Chapter 107
Elara's POV
The morning sun hit the lawn at Maplewood Manor way too bright. I squinted behind my sunglasses and shifted my duffel bag higher on my shoulder.
My whole body ached. Not just tired-ached. The kind of ache that made every step a reminder of last night.
I pressed my lips together and forced myself to stand straighter. No one could know. No one could see.
Around me, candidates were gathering in loose clusters on the grass. Some looked excited. Others nervous. A few just looked exhausted.
I counted heads without meaning to. Fewer than when we'd arrived. At least three missing that I could see.
Warren stood at the front with his clipboard, expression hard as stone. He called out names one by one, checking people off his list.
My heart beat steady but loud in my ears. I kept my face blank.
When he got to my name, I raised my hand. "Here."
His eyes flicked to me for half a second longer than the others. Then he moved on.
The air felt thick with waiting. Everyone wanted to know if they'd passed. If they'd made it. If the last five days of hell had been worth it.
I just wanted to get on the bus and go home.
"Alright, listen up." Warren's voice cut through the murmuring. "Results will be sent individually within three days. Bus leaves in ten minutes. Get your gear and get on board."
People started moving. I stayed where I was.
"Grey."
I turned. Warren was looking at me, gesturing with his head toward the side of the group.
My stomach tightened. I walked over, keeping my steps even.
He waited until we were out of earshot. Then he looked at me, face unreadable.
"Your evaluation report," he said quietly. "I reviewed it last night."
I didn't say anything. Just waited.
"Your performance was... unexpected."
My pulse kicked up but I kept my expression neutral.
Warren's mouth twitched. Almost a smile. Almost. "Check your encrypted email. Special assignment details will be sent directly to that address."
It took everything I had not to react. Not to let the shock and the rush of victory show on my face.
I'd passed. I'd actually passed.
"Understood, sir," I said. My voice came out steady.
He clapped a hand on my shoulder. Just once. Firm. "Get on the bus. Official results in three days."
Then he walked away.
I stood there for five seconds, letting myself feel it. The relief. The satisfaction.
Then I shoved it down deep and headed for the bus.
---
The bus smelled like coffee and nervous energy.
I slid into a window seat near the back. Alice dropped into the seat beside me a minute later, already scrolling through her phone.
"God, I'm so tired," she muttered. "I didn't sleep at all last night."
I made a noncommittal sound and stared out the window.
My body felt heavy. Sore in places I'd never been sore before. I shifted slightly and tried not to wince.
Alice didn't notice. She was too busy reading something on her screen.
Around us, other candidates were settling in. The energy was weird. Tense. Everyone waiting for something they couldn't control.
Up front, someone said, "I heard only three people got their target cards."
My ears perked up.
"Three?" another voice said. "Out of everyone?"
"That's what I heard. The instructors were talking about it this morning."
I kept my face turned toward the window. Just watched the trees blur past as the bus started moving.
---
We'd been on the road maybe twenty minutes when someone in the back row gasped.
"Oh my god. Did you hear?"
Everyone went quiet.
"Dylan got kicked out. Last night."
The bus exploded.
"What?"
"Are you serious?"
"Why? What happened?"
I gripped the armrest. My knuckles went white.
"I don't know all the details," the girl said, voice rising with excitement. "But apparently he violated some major rule. The Council stepped in and expelled him on the spot."
"I saw them taking him out," someone else added. "Two instructors, one on each side. He looked pissed."
My chest felt tight. But not from fear.
From satisfaction.
Good. He deserved worse.
Alice leaned closer to me. "Did you know about this?"
I shook my head. "No."
It wasn't a lie. I hadn't known Dylan would be expelled. I'd just known Kael was furious.
"Apparently it's not just expulsion," another voice chimed in. "He's blacklisted. Permanently. The Council won't let him work anywhere in the network."
"Jesus. What did he do?"
"Something about prohibited substances. That's all I heard."
Prohibited substances.
The drug. The one he'd slipped into my drink.
Kael must have reported it. Must have made sure Dylan paid for what he tried to do.
I stared out the window and felt my mouth curve. Just slightly.
Play with fire, get burned.
Alice was watching me. "You don't seem surprised."
I turned to look at her. "Maybe he had it coming."
She blinked. Then nodded slowly. "Yeah. Maybe."
I went back to the window.
---
The bus pulled through the gates of St. George just after ten.
I saw them before we even stopped.
Two figures standing by the curb. Waiting.
Ethan. And Chloe.
My stomach did something weird.
Chloe's hand was looped through Ethan's arm. Not just touching. Holding. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
They were standing close. Really close. Ethan's head was tilted down toward her, and he was smiling.
Actually smiling.
I'd seen Ethan smile before. But not like that. Not soft and warm and completely unguarded.
Chloe said something and he laughed.
My chest tightened.
They'd gotten closer. While I was gone, they'd... moved forward.
I didn't know how to feel about that.
The bus hissed to a stop. People started grabbing their bags.
I stood up slowly, slinging my duffel over my shoulder. My legs felt shaky. Everything felt shaky.
Alice was already halfway down the aisle. "Come on! I want to get out of here."
I followed her, keeping my sunglasses on.
As I stepped off the bus, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out.
Encrypted message. Unknown number.
My heart stopped.
I opened it.
Tonight. 9 PM. Black Ridge north entrance. Come alone. —C
Cole.
I stared at the screen.
Alice called my name but I barely heard her.
Cole wanted to meet. Tonight.
Which meant he'd found something.
Something about the Wild Hunt.
I shoved my phone back in my pocket and looked up.
Ethan was walking toward me, Chloe still at his side.
"Hey," he said. His voice was careful. Watching me.
I forced a smile. "Hey."
Chloe beamed. "How was it? Are you okay?"
"Fine," I said. "Just tired."
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly. Like he didn't believe me.
But he didn't push.
My phone felt like it was burning a hole in my pocket.
Tonight. 9 PM.
Whatever Cole had found, it was important enough to risk a face-to-face meeting.
And I had less than twenty-four hours to prepare.