Chapter 6 Day 1 at Ringdom

KORA

The silence in the car was enough to make my stomach ache. 

For the past two weeks, Karlton had supposedly been teaching me the ways of Ringdom Academy. 

Supposedly, because every lesson ended the same way. I'd answer something wrong, he'd groan like I had personally offended his ancestors, mutter something under his breath about me being better suited to life in the woods, and then announce he was done for the day. 

Most times, I responded with a glare. Other times, I fantasized about throwing him into a river. Neither improved his attitude. The worst part was that he was rarely even available for these lessons. 

Whenever Alpha Magnus asked how my studies were progressing, Karlton always claimed we were making excellent progress. In reality, he was conveniently absent half the time. 

Practice, training, meetings, games with his friends—there was always an excuse. 

The only useful things I'd managed to learn were that Ringdom Academy was divided into different houses based on ability and bloodline, first-years weren't allowed into the Shadow Wing after dark, challenging another student to a Moon Trial could get you expelled or killed depending on how badly things went, and under no circumstances was I to touch the silver wolves carved into the academy's central fountain. 

Karlton refused to explain why. Apparently, I was simply supposed to trust him. Which was funny, considering he was the least trustworthy person I knew.

With nothing else to do, I looked down at my uniform and tugged at my maroon skirt for what had to be the hundredth time that morning. It barely moved. Whoever designed this thing clearly hated young women.

"What?" Karlton's voice suddenly cut through the silence. Mockery dripped from every word. "Too short for you?" 

I turned sharply toward him. "And here I was thinking I could get some semblance of peace." 

He huffed. "If you wanted peace, you should've walked. My car, my rules." 

"Hmm. Lucky me." 

He shot me a smirk that annoyed me far more than it should have. Mostly because no one should be allowed to look that attractive while being that insufferable. 

Scoffing, I turned away and looked out the window before my brain could betray me further.

The city stretched around us in all its impossible grandeur. 

Even after two weeks, I still couldn't stop staring. Northlands was beautiful in a way that made my chest ache. Towering buildings of black stone and silver glass rose toward the sky. Enchanted lanterns floated between streets despite the daylight. 

Wolves, witches, fae, and creatures I couldn't even name moved through crowded sidewalks as though sharing a city with monsters was the most normal thing in the world. It was nothing like the village I'd grown up in, where everyone knew everyone, where roads were dirt paths and most journeys were made on foot. 

Here, power and wealth seemed woven into the very foundations of the city. According to Alpha Magnus, humans weren't permitted within Northlands. The kingdom housed too many dangerous creatures, many of whom viewed humans as prey. 

The separation protected both sides. I understood the logic, but some small part of me still felt guilty every time I enjoyed any of this. 

Every warm meal. Every comfortable bed. Every moment spent feeling safe. I didn't know if my parents were alive. I didn't know where they were. I didn't even know if they thought about me the way I thought about them every single day. The possibility that I might never see them again settled heavily in my chest.

The moment we pulled into the academy parking lot, Karlton's mood seemed to shift. The teasing vanished. The silence returned. Before the car had fully stopped, he was already climbing out. 

"Hey!" I scrambled after him, grabbing my bag. He didn't wait. He simply bumped fists with a group of boys approaching from across the lot and continued walking. I hurried after him, nearly jogging to keep up with his ridiculously long stride. 

"Will you calm down?" I complained, adjusting my bag while trying to stop my skirt from becoming a kite. "Gods, I'm breathless here." 

Without slowing, Karlton glanced over his shoulder. "You have a lot of catching up to do, Pigsty. That's completely not my business."

"You are very rude. Do you know that?" I hissed. 

He didn't even look at me this time. "And you disgust me. Now keep up." 

My mouth fell open. The nerve. The absolute nerve. 

Groaning under my breath, I continued following him, mentally adding several new reasons to my ever-growing list of why Karlton Ringdom was the worst person alive.

Then we reached the academy entrance.

The gasp escaped before I could stop it.