Legacy Of Trill: Soulbound Part 3

The man turned back to me, silent now, and moved my right hand to the cut on Traytonas arm and my left to the one on his thigh. Then he started chanting again, this time loudly and more meaningful than ever before. Worried tears welled in my eyes, and all I could do was whisper to Trayton that it would be okay, somehow it would be okay.

My palms grew warm and a strange tingling crawled up my armsa"as if tiny bolts of lightning were making their way slowly through my veins. Despite the sound of chanting and the noise of my coughing, which I could no longer hold back, I noticed something had changed. That steady drip, drip, drip of Traytonas blood on the dark wood floor had ceased. Something else, too. The blood on my palms had grown sticky, no longer fresh. Marveling, I looked down at Traytonas wounds, and they were gone. Completely healed. As if head never been injured at all.

Pulling my hands back with a gasp, I looked from Traytonas drying blood to Trayton himself, who weakly smiled up at me, something like relief flitting across his expression.

Wead done it. Wead been Bound. Iad healed Trayton with only a touch of my hand.

My fingers trembled slightly. Even though I knew that I was a Healer, even though Iad heard my entire life that I was capable of this act, I was filled with shock. Iad healed him. Just by pressing my hands to his wounds.

The ceremony master remained all business as he gathered his tools. aYou can wash the blood away in the basin near the door. There are clean rags there as well.a I helped Trayton with the leather straps and washed my hands in the basin of warm water before emptying the basin out the front doora"pausing a moment to breathe in some fresh aira"and refilling it with the pitcher from atop the table. After dunking one of the rags into the clean water, I moved back to Trayton, who was sitting up and marveling at his lack of injuries. I handed him the moist cloth and watched as he wiped as much of the blood away as he could. His clothes were stained, and the holes in the fabric were gaping. His uniform was ruined, but that seemed to be of little consequence. Trayton stood and turned to the man whoad caused him such horrendous pain with hardly an introduction. aThank you, Elder Barron.a The man nodded and turned back to his cleaning duties.

With a smile, Trayton gestured toward the door and I led the way, relieved that he was all right, but still very shaken about the bizarre ritual.

As we stepped outside, Traytonas hand found mine and squeezed. A peculiar warmth spread through my hand and up my arma"a wonderful tingling sensation. I glanced at Traytona"at my Barrona"and couldnat help but grin. Trayton was blus.h.i.+ng and grinning too. I squeezed his hand back, a surge of excited hope filling my soul. A connection was therea"a real, strong, certain connection, like nothing wead ever shared before.

For the first time since setting foot on academy grounds, I found myself ready and anxious for what the future might bring.

Iad expected Maddox to be waiting for us when we got outside, but she was nowhere to be found. Shead been replaced, momentarily, by a quiet, standoffish guard whose name I didnat have a chance to catch before Trayton pulled me in the direction of the rose gardens. After a while, we pa.s.sed the gardens and then we walked east along the perimeter wall. For the first hundred yards, neither of us spoke a word. Our nameless shadow hung back, always present, but not invading our moment semi-alone together. After all, we werenat allowed to be alone together for the first year of our bond. By the time we reached the rose gardens, Iad grown used to the feel of Traytonas hand in mine. It felt right. Like two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly against one another.

The scent of roses reached my nose and I watched the flowers as we walked in comfortable silence, keeping my eyes away from the enormous stone wall. The wall was a heavy, unbearable symbol. It meant to protect us from all that lurked outside of it, but all I could think was that it was keeping me inside, away from my parents, away from the life I had known and loved. The wall was oppressive and symbolized everything that the headmaster stood for. It was here to control me, here to keep me in my place. I hated it with every fiber of my being.

Traytonas steps slowed as we reached the midpoint of the rose garden. aThe roses look especially lovely, donat you think? Mr. Gareth must be working overtime.a I didnat say what I was thinkinga"that Mr. Gareth wasnat the only one hard at work on the roses; that I and who knows how many other delinquents had been busy grooming the blooms to the magnificence they were now, all because wead stepped out of line in this way or that. Instead, I made a sound that sounded vaguely like amm-hmma and tried like h.e.l.l to ignore the wall, even though it was barely three feet to my right.

Trayton stopped short. aYouare awfully quiet. Is everything okay?a I shook my head, wanting to put him at ease. It wasnat his fault I was distracted. It was the headmasteras. And the wallas. aEverythingas fine. I justa"a A sound thundered through the wall and my entire body jolted. Iad know that high-pitched shriek anywhere, but recognized it mostly from my nightmares. Accompanying its sound was a flash of enormous teeth in my twisted imagination.

Trayton squeezed my hand, drawing my attention for the moment. aHey. Itas okay. They canat get through the wall. As long as youare inside, youare safe. And when you arenat, Iall protect you.a His words should have been comforting to me, but while they might have been well intended, they sounded too similar to what the headmaster had saida"I wasnat allowed to learn how to defend myself. I was expected to behave like a damsel in distress and just wait for my Barron savior to protect me. My cheeks flushed warm as I pulled my hand away from Traytonas, but my palm cooled instantly, as did my demeanor. aI can protect myself.a Doubt filled Traytonas eyes, but to his credit, he didnat give voice to it. He turned to the wall and gazed up at it for a moment before looking back at me. aTheir cries are unnerving, but you shouldnat let it worry you. There are worse things in the world.a Worse than Graplars? I somehow doubted that.

To my left came the sound of feet moving over gra.s.s, and I turned my head to see Instructor Baak leaving one of the rows of rosebushes, a straw basket, piled high with red and pink blooms, looped over her arm. She nodded a h.e.l.lo to Trayton, but didnat even look my way. A small part of me was grateful. Better to be invisible than the object of her disgust. After shead gone, I shook my head, hoping to ease the strange tension that was now between Trayton and me. aThat woman hates me.a aShe doesnat hate you. Sheas just been through some rough times.a Trayton plucked a leaf from one of the many vines that had grown over the wall and tossed it carelessly on the ground as he turned and continued hisa"once oura"trek along the perimeter. After a heartbeat, I followed, knowing that Iad ruined our moment, even if I had done so for a very good reason. Something told me that while Trayton was sweet, he was also used to things going exactly as he planned. I kept my thoughts to myself for the moment and quickened my pace so that we were once again walking side by side, though our hands didnat touch.

