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I woke up early and waited in the courtyard for Bay and Gin. We met here every morning. The minutes ticked by and students streamed past, most of them staring as they did.

Yup, everyone knows who I am now. Fantastic.

"Ah, Miss Summerfall, there you are." Professor Fallen strode towards me. "I've been looking all over for you. I thought you'd be at the dining hall with your friends."

"My friends?" I asked, standing.

His silver eyes glinted in the morning light. "Mr. Whitefang and Miss Greenleaf, but no matter."

My heart shrivelled in my chest. That meant Bri and Bay had snuck out the back entrance and purposely taken the long way to avoid me this morning.

Was this going to break us apart? I know Gin had every right to be angry, but... weren't friends supposed to forgive each other? We'd never fought before, because I usually did everything possible to avoid conflict.

"Come." Professor Fallen waved me over. "We've been called to the headmaster's office."

My shoulders sagged. "What about?"

His slim eyebrows rose. "You've been charged with attacking the summer students from year five, class one."

The accusation didn't surprise me in the least. In all honesty, I should've expected it, but I'd spent the whole night worrying about how to make up with Gin and Baylan. It would be my word against the pure-bloods, and my word had never counted for much in the summer court. It had here, because the headmaster wasn't biased, but would he stick his neck out for a bastard against other pure-bloods?

"Miss Summerfall, hurry, please. We don't want to be late," Professor Fallen motioned me forward.

"Yes, professor." My shoulders sagged.

He whirled, his silky blue robes flaring out, and marched for the admin building. I trailed him inside, and trudged up the stairs. An oppressive feeling of dread increased with every step I took.

Jeran greeted us with a brilliant smile. "Good morning Professor Fallen, and lovely to see you again Briana. It feels like old times." He winked.

I dipped my head, but couldn't summon enough energy to smile in return. This was a nightmare I couldn't awaken from. First, Henry comes back into my life. Then, Gin and Bay won't even speak to me, and the whole school finds out my mother's identity. Fear slithered into my heart. Now, I was facing an accusation severe enough to get me expelled, by summer pure-bloods who I'd never won against in my life. My haven was crumbling around me.

Jeran's smile dropped and concern flittered across his features. "Please, go in. The Year Five Class One Professor and students are with the headmaster inside."

Professor Fallen inclined his head and strode toward the doors. "Come along, Miss Summerfall." His tone was clipped. He hadn't exactly been welcoming yesterday, so even if he was my homeroom teacher, I doubted he would be my champion.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside a room I was familiar with, having been called here numerous times during my first few years. But none of them, even added together, were as terrifying as this. The summer pureblood wielded power like a knife, cutting down anything or one that stood in their way.

Headmaster Springdon sat behind his enormous marble desk that was larger than an eight seater dining table. His thin lips were pressed into a slight frown and his white brows were tensed into a straight line. Seated in three chairs, before him, and with their backs to us, were two boys from last night. A faint pulse of heat prickled my flesh and I froze mid-step. A torrid of old memories crashed through my mind, and I shuddered. It couldn't be could it? But every dragon had their own power signature and I'd never met anyone with as rancid a signature as my older minder. I stared at the woman in the third chair. Dressed in a blue robe with her golden hair coiled into a tight bun.

"Good, you're both here, let's get this nasty business started." Headmaster Springdon motioned to the two vacant chairs. "Briana."

I snapped out of my stupor and edged forward. THe spike power intensified the closer I got, until I was positive the woman sitting in front of the headmaster was once my greatest tormentor. The person who'd starred in all my nightmares, even for years after I left the summer court. Cold dread sunk into my bones, dragging my steps.

"Quickly, please Briana," said Headmaster Spingdon.

I dipped my head and realised the only thing I could do now was accept my rotten fate with dignity. Professor Fallen took the one closest to the Summers and I took the other. I glanced over and hoped against hope, that by some slim chance I'd been wrong in recognizing her signature. I hadn't.

"Minder Summerburn," I said barely above a whisper.

