Whitethorn Academy

Chapter Forty

Clearing my things out of the third room I'd had while attending Whitethorn felt harder than the previous two. Maybe because this move felt inherently different. Moving to a new room in the same dorm was one thing. Across campus, to the special accommodations dorm, to live next to Alek felt insane.

Ms. Rose was quiet as she helped me pack the essentials. A few uniforms, my toiletries, Loki's things, my school things.

"Someone else will pack up the rest and bring it to you. But right now, it's important for you to be moved as soon as possible, so you can be closer to Alek in case anything happens."

I said nothing, pressing my lips together tightly. Moving next to Alek had not been on my to-do list. Avoiding Alek had been pretty high up though. Because wherever Alek went, Mari followed. And that only meant misery and suffering.

A stab of a feeling I couldn't place went through me. Alek and Mari would be Bonded. What did that mean for Alek and me to be true Bonds? Would I have to Bond with Alek instead? I couldn't imagine being chained to someone who couldn't stand me for the rest of my life.

"What's on your mind, Selene? Your emotions are all over the place?"

"If Alek and I are true Bonds, will they force me to Bond with him? Or will he stay on track to be Bonded to Mari?"

As soon as the question was out of my mouth, I regretted asking it. I didn't even want to Bond with Alek. But the thought of him being with Mari made me nauseous on an unsettling level.

Ms. Rose laughed lightly. "A true Bond trumps all other Bonds, even if they've been intended for years. The Royal Council might hold some sway over pairings, but no one can interfere with fate herself. And no one would dare try either. The Regent always rules in favor of true Bonds over Bonds of convenience or political gain."

"What if I don't want to Bond with Alek?"

Ms. Rose frowned. "I know Aleksander can be hard to get along with. He isn't one to share his thoughts or feelings lightly. But a true Bond is a link meant to be honored and cherished. And I think in time, you will come to learn that."

I gave her a frown. "But what if I don't want to?"

"If you don't choose to Bond with Alek, if you refuse the Bond, then the engagement with Mari will proceed."

A wave of guilt washed over me. I didn't want to Bond with Alek, now or ever. But if I didn't, he would be stuck with Mari forever. What if that was what he wanted, though? He was with her constantly, like Naomi had said. That couldn't all be for show, could it?

I shook my head, trying to make the stream of thoughts vanish. Alek would never Bond with me, anyway. He'd made his feelings for me very clear. I was an annoyance he'd rather have disappeared.

I finished shoving the last of my essentials into a bag and I stood up, looking around the room. Loki was sitting on the bed, staring at me with his big green eyes. Slinging the bag over my shoulder, I moved over to the bed and picked him up.

"We're moving again, buddy. I'm sorry." I told him as I cradled him against my chest. He let out a soft mew, rubbing his cheek against me.

"Ready?" Ms. Rose asked me.

Not really, I wanted to tell her, but I knew it was pointless. So instead, I nodded, giving as much of a smile as I could muster.

She grabbed another bag of my things, then led the way out of Gamma Hall. Outside, the air was brisk, the sky an ominous shade of dark gray. Ms. Rose glanced at the sky as we hurried down the stairs and headed across the quad.

"I think we're definitely in for some snow tonight," she said casually.

While I normally loved snow, the thought of it falling, possibly trapping me in a dorm where I lived next to Alek soured my mood. Even worse, I didn't even have Naomi anymore. Ms. Rose was adamant that Naomi had always been my friend here at Whitethorn. I didn't think I could trust her anymore.