As if Iad voiced my curiosity, he said, aInstructor Baak lost her daughter at the second battle of Woodas Cross. It must have been pretty brutal, as there was an inquiry and shortly after, the records of the event were sealed. Thatas when she came to Shadow Academy to teach. They say she couldnat face the battlefield after that. Her heart just wasnat in it. So you shouldnat be too quick to judge someone.a Stinging from his obvious snap, I slowed my steps and bit back the words that were building up in my mind. aIf you donat mind, I think Iall head back to the dorms and get a head start on this paper that Mr. Ross a.s.signed.a Trayton hung his head, sighing. When he met my eyes, he looked remorseful. aIam sorry, Kaya. I just wanted today to be perfect and Iam fakking it up fabulously. Can you forgive me?a He hadnat done anything that awful, so I nodded and smiled. aOf course I do. But I do have that paper to finish.a aIall walk you back and you can get started. Then maybe later youad go to a party with me?a He smiled sheepishly and once again, I found myself entangled in his charm. It was a wonder that any girl could resist him.

Smiling, I said, aSounds fun.a aGreat.a He clapped his hands together once in satisfaction. aIall pick you up at eight and weall head over to Melanieas.a My heart all but stopped before it sank into my stomach. aMelanieas?a aItas her party.a He shrugged casually, obviously blissfully unaware that Melanie and I werenat exactly the best of friends.

Breathing out a sigh, I took another step forward, trying desperately to ignore what my evening would be like. aWonderful.a I was sure it would be anything but.

CHAPTER.

Nine.

Letas just get this over with.a Maddox wasnat exactly what Iad refer to as excited about the prospect of attending a party hosted by Melaniea"neither was Ia"but Trayton had asked me to go, and she couldave been at least a little more supportive. The last thing in the world I wanted was to hang out in Melanieas dorm room with a bunch of people I didnat know, especially if Maddox was going to be complaining about it all night.

She opened the door to the hall, where Trayton was waiting. He was still wearing his school uniform, as was expected by the headmasteras rules, but something about the way the light hit him made it seem different, more casual. It took me a moment to speak. aYou look nice.a Immediately after the words had left my lips, I wanted to reach out and s.n.a.t.c.h them from the air between us. Nice? I sounded like his grandmother, rather than the girl he was Bound to. I should have said something impressive like adebonair.a But no. aNicea was all I had.

The corners of his mouth lifted into a pleased smile, his cheeks blus.h.i.+ng somewhat. aThank you. You look lovely.a Maddox snorted. Not because she didnat like the way I looked or anything. But because it had taken me exactly three hours and twenty-three minutes to stop complaining about my school uniform. Not that there was anything wrong with the white wrap top and roomy white leggings. But I would have given anything for some color options. Back home, Iad helped my mother dye bolts of fabric with various flowers. The smell filled the cabin and had forced my father outside on more than one occasion, but the vibrant colors that were a result of our efforts were stunning. I missed wearing my own clothes already. I missed wearing pretty colors. They reminded me of freedom and joy, rather than rules and inst.i.tution.

Maddox said that she didnat understand girls, even if she was one.

She also didnat understand why we had to go to Melanieas party, but that much I did understand. If I had said no, it wouldnat have been fair to Trayton, who obviously felt obligated to go. And there was no way I was leaving him alone with Melanie. Not that I didnat trust him. I just didnat trust her. Not any farther than I could throw hera"which probably wouldnat be very far at all.

Melanieas room was down our hallway, up two flights, and then a long walk to the midpoint of the building. And every step I took closer to it sent my nerves jumping up another notch. Trayton must have noticed, because he reached over when we were only ten steps from her door and gave my hand a comforting squeeze. I smiled at him, or tried, anyway, and turned my attention back to Maddox, who was asking me with her eyes if I was sure about this and if I was ready to face the in-crowd. My answer was no, but I nodded in spite of myself.

Maddox raised her fist and knocked on the door. It seemed a simple enough gesture, something shead done a dozen times since Iad been at Shadow Academy, but the fact that it was Melanieas door changed the sound of it, somehow. Her knock echoed into the hallway. Heavy. Ominous.

I swear, if Trayton hadnat been holding my hand, Iad have turned and bolted.

But before I could plan my masterful escape, which likely would have involved some arm flailing and girlish screams, the door opened to Melanieas parlor, revealing a tall, thin, statuesque girl with flaxen curls and stunning green eyes. She looked less than impressed as her eyes moved over Maddox and myself, but when her gaze fell on Trayton, she brightened considerably. aTrayton! Mel said youad be coming. Mel! Your guest has arrived!a From across the relatively crowded room, Melanie sashayed, her curves commanding the attention of every male present.

Well. Thankfully not every male.

Trayton smiled rea.s.suringly at me. As Melanie approached the door, Trayton gently coaxed me inside. Melanie was all smiles. She hugged Trayton, planting a light kiss on his cheek. aIam so glad you came. Can I get you something to drink? Carly smuggled in some artesian wine. Itas fabulous.a There was a distinct moment when Melanie noticed me. It was the exact same moment that she noticed my hand was holding Traytonas. Choking back what looked like an equal mixture of disgust and disdain, she said, aYourafriendsacan have some too, of course.a A smile settled on Traytonas lips then. It was definitely proud, and almost smug. aYou remember Kaya, Melanie.a aOf course.a She grimaced, forcing an unreal smile. aThe Healer youare going to be Bound to.a aAs a matter of fact, weare here on a mission of celebration.a Trayton gave my hand another squeeze. aYou see, Kaya and I were Bound this morning.a Shadows covered her mood then, and if my eyes hadnat been locked on Trayton, wondering if head lost his mind completely, I would have likely noticed the dark, ominous-looking clouds rolling in overhead. Probably accompanied by purple lightning streaking across the sky.

