Page 79 of The Bleak Beginning

“Do you see me laughing?” I ask flatly.

“The history of Altair is crucial to understanding every student’s role here. Your ignorance is only hindering you in the long run.”

“Cookie?” I offer sweetly, holding the tin out to him.

He swats it away.

The cookies scatter across the floor. I stare at the mess, then back at Sylvester, my jaw clenching.

“That was unnecessary,” I hiss.

So what if I never actually planned on trying them for myself? It was still rude and uncalled for.

Sylvester’s brow furrowed, and I can see the barely contained fury simmering beneath his composed exterior. “This petulant behavior ends now.”

I laugh, a harsh, bitter sound. “Or what?”

In an instant, Sylvester’s hands shoot out, gripping my waist, firm and unyielding. I try to jerk away, but his fingers only tighten before tossing me over his shoulder.

“Let go of me,” I rage, my hands curling into fists at his back.

He walks us through the doorway, down the hallway, and multiple flights of stairs. I catch a glimpse of my RA as she enters the building, and a wave of relief washes over me at the sight of her short, white-blonde hair. I know she’ll come to my rescue, or at least kick him out like she did last time the Legacies showed up.

“Victoria,” Sylvester says with a nod, and she says his name back in passing like it’s the most casual thing in the world.

What theactualfuck?

My mouth drops open in disbelief as Victoria disappears around the corner without so much as a backward glance. Some RA she turned out to be. I mean, she’s been mostly unhelpful, but still. Sylvester’s grip on my legs tightens as we exit the building, the cool night air hitting my skin.

“Put me down,” I growl, renewing my efforts to squirm free. “This is attempted kidnapping.” Who was I kidding, this was no attempt. This was straight up abduction.

“Put you down?” he says, his tone bored. “As you wish.”

Without warning, he releases his grip on me, and I’m dropped unceremoniously. I plummet to the unforgiving ground, the force of the fall knocking all the breath from my body.

“This school is insane,” I sputter. “You’reinsane,” I correct, glaring at him, dusting off my clothes as I right myself.

Sylvester looms over me, his imposing figure blocking out the moonlight. “You have no idea, Alex; this is only the beginning.”

Didn't Bishop make a similar statement just the other night?

I plant my hands on my hips and lift my chin, unyielding. “Well, if this is the beginning, I’d hate to see the end. Do you always manhandle students, or am I just special?”

His lip curls into a sneer. “You’re far from special. Just another stubborn, ignorant child who needs to learn her place.”

“My place?” I scoff. “And where exactly is that? Over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes?”

In a flash, Sylvester’s steps in front of me. His eyes, usually a cool blue, burn with the intensity of someone who knows some sort of secret I’ve been kept out of the loop from.

I take a step back. “So what’s your plan now? Are you going to drag me to the assembly hall and force me to learn about Altair’s history?”

He chuckles, but there’s no humor in it. “Oh, that ship has sailed. You’ve made it abundantly clear that you have no interest in learning the traditional way.”

“Then what?” I demand, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.

“You’re going to experience it firsthand,” he says cryptically.

“Can’t wait,” I deadpan.

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