Greymoor Academy: I Accidentally Bonded With Four Lycan Royals! novel Chapter 241

Chapter 241: 241. Not Your Usual Combat Training II

Maisie

"There will be rankings. The strongest among you will receive advanced instruction under the Queen herself and priority protection for your families," Warren added, and this sparked a new wave of excitement.

Being in the Queen’s employ was still an honour to most. If only they knew what she was truly like.

"And the weakest will be placed on the most grueling rotations until they improve. There is no neutrality here. You either become capable or you become a weak link."

He folded his arms behind him. "You are expected to move through each phase without complaint. You are not allowed to sit out or ask for special consideration, regardless of your race. Human. Wolf. Half-breed. Hybrid. Lycan. You are entitled to nothing but what you earn. Your parents and guardians have been notified of these changes. If you cannot keep up, feel free to hand in your withdrawal notice and your student ID to the Head Mistress by the end of the day."

Grumbling spread across the yard.

"What a dick," a first year whispered not too far from me, and Warren’s head jerked in my direction. "You’ve got something to say to the class, Adams?"

Hundreds of eyes turned to me, students, teachers, the suited men and women who stood off to the side, everyone. Even the birds had stopped screeching.

"It wasn’t me–" I started to explain, but I should have known Warren wasn’t exactly looking for an explanation.

He was looking for a scapegoat, and who better than the criminal with a collar who apparently had no access to her strength?

"Get in the ring," he ordered. "We’re in time for the first lesson of the day and you’ve clearly volunteered."

A ripple went through the crowd, the low whispers rising into thrilled murmurs. Across the yard, the members of both Councils leaned forward, their stony expressions shifting with renewed interest.

They had come to observe, and they were instead being given a show.

My hands tightened into fists as I made my way out of the crowd, the rows parting to give way to the raised platform at the fore centre of the grounds.

The ring itself was the size of a small infield elevated high temperature nough that every person in the yard could see the packed earth. There were no ropes to soften our falls like before. It was basic, like a pit created for animal fights.

I grabbed the rum and pulled myself up easily, landing lightly.

The noise grew even more frantic then. Expectant. It almost reminded me of my first combat class here with Lana. The blood thirst. Only this was a thousand times worse. I glanced over the crowd, watching every face clamouring for actual blood, and faced with the weight of the hate directed at me, I flinched.

The back of my neck tingled with awareness and I glanced back, at the members of both Councils.

Soren stood slightly apart from them, also dressed in a suit. His jacket was missing, but a dark waist coat closed over his crisp blue shirt. The top button was popped and his tie hung askew, and I could almost imagine just how he’d tugged it down from his neck.

There were dark circles around his eyes and he seemed... exhausted.

He was half turned towards Alden, nodding at something the older man was saying, but his eyes were steady on me. Violet. Blue. Intense, like harsh prickles to my skin.

Warren’s voice drew my attention away from him. "Anyone bold enough to volunteer for this lesson’s demonstration?"

The noise dwindled.

I lifted my chin, ignoring my erratically pounding pulse. I couldn’t tell if it was excitement or anxiety, but I sucked in a deep breath and steadied myself.

No one stepped forward. Maybe they were that scared of me.

Cole looked like he was actually considering it. He eyed me like he was assessing me and my collar, and for a moment, I half expecting him to step forward just to prove a point.

But his gaze flicked ahead and fear flashed across his face. He looked away so fast, I followed the direction of his stare to what the hell had possibly scared him like that.

Quinlan’s icy gaze was on Cole.

My stomach tightened at the scary expression on his face.

And then when Quinlan caught me staring at him, he crinkled his perfect nose, his ears turning red, right before he stalked away to Goddess knew where, hulking frame scaring everyone away from in his path.

I blinked. He didn’t just... protect me, did he?

Let. Me. Out.

Not now, I said to her in a pleading tone. There’ll be a better time to do this, but not now.

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