Whitethorn Academy

Chapter Forty-Four

The walk to Inara's office seemed impossibly long, with the gaze of nearly every student watching, whispering. Alek was a step behind me, as if he were waiting to be needed again.

Inside the main hall, my footsteps sounded louder than they should, each one a reminder of how badly I'd messed up.

Inara's office door was already open. I hesitated in the doorway, Alek still at my back, silent as ever. Then, his hand was on the small of my back, shoving me forward into the office.

Inara stood behind her desk, arms folded, gaze unwavering as she focused on me.

"Sit," she commanded, eyes pointing to the seat I'd occupied not that long ago.

I obeyed without question, slumping into the seat I'd occupied earlier. My limbs felt hollow, emptied out by the magic and the aftershock of losing control. But my mind swirled. I'd used my magic.

Instead of following, Alek remained in the hall, shutting the door, leaving Inara and I alone. Dread pooled in my gut.

As I watched her, I wondered if she would pull her decanter out of wherever she stored it. But Inara just stared me, eyes sharp as cut glass, as if she were struggling with where to begin. "You know why you're here."

Shame coursed through me, almost as powerfully as my own magic had.

"I lost control."

She nodded, lips pursed. "And you let your emotions get the better of you. Again."

A flush of embarrassment crept up my neck. "I didn't—"

But Inara silences my protest with a sharp look. And I close my eyes and let the shame wash over me, hot and burning. What argument could I make when she was right?

Mari had gotten to me. Again. I stared at my hands, wishing I could just disappear.

"I know you didn't mean to. But it wasn't just Mari you could have hurt today. Many girls were in that locker room, including your friend, Naomi. Had she not come straight to me, I shudder to think of what may have happened."

I didn't even attempt to open my mouth to reply. She was right. I could have hurt so many people, so many innocent people. All because Mari had pushed my buttons. She might have been the one who struck the fuse, but I had been the bomb.

Inara sighed, stepping out from behind her desk. "Selene, this can't go on. You've lost control one too many times. The Council is already asking questions, and with you attacking Marisol, they will ask more."

My head jerked up. "The Council?"

"The Varquay are a monarchy, currently ruled by a regent. But the Regent also has a group of advisors, colloquially known as the Council. They are usually influential in their own ways. Marisol's father is a rather vocal member of the Council. And I'm sure he will have something to say about today's events."

Shame and anger flooded through my veins. If my magic wasn't quelled, I'm sure it would have heated as well. "So Mari is allowed to do whatever she wants, even bully students in locker rooms, but when someone snaps and retaliates, they get the punishment?"

Inara sighed, leaning against the edge of her desk. "I know it isn't fair. But there are politics to navigate here. Marisol's father is already feeling aggravated by the potential of his daughter's promised Bond being broken."

"It's not like I asked for any of this. My mother is probably dead, I have magic I can't control, and a Bond I don't want."

"Be that as it may, something must be done. Nothing can continue as it is currently. Something must give here, Selene."