Then, suddenly, strangely perky, Maddox pushed past us and said, aIall just go get us all drinks so we can toast to the happy union.a I couldnat escape the feeling that I was about to die. It was getting hot in there, or maybe it was just the fire shooting from Melanieas eyes into my soul.

By the time Maddox had returned, Iad had to slip my hand from Traytonas and wipe the sweat on my leggings. Maddox struggled a bit with carrying four full gla.s.ses, but she managed well enough, shoving the first into Melanieas hand. Once we all had gla.s.ses, Melanie seemed to swallow an enormous, bitter lump that had been occupying her throat and said, aTo happy unions.a Trayton raised his gla.s.s just as Melanie had been about to drink and said, aTo Kaya, and to being Bound.a Maddox beamed. aHear, hear!a I sipped mine quietlya"the wine tasted almost too sweet, like candy that had spoiled somehow. Melanie set her gla.s.s on a nearby table, untouched.

Trayton drained his gla.s.s like a pro, but I had no idea how he could stomach the stuff. I wasnat the only one. Maddox retched and set her gla.s.s beside Melanieas. After another polite sip, I set mine by hers and looked around. The small parlor was packed with people, and from the noise coming from each of the bedroomsa"Melanieas and her Healerasa"those rooms were full too.

Melanie put on what I was sure was her most charming smile and looped her arm around Traytonas, practically dragging him into the next room, her bedroom. After exchanging glances with Maddox, we followed them inside. As expected, several people were sitting on the bed and several more were standing in small groups, chatting. One couple was swaying sloppily near the bathroom door. Another couple near the closet looked as if they were trying to swallow one another. Trayton was already chatting with a fellow Barrona"a boya"and trying to ignore Melanie, who kept pus.h.i.+ng her way into the conversation. The music was obnoxiously loud and made my head ache slightly, so I pinched the bridge of my nose and wished that time would move forward faster, so I could go back to my room. But no way was I leaving Trayton here. Not in Melanieas greedy, well-manicured claws.

aYou hate her, right?a Maddox was smiling at me. She nodded toward Melanie, who had thrown her head back and laughed harder than was necessary for the joke Trayton had just told.

I eyed her hand on his arm for a moment before answering. aI donat hate her. I just wish shead stop pawing at Trayton for a second. I meanadoes she have no respect for personal s.p.a.ce?a aNot where Trayton is concerned.a aThey have a history?a I would have turned to face Maddox, to get a reading on her emotions, but my eyes were transfixed by Melanieas fingers, which were lightly edging their way up Traytonas arm. When they reached his bicepsa"his strong, rather s.e.xy-looking bicepsa"they squeezed and continued their trek north, toward his neck.

I had never considered myself the jealous type, but the sight of her fingertips grazing lightly against the skin on the back of his neck was filling me with an angry heat that threatened to boil over if she didnat stop touching him soon.

Trayton brushed her hand away like she was an annoying sucker fly and continued his conversation with the other Barron. It was enough to quell my jealousy for the moment.

Maddox said, aI wouldnat say that they have a history, but that Melanie does. Sheas always had a thing for him, from what I hear. Since they were just kids. And she completely despised Samantha, his original Healer, from day one.a After I flashed her a questioning look, she shrugged. aWhat? Guards talk.a A couple pa.s.sed by, laughing and clinging to one another. After theyad gone, I said, aMind sharing?a Melanie was pouting a little, but still sitting so close to Trayton that it was clear she was trying to send a message to the room about who he was there to seea" a message I was certain that Trayton wasnat aware of.

aWhen Samantha died, she made a move. But I guess Trayton didnat react well to her timing. Some say he didnat react well to her disregard of Protocol about Barrons and Barrons coupling up, but I think it was more than that.a Maddox was watching them too, looking only mildly concerned. aI think that Trayton can see through her physical beauty to the ugly thing she is under the surface. And I donat think he likes her much at all.a A boy walked by with two bottles in his hands. Maddox s.n.a.t.c.hed one and removed the cork. She took a swig and made a face before handing the bottle back to him.

Melanieas hand squeezed Traytonas arm and my eyes narrowed a bit. aIf thatas true, why come to her parties? Why hang out with her at all and be nice to her in public? Why not just avoid her?a Maddox shrugged. aBecause they were friends when they were kids. Their parents are still friends. Thereas an unspoken obligation there. Besidesahe may not want to date her for whatever reason, but theyare still friends, in a messed up kinda way, for whatever messed up kinda reason. People get weirdly loyal to their friends. Even if their friends are terrible people.a Turning my attention away from Melanie for the moment, I looked at Maddox. In many ways, she reminded me of Avery. Only tougher. And far less boy crazy. Far less anything crazy. aWho are you loyal to, Maddox?a aYou. Because youare probably the worst Healer Iave ever met.a She smiled, and I couldnat help but wonder whether shead had too much of whatever was in that bottle. aAnd Trayton. Because he was nice to me once, and Iall never forget it.a Her eyes took on a strange glaze then, and I could tell that her thoughts were far away from this time and place. I was so tempted to ask her about Trayton being nice to her, but the look in her eye said that that information was only available on a need-to-know basis, and while I was high on her trust list, I did not need to know. Not yet, anyway.

aKaya!a Trayton shouted across the crowded room, a smile on his lips, gesturing with his hand for me to come join the conversation. Melanieas hand was still on his arm, but the expression on her face was one of a dog thatas been kicked into submission. I was betting shead keep her fingers off of Traytonas neck for the duration of the eveninga"which I was hoping would be very short.

