12. The New Ironside

Cian was waitingfor her when she came out of Kalen’s office, and they walked to the dining hall together, a tense silence stretching between them—one that she resented greatly.

She had cared about what she had with Cian, the budding friendship with moments where he would ease the bond and give her a taste of what it would be like to really be with someone like him without the terror of asking someone like him to be with her. But that fragility was shattered. They had been forcibly tied together with a poisoned cord, and they didn’t even have the space or privacy to talk about it.

Still, he tried to put on a show of casual ease for the cameras, slinging his arm over her shoulders and muttering casual observations of the students on their way to the dining hall against her hair.

“The others should already have a table,” he said as they stepped through the doors.

The hall had been remodelled to closely resemble the previous Ironside dining hall, with booths lining the sides of the room—though these had no screens for privacy. Cian gripped her hand and pulled her toward one of the booths along the right side of the hall, near the back. The same position of the previous Alpha booth. He deposited her at the table before backtracking to the food display.

She stood at the head of the table awkwardly as several of the Alphas jerked up, suddenly involved in a subtle struggle. Niko fought off Elijah and Gabriel, who snapped back with more force, sending him heavily into his seat, where he sat and glared at Isobel, his nostrils flaring.

“Just because she lives with us, doesn’t mean she has to eat with us,” he growled, so much venom soaking the words that Isobel fell back a step in shock.

“Shut the fuck up,” Theodore snarled at him, looking like he was ready to stab Niko with his fork.

“Back off,” Gabriel shot at Theodore, panic in his eyes. “We’ve got him.”

“Get him a little better,” Oscar said lowly. “Or find a different table.”

“Don’t, Oscar.” Elijah sighed, his hand hard on Niko’s shoulder. He turned his attention to Isobel, a tense smile twisting his lips. “Take a seat, Carter.”

“Um.” She swallowed, cowed by the fire in Niko’s eyes. “I can?—”

“Take a seat,” Moses ordered, brooking no argument.

She plopped down next to Theodore, who pushed his coffee into her hands and then moved his plate of french toast before her, even going so far as to wedge his fork into her grip.

“Eat.” He tried to phrase it as a suggestion, but he mostly failed, the word squeezed out through clenched teeth.

Nervously, she took a few bites, tasting nothing, and then she quietly set the fork down and took a shaky gulp of coffee. She tested her walls, prodding around the exterior to try and find a sense of Niko, but it was too complicated and muddled with so many of them right beside her, so she gave up, drinking the coffee as Elijah muttered lowly to Niko, trying to draw his dark glare away from her.

There was a stir of activity by the entrance of the dining hall as Cian returned with a laden tray. He sat opposite Isobel, his eyes lifting to the commotion as Isobel twisted around, trying to see through the crowd forming.

Ed Jones and Jack Ransom, the hosts of the Ironside Show, were striding through the students, a team of officials behind them. One of them seemed fairly familiar, and Isobel’s memory supplied her with an image of the day she was invited to join the Stone Dahlia—that same woman had stalked into the dining hall with the same sharp heels and had played footage of Crowe attempting to assault Isobel. There was no wheeled projector this time, but that didn’t stop Isobel’s breath stuttering in apprehension.

“What is it?” Theodore asked, leaning over her head. He stilled, and then drew back, exchanging a low whisper with Moses.

The entire hall fell silent as Ed and Jack took up a position in front of the food bar. One of the officials handed a microphone to Ed, and another official handed one to Jack, who spun it around with a wide grin on his face.

“Good morning, students!” Ed called, his signature drawl loud and drawn out. “Welcome to your first day at the brand-new Ironside Academy! It’s so satisfying to finally see all your gorgeous faces in person!” He paused as loud, excited cheers rang through the hall.

Isobel was too shocked to clap.

“I’m standing before you and the entire world today with an announcement that will shake the very foundations our beloved Ironside Show was built upon. We promised bigger, we promised better, we promised more drama and higher stakes and …” He paused, turning to Jack. “Have we delivered, Jack?”

“I do believe we have,” Jack returned slyly, causing scattered laughter to ring around the room.

Cian spilled out of the booth, nudged by Kilian. Isobel also stepped out, allowing the other Alphas to stand. They crowded around her, Theodore and Kilian standing so close she felt pressed between them. Niko stood apart from them all, his arms crossed and a frown twisting his face—though at least he was frowning at the officials instead of Isobel.

“I’m going to hand you over to the officials, who have quite the announcement.” Ed wiggled his eyebrows at the crowd before passing his microphone to the woman that Isobel recognised.

What had been her name? Frisk?

