Of course Warden Bully was in Dylan’s face the second he stepped into school.
“If it were up to me, you’d be in prison right now.”
“Good thing it’s not.” Under the anger, Dylan was nervous. Anything could happen.
“Go ahead and act smug, but we’ve got quite a case against you. Didn’t I tell you?” The warden held up a finger. “One more screwup, and you’re out of here.”
“Dylan.” Aiden touched his arm. Dylan had almost forgotten he was there.
“I can’t stop you from coming in today, but there’s a PTA meeting tonight. All they need is a majority vote and you’re expelled.”
Word had gone around town over the weekend about an emergency PTA meeting. Dylan was sure Warden Bully had something to do with it, although even after Dylan had become something of a town hero, there were still plenty of people who thought a dragonkin was too dangerous to allow in Shadow Valley. The warden wouldn’t have had a hard time finding allies.
Once again, the villagers were coming for Dylan with their pitchforks and torches.
“And you’ll be there to gloat, of course.”
“We’re gonna be late for class.” Aiden tugged on his coat sleeve.
Why can’t you defend me? Dylan bit the words back. That wasn’t fair. Aiden wasn’t a fighter, and he’d do almost anything to defuse a situation.
And if Dylan had listened to his friend, he wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with.
Dylan turned to head for his locker. “See you later,” he told Warden Bully.
* * *
“Everyone, quiet down!”
Aiden looked up from his lunch and his stomach dropped. Warden Bradley stood in the middle of the lunchroom, arms held up. Oh God. This morning had already been bad enough, what now?
Maybe he was only reminding people of the PTA meeting.
Dylan turned in his chair, body going tense when he saw who it was.
The warden called for silence a few more times, and the noise dropped to a faint murmur. “I’d like to discuss what happened Friday afternoon. Several students left school in the middle of the day to attend a radical meeting that called for the end of the treaty and incited violence against the wardens.”
A faint brush of scales touched the magic-sensing place inside Aiden’s head. “Dylan, no,” he hissed across the table.
Dylan flicked a hand in his direction. Aiden didn’t know if that meant, Yes, I know. Or Be quiet.
On the far side of the room, Aiden spotted Principal Nejem. She didn’t look pleased at all, and her gaze was fixed on Warden Bradley.
“We’re gathering the names of everyone who was present, and rest assured, each and every one of you will get a visit from the wardens.” Warden Bradley looked around the lunchroom as people shifted in their seats, whispering fearfully.
Aiden’s head swam, and he realized he was barely breathing. He forced himself to draw deep, slow breaths. Someone squeezed his leg, and he jumped before he realized it was Tiago. His boyfriend gave him a smile, concerned and encouraging at the same time.
What if someone saw that?
But everyone was watching the warden.
The man walked down the center aisle, glaring at kids as he passed. Some kids looked like they wanted to crawl under the table. How many had been at the protest, and how many were just reacting to the cold anger in his eyes?
Then he fixed his gaze on Dylan. There wasn’t any magic involved, but the air practically crackled between them. “And then we have the ringleader, Mr. Galloway. Quite a speech you made. I almost wish I’d been there myself. You are quite obviously a troublemaker, and the sooner you’re locked away, the safer we’ll all be.”
This was worse than Conner. All that bully could have done was draw Dylan into a fight and get himself hurt. This warden could put Dylan in prison, maybe forever.
Or would they… Could they kill Dylan for this?
Aiden’s heart galloped. No. Dylan’s mom wouldn’t let that happen. Mr. Johnson wouldn’t let that happen.
“Warden Bradley, I’ll remind you to be civil to my students,” Principal Nejem said.
“I’m being quite civil.” He glanced over, barely looking at her. “But things are very wrong in Shadow Valley, and Mr. Galloway is only the start. Look at the company he keeps.” Warden Bradley’s eyes shifted and fixed on Aiden instead. “Mr. Spencer here is a full-blooded fae, and unusual things started happening soon after he arrived. And last year, three people were murdered by fae magic—”
“Hey!” Tiago jumped out of his seat, fists clenched at his sides. Magic radiated off him, not just the fur-and-jungle sensation, but a faint deep-gold glow as well, as if he was a second away from shifting.
Even Dylan turned in surprise, staring at Tiago.
The principal shouted at him, but Warden Bradley ignored her, taking two steps toward their table. “And you.” His words dripped venom. “Santiago Barros. The only person in this room to violate the treaty. You murdered humans and ate them, and yet here you are with no consequence at all.”
The whole room seemed to suck in a breath.
Except for Aiden, who couldn’t manage to get any air into his lungs. Sick fear rolled through him, little black spots dancing in front of his eyes.
Tiago dropped back into his chair so hard Aiden wondered if he’d hurt himself. His eyes were wide and round, staring at the warden in shock.
Then Dylan was on his feet. “You leave him out of this—”
“Warden Bradley!” Principal Nejem’s voice boomed through the lunchroom like thunder. Her eyes glowed red as she stalked down the aisle. “That’s enough.” She grabbed his arm, pulling him around to face her. “You’re here to protect my students, not harass them and make accusations.”
A hall monitor appeared next to her, the same one who had intercepted Conner several times before he and Dylan could get in a fight. The hall monitor’s face was set, challenging the warden without words.
“I am protecting your students.” Warden Bradley shook his arm from her grip. “If you were protecting them, you never would have allowed such radical, dangerous elements into your school.”
“Please leave.”
Oh God. Were they going to fight? Could Aiden make it to the door before they started throwing spells around?
Tiago squeezed his hand and held on. Aiden looked over to see Tiago’s haunted eyes. His worst secret declared in front of the whole school, and he was still comforting Aiden. Aiden squeezed back, too worried about everything else to care if anyone saw them holding hands.
“I’ll be making a full report of this,” Warden Bradley said.
“I don’t care what you do as long as you get out of my school right now.”
They stared at each other for a long moment.
Then Warden Bradley straightened his suit and headed for the door. Principal Nejem and the hall monitor followed closely behind.
As soon as they disappeared, the room erupted and Aiden started to shake.