Maddox smirked. aYou go on ahead. Iam going to try to find some food and maybe something decent to drink. You want anything?a Shaking my head, I worked my way through the crowd to Trayton, who patted his knee. I hesitated, then shook my head. No matter the strong feelings I had for Trayton the instant we were Bound, I didnat think wead quite reached the sit-on-my-knee portion of our relations.h.i.+p. Trayton looked disappointed, but hid it well enough in front of his friends. He turned to the Barron beside him and said, aLuke, this is Kaya, my Healer. Kaya, Luke studies with me under Darius.a A cold shock ran through my veins at the mention of Dariusas name. Just when my thoughts had finally had a momentas peace not thinking about the silver-haired boy and why he seemed to loathe every fiber of my being, there he was again. I managed to smile at Luke. aNice to meet you, Luke. Have you and Trayton known one another for long?a Luke smiled, revealing dimples. His blond, wavy hair was tied back in a thong, and his eyes were intensely blue. aPretty much since we were born. Our parents are close.a Trayton was beaming. aLuke always got us into trouble growing up.a Luke gave him a light shove. aHey, swimming in Harperas Pond was your idea.a aBut that trip to Cartertowna"a aOkay, you win.a Luke laughed openly, his smile spreading to his eyes, but it didnat last. Abruptly, his features dropped as his eyes fell on something across the room. He leaned forward and muttered under his breath to Trayton. aLooks like the partyas over. For us anyway.a Trayton followed Lukeas eyes before chuckling and standing. I turned to see who had caused this ripple in the party atmosphere and felt a jolt go through me.

Darius looked serious as ever as his eyes scanned the room. When he found Trayton, he crossed the room with purpose. It was as if I werenat even in the same room as everyone else. The partya"and its apparent end, if Luke was to be believeda"was happening all around me, but I wasnat a part of it. I was merely a bystander.

That is, until Dariusas eyes found mine. There was a fire in his gaze, and one not born of anger or bitterness. Darius looked alive, and he pulled everyonea"me includeda"into that excitement with hardly a glance. I tore my gaze away from him, remembering how awful head been treating me, and looked over at Trayton, who was looking at Darius expectantly, and whose expression also contained that same bright, wild excitement. Darius said, aA dead youngling has been found just outside the north gate, and no one knows where its parents are. Searching for a possibly angry Graplar mother is too much for the inner patrol to handle, so itas on us, Trayton. Are you ready? Luke, youare coming too, along with fifteen of your best. You decide who. Letas have some fun.a Trayton stood, almost anxiously. He flitted a quick glance my way. When he spoke, though, it was to Darius. aShould we bring our Healers?a Darius tensed. It was only slight, but to me it seemed so jarring, so obvious. Maybe because I knew that he wasnat my biggest fan. Maybe it was because we hadnat exactly had the greatest beginning. But he tensed and I saw it. I could almost feel him looking at me with his peripheral vision. aNo. No Healers.a This time it was Luke who tensed, but far more noticeably. aNo Healers? Butaweare going outside the gates. What if something happens?a aIf you get injured, Iall drag your wounded body back inside the gate.a A smile, both cruel and bemused, touched his lips as his words came out in a challenge. aWhatas the matter, Luke? Afraid to face a few overgrown pups without your nursemaid?a The Barrons in the room grew utterly silent. These were more than a few overgrown pups. They were Graplars. One bite could mean death.

But no one was about to argue that with Darius.

Trayton stood. It was clear that no one but him would or could dare say anything in question to Dariusas orders. aDoes the headmaster know something that we donat? Why else would he order us outside the wall without our Healers?a Darius pressed his lips tightly together for a moment before speaking. aThe headmaster doesnat know. This is my order. No Healers.a aBut, Darius.a Trayton grabbed him by the shoulder and lowered his voice, but if he were hoping to keep the conversation between them, it was a lost cause. All eyes and ears in the room were on the two of them. Still, Trayton spoke his next words out of concern, and in the quietest of tones. aItas against Protocol to leave our Healers behind without the express instruction of Headmaster Quill.a Darius swept his eyes across the room for a moment, not really looking at anyone in particular. The slight dimple in his left cheek deepened as a grimace settled onto his mouth. He shook off Traytonas hand, but didnat get two steps closer to the door before Trayton was blocking his path. aYou could lose your teaching position.a Everyone in the room was quiet, apart from Maddox, whoad found some saltbread slices to munch on. Darius dropped his attention to the floor, as if mulling over the possible repercussions of his actions. After a long moment, he met Traytonas eyes and nodded. aWell, we wouldnat want that, now would we?a Trayton smiled and slapped his hand on Dariusas shoulder twice before turning back to the room. As Darius exited, Trayton said, aYou heard the man. On your feet, Barrons. You too, Healers.a Melanie was the first one on her feet, and it wasnat long before David, her Healer, was following her out the door. As the rest of the crowd busied itself and began filing outside, I stood and looked at Trayton, who seemed at peace with the entire situation. aDid I hear that right? Are we going on maneuvers outside the wall?a aYes, we are.a He smiled brightly then, and I could see the excitement in his eyes. Barrons lived for the fight, and he was hoping that walking the perimeter in the dark of night might bring about the adrenaline rush he was looking for. It was beyond my understanding, but I deeply respected the reckless nature of that need to chase, that need to hunt.

Maddox shoved a saltbread slice in her mouth and chewed as she spoke, not caring that the occasional crumb would fly out of her mouth. aIall walk you to the south gate and wait for you there atil you get back. You excited?a Exciteda"that was one way of putting it. I would have leaned more toward nauseated and gripped by fear. My stomach roiled at the idea of stepping outside of the wall again, knowing that Graplars lurked on the other side. But it wasnat like I had a choice. Trayton was counting on me, and if I wasnat there to heal him when he needed me to be, he might die. It sounded dramatic, but it was true. He was counting on me.

Maddox and Trayton chatted casually all the way to the south gate, but I didnat feel much like making small talk. I was too focused on the memory of those teeth and how theyad almost chomped down on me, the way they had chomped down on Avery. Averya"it felt like a lifetime ago that wead raced to the Harvest Festival together. In fact, it felt like another lifetime altogether. I wondered what shead think of me being enrolled at some school where I was expected to do as I was told, in support of a cause that I didnat truly understand. I wasnat sure what shead say about any of it, that is, except for my being Bound to Trayton. She would have nudged me and wiggled her eyebrows and laughed so hard that it made me want to smack her.

