Page 28 of Rebellious Royals

"Ok..." Pascal thrust out his lower lip and nodded his head a few times. "Then keep Rain charged up and we'll be even. Since she's the thing most likely to save our lives, I think that's more than fair."

And not nearly enough. I looked at the other guys, who simply shrugged, then back to Pascal while trying to figure out what I was missing.

"Why so little?" I finally asked.

Pascal just stepped closer so he could lower his voice, allowing the ranting of the students in Ms. Rhodes' office to cover his words. "Because this isn't about you," he said. "OrWilder. Or anyone who doesn't run out into the Hunt when they come. This is about those of us who do, why we do it, and that fighting back doesn't only happen outside."

I nodded, making it clear I'd heard him. "Then I'm even more in your debt than I realized."

And before he could reply, I left, but I didn't head back to Liam's office. No, I marched straight to Ms. Rhodes' and stormed in. There, four students were braced up before her. The dean had her hand up, clearly negating any magic they might want to throw. Liam was standing just inside the door. Another administrator was there as well, but I didn't care. My eyes landed on the girl who'd hit my sister. The one who'd swung the tablet.

"Why?!" I demanded, storming toward her.

"Your Highness!" she gasped, dropping to her knees like a rag doll.

"The Prince!" the others realized a split-second later.

Ms. Rhodes just sighed. "Torian, you're not helping."

Yeah, I ignored her. Using my foot, I pressed the toe against the girl's head and forced her face up so I could see it.

"I asked you a question. Answer it, girl!"

"I..." Her mouth flapped, but no words came out.

"We were told to!" another whimpered.

"By who!" I roared.

Silence. Complete silence filled the room, broken only by Ms. Rhodes reaching up to rub at the bridge of her nose.

So I bent lower, my eyes locked on the girl beneath me. "Are you loyal to me?" I asked.

"Yes, Your Highness!" she insisted.

"Loyalty includes answering," I pointed out. "It means you will keep no secrets from me. So who sent you to hurt my sister?"

"I..." Again, her mouth flapped, but this time there were little grunts with it.

I added a push of power, compelling her to tell me what I wanted. "Speak!"

"I don't..." Blood began to trickle from the corner of her mouth. "I made a promise!" she tried instead. "We're not to speak of it!"

"Then you are not loyal," I said. "Do you knowwhoI am? I am your prince! I am the heir to the Summer throne and I demand an answer! Why did you attack Aspen?!" And I pushed at the compulsion I was laying on all four of them.

A man at the back broke first. "Winter cannot live. We must protect you - even from your-" He coughed up a mouthful of blood. "-self."

"Then you are not loyal," I growled. "You are traitors!"

I lifted my hand, intending to crush the lot of them, but Liam grabbed my wrist. The contact surprised me enough to make me look over, but he simply shook his head. Then Ms. Rhodes set her hand on my shoulder.

"Torian, you've said too much. A wise man doesn't show his hand before the enemy," she said soothingly.

Which made me snarl again. "Then you four will promise me that you'll say nothing about my title, position, or family relations!" I told them, quickly releasing the compulsion. "Swear it and I'll let you live. Don't, and we'll see just how powerful I am."

"I swear it!" the girl hurried to assure me.

"I promise," the other girl breathed.

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