Page 32 of Feral
“That won’t be necessary,” he answered, taking the stack of files. It didn’t matter if it was a trip to hell itself. It would be better than sticking around.
Chapter 16
Ella
When Ella heard they were all traveling to the ski lodge by bus, she’d pictured the big yellow variety, not the two-story RV that looked like a mid-tier rock band’s tour bus.
“This is insane,” Ella muttered.
“Isn’t it?” Avery echoed, nudging her on her way up the stairs. The excesses of the Academy seemed infinitely charming to her, so Ella decided not to be a buzzkill.
They found a seat in the back of the top level and Ella was relieved that she didn’t see Marissa among the bus’s occupants. Or Bishop, for that matter. She had made it a point to keep her plan to go on the trip under wraps, since the main reason she wanted to get away was him, but she’d feared he would find out somehow.
How much things had changed from her longing to get every spare moment she could with him. She just couldn’t get that fight with Axel out of her head, or the fact that he’d come so close to killing the other tom.
It would have been one thing if it was Axel. Ella already knew to expect the worst from him, but Bishop? Combined with Sterling’s ominous warning, she just wasn’t sure what to make of him anymore.
“Cheer up. We’re going on vacation, not to a funeral,” Avery teased.
Ella gave her a half-hearted smile. “Technically, it’s a school trip.”
“Whatever,” Avery snorted.
Before long, even the top level was full. The bus took off and Ella settled in for the ride, determined to at least try to enjoy herself. The view leading away from the Academy was gorgeous, and the further they drove, the more at ease she became.
At least until she heard a familiar voice. Her head shot up as she realized Sterling had just walked onto the top level and was presently speaking with the students in the first two rows as he held a clipboard in his hand.
Ella’s heart pounded in her chest. How was that possible? She’d checked the trip roster beforehand. The only chaperones on the list were the history teacher and the women’s dorm mother.
Before Ella could sink into her seat and buy herself some time to think, Sterling’s eyes met hers. Their cold gray depths immediately echoed the dismay she felt a thousandfold. In that moment, she knew she wasn’t the only one who’d been surprised, and the frown on his face made it clear it was far from a pleasant one.
“What’s wrong?” Avery asked, following her gaze. “Oh… Professor Yummy’s chaperoning. How fun.”
Ella quickly looked away, turning her attention to the window. “I wasn’t aware.”
She could feel Avery watching her curiously, but the other queen said nothing. Ella could hear Sterling continuing down the rows, taking attendance of everyone on his roster, and by the time he made it to them, she was surprised he hadn’t leapt off the bus with the way he’d looked at her, like her presence was a plague.
Somehow, she’d thought—hoped, really—that what had happened at the ball would have changed things between them. That his compassion then meant he didn’t really hate her as she’d feared.
“Ms. Grant,” Sterling said, nodding to Avery.
“Hi, Mr. Bryant,” she said with the same fawning gaze the other queens had whenever they interacted with him. Ella couldn’t blame her. She knew firsthand just how powerful his charm was, and how cutting it could be to find herself on the other side of it. “Here’s my form.”
“Thank you,” he said, taking the waiver from her hands before he turned to Ella and nodded. “Ms. Doe.”
“Here,” Ella said, slipping him the form she’d long since pulled from her bag, just to minimize the interaction between them. She looked back out the window and felt his gaze lingering along with his silence. She wouldn’t let herself give in and look back at him. Her ability to survive this trip would depend on pretending like he didn’t exist, and that was obviously what he wanted as well.
He finally left and Ella allowed herself to relax when he returned to the first level of the bus.
“What was that about?” Avery asked in a whisper.
“Nothing,” Ella murmured, closing her eyes. It was a long drive, and she figured she might as well get some sleep while she could. Something told her the rest of the trip was going to be far from the refreshing respite she’d hoped for.
* * *
The ski lodge was every bit as remote and luxurious as the other students’ giddy chatter made it seem. The warm glow of the yellow lights inside was a stark contrast to the snowy forest surrounding the lodge as far as the eye could see.
The interior of the lodge was even more breathtaking. It had all the homespun charm of a remote cabin, but the high ceilings and circular corridor above made it feel like a luxury hotel. There was even a roaring fireplace several groups of students had already gathered around to make s’mores and gossip.
