Page 123 of Class Studies

“Dragon scales.” Tanwyn Ticked off his fingers. “Money, power, freedom…”

Beryl rounded on the summoner, his jaw clenched. “It was a rhetorical question.”

“Right, sorry.” Tanwyn held out his hands. “Just wanted you to stay angry there, big guy. It’s a much more useful emotion.”

Beryl grunted a noise I wasn’t used to hearing him make. “I’m fucking pissed.”

“Aphy,” Professor Garnet pulled me away from Tanwyn and Beryl. “I know what your little dance with your braid means. What aren’t you telling us?”

I flushed. “I didn’t think it was important.” I grimaced. “In addition to my scales, I think he’s got ten of my will beads.”

Professor Garnet swore and turned away from me. The rest of my boyfriends joined us, and I looked down at the floor before anyone else could add to the guilt already flooding my stomach.

“What happened?” The professor asked through clenched teeth.

I glanced at his back before telling an abridged version of my dealings with Abe. “If he has my scales, he can probably manipulate the beads. I mean, I don’t know, but it tracks. He changed my magic in Officer Keres somehow.”

The professor rubbed his neck before turning back and clamping my shoulder. “We need to keep a closer eye on you after this.”

I knocked my toes together. “That would probably be best.”

Tanwyn waved. “Right, so do we have a plan?”

“Charge the Arena.”

I looked up from the floor. A look of steely resolve filled the faces of my guys. My guilt eased.

Ashe flexed. “We’re supercharged at the moment, and every minute we wait is another minute he can build up his defenses.”

Saffron sliced his hand through the air. “We have to assume it’s a trap.”

Ashe clenched his fist, and I rushed in between them. “Later.” I bit my lip, studying Ashe. “These are your friends—”

“Not if they support Tederwinkle.” Ashe scowled. “Fuck A. I believe in what the MA stands for. Not for whatever this is.” He scrubbed his beard. “Shit fuck, I’ll do what I need to.”

I took two steps forward and flung my arms around Ashe. “We’re in this together.”

Fiercely, he hugged me back. “We are, Kitten.”

Saffron grunted. “I’ve got a feeling we’ll need backup. Wyn, with me. We’ll be at the Arena as soon as we can.”

Tanwyn pulled me away from Ashe, wrapping his arms around my neck and kissing me deeply. “Vac will stick with you.”

I turned to Saffron, who picked me up and crushed me to his chest before pillaging my mouth. He passed me to Ashe without another word, and the two of them sprinted toward the outer doors.

My breaths quickened, fear of what we were doing finally sinking in. “A squad of MA officers. Probably ten students, mind-controlled.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “At least one dragon scale, unless he’s the same guy, and then it's likely seven.” I opened my eyes. “Do we even know what Tederwinkles’s capable of?”

“Nope.” Ashe punched his fist into his palm. “But we can’t fucking stand here and chat about it.”

Beryl grabbed Ashe’s shoulder. “He’s gonna try and nab Dot.”

I swallowed.

Ashe snarled and shrugged him off. “We’re keeping her safe in the middle of all of us.” His shoulders shook. “I’m not fucking letting her out of my sight. Every fuck’n time I do….”

“Relax, Bro,” Beryl took a deep breath. “We know what happens, but we need to use the tools we’ve got.” Beryl gave me a pained smile. “I know you’ve got a love-hate relationship using your magic, but if you can force our peers to lie down, no one gets hurt.”

I nodded and found Professor Garnet’s hand. “And if I go too far, I have people who love me who will stop me.”

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