The rest of the day, I tried to pretend everything was normal. Alek was my silent shadow, saying nothing, but I could feel his lurking presence behind me the entire day.

I saw Naomi, though she didn't try to approach me again. The papers she had given me were tucked into my bag, ready for me whenever I decided I was ready to see what my friend had shared with Inara. I wasn't sure I'd ever be ready to know the truth.

Lunch passed in a blur and though I tried to eat, I just felt queasy. So I picked at my food. Alek glared at my barely touched plate, but said nothing. I wondered if he'd tell Inara I hadn't been eating.

"Hey new girl, haven't seen you around in a few days." Jason's voice reached me before he did. He gave a large grin as he reached the table, his smile making my heart skip a beat.

In all the craziness, I hadn't seen Jason since the library study session we'd had. Where he'd told me about the Black Cult and we'd shared a kiss.

Even thinking about the kiss made a blush creep across my cheeks. I hoped he wasn't able to tell. From his seat at the table, I could sense Alek's anger with Jason showing up.

"Yeah, I haven't been feeling well the last few days, so I've just been in my dorm, resting." The lie tasted like ash on my tongue, but I definitely didn't want to get into any of the events of the last few days with Jason in the middle of a crowded dining hall.

I'd had enough eyes on me as it was, after the incident with Mari this morning.

"Well, I'm glad you're feeling better then. I've missed seeing your face around campus."

Alek let out a snort, though he didn't take his eyes off his lunch tray.

Jason turned his attention to Alek, as if this were the first time he'd noticed him there. "Have something to say, Aleksander?"

"Nope."

Jason turned his attention back to me, though it was clear Alek's presence was annoying to him. "What happened to Naomi?"

I cleared my throat awkwardly, pushing bits of my salad around on my plate. "Naomi and I, we had a bit of a falling out. We aren't really speaking at the moment."

"You didn't have to slum it with Aleksander, new girl. I'll gladly welcome you at my table, if you'd like."

"She's fine where she is, Jason." Alek spoke with hatred in his voice and I fought the urge to sigh. As much as Mari hated me, I think Alek hated Jason even more.

"I don't think you get to speak for her, Aleksander. Why are you even here? Don't you have a girlfriend to bother?"

"I'm her new Guide," Alek said, with a smirk on his face. "Where she goes, I go. So I suggest you get lost before I lose my patience with you."

Ignoring Alek's warning, Jason leaned closer to me, close enough I could smell his cologne. "If you ever need to escape, let me know. I'll save you any day of the week."

Blushing harder than before, I gave Jason a smile as he leaned away.

"I'll see you around, new girl," he said with a wink, before he turned and headed out of the dining hall.

I stared at his disappearing form for a moment, before Alek's voice pulled my thoughts away from Jason.

"What did he say to you?"

I scoffed, stabbing a piece of lettuce. "None of your business."

"He's not a good person. You should stay away from him."

"Like you're such a good judge of character. Mari? Celeste? You're like the poster child for poor decision making."

Ignoring my quip, Alek stood, obviously done with this conversation.

Annoyed, I followed him, though his angry strides had me nearly running to keep up with him. His sour mood continued across campus.

Outside the gym, a shiver slid down my spine as I glanced toward the woods where I'd nearly been lured not that long ago. Alek didn't slow down, so I quickened my steps, not wanting to be left outside alone. I wasn't sure what that circle would do to me, but I didn't want to ever find out.

Inside the gym, the chilling dread I'd felt from the woods lessened, but it didn't go away. Alek and I went our separate ways without a word to each other.

The locker room was already packed with most of the class, changing into their training uniforms. Naomi was there, her locker next to mine, and she gave a small smile, but didn't try to speak to me.

I appreciated her allowing me the distance, but I did miss her. I missed her comforting presence and her kindness. She always knew the right thing to say.

As I changed, I contemplated a million different things to say to her, but every time I tried to open my mouth, nothing came out.

I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn't hear Mari's voice until an odd sensation, like shards of ice, crept up my spine.

"Are you deaf, newbie?" Mari's voice sounded like her magic felt, sharp and icy. I swallowed hard, unsure of how to break free from the bonds I could feel slipping around my muscles.

Everything was tightening to the point of pain and there was no Alek here to stop her now.

"I asked you a question, newbie," Mari snapped at me, stepping into my field of vision. Her blue eyes were electric with magic pulsating in them. And behind that magic was anger, so much anger.

More magic crackled around one of her fists, curling around her wrist like a bracelet. Her fingers twitched and her magic instantly responded, slipping around my throat like a choker. I struggled to breathe for a second, before it released it's hold—barely.

Mari put a hand on her hip, eyes narrowing as if still waiting for my response.

"No, I'm not deaf." I responded tightly, though I wasn't sure what the point was.

"Then listen to what I have to say. You don't belong here. Pack your things and go back to whatever dump you crawled out of."

What is this even about? I asked myself as I stared at the angry blonde in front of me. Was she really this angry because Alek had defended me in the dining hall?

"You don't even know me." I gasped out. "Why do you hate me so much?"

"Because you don't know how to learn your place."

Before I had a chance to respond, the magic around my throat tightened again and I gasped for air like a fish out of water.