A shudder racked my body, I hadn't seen her for almost a decade but she hadn't changed one bit. The sharp cut of her nose and jaw, did nothing to soften her appearance. She turned her gold eyes towards me and glared. There was no hint of friendliness from the woman I'd seen everyday from the age of four to eleven. She had been assigned the distasteful duty of minding the summer court's biggest disgrace—as she used to call me. I was doomed. She had made it her mission to make my life miserable before, always seeking out the greatest punishment for the lies my cousin had told her I'd done.

"It's Professor now, bastard." She sneered.

Her two students snickered.

Maybe Henry hadn't put them up to it yesterday. I wouldn't put it beneath Summerburn to encourage her students to bully me.

"Professor," The headmaster snapped. "We've spoken at great length about the proper way to address Miss Summerfall."

Her nose wrinkled. "Sorry, Headmaster, it slipped my mind."

Headmaster Springdon narrowed his bright green eyes, studying Summerburn who simpered back, innocently.

The headmaster shifted his gaze to me and cleared his throat. "Miss Summerfall, did you or did you not attack these boys yesterday while they were conversing with Mr. Moonlake and Miss Greenstem?"

"I did not," I said, even though I knew it wouldn't do any good.

Summerburn scoffed. "Of course, she would say that. Headmaster, I've known Miss Summerfall since she was a whining toddler, and even then she had a penchant for lying. Always coming up with unbelievable tales, trying to get her poor innocent cousins in trouble. It was horrendous."

"Is that right?" Headmaster Sprindon peered at me. "Miss Summerfall has been in my care for nine years and she has never lied to me once."

Summerburn's mouth popped open. "That's just—"

"I hope you are not going to imply that I don't know when my student's are lying, Professor Summerburn." He cast her a shrewd look. "Don't be mistaken. This is not the summer court, nor is it the Dragon Academy. I am in charge and am familiar with the appalling circumstances of Miss Summerfall childhood."

I sunk into my chair, wishing it would open up and swallow me whole. Headmaster Spingdon had never let on before that he'd known anything, so I hadn't realised he knew details of my upbringing, but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, after what Professor Stormfall had told me yesterday.

Summerburn spluttered. "It was not—"

"Headmaster, if I may," said Professor Fallen.

"Yes, Jaxon?"

So the J had stood for Jaxon. Curious that the headmaster would address Professor Fallen by his first name. The two must be close, which was odd considering they came from opposing courts.

"I've taken the liberty of summoning some witnesses," said Professor Fallen.

I grabbed the armrests and lifted myself half out, glancing toward the closed doors in anticipation. "Gin and Bay?"

Summerburn laughed. "Don't be stupid, girl, we can't take the word of a werewolf and a dryad."

I eyed up my old minder. She seemed quite familiar with who my friends were. I would've thought they'd be beneath her notice. Maybe she had set her students on Gin and Bay after all.

"Their word carries more weight than yours ever will, Minder Summerburn." I glared.

She snarled, her eyes glowing red. "It's professor you little—"

"Would the word of Lady Winterice and Prince Winters be sufficient enough?" Professor Fallen cut in. "Or is their blood not pure enough for a summer noble?"

Summerburn's eyes widened. "Of course. But why would they know anything?" She whipped around to her students and they shrunk in their chairs.

"Because they were there." I bared my teeth.

A rancid wave of heat, I knew too well, pulsed off Summerburn. She stiffened and faced the headmaster with her chin held high. "I hadn't been aware they were present."

"Obviously," I muttered.

More heat rippled through the room, and her two students edged away, scooting as far over in their seats as possible.

The headmaster fanned himself. "Professor Summerburn, it's getting rather toasty in here. I would appreciate if you'd rein in your magic."

Pink stains spread over Summerburn's taunt cheeks. "My apologies, Headmaster."

There was a knock at the door.

"Enter," Headmaster Springdon said.

Jeran poked his head in. "Headmaster, Prince Winters and Lady Winterice are here at Professor Fallen's request, may I show them in?"

Headmaster Spingdon beckoned with his hand. "Yes, please."

