. “Opt out. It’s for people who have the sight, but don’t want to be a GRIMM. They tag you to check in with you every now and then. To make sure you’re not targeted or causing trouble. But you’re free to live your life.”
His words punched me in the gut. “So, you don’t have to take the final test to leave?”
“No.”
The room grew silent. Rage unfurled inside me. How could Javi not tell
