Page 16 of Ethereal Shifters

“No!” I shake my head and reach for him, but he steps back. It hurts.

Hollis takes my arm. “Don’t make me drag you out, mate. Fucking move. We have to go.”

“Onyx, please.” My heart breaks as he walks to his father, who pats his back and tells him he is proud. As I’m dragged out by Hollis, I look at Onyx one last time, his dark eyes catching mine, and I know he doesn’t want this. I don’t want this either. Neither of us have a choice.

Hollis doesn’t say a word to me, keeping his hand fixed around my upper arm, half-dragging me out of the building and through the crowds. Some stop to try to talk to me, calling my name, while others outright run from me. Hollis’s expensive shit car is parked up, and he unlocks it with his keys, opening the door for me. I climb in, enjoying the way the seats are already heated. I pull the seatbelt around me, pulling my knees up to wrap my arms around them as he gets in. He gives me a look, and I shake my head. “I know. I made it worse. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Don’t put your muddy shoes on my seat,” he growls.

I purposely rub them on the seat as I slide them down. “Don’t have such a shitty car. You’re fucking insane, and you’re a fucking dickhead for dragging me out of there.”

“Why? You in love with him?” He arches an eyebrow. “Because he is in love with you and making choices that no sane man would. Dragging you out was a kindness, and you can thank me when you realise I just saved you from being locked up.” He sets off, speeding down the streets. “He’s set to marry Mei Heng.The Heng family is rich and desired. Onyx was never going to be yours. He’s always been destined for another path, and if you two had mated, his father would have had you killed.” He looks at me for a second. “Some people are star-crossed, and nothing is going to change that.”

Asshole. I don’t need this right now. “Maybe it’s best we just don’t talk on the way back.”

“Maybe it’s best we never talk because you never try to be understanding. It’s justThe Gwenieve Show,” he growls.

I look out the window the entire way back as we drive in an uncomfortable silence. The guards at the barriers of the Ranger Academy look surprised to see Hollis and me, but they open the gates to let us inside. The magic of the barrier washes over me like dunking in a cold bath. Hollis roughly stops the car outside the steps to the academy, and he opens his door, slamming it after he gets out. As I’m undoing my seatbelt, he pulls my door open. “Such a gentleman, but also an asshole.”

“Get out of my car, mate,” he snarls. “I’ll go and tell everyone that the barriers are completely fucking useless to your Nexus and there’s no point trying to keep you in here. Oh, and that you have signed up to the Rite of Freedom.”

“Where have you been?” Alek shouts, and I turn to see him jogging around the academy, right towards me, and he looks mad. Finn’s storming down the steps with Rhodes.

Hollis laughs low. “You can tell them.”

“Thanks,” I mutter as he leaves, ignoring Rhodes asking him where I’ve been. When they all crowd me, I put my hands on my hips. “Did you know about Onyx and the rite?” When they each look guilty, when they don’t respond, I have my answer. “Why was it my Nexus who took me there to make sure I knew? Why the fuck did none of you say that he was about to do something that would likely kill him? Don’t worry, I saved him.”

“How the fuck did you save him?” Finnegan growls, grabbing my chin and making me look up at him.

I glare. “You canguess. You leftmeclueless. How about you feel the same way? Don’t follow me.” I push him away, all of them away, and run up the steps into the academy. My thoughts are rushing a million a minute, and I’m silently crying as I rush past people, up the staircase, and slow down when I get near my room. I need a moment alone or with Annie to talk. I open the door to the sound of laughter and find Georgina sitting on my bed. Annie is on hers. They’re both eating snacks. My snacks, to be exact, and she’s got my comfort blanket on her lap. Is there nothing she doesn’t want to take of mine? My mates. My best friend. My entire life.

I see red. “Get the fuck out,” I snarl at her.

“Gwen!” Annie jumps, dropping a chocolate bar on the floor.

“No. Just get out of my room. Off my bed. Out of my life!” I rush over. “And those are my chocolates and sweets!” I grab the bowl from her, and she jumps away from me.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why you hate me, but I’m sorry for whatever I’ve done. I just wanted to make friends. I just came over. I just—” she cries, looking pale. “Please don’t hurt me.”

“Just get out,” I mutter. She climbs off the bed and runs out in tears.

Annie touches my arm. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t you have to run after your new best friend?” I sniff, putting the bowl down and chucking the blanket onto the floor. I’m going to have to wash that now.

“Gwen,” she sighs. “Don’t be silly. She’s not my new best friend. You’re my best friend, my sister, and nothing will change that. Georgina has been traumatised, and you scaring her is probably not helping. Look, if anyone understands what it’s like to be confused, feel like an outsider, it’s you. Come on. We’ll go after her together, talk to her, and you can see she’s not allthat bad. I know it’s a weird connection between your mates and her, but that’s not her fault. She doesn’t want them. She isn’t a threat.”

“You know best friends usually, when they say they don’t like someone, they side with each other and say they don’t like her either.” I step away. “I don’t like her or trust her. There is something very wrong with her.”

Annie hugs me and I let her, wishing it didn’t feel like she was just trying to calm me down. “Gwenieve, if you can give me a genuine reason other than things that she’s been cursed with after being traumatised her whole life and locked up, then yeah, sure. But at the moment, I think you’re just being unreasonable.”

Unreasonable? “So basically, I’m the monster and she’s the lovely, innocent one?”

“Why don’t we just sit and talk? You’re clearly upset about something,” she asks, but I take another step away from her.

“No, just go after her. I don’t want to talk to any of you.” I go into the bathroom and turn on the shower and step in. I stand in the shower, not even caring about all my clothes getting soaking wet, as I burst into tears.

Chapter

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