I really missed Avery.

The south gate was looming up ahead of us as we made our way across the dark campus. No torches tonight, nothing, not so much as a speck of warmth or comfort, flickered in the night. Just a group of Barrons and Healers, none older than nineteen or so, heading toward a large metal door that would lead us to the outside world with no one to rely on for protection but ourselves. My hands were trembling, but I couldnat tell if it was from the intense fear that someonea"me, Trayton, someone elsea"might be hurt or killed, or from the excited thrill that was tickling its way up my spine. If Trayton asked, I wouldnat give voice to that excitement. It seemed like something that would disappoint him, a Healer experiencing a rush right before heading out into the unknown wilds. So I kept my mouth shut and marveled at the size of the door as we approached. Tonight it seemed ten times bigger than the last time Iad seen it. The sky also seemed ten times darker. I was ready for this. More ready than I would ever admit to Trayton.

Maddox patted me on the back. aSee you in a few hours. Hopefully in one piece.a Rolling my eyes at her comment, I turned back to the door and swallowed my nerves as I watched the gate guard check people out. It was standard procedure for any planned maneuvera"the gate guard had a list of names and if you werenat on it, you didnat get outside the wall. Iad heard a young redheaded Barron explaining the whole thing to his new Healer in the dining hall, so seeing the process wasnat a surprise. It did, however, make me see the amount of control that Headmaster Quill had over the comings and goings of his student body.

Before I knew it, it was our turn, and Trayton was leading me up to the guarda"the same guard who had given me access inside the gate the night Iad arrived here. His mouth was pursed as he looked over the list, but as he came to my name, the purse turned into a smile. aKaya? I remember you. Taken on any Graplars lately?a Chuckling, I shook my head. aNot since that night, and Iam hoping not to see any tonight either.a He scribbled something illegible beside my name and said, aI wouldnat worry about it too much. Things have been pretty quiet lately. Just stick with your Barron and youall be fine.a Trayton cleared his throat, as if mistaking our friendly banter for flirtation, and wanting to make certain the guard had noticed him. aShe certainly will.a The guard looked up at him and then back at the list. aTrayton? I didnat realize youad been Bound yet. Congratulations.a A strange electricity was in the air, a sensation that hinted at jealousya"not for me; the guard wasnat even attracted to me, nor I to him. But something in his words hinted that head been waiting for a Healer for a long time. It had to be difficult being without a Healer and then seeing someone from a privileged family get their name moved up the list. I was tempted to explain that doing so hadnat been Traytonas idea at all, but his fatheras, but I kept my mouth shut. It was none of my business, and would likely only cause further tension to say anything. Trayton smiled, but it didnat quite reach his eyesa"maybe because he knew that the congratulations were a bit of a dig at his privileged life. aThanks. Iam very lucky.a The guard scribbled something beside Traytonas name then and the purse returned to his lips. Under his breath, he muttered, aIam sure you are.a Trayton grimaced, but said nothing. The metal of the door sc.r.a.ped opened and I stepped through it, Trayton right beside me. As we pa.s.sed through, my lungs filled with air that felt fresher than that of the academy. It had to be all in my head, but the ground seemed softer, the trees greener, the world around us more real. Maybe it was because I hadnat been outside of that wall in days, and being locked away somewhere can really fak with your perception of a place, but everything seemed better outside of the walls of Shadow Academy. Especially when I forced my mind to forget the fact that there was now nothing standing between the Graplars and myself but their appet.i.te.

The door slammed shut behind us and an ominous, metallic tone rang out into the forest. There was no going back. Not until wead searched the immediate area for any sign of Graplars or King Darrekas soldiers. It was just us out here, and the katanas carried on the Barronsa backs.

The group had formed a semicircle just yards from the gate, and all eyes were on Darius as Trayton and I approached. Dariusas hair fluttered slightly in the breeze. aWeare going to divide into three teams. The first and largest will take the eastern path along the wall, checking for any weaknesses in the structure and usual signs of intruders. The second will take the western path, covering the area from the south gate to the north gate. The third and smallest group will drop farther down the hill to do some tracking. The young Graplaras mother canat be far off, and itas that groupas job to find her.a Slowly, I inhaled through my nose and blew it out, trying to relax the growing tension in my muscles. I would have given anything at that moment not to be counted in that third group, and was hoping like h.e.l.l I was just being paranoid. But the truth was, I could feel it coming. As Darius started barking orders, I sucked in my breath and held it.

aMarcus, Greg, Amy, Nancy, Hannibal, Rick, Sara, Allen, and Tyronea"youare on the first team. Get going, and keep your wits about you. We donat know how that young Graplar got there or why it was left behind, but itas possible the parents are going to come looking for it right where we found it.a A slow sigh escaped me. Maybe Iad been wrong about that third group. Maybe that was precisely where I wanted to be.

aThomas, Patrick, Sharon, Brian, Melanie, Zane, youare the second group. Pay special attention to the area nearest the north gate. As you know, Graplars have recently been attacking that gate, and I donat want anyone getting injured in a moment of forgetfulness. Just because youare near Shadow Academy doesnat mean youare safe inside of it. Be careful.a Now I knew that being in the third group was probably the safest place I could be. The tension left me, and I waited for him to say Traytonas name.

aTrayton, Lukeayouare with me.a As Darius turned away, ready to lead us down the hill, Trayton said something under his breath that sent my heart into my throat. He said, aI love the risky patrols.a Tugging feverishly on his sleeve, I whispered harshly, aRisky? Why is this risky?a Darius glanced over his shoulder at Trayton, but he shook his head, as if to say that there would be no more outbursts from his Healer. I furrowed my brow, that silly fear of being eaten alive filling me once again, and followed them down the hill.

