Chapter Eighty-Eight
The council chamber was thick with tension. Families filled the benches, warriors lined the walls, and the air itself seemed to hum with restrained fury. Avery was not there — she refused to leave Lucien’s side — but her absence was felt like a blade.
Riven and Kael stood at the center, their anger barely contained. Molly sat close to Kael’s side, her hand gripping his, while Riven’s parents and Kael’s family flanked them. Auron stood tall, his expression carved from stone.
Dean Errol and the head of campus security faced them, flanked by two council members.
Riven (voice sharp) “You’re telling me my brother was nearly killed on campus grounds — with guards at his side — and you didn’t see it coming?”
Head of Security:
(measured, defensive) “We saw nothing until the beacon went off. The shades moved with precision. They knew the blind spots.”
Kael (snarling) “Blind spots? You’re supposed to eliminate blind spots. That’s your job.”
Council Member 1 (raising a hand) “We understand your anger, but we must remain calm—”
Riven (cutting in, voice rising) “Calm? My mate is lying in a hospital bed, bleeding out because you let the faction build a base under your nose. Don’t you dare tell me to be calm.”
Kael’s Father (growling low) “He’s right. You’ve failed in your duty. If they can strike here, they can strike anywhere.”
Dean Errol cleared his throat, sliding a folder across the table.
Dean Errol “We reviewed the surveillance footage through the night. What we found is… troubling. The faction has been operating here longer than we realized. They’ve recruited heavily. Our estimate is at least sixty students are working with them.”
The chamber erupted in murmurs, gasps, and curses.
Kael (slamming his fist on the table) “Sixty? Sixty traitors walking our halls, training beside us, eating beside us — and you didn’t notice?”
Head of Security (grim) “They were careful. They blended in. We believe they’ve established a base somewhere on campus grounds. We’re narrowing down the location.”
Lucien’s Mother (voice trembling with fury) “Narrowing down? My son nearly died. How many more before you find it?”
Council Member 2 (trying to steady the room) “We are mobilizing. The warriors will sweep the grounds. Every student will be questioned. We will root them out.”
Riven (leaning forward, voice low and dangerous) “If you don’t, we will. Make no mistake — we will not sit idle while our family is hunted.”
Kael (snarling agreement) “You’ve had your chance. If you can’t protect us, then get out of the way.”
Auron finally spoke, his voice cutting through the noise like steel.
Auron, “Enough. The council has failed to see the depth of this threat, yes. But now we know. Sixty students. A base on campus. This is no longer rumor — it’s war. And war requires decisive action.”
He turned his gaze on the council.
Auron, “You will give us full access to the investigation. Every file, every lead, every name. My warriors will coordinate with yours. And if you hesitate, if you try to bury this, then understand — the families will take matters into their own hands.”
The chamber fell silent. The council members exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared argue.
Council Member 1 (finally, quietly) “Very well. You’ll have access. But understand — this will shake the entire campus. Students will panic. Parents will demand answers.”
Kael (coldly) “Good. Let them panic. Maybe then they’ll understand what it feels like to live with a target on your back.”
Riven (clenching his fists) “We’re done being prey. From this moment on, we hunt.”
The council session ended in uneasy silence, the weight of their words hanging heavy in the air.
And back in the hospital, Avery held Lucien’s hand, her rage simmering beneath the surface.
When he woke, she would unleash it.
The hospital room was quiet, save for the scratch of Avery’s pen across the exam papers. Lucien’s mother and sister sat nearby, murmuring softly as they unpacked food, their presence steady and comforting. Avery had insisted she could focus, that she could balance this — her exams and her vigil.
She was halfway through when it began.
First, a twitch of Lucien’s foot beneath the blanket. She froze, pen hovering above the page. Then his hand clenched, fingers curling tight against the sheets.
Her heart leapt into her throat.
“Lucien?” she whispered, already shoving the exam aside.
The cough came next — harsh, ragged, tearing through the silence.
Avery was in the bed with him before the sound had even faded, her hands on his chest, her bond flaring wide open. He’s moving. He’s waking. He’s here.
At the same time, her mindlink snapped out like lightning.
Riven. Kael. Molly. Now. He’s moving. He’s coughing. Hurry.
Lucien’s mother gasped, rushing to the bedside, her hands trembling. His sister pressed a hand to her mouth, tears already spilling.
Avery leaned over him, her voice breaking. “Stay with me, Lucien. Please, stay with me.”
His body jerked again, another cough wracking him, his chest heaving as if he were fighting his way back from the depths.
Across campus, Riven stumbled mid-step, the bond slamming into him. He didn’t hesitate — he bolted from the exam hall, ignoring the startled professor’s shout.
Kael and Molly, just reaching their classroom, froze as Avery’s voice filled their minds. Kael grabbed Molly’s hand, and together they sprinted, hearts pounding.
Back in the room, Avery clutched Lucien’s hand, her tears falling freely. “You’re not leaving us. Do you hear me? You’re not leaving.”
The bond pulsed — faint, flickering, but there.
Lucien was fighting his way back.
And his family, his mates, were racing to meet him.