"Alek has been promised to me for years. You don't get to waltz in here and screw everything up for me. The union between Alek and I is one of power, power I won't be letting go of for some piece of trailer trash whose mommy doesn't even love her."

I gasped, desperate for air, but Mari refused to release her grasp on me. A tear slipped down my cheek, both from the reminder of my possibly dead mother and the physical pain of not being able to breathe. My lungs were beginning to burn and I briefly wondered if this is how I would die, right here in a freaking locker room.

Mari stepped closer to me, close enough to grab my chin in her free hand, her long designer nails digging into my skin so hard I thought she'd draw blood.

"Stay away from Alek, or the next time we have this chat, it won't be so pleasant."

As she stepped back, she released her magical hold on me and I feel to my knees for the second time that day, gasping for air. Mari was still so close that I could taste her overpowering perfume on my tongue and I had to swallow back a gag.

Then she kicked my side hard enough that I rolled over, curling into a ball on that disgusting concrete floor.

"I don't want your stupid boyfriend," I finally spat, once I'd gained enough breath. My words were still too breathy and pathetic to be threatening, but I didn't care. Anger rose in me like a tidal wave, and I could feel my magic simmering under the surface.

I rose, though my legs were shaking. "And I'm tired of you acting like you're allowed to do whatever you want. I'm not your punching bag."

A deep rumble echoed through the locker room, sounding like thunder. A few of the girls who had stayed to watch Mari humiliate me backed away a few steps, their faces turning white.

Mari stood her ground, her own ice-blue magic curling around her fist again. I wasn't sure what my own magic was capable of, but I was tired of being pushed around. All my life, that's all I'd done. I'd allowed it too many times. I wasn't powerless anymore.

A flash of white-hot energy flared, sparking across some of the lockers and the remaining girls screamed, pushing and shoving each other in their haste to exit the locker room. Mari took a step back, but didn't run screaming, even as the reverberating thunder echoed through the small space, sounding like a blast from a bomb.

Lightning. It was lightning that curled around my fist, that sizzled around the room, danced along my skin. Pure, unadulterated power. And I had no idea how to use it.

"You think you can take me? You're like an infant, who has no idea about anything. You'll burn out before you manage to do any damage to me."

She might have been right, but I wasn't sure I cared. All I could feel was the magic racing though me, and it wanted out.

The air in the locker room sizzled with energy, heating enough that I could feel sweat start to break out along my forehead and neck.

Mari raised her hand, and I felt her magic trickle along my skin. But it didn't paralyze me again. There must have been too much of my own magic creating a barrier. Or maybe she'd exerted too much energy today. I wasn't sure.

What I did know was that my own magic wasn't pleased. It lashed out, a thin bolt of lightning that barely missed Mari, scorching the floor next to her instead. Her blue eyes were wide and her face had paled.

She moved to step back, as if to exit the locker room, but another bolt struck in front of her feet at the slight movement. She stilled instantly, though I could see that she was trembling, her magic faltering.

The door behind Mari tried to open, but immediately bounced back, as if a forcefield was sealing it shut.

I could hear voices on the other side, but couldn't make out who they belonged to. My magic was thrumming in my blood, in my ears, like a swarm of bees buzzing relentlessly.

I could barely hear the fists and raised voices. Mari was still trembling in front of me, the magic on her skin disappeared.

Mari opened her mouth, but if she said something, it was lost in the white noise. Finally the door behind Mari cracked open enough for a figure to force their way in.

Alek stood behind Mari, curls of smoky magic around his fingertips. The blonde tried to throw her arms around Alek, but he sidestepped her, his focus on me.

He said something, but I couldn't make out the words.

Selene, let go of the magic. His voice in my head was soothing, calm. My magic hummed lightly, as if pleased by the sound of his voice. But the thought that his voice could calm me out of this made the rage flare in my veins and my magic sparked again, igniting the room with sparks.

Mari screamed, the sound barely registering.

If you don't release the magic on your own, I will intervene. Mari has learned her lesson. Let go.

My magic hissed, and I wanted to agree with it. I wasn't sure Mari had learned her lesson. Not by a long shot.

As if sensing that I would not stand down, a smoky tendril of Alek's magic wrapped around my wrist. I thought it would feel painful, but it felt like a gentle hand.

A wave of Alek's magic spread through me, calming and cooling, but it did nothing to alleviate the burning waves of magic still coiling under my skin. Alek's eyes went wide for a second, as if he hadn't assumed my magic would defy his.

Mari screamed again as my magic pulsed again, burning brightly.

Then Alek moved forward, one hand wrapping around my wrist and the other cupping the back of my neck. The burning magic swelling under my skin instantly gave way to his and a wave of cool rushed over me.

And then my legs gave out and I fell forward. Alek caught me before I hit the ground and lowered me slowly to my knees.

Once my magic disappeared, the door opened and Inara and Naomi entered. Both glanced at Mari, who was still pale and shaking in the corner.

Inara glanced at Alek, who had stepped away from me, as if being that close was repulsive to him.

"Her magic should be calm for at least a few hours."

Inara nodded, hands on her hips as she reviewed the scene. The she glanced at me. "My office. Now."

Behind Inara, Mari smirked, as if she'd won some battle. And as I followed Inara, I wondered if maybe she had.