As we descended, the temperature quickly dropped, which struck me as odd. Normally, climbing down in elevation made the air warmer, not cooler. But with each step I took, more gooseflesh spread over my arms. Several hundred yards down the steep hill, Darius paused and tilted his head, listening. Trayton tapped me on the arm and when I looked at him, he pointed to my feet. His message was clear: Stay here. Donat move.

I nodded once, wondering what Darius had heard that had stopped him from his descent, but I knew better than to ask, or to say anything at all without being prompted. This was a quiet pursuit, and the last thing I wanted to do was to attract the attention of any Graplars who happened to be lurking nearbya"particularly any Graplar parents whoad recently lost their young.

Trayton moved soundlessly to Dariusas side and the two stood there for a moment, an unspoken conversation pa.s.sing between them. I tried to meet Lukeas Healeras eyes, to see if she was as scared as I was that we might encounter a Graplar, but she was too focused on Luke to take notice of anyone but him. Maybe thatas how Healers were supposed to bea"blind to their own fears, concentrating only on the well-being of their Barron. If that was the case, I felt sorry for Trayton. Because I was probably the worst Healer in the history of Tril.

After a few minutes, Dariusas shoulders relaxed some, and he nodded to Trayton, who moved silently forward, raising his hand and stretching it ever so closely toward the handle of his katana. As his fingers curled around the handle, my lungs snapped closed to the air outside. Theyad heard something, or seen something, and we were about to engage one of those horrible monsters that had attacked Kessler. My heart was racing and I flicked my gaze all around us, trying to get even a glimpse of what was to come. Instinctively, I lifted my left foot and took a step back, just one step, just trying to get a little distance between me and the unseen Graplar. When I brought my foot down, a distinct, hard snap echoed into the air. In the time it took me to gasp, Trayton and Luke had unsheathed their katanas and moved to surround Lukeas Healer and me, their backs to us in a protective stance. Only Darius remained where he was, but it didnat take him more than a few seconds more to turn his eyes on me in a glare. aWhat part of adonat movea do you not understand?a I opened my mouth to answer, but no answer came.

Luke returned his katana to its saya, looking irritated. Trayton slowly raised his blade and sheathed it, a look of disappointment on his face. I wasnat sure whether he was disappointed in me for having broken a twig under my foot in a moment of panic, or disappointed that we werenat being attacked by some unseen foe. Darius sighed and gestured up the hill with his chin. aTake her back to the academy, Trayton. Luke and I have got this.a Looking from Darius to Trayton, I said, aI donat need to go back. I can do this.a Trayton replied as if he hadnat even heard mea"something that sent an angry chill up my spine. aAre you sure?a Darius shrugged. aWe havenat seen any fresh tracks, so Iam fairly certain the cub just wandered in from the east. Besides, if we need you, we know where to find you.a The corners of Traytonas mouth came down in a frown as his disappointment deepened. He certainly didnat want to head back to the school and potentially miss out on any Graplar-fighting action. I didnat want to go back eithera"not because Darius was sending me backa"but it didnat look like there was room to argue. Trayton forced a smile at me. aWell. Letas call it an early night then.a He was trying to be pleasant. He was trying to be nice. He was acting as if I hadnat just completely ruined his good time. But I could see through the facade. The walk back to the south gate was a long and quiet one. I almost apologized several times along the way, but I couldnat shake the truth of it from my drooping shoulders and weary mind. It wasnat my fault that Trayton had been sent home early, like some misbehaving child. Darius had done this, and no one else.

As we approached the south gate, I dared to speak, hoping I wouldnat add to the tension in the air. aSo it seems pretty clear that Darius despises me.a Trayton slowed his steps, glancing at me, but didnat negate what Iad said. aDonat say that. Darius is justaa aA total dek?a Laughter bubbled out of him, breaking the tension between us. aDonat say that either.a I slowed to a stop, tugging his sleeve until head stopped walking too. aSo what is it?a Trayton stretched out his arm and brushed a stray hair from my eyes with his fingertips. It was such a simple motion, such a common gesture, but it made my heart skip a beat. aItas just that Darius is extremely particular whom he trusts on patrol and whom he doesnat. He doesnat trust you yet because he doesnat know you. Thatas all. I swear he doesnat hate you. And heas not a total dek.a He moved up the hill then, waiting patiently as I caught up to him. My head was full of a single thoughta"one that kept my mouth shut. All I could think about was the fact that Trayton was wrong about Darius. He was wrong on both counts.

CHAPTER.

Ten.

There are two sets of Protocol, which must be blended in order to act as the glue that holds our society together.a I folded my arms in front of me in an effort to warm my skin from the strange chill that was in the air. After a moment, I realized that the chill wasnat coming from the air. It was coming from Mr. Groff, my Protocol teacher.

aThe first set, often referred to as common Protocol, are the rules given to you by those who raised youa"generally, your parents. These rules encompa.s.s what is and isnat acceptable in a social environment, and the intricacies of engagement between those who are Skilled and those who are Unskilled. They govern what is expected of a Barron and Healer in order to maintain the balance and order to which Trillians have become accustomed. These well-established and time-honored rules have made it easier for people to live and work together. The second set of Protocol consists of how we run our military forces and the way those forces interact with one another. Just as an Unskilled person is, for lack of a better turn of phrase, subservient to a Skilled person, a Healer is in a subservient position to a Barron. And with any positiona"both the supportive and the high-rankinga"come certain rules, certain Protocol, that must be followed to keep order and maintain a happy and prosperous society.a He scanned the cla.s.sroom slowly, his intense gaze scrutinizing each of his students. By the time his eyes met mine, I could feel the p.r.i.c.kle of gooseflesh breaking out over my arms. Something about him made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. This man loved Protocol. This man lived to support the very cause that my parents had run away from. I could smell it on him, coming off in metallic-tasting waves that sent my stomach roiling. He seemed to pause in his scrutiny, lingering on me momentarily, before plucking a small, red leather book from his desk and holding it up for everyone to see. When his eyes left mine, I released a quiet sigh of relief. aProtocol, ladies and gentleman, is precisely what you have come here to learn. Please turn to page fifty-eight of the cla.s.s handbook.a The last thing I wanted to do was follow this manas instructions on anything, but I dutifully reached inside my satchel and withdrew the small book, thumbing my way carefully through it until I saw the number fifty-eight in bold, black print on the lower right corner of the page. I folded the cover back, opening the book, and read the chapter t.i.tle, which screamed at me from the sinewy parchment. PROTOCOL.

aIall give you all a moment to read the first paragraph before we proceed. You should note thata"a The door opened and Mr. Groffas head snapped up with an intolerant glare, his words falling to the floor, forgotten.