“We have celebrated the Gifted individuals who compete in the Ironside Show for a long time,” Frisk announced. “For generations, they have competed fiercely, giving their all to earn the ultimate prize. However—” She paused, savouring the way the excited whispers around the hall suddenly died off. “—today marks a monumental shift in that tradition. For the first time in the history of the Ironside Show, we will welcome humans into the competition.” She barrelled on, careless of the slow realisation that sank into the hall. “Our six new contestants represent the epitome of human potential. They’re coming to us from the outside world. Their spirits are unyielding, their talents unsurpassed, and I must warn you, their hunger for victory is impressive. If you thought you could manipulate this game …” Her unwavering gaze paused on the Alphas. “This is your wake-up call, because the game is changing.” She smiled out at the hall again. “The presence of these six extraordinary individuals will force you to push yourselves harder, to dig deeper, and to prove your tenacity and talent against tried and tested individuals who have already carved a space out there for themselves as young talent in the real world. Make no mistake, students, the stakes of the Ironside Show have never been higher. If any of these human contestants win the game, there will be no Gifted leaving the settlements.”

She lifted her hand to quell the wave of whispering, the same benevolent smile on her face. “Our fifth-year and fourth-year students are safe, as our human contestants will be entering the academy in their third year.”

Our year. Theodore’s voice suddenly sounded inside her mind. This is for us. They know something. This is damage control. They’re trying to take our influence away.

No shit,Gabriel shot back.

Isobel flinched, glancing between them, but they were still staring ahead.

You heard that?Theodore sounded confused.

You wanted us all to hear, so we all heard, Elijah responded.

Isobel eyed Niko, who hadn’t reacted at all.

Niko.She projected the word, driven by a sick sense of curiosity.

He didn’t so much as flinch.

He couldn’t hear her.

Her breathing turned ragged with panic, but Kilian slipped his hand through hers, anchoring her as she fought to get herself back under control.

He can’t hear us. She tried to send the thought out to all of them. Kilian squeezed her hand. Theodore’s palm slipped to her back before he seemed to remember the cameras in the booth behind them. His touch fell away, but his pinkie brushed hers. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cian nod slightly.

Niko wasn’t included in their connection.

“I implore you all to embrace this bold new chapter with open minds, open hearts, and a renewed sense of competition,” Frisk finished off, before handing the microphone back to Ed, who stepped up with a flourish and a grin.

“And to facilitate that,” he teased, waiting until the gathered students were shuffling restlessly before he continued, “we’ve decided to host our first game of the new season: The Mate Match! I know how much we love our extra special mate bonds, so this game is to match up our new human contestants with a pretend mate of their own! Isn’t that just adorable?”

“So adorable.” Jack rolled his eyes at Ed. “You really are easy to please, aren’t you, Ed?”

“Pish.” Ed waved him off. “You’ll see. The rest of us think it’s adorable, don’t we, Ironside? Our Gifted will accompany their fake mates everywhere and even sleep in their apartment for the rest of the week, just like real mates!”

The terrified wave of whispering shifted immediately, the entire hall seeming to realise, as one, that they were being given a gold-plated opportunity for exposure. This was their ticket to going viral and making a name for themselves.

“We’re going to bring in the new contestants one at a time, and if you fancy them, raise your hand,” Ed instructed. “We’ll be letting our new students choose their mate for the week, so just do whatever you can to outshine our beloved Alphas, eh?” Ed winked in the direction of their group.

The dining hall doors—which an official must have closed at some point—were opened again, drawing everyone’s attention.

“First up,” Jack projected boisterously, “we have Naina Kahn.” A young woman stepped into the hall, her long brown hair braided over her shoulder, set with pearls and small crystal butterflies. She wore a short silver dress and silver heels, the fabric of her dress scattered with crystal detail, contrasting beautifully with her brown skin and twinkling, dark eyes.

“Naina Kahn, who some of you may recognise, has captivated the world with her talent for creating sculptures made of chocolate and other edible materials.”

“I’ve seen these sculptures,” Ed interrupted. “And they are nothing short of extraordinary.”

“Indeed,” Jack agreed. “Naina Kahn is able to produce art that tantalises the senses and tests the boundaries of the imagination—and each piece sells for several thousand a pop, so that doesn’t hurt. Her talent has attracted millions of followers, earning her a place as one of the most influential artists of her time. If you’re interested in Kahn, please raise your hand.”

Hands shot up all around the room, and Kahn smiled shyly at the floor, before spinning to the opposite side of the room. The food bar hid her from Isobel’s eyes, but Ed announced Kahn’s choice a second before the couple reappeared.

