As Dylan and Aiden walked through city hall on their way to class, Dylan spotted Sakura and Izume heading toward them. “Hey. What are you doing here?”
Sakura smiled. “Same as you. We just joined the wardens.”
“You… what?” His heart sank.
“After what happened, we needed to do something,” Izume said.
Sakura nodded. “We’ve been talking about it, and we decided the best thing to do was become wardens.” She frowned at him. “You don’t look happy.”
“Please don’t tell me this is some kind of macho protective crap.” Izume stuck out her tongue.
“No.” Dylan couldn’t think of what to say. He and Aiden were stuck with this, but he couldn’t explain that. “Just… surprised. You didn’t mention anything to me.”
The fox sisters exchanged a glance.
“We were still discussing it. We finally made the decision today,” Sakura said.
“Well I think it’s… brave of you,” Aiden said.
My girlfriend wants to be a warden. It was like being punched. Had it been her idea or Izume’s? “You’re joining because you want to protect people from the extremists, right?” That would allow him to feel a little better about it at least.
Sakura tilted her head. “Yeah. That’s why you joined, isn’t it?”
Had his lies helped influence her decision? God. “Yeah.” Well, not complete lies. Dylan did want to fight the extremists and protect everyone, he just didn’t want to be a warden to do it. “After what those bastards did at prom…”
“And now the breakout,” Izume said.
“You could have died.” Sakura put a hand on his chest, gazing up at him.
“We should go or we’ll be late,” Aiden said.
They moved down the hall again. “So are you going to be in the same class as us?” Aiden asked. “We’re almost at the end of training.”
Sakura shook her head. “There’s a new one starting tonight.”
“They’ve had a ton of volunteers in the past few weeks,” Izume said. “I’ve heard people are coming back to Shadow Valley to join. Even kids in college.”
“So are you delaying college for this?” Aiden asked. Dylan knew that was a sore spot for his friend, having to put that off for an unknown amount of time. Dylan had never cared about going. For one, he’d worried he wouldn’t be certified and allowed out of Shadow Valley. But even if he was, it wasn’t like he needed a job. His parents were filthy rich.
Sakura made a face. “Mom and Dad weren’t happy about that, but they understand how important this is.”
Dylan and Aiden stopped at the open door of their class. “Guess I’ll see you after.”
Sakura leaned up to kiss his cheek. “Bye.”
Dylan imagined her and Izume hunting him down if he broke the rules. He shook his head to clear the dark thoughts away.
At least he didn’t have to face Warden Bully anymore. Nichols smiled at them as they entered. She’d taken over after Warden Bully got the boot. She already taught the physical defense and restraint class, so now she was pulling double duty. No, triple duty. That was on top of her being the liaison at school.
She glanced at the clock. “Just in time. Would you mind closing the door?”
Dylan still hated the subject matter, but at least he was now being taught by someone that didn’t treat him like a criminal.
As they took their seats, she said, “We’re starting with a surprise quiz.”
Dylan groaned.
* * *
When they got out of class, Mr. Johnson was waiting for them in the hall. “Mr. Spencer, may I speak with you in my office for a moment?”
Aiden’s heart rate doubled. It had to be something bad. “Okay.” He glanced at Dylan.
“Not both of us?”
“This doesn’t concern you.”
“You better not be talking about me behind my back.” Dylan gave Mr. Johnson a suspicious glare. “I’ll wait for you outside,” he told Aiden.
Mr. Johnson led Aiden through the wardens’ headquarters to his office. Shutting the door behind them, he said, “Please, have a seat.”
“Is it bad?” Was someone in trouble? Was he in trouble?
“The council has denied the offer of help from your birth mother.”
“Oh.” Aiden swallowed as it sank in. Having fae on their side had been their best hope of defeating the extremists. Or at least the best thing Aiden could think of. “Do they have another idea for how to fight the extremists?”
The area around Mr. Johnson’s eyes tightened. “We’re discussing several options. But unfortunately, an alliance with anyone from Faery was deemed too risky.”