As Trayton entered the cla.s.sroom, several first-year studentsa"both Healers and Barrons, much to my surprise, as most cla.s.ses were just for Barrons or just for Healersa"whispered to one another through cupped hands. A few, mostly female, blushed in awe. I merely sat in shock, as I had no idea why Trayton would be interrupting a Protocol cla.s.s. It seemed a bit ironic to me that a rule-following Barron would break Protocol in a Protocol cla.s.s, but maybe I was just looking for something to think about that would take me away from that bold word on the page. Trayton pa.s.sed so closely to my table that I could have reached out and touched him, but I didnat dare move a finger. With a nod, he held a slip of parchment out for Mr. Groff. aMy apologies for the interruption, Mr. Groff, but I was only just transferred to this cla.s.s, on the recommendation of Headmaster Quill. He said youad understand once you read his note.a Mr. Groff s.n.a.t.c.hed the note from his hand with an impatient tug, but as his eyes moved over the words written on it, his mood softened. aTake your seat next to Kaya, Trayton, and turn to page fifty-eight. We are reviewing common Protocol.a Trayton turned, without looking at me for even a second, and walked around my chair, taking his seat to my left. He pulled a red book from his satchel and opened it to the correct page. I turned my head slightly, eyeing him with interest. What was he doing here? Surely Trayton had already taken a course in Protocol. He was taking advanced courses. There was no way he belonged in a first-year cla.s.s.

The corner of his mouth lifted in a small, knowing smile and he met my eyes, his voice a soft whisper. aWhat?a Shaking my head, I resisted a smile and turned my attention back to that bold word on the page. Beneath it was a paragraph about duty, and about what duties we had, as Skilled people, to protect the Unskilled from things that they were better off not knowing. Thinking back to my days in Kessler, to the villagers I knew and loved, I couldnat imagine any of them as ill-equipped to deal with the reality of war and Graplars and Skilled traits the way that the book described. The author or authorsa"no one took credit on the cover or beginning pages of the tomea"had clearly never spent any extended time around the Unskilled, or else they might have known that the Unskilled were a lot more similar to the Skilled than they were comfortable admitting. A bit more relaxed, maybe. And more focused on tilling the soil and creating items for everyday use than fighting and maintaining the ridiculous decorum known as Protocol.

Tearing my thoughts away from Kessler, I stole another glance at Trayton before turning my attention to Mr. Groff at the front of the cla.s.s. He stood with his legs slightly apart, his spine tall and stiff, his hands clasped behind his back. Even though his demeanor seemed calm, I got the impression that he was not a Barron who had taken lightly to retirement and a teaching position. I got the feeling, in fact, that he went out kicking and screaming, biting and clawing, doing whatever he could to remain in the war. It frightened me to know that someone could be that way, could be so blind to a cause and so in love with the rules imposed on them. Even my parents, who had been ever loyal to the cause until the day theyad agreed to elope, would have feared this man. Loyalty to anything in such an absolute manner was dangerous. He was dangerous, and I couldnat wait to get out of his stuffy, oppressive cla.s.sroom and breathe in the clean air. aAs I was saying, you should note that the first paragraph best sums up what we have come to understand as the societal need for Protocol.a Scanning the page, I found words that filled my heart with dread. Things like duty and honor, and not once did I see anything at all about freedom. I went back and read the paragraph head instructed us to read, but doing so just made my head ache. This was going to be a long cla.s.sa"a long school year, a long lifea"and nothing I could say or do would remove me permanently from Mr. Groffas Protocol cla.s.s. Except for graduation, that is.

But at least Trayton was there to keep me company.

Once cla.s.s had blissfully come to an end, Trayton slowly walked with me to the door, both of us relis.h.i.+ng in this semi-alone moment. aWhat are you doing here?a aWhat? In a cla.s.s I took last year?a His grin was infectious. aHeadmaster Quill thought it might do me a bit of good to freshen my memory on the subject matter. He also thought it might help you.a Leave it to Headmaster Quill to know what would be good for me. My mood deflated some, but I pushed the dark cloud away. Nothing was going to ruin this stolen, all-too-rare time alone. aWell, whatever the reason, Iam glad youare here. What did you think of the subject matter the second time around?a aGroffas a good teacher. He taught me Protocol when I first came here. Of course, I knew him years before that. He and my father are good friends.a Something sour crossed his face then, and it had absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Groff.

Hesitation held my words back, but only briefly. aYou donat like your father much, do you?a A shadow pa.s.sed over him thena"one filled with doubt and an immense sadness that I couldnat comprehend. aDoes anyone understand their father?a aI do. I love mine very much. Enough to come here, just to protect him and my mother.a A familiar lump formed in my throat at the thought of them. What were they doing now? Had they told anyone in Kessler where I had gone? Were they safe? Or, moments after Iad gone, had armed Barrons burst through the door and taken them into custody? Or worse.

His shadows lifted under the strength of curiosity. aProtect them? From what?a aFrom the Zettai Council.a He shook his head, as if I had no idea what I was talking about. aThey donat need protection from the Zettai Council. The Zettai Council is in place to protect people.a My jaw clenched and the threat of tears made my nose tingle. Turning toward the door, where I knew that Maddox would be waiting, I whispered over my shoulder, hoping that Trayton would hear, and that he wouldnat follow. aDo you believe everything Quill tells you?a He might have followed, but I didnat know. As soon as I pushed open the door and spotted Maddox, I was gone.

