Page 37 of Unbound

"Of course you were," I mutter, rolling my eyes, but not without a small smile.

"Hey," a deep voice says, and I turn to see Beck's blue eyes—the same shade that all water affinities eventually develop, though mine were this color from birth. "Thanks for saving my ass back there."

"Oh," I say, suddenly awkward under his grateful gaze. "It was nothing. I couldn’t watch her pick on you like that."

"Yeah, well," Beck shrugs with a stack of books clutched in one hand. "I appreciate it all the same. There's enough distrust and scheming going on amongst ourselves as it is. It's nice to see somebody showing a little fucking camaraderie for once."

I share a quick look with Ambrose and Mireen, a silent conversation passing between us.

Can we trust him?

I sense uncertainty from both of them. Lately, we don't know who is working with Malakai and maybe even Serena. There's a dark alliance growing within our affinity and possibly between them. Anybody could be part of it.

And yet... I hate the way fear is making us turn on each other. The fear has been isolating us, driving people into smaller and smaller groups that are easier for Malakai to target. What we need is to show strength and prove we'll still band together despite their reign of fear.

"You could sit with us at the dining hall tonight. If you wanted," I offer, ignoring the slight widening of Ambrose's eyes.

Beck's eyebrow flicks upward. "You're sure?"

"Yeah." I lift my chin slightly. "If you're with Malakai, you can tell him we're not scared."

Ambrose raises a finger. "Uh, on my behalf, please tell Malakai I'm scared shitless and don't want to die. I just want to survive to Confluence Day, tether a badass elemental, and become a primal. We're not all as crazy as Nessa."

"Fuck Malakai," Mireen agrees, planting a hand on my shoulder and squeezing. "But… don't directly tell him I said that. Just… that's how I feel. Privately."

Beck's face splits into a grin. "I like it. And I'm not with that asshole. I was friends with Tucker and Volsa."

His expression darkens as he continues. "I'm pretty sure they shoved Tucker off the cliffs the second week here. He liked to go out there to clear his head, and he turned up dead at the bottom of the rocks."

Beck's voice drops lower. "And Malakai just plain murdered Volsa in the sparring ring last week.Accidentallyedged his training weapon with razor-sharp water and practically cut her in two." By the time he's finished talking, the amusement is completely gone from his face, replaced by a haunted look I recognize too well. His thick jaw ticks in tune with his anger. "So, yeah. Fuck him."

The words hang between us, heavy with the shared knowledge that surviving in Confluence isn't just about mastering our affinities—it's trying not to join those whose names are now whispered about in past tense.

"We should head to the dining hall," Mireen says, her voice dropping as she notices something over my shoulder. "Before we miss the good food."

The sudden tension in her posture makes my skin prickle.

Beck, who seems oblivious, smiles wide. “I think we’re going to get alongreallywell, Mireen. Getting to the dining room first is…” he trails off as he sees the look on my face.

Malakai has appeared at the end of the corridor, his perfect posture and immaculate uniform making him look like a recruitment poster for Confluence. His blue eyes—already darker than most water affinities—seem to absorb light rather than reflect it. Four of his followers flank him, spreading out to block the hallway.

"Nessa Thorne," he says, voice deep and ominous.

I keep my face carefully blank. "Is there something you needed, Malakai?"

"Hm. I don't know. Maybe you can tell me. From where I'm standing, it looks a hell of a lot like you're trying to collect strays." His gaze slides to Beck, who stiffens beside me. "People might start thinking you're trying to form your own little coalition."

My pulse accelerates, but I force my breathing to remain steady. "People can think whatever they want."

"Your channeling is... interesting, Thorne," Malakai says, smiling in a way that doesn't reach his dark eyes. "Wouldn't you agree, Serena?"

I hadn't even seen her until now. Serena emerges from behind one of Malakai's followers, her raven-black hair gleaming in the late afternoon light that is streaming through the high windows. Unlike Malakai's cold demeanor, Serena radiates heat and barely contained violence—a fire through and through. She even has the deep yellow-red eyes of a fire, now.

Serena steps closer, trailing a finger along the wall that leaves smoke in its wake. "Something is certainly wrong with her. I have no idea what he sees in you," she adds in a whisper only I can hear.

He?Who is she talking about?

"I'm still learning," I say, fighting to keep my voice steady. "We all have different methods."

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