“Adam Bellamy!” he called out. “Of course, Kahn has picked the only male Icon-offspring in the room, proving her discerning taste is as sharp as ever!” He moved the microphone away from his face as he turned to arrange Kahn and Bellamy to stand behind him.

Bellamy was smiling for the cameras, offering his arm for Kahn to hold onto … but Isobel was now well-acquainted with Bellamy’s fake smile, and she was sure she was seeing it now.

Bellamy isn’t happy, she told the others.

He has no choice but to dive into this, Elijah returned. His father won’t accept anything less.

It’s hard to fake a smile when you’ve just been told that your chances are slimmer than you realised, Oscar added. He’s just been shoved even further down the ladder and they’re making it look like they’re offering a hand to help him climb higher.

It’s disgusting, Moses snarled in her head. All of this is disgusting.

It’s Ironside hitting back, Kilian chimed in, joining the chorus of voices inside her head. They must have guessed that we’re up to something and this is them laughing in our faces, reminding us that they pick the Icon. They have the power.

This is them underestimating us, Moses countered. As usual.So they found a bunch of famous twenty-year-olds. Who gives a fuck. They aren’t Gifted. If people wanted to see humans getting famous instead of Gifted, Ironside wouldn’t be anywhere near as popular as it is.

You’re forgetting one thing, Gabriel suggested. Humans may like to watch us play their game, but you give a human a choice between a Gifted and one of their own? They will always choose their own. Always.

We’ll make them choose differently, Theodore promised darkly. The game isn’t over yet.

“Our next student is the stunning face behind the KoKo Kostas skincare brand that took the world by storm this year. Everyone, please welcome Jordan Kostas!”

A tall, willowy woman strode through the doors, dressed in high boots, a high-waisted tartan skirt, and a white-collared shirt, complete with a matching tartan tie and headband to hold back the non-existent wisps of her sleek blonde hair.

“Kostas grew her following by sharing her transitioning journey with the world on social media, generating a loyal and supportive fanbase of millions. She now has modelling deals with several luxury brands, and she just announced her global ambassadorship with not one, not two, but three luxury international brands!”

Isobel ran her hands through her hair, agitation crawling across her skin. How the fuck were they going to pull this off?

Kostas was strutting along the edge of the crowd, considering her many options as hands shot up into the air.

Deep breaths, Theodore murmured, moving close enough that their hands were obscured by their bodies and clothing … and then he hooked his pinky into hers. We have two years to figure this shit out. We can do it.

She had the distinct sense that he was talking only to her. It was something in the projection of his voice. It was closer, clearer, without the echoing quality it had possessed before. More like an intimate whisper. It was as though she had been standing in the middle of a room with many doors and they had all been open, everyone able to speak, but now Theodore had stepped through his door to be in the room with her, and all the others were closed.

You sure do figure things out quickly, she thought to him. So maybe you’re right.

I haven’t closed off the bond,he said, as Kostas chose one of the fifth-year Betas, and the two of them moved to take up positions beside Bellamy and Kahn. All this bond stuff is much more intuitive when you aren’t trying to cut yourself off from it.

Tell me how you really feel, she scoffed internally as Ed began to announce the next two students. Twins, both international chess masters, and—if Ed and Jack’s sly commentary was anything to go off—they had become famous by simply being hot, playing chess outside in freezing temperatures without shirts on, and chopping firewood in front of the camera.

I don’t blame you, Illy.Theodore squeezed her pinky. I can feel how the bond is set up. We’re all connected, but we’re connected through you. I can only feel that there are other connections. I can’t feel them the way I feel you. You … must be feeling everyone. It must be overwhelming.

Alexi and Anatoly Kozlov. She focused on the names of the twins as they stalked through the crowd so that she wouldn’t tear up over Theodore’s soft compassion.

“What’s better than a set of Alpha twins?” Jack’s taunt boomed around the hall, causing Theodore to stiffen beside her and Moses to scowl. “The Kozlov twins!” Ed almost screamed, whipping the hall into a frenzy. “Uh-oh, speaking of the Alpha twins … isn’t that Theodore Kane’s girlfriend with her hand up?” Ed asked. “Oh, no, never mind, she was just fixing her hair. We see you, Wallis! You cheeky thing!”

Seriously? Moses grumbled, his voice taking on the echoing quality that meant he was talking to the group. Twins? Isn’t it a little obvious at this point?

I have a feeling it’s only going to get worse,Elijah warned.

“Are you ready for this next one?” Ed asked, the question full of suspense. The students played along, shouting, “Yes,” even though Isobel could spot many uneasy faces littered around the room.