Jeran opened the door and stood to the side with his arm extended into the room.

Angie glided in, followed by Sasha. The real question now was, were they on my side or not? If they went along with the summer court's story, Summerburn would push for my expulsion and I wouldn't put it past my grandmother to banish me once and for all. I was sure she would take great pleasure in binding my powers and abandoning me in the human world. The damn nobles had been here for all of twenty four hours and my fate was in the palms of their hands. I shuddered. A cold sweat trickled down my spine, but I refused to show the fear freezing my insides. I swallowed, trying to moisten my dry throat.

Would Angie want revenge for me walking out on the meal yesterday? Or perhaps for her preposterous belief that I was somehow responsible for breaking her Prince's icy heart. Would the headmaster let me say goodbye to Gin and Bay before shoving me back though the portal to the summer court? Maybe I could escape into the human world before that, because having my power bound would be a death sentence.

"Welcome," said the headmaster. "We shan't keep you long."

Angelique and Sasha stopped in between the Professors and inclined their heads. My heart thumped faster than a humming birds wings. This was it, if the Winter Prince corroborated their story, even Headmaster Springdon wouldn't be able to defend me against the nobles. I sucked in a shaky breath.

"Did you both witness the incident last night between Mr. Summerflame, Mr. Summerblaze, and Miss Summerfall?" Headmaster Springdon asked.

The Prince stiffened.

Angie stepped forward. "We did."

The headmaster smiled softly. "And did Miss Summerfall attack the two summer boys unprovoked?"

Angelique glanced over at the boys then back at the headmaster. "She defended her friends from attack and did not retaliate as would have been her right, since the fifth years attacked her first. Then, they fled like rodents when Cooper Winterlake started goading them."

The corner of Professor Fallen's mouth twitched.

"Is that what happened Prince Winters?" the headmaster asked.

My hands started shaking and I clenched my fists. Even if Angie had told the truth, Sasha being who he was, could override her.

"I—" Sasha glanced over at me, and he narrowed his eyes before he turned to face the headmaster. "I didn't..." He paused.

My lungs deflated and my heart stopped. His next few words would decide my fate. I'd been stupid to think I escaped the power the nobles had over me. That wouldn't truly happen until I left for the human world. I would never be free of the courts hold over me until then. I gritted my teeth. It was just one year to freedom. If I got through this morning, I would have to do everything possible to make sure I wouldn't get expelled this year. Even if I had to eat my pride, it would be worth it to stay alive, because no dragon with their powers bound had ever live more than three months away from the realms.

The prince gave a non-committal shrug. "I didn't see what started the disagreement between the summer students and Briana's friends, but she was with us at the restaurant when we all heard the attack. I arrived a split second after her, and only saw her defend. Not once did she attack."

I looked up, gaping at the side of Sasha's head. Why hadn't he fed me to the wolves? It would've been the perfect opportunity for him to get back at me for hitting him all those years ago.

"She never threatened them?" The headmaster probed.

The prince's disinterested gaze flitted toward me again, he met my eyes and stilled. "No."

"Thank you, that will be all," the headmaster said.

The prince inclined his head, turned on his heal, and strode out but Angie remained.

"If this farce is over, then can Briana walk with us to class?" she asked.

The headmaster smiled widely. "Of course, you're excused Briana."

I jolted as if waking from a dream. Prince Winters had told the truth. Was it because of Angelique? "But—"

"Your appointment from yesterday has been pushed to this afternoon, we'll talk then." The look he flashed me left no room for arguments.

"Yes, Headmaster," I replied.

Summerburn and her students stood.

"Professor Summerburn, I'd like you and your students to remain a while longer. We have some loose ends to tie up," the headmaster said.

Summerburn pressed her lips together but said nothing, and waved the boys down before sitting herself.

The boys huddled back in their seats but Summerburn held her chin high.

"Run along, Miss Summerfall," said the headmaster.

I bowed to Headmaster Springdon, without him, things could have turned out very differently, and followed Angie out. The door clicked shut behind us. 

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