"How is that even possible?" Naya imitated her disbelief with exaggerated shock, then chuckled darkly, folding her arms across her chest. "In case you’re unaware, the academy isn’t accepting any more students."
Satisfaction glead in her eyes as she added in a haughty tone. "You and your brother are practically nobodies here, and I have to hand it to you — you have so nerve showing up in the Land of the damned, Esray Montague."
Es let out a weary sigh, barely bothered by the thought of her family’s na being discovered, her gaze drifting to the door then back at Naya. "If you’ll excuse , I’d prefer to speak directly with the registrar. I’m well aware of the academy’s strict requirent, but as it stands, they still need one more student to et their quota. That’s the only reason I’m here."
"Even if there’s one more requirent left to fulfill, what makes you think you’re getting it?" She scoffed, venom laced in her words. "You stole the Alpha from , and I have no doubt you used so kind of trickery to ensnare him. Why else would he want soone from outside the Damned? And not just anyone — of all people, a rotten, wolfless Montague."
"Don’t speak to my sister like that," Finnian growled, stepping forward with a scowl. Before he could say more, Es covered his mouth with her palm, silencing him before his little Alpha temper got the better of him.
Naya’s gaze flickered over to the boy, a condescending smile curling at the corners of her mouth. "Child," she said, her voice dripping with derision. "It is not your place to interrupt when your elders are speaking. Your outburst only proves your sister has failed to teach you proper manners. Be silent before I discipline you myself."
Es’s eyes remained calm, her voice asured as she addressed Naya. They were still standing in the open in one of the long corridors, and she was careful not to escalate the tension further.
"I’m not sure what exactly you’re expecting from ," she began, her tone soft but firm, "but we’re in the presence of other students. If you wish to discuss sothing important, let’s move this conversation to the registrar’s office where we can talk privately."
Naya’s expression gradually darkened at her attempt to play civil, her lips twisting into a sneer. "And what if I refuse? What exactly will you do?" she stepped closer, her voice lowering into a venomous whisper. "You don’t belong here, Esray of the Montague family, and you never will."
She snapped her fingers at Es’s face. "This academy is for children from noble families, like my brother, who has already earned a na for himself. Undo the spell you placed on the Alpha and leave. You don’t deserve to be in this place."
"Pardon ," having had enough of Naya’s limitless tantrums, Es wasn’t entirely sure how she managed it, but she brushed Naya aside, forcing her way into the registrar’s office.
The sudden push left Naya baffled, as she was completely unprepared for Es’s sudden assertiveness. Finnian stuck his tongue out at Naya as a gesture of pure mockery before following his sister inside.
As they approached the registration desk, which was a wide mahogany table that dominated the room, behind it sat an old woman.
The woman was stern looking, with sharp eyes that glinted from beneath silver-rimd spectacles.
Her hair was pulled back tightly into a bun, and she was dressed in the academy’s formal robes, green and silver colors of Shadowbrook. On the desk before her were stacks of parchnt and a heavy quill, already poised for the next na.
"Is it true that you’re no longer accepting students?" Es asked abruptly, forgoing the usual formalities. Normally, she would never be this direct – as her temperant wasn’t one for confrontation. But recently, her patience had worn thin, and today was the breaking point. She wasn’t going to let herself endure the sa kind of discrimination here that Dahr had once subjected her to in the past.
As the registrar responded, Es’s jaw tightened. The woman’s patronizing tone sliced through the air as she said, "I’m afraid Lady Naya already inford you — we’ve reached our student’s capacity this term. Furthermore, we don’t prioritize students from non-noble backgrounds, especially not from the Damned." Her lips twisted in contempt, while Naya stood behind, smirking in smug approval, a haughty breath of pride escaping her.
Es’s gaze darkened, her grip tightening on Finnian’s shoulder as a protective instinct surged within her. She could feel the shift in his posture as he tensed beside her, the excitent dashed by the woman’s rejection. This wasn’t about his ability or worth — it was about status, sothing they didn’t have after coming here so abruptly.
The familiar bitterness of such inequality gripped her, a reminder of Illyria’s social order, where she had been spared from witnessing these injustices only because she was hoschooled by a governess.
With a calm, but firm voice, Es spoke. "There is still space for one more student, isn’t there?" she asked, her tone sharp. The woman’s gaze only faltered at her question, her eyes flicking down to the paper on her desk, but she didn’t respond.
Es’s eyes then narrowed, sensing the unspoken influence at play. Her voice was colder and laced with a hint of annoyance as she asked. "She told you to refuse , didn’t she?" Though her gaze remained fixed on the woman, her words were unmistakably aid at Naya.
Naya on the other hand didn’t need to respond, for she knew Es was already aware of the manipulation behind the decision.
"Are you seriously suggesting that a shifter with Finnian’s potential, even as an Alpha, wouldn’t be of interest to Shadowbrook Academy because you consider us an outcast?" Es leaned forward, her gaze piercing the registrar with unwavering intensity.
The registrar looked evidently surprised, and Naya was equally taken aback by that information, as she hadn’t anticipated such news. However, she masked her awe and approached Es.
"Just get out," she warned, her tone sharp. "Or I’ll make sure everyone in the Land of the Damned knows there’s a parasite among them. Go back to your kind so we can annihilate you along with them."
"If you don’t leave my sister alone, I’ll call your Alpha on you," Finnian warned, his voice cold and unyielding. "Leave us alone, or else I’ll make sure your Alpha knows you’re harassing us, and he’ll make you regret it."
"Finn, there’s no need to bother him with this" Es’s voice was calm as she placed a gentle hand on her brother’s shoulder. She turned towards the registrar and couldn’t hide her disappointnt.
"I would have left quietly if the academy was truly full, but there’s still room for one more. You’re denying my brother a place, and we both know why — because she told you to. Imagine if it were your own brother or nephew being unjustly turned away. How would that make you feel?"
"You have no rights here," Naya snapped, her eyes flashing with disdain. "I already told you before, leave now, and never show your face in the Damned again. You think you can waltz in here after charming our Alpha and cause all these pointless drama? Is this how shifters from your side of Illyria behave?"
Es’s voice was firm as she shot back, "I don’t care what you think, If you continue to deny my brother’s admission, I will have no choice but to bring this matter before the Academy’s Headmaster, or even the Council of Elders. The requirents were clearly outlined in the flier, and registration closes at noon. They will not take kindly to an admissions officer standing in the way of a promising student based on outdated prejudices. Only the moon goddess knows how many students have been unfairly turned away because of your selfishness. My brother will be enrolled here."
If anything, Es wasn’t going to let herself be undermined again, especially not by so stranger she had only encountered briefly at the bathhouse.
If Finnian wanted to be a part of this place, she would stop at nothing to ensure he was accepted. She was determined to see him get enrolled, no matter what it took.
Naya’s lips curled into a sneer, her voice dripping with derision as she eyed Es from head to toe, envy flaring in her gaze. "And what makes you think they’ll listen to a Montague? You’re an outcast here. How exactly do you plan to convince them?"
Before Es could respond, a low, commanding voice interrupted from the doorway. "Mind how you speak to your future Luna, such disrespect won’t be tolerated," said Donovan, who was standing at the entrance, his presence enough to freeze the entire room in stunned silence.
Naya’s pupils dilated in disbelief at the sight of his imposing presence, and she stamred. "D... Donovan?"
Finnian imdiately left his sister’s side to Donovan’s side, reporting Naya to him. "She told the registrar not to accept into the academy, and she kept calling us nas. She threatened to hit ."
Reviews
All reviews (0)