“I don’t think you are!” Jack countered, shaking his head, and holding up a hand. “Nope, no way are you ready for social media royalty. Our next new student is from The Santoro Show, and you all know him as the loveable goofball who has been documenting his life ever since high school! You’ve seen his pranks, you’ve bought his merch, you’ve turned up to hear him sing in concert even though he doesn’t know how to sing! You chose his house and then dared him to donate it to someone in a Walmart parking lot! Everyone give it up for Luca Santoro himself!”

A tall boy walked into the hall, a distinct swagger in his step as he brushed heavy, burnt chestnut curls from his angular face and winked at the energetic crowd.

Isobel bit back a groan.

Anyone with a phone knows who Luca Santoro is, she said to the group. Who the fuck is next? The pope?

Anyonewith a phone knows who you are, Kilian countered.

“I suppose Isobel Carter isn’t looking for any more surrogates,” Santoro joked, pulling Ed’s microphone to his mouth.

Jack and Ed both laughed, clapping Santoro on the back, and turning him to face Isobel and the Alphas. “She looks pretty cosy,” Jack muttered, his tone loudly conspiratorial. “Tucked away in a clam of Alphas like a little pearl waiting to be pried free. Ever tried your hand at pearl harvesting, Santoro?”

Her view of Santoro was suddenly cut off. Cian and Moses had both stepped in front of her, and Oscar had stepped in front of them. Instead of Santoro’s face, she was faced with the disarray of golden wisps escaping Cian’s haphazard bun.

“Maybe another time,” Santoro joked.

“Yes, I think that would be wise,” Ed consoled, seeming to draw Santoro away.

Guys, she spoke to them dryly. Now I can’t see.

The three hulking Alphas in front of her melted away like they were never there in the first place, and she rolled her eyes.

“God forbid I ever get a boyfriend.” She spoke out loud this time, knowing that their little scene would get screen time, and remembering the roles they were supposed to be playing for the camera.

They were her overbearing, big, adopted Alpha brothers.

Except for Cian … because there was no way anyone would believe that Cian could be looked at platonically by anyone who wasn’t actually related to him. She was willing to try, but she doubted anyone would believe it, even if they were the best actors in the world.

“God forbid you try,” Oscar returned coldly. “You’re not allowed to date.”

That was exactly what an overbearing, adopted big brother would say if that overbearing adopted big brother was Oscar. So why did it sound so … possessive? Isobel shook her head, returning her focus to Santoro, who was plucking a fifth-year girl from the crowd. The twins also seemed to have chosen fifth-years, though one of them—Alexi, she thought his name was—had chosen a fifth-year boy whereas Anatoly had chosen a girl.

Do you think they were told to choose fifth-years?Kilian asked. To put the focus back on the graduating class?

Most likely, Gabriel answered.

“And last but certainly not least,” Ed called out, “we have the beloved podcast host who just landed a sixty-million-dollar solo deal, and who was just voted Forbes most influential young person of the year! She’s beautiful, she’s charming, she’s hilarious, she’s humble—and yet she’s rubbed shoulders with some of the most important people in the world! Everyone absolutely adores her, and we are so excited to have her own the show! Put your hands together for the one and only Mei Ito!”

The girl who walked into the hall moved with so much grace it almost looked like she was floating. Her hair fell in ebony waves down to her narrow waist. Her eyes smiled even though her lips didn’t, though a beautiful smile broke free when she reached Ed and Jack, who appeared to be completely star struck.

“Please, call me Mei,” she offered, holding out her hand. “I’m so pleased to meet you.”

Jack pretended to faint. Ed pounced on her hand. “You are even more beautiful in person. I must say, I’m such a big fan, Mei. Such a big fan.” He was pumping her arm while she bowed her head gracefully.

“Thank you so much.”

Now that she was closer, Isobel almost felt hypnotised by her. She was … incandescent. Pale as a soft pink petal, her hair lustrous, her eyes sparkling. Even her jewellery seemed to shimmer, catching the light of the chandeliers above. Isobel felt a strange tug in the other girl’s direction, her attention snagging on Mei’s necklace again and again. Was it … glowing?

Niko shifted, stepping toward the Ironside hosts and Mei, and the pieces fell into place with horrific, gut-lurching clarity … but it was too late.

Niko had reached the hosts. He was stepping up to Mei, tilting his head down at her.

“There’s no need to vote.” He was calm, his forehead eased of tension. He held out his hand and Mei, appearing struck dumb by him, placed her fingers slowly in his grip while staring up at him, doe-eyed.

“Choose me,” he said to her.

Isobel’s heart shattered, and the ground no longer felt so solid.

There was darkness beneath her feet, a fall threatening, a void shuddering below her, gaping wide enough to swallow her.