“Okay.” Aiden didn’t know what else to say. He could try to argue, but what good would that do? Mr. Johnson wasn’t the one he needed to convince.
Maybe the council had a better plan. Maybe they knew what they were doing. But they’d been caught by surprise twice now, lost dozens of wardens and police. Cold fear spread through Aiden. What if there was no plan? What if they were just waiting for the next attack?
“I know you were only trying to help. I appreciate it,” Mr. Johnson said. “You can tell Nuala about the council’s decision, but make it brief. And be careful.”
“I will.” But Aiden was already thinking of what else he could do. He’d promised Mr. Johnson that he wouldn’t contact his birth mom until the council made a decision, and they had. Even if Mr. Johnson hadn’t given him permission, Aiden was now free from that promise.
He thanked the warden absently and went to find Dylan.
His friend was waiting next to the car and frowned when Aiden joined him. “Was it bad?”
Aiden gestured for them to get inside. When the doors were closed, Aiden filled him in on the news.
“Of course they said no.” Dylan snorted, breath fogging in the air. “So much for that.”
“Um, well.” Aiden bit his lip. “I think we should do it anyway.” It was stupidly risky, and they’d be in huge trouble if anyone found out, but it was Shadow Valley’s best chance of defeating the extremists.
“What do you mean?”
“Bring Nuala over from Faery and any other people willing to help.” Aiden’s heart thudded in his ears. “If you help me make the potion, it’ll take half as long to make.” Dylan stared at him, and Aiden wondered if he’d made a mistake.
“You want to defy the council and the wardens, go behind their backs?” Dylan laughed. “Oh, I’m so in.”
Aiden’s shoulders sagged for a brief moment, then he straightened. “This isn’t about rebellion—”
Dylan waved a hand. “Yeah, yeah. I know. Sticking it to the wardens and the council is just a side benefit.”
Of course he’d see that as a good thing. “But you’re okay with it? Making the blood potion, letting someone in from Faery? After last time—”
Dylan looked through the windshield, staring out at the street. “This whole mess is my fault, and maybe this is the way to fix it. We need all the help we can get.” He hadn’t started the car yet, but he reached for the steering wheel, hands gripping the leather. “I was useless against them.”
Aiden reached for him. “So was I.” Thinking about it made anxiety claw at his chest.
“Yeah but you’re—” Dylan cut himself off, casting a guilty glance at Aiden.
“Supposed to be useless?” That stung, and it made his voice sharp. “Thanks a lot.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
The anger grew, like a balloon filling with air. “Yes it is. You’re the big tough guy, and I’m the little sissy, right?”
“No. Dude.” Dylan held up his hands. “I just meant… you… don’t like fighting.”
“Because I’m a wimp, right? I’m afraid of magic, afraid of my own magic. Afraid of… everything.” Aiden waved his hands around, but the car was too small. He was trapped in here, trapped in this town.
Breathing fast, Aiden pushed open the door and stepped out.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
Aiden’s breath came out in white puffs, and despite the cold he was too hot inside his coat. Aiden leaned against the car, unsure of what he wanted to do. Take a moment to clear his head? Walk away?
Dylan got out, leaning on the top of the car. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “You’re a badass. Sometimes I think you’re stronger than me. Remember last year? You beat me all the time in gym.”
This wasn’t some kind of contest. None of that mattered. The tightness in Aiden’s chest only got worse, his mind serving up images of every horrible thing that could happen. “Just… take me home.” All he wanted was to climb into bed, maybe stay there forever.
Except home wasn’t safe. Aiden tried not to think about that as he slid heavily back into his seat.
“Okay.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Aiden saw Dylan looking at him with concern, but Aiden turned away to stare out the passenger window. He was angry and scared and trapped and lost, everything closing in on him until it felt like he was being crushed.
Dylan started the car and pulled away from the curb. They didn’t speak to each other on the short ride home.