Chapter One Hundred And Twelve

Then the entire dining hall erupted.

Wooden chairs scraped. Cups clattered. A roar swelled from the walls as cadets slammed their spoons against their mugs while some slammed on the tables, creating a thunderous rhythm that echoed like battle drums.

“It’s nigh! It’s nigh! It’s nigh!”

The chant rolled like a storm down the long tables, shaking the torches.

Elowyn grinned wide, standing tall on the table.

“The Hollow Six must wait for us!” she shouted over the rising din.

Laughter broke through the fear.

Cadets clinked their cups together in rhythm, some chanting, others yelling through laughter's tears or hysterical grins.

Even the ones who had once glared at her joined in, their spoons and hands striking like steel on steel.

The sound carried beyond the stone walls, into the dark hills where the night wind howled back.

Across the room, the Alphas sat watching at first—arms crossed, unreadable.

But then one by one, they lifted their cups too.

Baron raised his last, slow and deliberate,