All I remember was waking up back in the infirmary wing at the academy with five anxious faces peering down at me. Six including Nebbles, who sat next to my feet. My parents, Echo, Jon, and Seph, too, but I wouldn't let myself look at her gorgeous face just yet because I knew I'd lose it. I needed to ask one very important question first.

I licked my dry lips, preparing myself for an unsatisfactory answer just in case. "Is he dead?"

My dad bowed his head over our ...