Chapter 57

Ava watched how the students at the front started to inch back, aware that her beast was now in control. The stench of their fear aggravated Nyx. Ava didn’t understand that for a moment until she realised that Nyx would not get any joy from attacking defenceless people. Her fear that she would shift and attack everyone at the academy had been unwarranted. Nyx was like her in that aspect; there was no need to fight unless her life was in danger.

But the councillors and Head of the Council behind her were a different story. A threat that Nyx wanted to eliminate. A challenge. And her beast apparently lived for these challenges. She could feel her rage build up at these people who had put her in this position.

She had refused to submit to anyone all her life, and she’d fought with those who had still tried to force her. It was now clear that Nyx’s ego had been wounded then, and she’d sought revenge. It had been Nyx who had wanted to see those people on their knees, submitting to her. It was what she wanted to see from Mr Hansson.

‘I don’t think that will happen, Nyx.’

“We don’t have all day, Miss Morgan. Give me names. Show everyone here why you are chosen. Why you are better than them.”

Anger welled in her chest, and her fists clenched.

She was not better than anyone. They were all the same, from Omega to Alpha. From the witches who’d just come into their powers to the ones more seasoned. The vampires who were still learning to fight, like Robert, to their prince. All the same.

She looked at Zeke and looked into his wolf’s eyes. In the red depths of Shadow’s eyes, she saw all the anger Zeke had held back. Her mate would have gone along with whatever decision she would have made, but he would never have been happy if she gave in.

Shadow was not meant to be caged by this system.

Nyx wasn’t either.

She turned her head to look at Mr Hansson, and he smiled when he saw her eyes. He couldn’t hide his excitement at the show he assumed he would get, and that disgusted her.

“We can do this another way,” she said.

She was surprised at the sound of her voice. It was deeper, huskier.

“And what other way is that, Ava?” Mr Hansson asked.

He moved even closer to her father, so confident in his invincibility. Maybe he was right to be that way. Andrei frowned at her as if he was asking what she was doing. But Zeke was right. They couldn’t put their lives into other people’s hands. They couldn’t be pushed into these despicable acts that they would have to live with for their whole lives just to satisfy a madman’s agenda.

If the councillors didn’t have the balls to stand up to him, then she and her friends would have to do it themselves. She had chosen her side and would accept the consequences.

“Everyone here is just a number to you, but they all mean the world to someone. They’re someone’s child. Someone’s sibling. Someone’s friend. We will not slaughter anyone to build your army.”

There were shouts in the crowd as they started retreating further.

“Have you forgotten what you did to get yourself in this position?” Mr Hansson said.

She would never forget.

‘It was them or you,’ Nyx said.

She knew that, but it was time for her to accept it. Nyx had saved her life. She was her monster, her darkness.

“I never hid from the punishment I deserve, and I will still accept it now. But no one needs to die today.”

Mr Hansson switched his gaze to Zeke.

“And you, Mr Michelson? Do you stand with your mate?”

“I will always stand with my mate.”

His words gave her more confidence even though they were about to meet their death. Mr Patrick had let them down. They were on their own.

“Well, you’ve made your stand. I guess it’s time I made mine,” Mr Hansson said.

She heard a scream from the students behind her, and by the time she turned to look, she saw Dexter suspended in the air. He was terrified but unable to move as he strained against Mr Hansson’s magic.

She had flashbacks of how easily Andrei had ended Emily’s life and felt her heart drop to her stomach. Mr Patrick said she and Zeke could do this job because they were monsters but they couldn’t compete with this.

She took control of Nyx, realising they couldn’t make this stand by themselves. Andrei had been right.

“Let him go. He hasn’t done anything wrong,” Ava pleaded.

“But he will still pay for your sins, Ava,” Mr Hansson said. “Just like Emily paid for your sins. Just like those students you slaughtered in training. It’s all you.”

“Please...” Dexter whispered.

“I expected some resistance from you, so I’m not surprised. You two wouldn’t be worth my time if you were meek little lambs,” Mr Hansson said with a grin.

“You can still train us for whatever role you need us for,” Zeke said. “I’m sure there are many who’d deserve this fate out there, but not among the students.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” Mr Hansson said. “But it’s among these students that your nearest and dearest are waiting and watching, wondering if I will get them next. Put them out of their misery, Ezekiel. Pick five names, and everyone else can go about their day.”

She couldn’t take her eyes off Dexter. No matter what a horrible person he was, he didn’t deserve to be put in the middle of this.

How could Mr Patrick let them down like this? This had been his plan. The other students were supposed to be kept safe from this so they could concentrate on the Council and the guards.

“We’ll do whatever you want. Please put him down,” she whispered.

Mr Hansson cocked his head to the side, and his purple eyes glowed.

“I wish I could believe you, Ava. But I know from experience that this step is essential. I need to break you. I need to own you completely so you will never think you can go against me without any consequences. It’s the only way I can trust you.”

The next second, Dexter was in the air just behind the stage, so close to the forest that she could sense the creatures within it starting to approach.

“Please,” she begged.

Dexter had tears running down his face as his gaze held hers. He had stopped pleading for his life, and her heart broke. She had known that no matter what decision she made, people were going to die, but assumed she and Zeke would be the ones paying that price.

There was a snap, and then the light dimmed from Dexter’s eyes before his head fell at an awkward angle.

It took her a moment to realise what had happened, just as the screams started behind her.

“No!” she screamed, rushing forward to get to Dexter.

But she already knew there was nothing she could do for him now. She couldn’t hear his heartbeat. She had done it again.

As she got to him, she was snatched up into the air and shoved face-to-face with Dexter. Guilt ate her up from the inside, leaving its mark on every cell in her body. Her strength sapped from her body as she looked at her former bully. He didn’t deserve this. No one deserved this.

She looked into his eyes for mere seconds before his body was flung into the forest behind him.

“Now, who’s next?”