Chapter 0461

“The committee met,” Ben says, casting a hand out towards Alan as he moves towards the door followed by the man in brown, apparently wanting to get to his first class earlier than the rest of us. “They decided that the case was too inconclusive to kick Wright out completely – that there was no real proof that he shot Ari with the intent to kill.”

“Um, hello!” I say, pointing vehemently at myself. “I am the proof! Me! I told them that he did it on purpose!”

“I know,” Ben says, turning towards me with a little frown. “And for what it’s worth, Ari, I think they believed you. But…technically, it was one cadet’s word without another. And they did send us into the Examination with weapons in hand – people get hurt in there. The compromise was that Wright is on probation and must be guarded at all times.”

“Shit,” Rafe says, crossing his arms as his eyes follow Alan across the room and out the door. “Well. We’ll just see how long he lasts.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, leaning forward towards him, narrowing my eyes.

“It means he’s a Warrior cadet, like the majority of us, Ari,” Luca says, meeting my eyes with an intensity I’m not used to from him – which I’ve only really seen when he’s boxing, if I’m being truthful. “If he’s happy to use violence to take you out in Academy-approved ways, then we’re going to return the favor.”