Page 92 of Group Studies

I took it as Ashe growled unhappily, but the Gentle Giant followed behind us.

We ran toward the bigger of the two, the blind spot outside of the greenhouse. As we exited the building, cold night air stung my skin and filled the courtyard with shades of gray.

I managed to run the entire way with only some minor wheezing and a single stitch in my side. We slowed as we got close. A light wave of dizziness made me wobble, and I clung to Saffron. Maybe running around after a miscarriage wasn’t my best plan, but it was too late now.

My spell passed, and we quietly made our way toward the back of the greenhouse, staying low and quiet.

“You fracker,” Mercedes’ voice carried on the bitter wind. “Do you know who my dad is? How dare you even try to touch me?”

We, Ashe and Saffron on either side of me, abandoned our attempt at stealth and hurried around the building.

I bit my lip to keep from grinning as Mercedes came into view. The MA officer who’d dragged my red-headed roommate out of the cafeteria had a series of vines pinning him to the ground. She captured his hands behind his back and a prickly brown vine wrapped around his mouth. The dirt around her looked like a battlefield. His gun, along with several broken potion bottles and the scorch marks from a spell, littered the dark earth.

Mercedes shook with anger, her natural eyes blazing. “This place is forking terrible enough – God frick everything.” We hurried into the balls of light hovering above her, and Mercedes's gaze snapped to us.

“Come to gloat?” Mercedes hissed. She eyed Ashe and went a little white. “Or was this an elaborate trap to have me killed so I couldn’t even be in your way anymore?” She looked right at me. “They won’t kill me, my dad….”

“Shut up, Mercy,” Saffron barked. “Aphrodite was worried about you and dragged us out here to save you.”

Mercedes snorted.

I flushed, feeling like an idiot. Of course, Mercedes could take down an MA officer. She was Wonder Woman.

Saffron made a strangled noise. “What was the plan after you took out the MA officer?”

“Murdering you,” Mercedes hissed, her eyes narrowed as she widened her stance.

She scowled at Ashe as he moved to the MA agent’s side, checking him for injuries. The bound agent shook, trying to throw off Mercedes' magic, but it held him tight.

“Frack this place.” She stomped her foot. “They’re getting worse. Yasmine’s stopped going to classes.” A tear formed at the side of her eye. “She gives me this wide-eyed blink when I ask what’s going on. I can’t do a freaking thing to help her.” She angrily wiped away the tear. “I wasn’t even supposed to make friends here.” Pain contorted her face. “A year of my life, just gone.” She looked at Saffron. “I did everything for you.”

Saffron’s eyes widened before he glanced at me.

I pressed my lips into a line.

“Don’t fricking look at the Skeleton when I’m talking to you,” Mercedes demanded.

Saffron snapped his gaze back to my bitchy ex-roommate. I tried not to react. This wasn't about me.

“Why, Saff?” Mercedes asked, her voice cracking with emotion.

Saffron took a step forward. “I don’t love you, Mercy. I tried, but I don’t. It’s that simple. And you don’t love me either,” he said coldly.

“But it’s how the world works. Love isn’t part of the equation for us. We could’ve done our duty to our families, gotten you out of here, and moved on with our lives!” Mercedes jabbed a finger at him, her body shaking. “You don’t have to love me. We can still work something out.”

Saffron shook his head sadly. “You know me. I won’t leave until I’ve fixed what I’ve done.” His usual golden face took on pale pallor. “I…”

“You’re a frick’n coward, Saffron,” Mercedes interrupted him. “You’re terrified of the real world. You love rules and structure. The unhappier you are, the more you think you can make up for killing your brother. But the guilt will never leave you even if you cling to the Skeleton. You make me sick.”

I flinched at her words as pain flashed across Saffron’s face.

Mercedes shook her head and strode toward the institute.

“Stop,” Ashe yelled in his professional voice. “You’ve assaulted an MA agent.”

Mercedes spun back around, her face incredulous. “I defended myself from being harassed, if not raped.” She sucked in a breath and put her hands on her hips. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“I believe you,” Ashe said. “But you’re still a student here, on probation, and you’ve got one of my agents bound with visible fucking bruising. There’s a process that must happen.”