Page 37 of The Scars Within
Our Bolthole.
I started laughing at the thought, and Laney asked, “And what in the elements is so funny?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. Nothing at all. It’s just been a long morning.”
“Yeah, that class was brutal. Why would the Captain single you out like that?” Tatum asked.
I realized then that even though I had shared the story of my parentage, I hadn’t actually revealed who my father was—or that he walked the halls of this castle. But before I could speak up, Laney did it for me.
“That was Captain Thorne, Tatum. Connect the dots.”
Tatum paused, a potato stick halfway to her mouth, her eyes wide. “I didn’t think to look at his nametag. He’s your father?”
I nodded but kept my gaze fixed on my tray.
Laney’s voice was the calmest I had ever heard it. “I suspected when he chose you from the group, but I was hoping I was wrong.”
“He doesn’t know who I am,” I admitted quietly.
My friends didn’t ask any more questions on the subject, though I was sure they had plenty. We sat in peaceful silence for a moment before I decided not to let my pitiful life story dampen the mood around us.
I pinky promised.
“Cleo, how are earth-wielding classes going?” I asked.
She took the hint to change the topic. “They’re great! I’m learning so much from Yearwood. He’s a really cool teacher. You know—apparently, advanced earth wielders have a unique bond with animals.”
We all raised our brows, intrigued. She continued, “Yeah, it sounds amazing. You don’t actually communicate with animals, but you connect with them on a deeper level. Yearwood even called a family of deer to our class today, and he was able to sense their emotions and relay them to us.”
“That is literally the coolest thing ever! Cece, remind me where you’re from? My parents asked about my roommates in their latest letter, and I realized I hadn’t asked you yet,” Laney said.
Cleo paused, contemplating her answer before finally responding, “We’re from a tiny village way down south—the closest one to the edge ofthe continent.”
“Oh, so you’re from the coast too?” Laney inquired.
“No,” Cleo corrected her. “The southern border isn’t a line of beaches like the west; it’s just a cliff’s edge. My family packed up and moved to a town between Dorlvar and Mageia once I received my acceptance letter. I’m the first in my family to be accepted into the war college.”
“Wow, congratulations!” Laney cheered.
Since channeling her element, Cleo had truly broken out of her introverted shell. I’m proud of her. On initiation day, she barely spoke. Cleo is just extremely shy at first. Like me, but it’s not that I’m shy; I just don’t want to be conversed with.
Cleo had been talking more when we were all back in our bedchamber at night, sharing stories about her classes. She was also starting to make friends among the first-years who channeled the earth element. Meanwhile, Laney, Tatum, and I had yet to channel any element, with less than three weeks left until the Burn Trials.
After we returned our trays to the cafeteria staff, I decided a cold brew would be a nice treat after what happened in Intro to Air Wielding. I told my friends I’d meet them in the hall and headed to the espresso station. Walking through the swinging door, I looked up and caught eyes with a conflicted storm.
Rhodes was leaning back on the counter, sipping an afternoon coffee. He lowered the mug from his lips and said, “Thorne.”
“Wylder.”
“Call me Rhodes,” he said.
I paused. “But you just called me Thorne.”
“Yeah, but that’s an accurate name to call you.”
I knitted my brows and crossed my arms over my chest. “And why is that?”
“Because you’re a thorn in my side.” He drawled out his response and took another sip of his coffee.
