Fallen University: Year One

“The headmaster needs to see him,” one of them said vaguely.

My heart thundered with anxiety. There was something they weren’t telling me—I could feel it. They flanked Xero once he was dressed and walked him down the hall quickly, so fast I had to jog to keep up. We passed groups of students in the hall who watched us go by with wide eyes and whispered words. We had clearly missed something huge while we’d been up in Xero’s room. Everyone seemed to know about it but me.

I expected to be led to Toland’s office, but that didn’t happen. Instead, we were brought to the auditorium, which had been arranged like a courtroom. There was a big chair behind the podium with seats on either side. Long tables had been arranged to create an aisle leading to the podium. Instructors sat at the table to the left, Custodians to the right.

I caught Beedle’s eye as we rushed into the room. He looked away instantly, his expression caught halfway between anger and shame. Sonja, sitting just behind the Custodians, smirked at me. Xero was led down the aisle to the left-hand seat beside the podium and was thrust into it roughly. Fire exploded in my chest, burning as hot as anything the fire demon could ever conjure, and I clenched my hands into fists. I wanted to rip the assistant’s hands off for touching him like that.

“Take a seat,” one of them said to me as they walked back down the aisle.

“Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

The woman took my arm and started to drag me away. I wanted to fight her, but when I looked over my shoulder, Xero met my eyes. He shook his head slightly. Don’t make a scene. The feeling was as strong and clear as if he’d spoken the words, and for his sake, I allowed myself to be led away.

I found Jayce, Kai, and Kingston sitting together near the front of the auditorium. I wriggled in between Jayce and Kai. Hannah and Owen came in together just then, found us immediately, and sat down.

“Will somebody tell me what is going on?”

I muttered the words through gritted teeth and realized I was shaking. I knew what was happening. I just needed to hear somebody say it.

“Xero has been accused of sabotaging the school,” Kai said grimly. “They’re holding an expulsion trial.”

“He didn’t do it!”

“Hush.” Kai pointed at the podium. Toland was arranging himself in the big chair. The room fell silent as he banged a gavel on the podium. Jesus fucking Christ. This was legit. My breath came fast as panic raced through my blood. Even Jayce’s chill energy couldn’t make a dent in the whirlwind of frantic emotion spinning through my soul.

“We call to order the case of Fallen Univ

ersity vs. Xero Ashwood,” Toland said. “Xero. You have been accused of sabotage and conspiracy against Fallen University and the Custodians. How do you plead?”

“Not guilty,” Xero said quietly. He sounded defeated.

“Now we will read the specific charges and hear the evidence,” Toland said. He looked uncomfortable, as if he were performing without a rehearsal. Of course. He’d never done this before. He was probably reading off of notes.

“First charge: Releasing sprites into populated hallways.”

I jumped to my feet. I couldn’t stand it anymore.

“He couldn’t have done that!” I shouted.

Toland stopped reading and looked at me. So did everybody else.

“There is a protocol to this sort of thing, Ms. Lawless.”

“Yeah, and you don’t know it any better than I do. But I know that Xero didn’t release the sprites. He couldn’t have. He was with me in Combat when that happened.”

Toland rubbed his chin. “Can anyone corroborate your story?”

Beedle raised his hand. Good, sweet Beedle, how I love your grumpy, stumpy ass.

“I was tutoring him directly when that happened,” he said.

“I was sparring with him,” Kai added.

Toland nodded. “Are there any witnesses who saw Xero in the magic wing prior to the sprite attack?”

“I did,” Sonja declared with a toss of her head. “He was in there before lunch. He probably set it up on a timer or something to let the sprites out.”

“Professor Jade, did you see Xero in the magic wing before lunch that day?”