CHAPTER.

Eleven.

Maddox may have been small, but she was strangely intimidating in the crowded hall on the way to the dining halla"especially when breakfast was at stake. Boys much larger than her stepped to the side, making room, and I followed along, marveling at their reaction. The looks on their faces said that they werenat being polite or treating her a certain way because she was femalea"it was something else, something oozing from Maddoxas pores that said if they messed with her, she was going to cause them pain. And even though I had yet to see Maddox cause anyone so much as a moment of pain, I believed the looks on their faces as much as they seemed to feel it. An angry fire burned at the center of Maddox. It was something that everyone believed, but no one dared give name to, for fear the flames might envelop them. As we walked toward the dining hall doors, I found myself enormously grateful that Maddox was on my side.

The room was packed with Barrons and Healers, all hungry for the usual breakfast and socialization that the dining hall had to offer each morning. I scanned the room, grateful not to see Darius, but just as my heart had settled into a calmer rhythm, I spied Trayton sitting at our usual table. Only this time, Melanie was sitting on his lap.

Maddox and I exchanged questioning glances as we approached. I wasnat about to avoid the situation, and truth be told, Trayton wasnat technically my boyfriend or anything. He was just a guyawho I happened to be Bound to by blood, ritual, and a hint of forever.

As we approached the table, Maddoxas mouth got away from her, as it had a tendency to do. aSo do you two need extra napkins, or will your make-out session be less moist than I antic.i.p.ate?a She pulled out my chair and I sat down, catching Traytonas eye. The shame in his expression was instant. Gentlya"too gently for my comforta"he pushed Melanie from his lap and turned to face me. aItas not what it looks like. I swear. Weare just friends.a Maddox snorted over my shoulder, and Melanie stood to Traytonas right, folding her arms in front of her, looking indignant. When I didnat say anything, he looked over his shoulder at her and said, aJust friends. Nothing more.a Melanie turned and stomped off then, shoving her Healer out of the way as he approached with her tray of food, inciting an eyeroll exchange between Maddox and me.

After shead gone, Maddoxas voice dripped with irritation. aItas a nice day out. We could always have a picnic if the scenery in here bothers you, Kaya.a When I looked back at Trayton, he mouthed the words adonat go.a Then he placed his hand on mine and said aloud, aPlease.a His eyes were large and full of apologies that I didnat know if I could trust, but what the situation boiled down to was this: Melanie had already proven to be highly aggressive in her pursuit of Trayton, and Trayton had a.s.sured me that there was nothing going on between them. For the moment, that was enough. It had to be.

aMaddox, can you get me some breakfast, please? I think Iall eat inside today.a I could sense the abuta on the tip of her tongue, but Maddox didnat give voice to it. Instead, she stalked off in the direction of the food line, leaving Trayton and me alone at the table.

He kept his hand on mine, and I let him. After all, I wasnat nearly as upset by seeing Melanie trying to sink her claws into him as Maddox seemed to be. It bothered me, yes, but technically, Trayton and I had never had the please-donat-cuddle-with-other-people conversation. I wasnat even certain I was ent.i.tled to that conversation. We were Bound, yes, and I very much enjoyed his company, but did that give me the right to tell him who he could touch in certain ways and who he couldnat?

He gave my hand a squeeze, tearing me from my thoughts, but before he spoke, he sighed, running his free hand through his hair in a way that made it seem like whatever he was about to say wasnat easy. aKaya, I have to tell you something. Itas stupid, butaa My nerves twitched a little, and I really hoped that this wasnat any sort of confession to do with Melanie. aWhat is it?a aWeare Bound.a Um, duh. aThat much I know.a aAnd being Bound, I feel a real connection with you. Actually, I felt a connection with you even before the binding ceremony. But I feel really stupid having to ask you this.a He held my gaze, his voice soft and eager. aPlease donat feel like you have to say yes. Iam just curious, and if itas not the case, itas perfectly all right. I just need to know. Being Bound certainly doesnat a.s.sure a romantic relations.h.i.+p, butaI like you. And if you like me, I think maybe we should set some ground rules. Donat you?a My heart felt instantly lighter. aI think thatas a great idea. And just so you know, I like you too.a He smiled with ease. It would have been so fitting for him to sigh in relief at that moment, but he didnat. His shoulders, however, did release much of their tension. aIam going to do everything I can to stay away from Melanie. I donat know exactly whatas gotten into her, but lately, sheas become even more aggressive than usual.a I hated how happy I was to hear those words come out of his mouth. I hated how jealous I was of a girl who had absolutely nothing to do with my life. aYou donat have to stop being friends with her for my sake.a aItas more about what that friends.h.i.+p is doing to me. I enjoy Melanieas company, but I think she identifies our friends.h.i.+p as something that it is not, no matter how often I tell her that weare just friends, or how many times I push her away. Granted, I shouldnat let things go as far as they sometimes do, but Melanie isapersuasive.a He dropped his gaze to the table momentarily. aIam incredibly sorry about earlier. It wonat happen again. I promise you that.a And I believed him. No matter what Maddox might have to say about the matter. For once, it was me who a boy liked. For once, it was my heart beating for someone. Not Averyas. Not anyoneas but mine. And I never wanted that feeling to go away. aApology accepted. Soaweare kind of a couple now?a When he smiled, that small dimple showed on his cheek. aIt looks that way. If youall have me, that is.a The grin on my face made my cheeks ache.

Maddox returned with a tray of food, and breakfast commenced. I tried to keep the chatter less on the mushy side, to alleviate Maddoxas apparent nausea, but it was difficult. Once the tray had been cleared away, Maddox looked relieved. aBotanical Medicine time, Princess.a As I stood, Trayton caught my hand in his, his eyes sparkling. He didnat need to say anything. I could see it in his expression. He cared for me. And I cared for him. Giving his hand a squeeze before letting go, I followed Maddox dutifully out the doors and outside. The sun was s.h.i.+ning brightly.