Page 127 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

I spot the boy stalking toward me—Jermoine—and I’m not sure if he’s the Air Folk or the Light Folk. Unsheathing a blade, I say, “Take it down right now, or this goes in your skull.”

“I’d like to see you try.” He flares his teeth. Obviously, he didn’t heed the warning I displayed in combat class yesterday.

I send the blade toward his shoulder. He tries to move out of the way, but it makes its mark.

Six knives left, seeing as I’m sure I won’t be getting that one back.

“Bitch!” His hand reaches for the hilt, but he knows not to take it out. I can’t believe these are the kids they’re training to be the universe’s leaders.

I grab another blade. “Take. It. Down.” I tilt my head, just to look like a menace. “Or the next one’s going in an artery.”

He takes another step, and I lift my blade. “Breck!” he shouts. When I try to step forward again, I’m able to move and Jermoine runs. Presumably to find a healer.

I spot Aralia watching from the other end of the room, but when I look at her, she looks away. The same thing happens with Kai.

Ms. Abrams steps in front of me. Ms. Abrams who wasn’t replaced, like Kai offered. I wonder what happened. “You stabbed a student.” Her head tilts to the side.

“He attacked me.”

“This is Elemental Magic. Attacks are welcome. You should’ve countered with elemental magic.” She enunciates like I’m hard of hearing.

“Would you like me to burn a student to death? Or maybe the school?” I narrow my eyes on her. “Besides, I’m already failing, right? What more are you going to do?”

“You could’ve done something with your education here. It’s a… pity you chose to throw it away. Although, what more could we expect from the septic Folk?”

My jaw pops from my clench-unclench routine. “How about I burn you and show you just what you can expect from us septic Folk.” She’s taken aback. But I fill the gap. “That’s what I thought.”

“Threatening a teacher. You know what?—”

“What?” I lean in closer. “You’re gonna fail me? I’d rather be in the septic than in your face.”

Her head shakes, and she takes in an uneven breath. “Even when we give you people opportunities, you can never overcome your nature.”

“Guess not.” I step away from her and look at the class. “Anyone else wanna try me? I have six good blades left and a bit of anger to feed off of.” I turn around the class. “No?” I shake my head. “That’s what I thought.”

I sit down before anyone can see my shaking hands.

When class is over, I do something stupid—I catch up with Kai. If I need anyone on my side right now, it’s a prince. I don’t know what those boys were going to do to me in class, but I do know those girls from the kitchen were going to kill me.

“Hey!” I say with a smile and a buoyant tone.

“What?” he asks and picks up his pace.

“How are you?” I ask.

“What do you want from me?” He gives me a scornful look, no more than a second-long glance. Like I’m not even worth looking at.

“I—I don’t know. I just wanna talk.”

“Well, I don’t.” He keeps walking.

I reach for his arm, turning him to me, and I say, “Please?”

“You lied to me, Desdemona!”

“News flash, Kai! I lied to everyone!” I shout. “I had to.”

“No, you didn’t.” Kai turns away.

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