The necklace, she pushed the words out to the group weakly. She’s … she’s wearing my hair.

Ignore the bitch, Oscar snarled back. Do we need to leave?

We can’t. Elijah’s voice was tight. We can’t show a divide in the group. It’s essential we’re seen as a unit.

It’s essential I make Niko bleed for this, Oscar argued, tone cutting.

Don’t blame Niko,Gabriel growled. This isn’t him and you know it. He would never hurt Isobel.

He’s hurting her right now! Theodore snapped.

Because of what Eve fucking Indie did to the bond! Gabriel insisted. You know Niko. You all know him. He has a bigger heart than all of us.

Good, Oscar snarled, bigger heart means more blood.

Isobel leaned into Kilian, who was taking more and more of her weight, his arm slipping around her, his grip digging into her waist.

“Isobel is getting sick again,” he said out loud. “I’m going to help her get to the group intensive with Professor Mikel. I think she needs to sit down and rest. I’ll call the bond specialist to meet us there.”

“Good idea,” Cian agreed. “I’ll come too. I have the specialist’s number.”

We can’t all leave.Theodore sounded agonised—both angry and grief-stricken, like he could feel the void rising up beneath her. Maybe it was threatening them all, shadowing all their feet and shaking the ground they stood on.

We’ll take care of her, Kilian soothed. She’s safe with us. See you guys in a bit.

They didn’t walk far—Kilian steered her toward the administration buildings, where they found an empty golf cart. He deposited her in the passenger seat while Cian climbed into the back, and they drove to the new fitness complex in silence.

“The bond specialist said she’ll come to the group intensive to see you,” Cian said, pocketing his phone as Kilian parked the cart.

They helped her out and into the huge network of buildings, squirrelling her into a hallway lined with doors. She didn’t bother searching for cameras—it was clear there weren’t any when Cian bent down and swept her into his arms, holding her against his chest with his arm beneath her ass. She looped her arms around his neck, surveying the door they stopped at. There was a screen above it, with a red light beside it. The screen read Private Session - Professor Easton. 7:00 - 8:00. Not recording.

Kilian pushed open the door, glancing at his watch before nodding back at Cian, who stepped in after him.

“You’re early—” Mikel spoke from within the room but cut himself off when he caught sight of Isobel. “What the fuck happened now?”

“Well …,” Kilian drawled, “it’s safe to say our contacts in the control room have turned on us, because we were just completely blindsided, and I think they know we’re up to something.”

“They brought in six humans to compete in the game,” Cian supplied. “And the last one was wearing Isobel’s hair like a necklace.”

Mikel’s face turned white, his eyes scanning Isobel. “What else?”

“They offered the humans a fake mate for a week.” Kilian glanced back at Isobel. “Niko chose the girl wearing Isobel’s hair. He’s supposed to follow her around and sleep in her apartment.”

“What?” Mikel uttered in disbelief. “What the fuck? No. Absolutely not. That won’t be happening.”

“Did you actually call Teak?” Isobel croaked.

“Here,” Mikel said before Cian answered. He dragged a weights bench against the wall, and Cian set her onto it, propping her up carefully.

She was glad for the assistance because her dizziness had become nauseating.

“I did,” Cian answered her question as Mikel pushed a bottle of water into her hands. “Teak said she’ll be right over.”

“I want to tell her,” Isobel said. “Like we told Maya.”

“She’s an official.” Mikel frowned at her. “The Guardian is not an official. We had a camera in the Guardian’s house and watched her withstand interrogation.” His hand passed over her forehead, measuring her temperature before he snatched up her wrist, his finger pressing against her pulse.

“I need help,” she whispered. “None of us know how to deal with this. We need help.”

Mikel considered her, his attention heavy. He knelt in front of her, his hands on her knees. “Can you ask for her help without telling her everything? I can’t trust Niko right now to make sure she’s being honest with us.”

Isobel worried her lip with her teeth before her shoulders slumped forward. “Okay.”

“Who has the Guardian’s number?” Mikel asked without taking his eyes off Isobel.

“Elijah,” Cian answered, “but yesterday Theo said something about them not having their phones.”

“Text Elijah,” Mikel ordered. “Tell him to fetch the Guardian and bring her here. Isobel is right. We need help. It makes just as much sense for Isobel to call on the Guardian for advice as it does for her to call on the bond specialist, so we shouldn’t get any questions about it.”

“Done,” Cian responded.

“Thank you,” Isobel managed, catching Mikel’s eye.

“Mhm,” he rumbled the sound of acknowledgement. “Don’t thank me yet, Carter. You still have a punishment on the way.”