Page 100 of Shattered & Returned

“Obviously,” Sebastian said with sympathy. “Which is why I’ll personally train you, Bloom. Get you battle ready.”

My fingers dug into my thighs. “What if…what if I just drop out after today?”

Sebastian’s amused expression vanished. “Leave the academy?” The words dropped like stones.

Forsaken Academy had given me nothing but trouble. I jumped at shadows, braced for ambushes around every corner. Even sleep offered no refuge since the dead visited uninvited and nightmares clawed at me, though I’d done nothing to deserve such torment.No rest for the wickedshouldn’t even apply to me.

And then there was Nero. The constant dread of being discovered gnawed at my insides. If they found out about us, expulsion would be mercy. I could see it now: stripped, whipped, broken, and thrown into some smelly, dark dungeon. Or worse—a death sentence. What kind of twisted institution punished students for fucking professors a few times?

This place was a madhouse filled with supernatural psychos. Thrown into that arena, I’d be nothing but fair game, a fox among wolves, my flesh torn open by claws and fangs. The horrific image sent a shudder through me. As if being the redhead killer’s next target wasn’t enough!

“That’s it,” I said, the decision made. “I’m quitting. Tomorrow. Before the trial. I’m going home.”

The words tasted hollow.Home.If it still existed.

Even if I could make it seventy miles to a town, how was I going to escape with no money, no ID, no way to trace my steps back to France? Mom and I had lived like ghosts, no records, no paper trail. No one would report me missing. If my body turned up in some ditch, the coroner would label me:AverageJane Doe, redhead. No known origin.

Fuck, how had I become this pathetic?

Obstacles glared at me, and the weight of reality pressed down on me.

Sebastian let out a low chuckle. “There’s no dropping out, sweetheart. Didn’t you read the fine print?”

I frowned. “What fine print?”

“Every student signs it during admission,” Sindy said, twisting her fingers together. “I signed mine too.”

A wild hope surged through me. “Then I’m free. I never signed anything, no paperwork, no student ID, no headshot.” My voice rose with each word. “Technically, I’m not even enrolled! I have no obligation to stay in the academy.”

“It doesn’t matter that you didn’t follow through with the procedure.” Sebastian smiled at me. “Once you stepped through the gate, you’re magically bound to the school. The contract dissolves only after your graduation if you survive.”

The finality of it hit me like a blow. My next breath came out ragged. “So my options are graduate or die?”

“Pretty much,” Sebastian said. “But I don’t want you to die. I want you to survive, and I’ll help you make it.”

The only way to survive was to get the hell out, and I wouldn’t only look out for myself.

“Thank you,” I said. “But I’m going to campaign against this policy. It’s morally wrong to force students into a trial.” My jaw clenched in fury. “And I’ll not be silenced.”

“It’ll be an event,” Sebastian purred. “At least, it’ll be entertaining.”

“I’ll make them hear me.” My nails bit into my palms. “A public protest should do.”

“It won’t work, Bloom,” Sindy said, her brows furrowing with worry. “The others aren’t like us. You’ll be mocked, shamed, and even shunned.”

“Shame won’t kill me, but blades will,” I said. “They’re welcome to shun me as long as they don’t try to put holes in my body.”

“Don’t think like that, Bloom,” Sindy whimpered. “We’ll make it.”

“Sebastian, watch out!” I shrieked as a food truck barreled toward us head-on, in our lane because Sebastian hadn’t been watching the road.

With a casual flick of his wrist, a sunbeam blasted from his palm, shunting the truck aside. Metal screeched as it careened off the road, plowing into a tree in a cloud of smoke and steam. We sped past without slowing.

My hands trembled so violently I could barely get the inhaler to my lips. Finally, a deep, shuddering breath flooded my lungs with precious air.

“Told you my reflexes were perfect,” Sebastian said, as if he hadn’t nearly killed three people and totaled a truck.

Sindy thrust a water bottle at me. “Bloom? You okay?”

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