The Rise of Ren Crown by Anne Zoelle

did something to them.” Neph looked down the mountain, a frown on her face. “I don't know what.”
    She turned back to me. “But they will definitely find you, and then nothing will save you.”
    “I could—”
    “Ren.” Her hands framed my cheeks, making me look her in the eye. “You do not fully appreciate the power of the Legion. They are not the Peacekeepers' Troop. They do not wave flashy magic and vow to protect. They are the force sent in for assassination attempts and brutal takeovers. They will have no one watching them while they test and break you.” Her lips pulled into a grim line. “Then they will take you.”
    “I won't let them catch me.”
    Neph pushed the pads of her middle fingers into my skull. “If you go to the Midlands right now or find a way to leave campus before we return, I will make life unpleasant for you.”
    “But it's not safe for any of you. I'm not safe for any of you.” I was panicking, I realized. Shock had flipped again from numbness to panic. “I got Olivia taken . They will come after me, and get all of you .”
    “Olivia made a choice . You do not get to make our choices for us.”
    The dam broke. “I want everyone to be safe. I can't take it again.”
    “Yes, you can,” she said, her voice firm, but hands gentle.
    I put my hands over my face. “I almost ended campus. Again.”
    “And yet, it still stands.”
    “I'm dangerous,” I said, looking up at her.
    “So am I.” Neph's brown eyes glowed for a moment. “You've just never attempted to figure out how dangerous I am.”
    My shoulders drooped. I leaned my forehead on her shoulder. “It doesn't matter. I love you.”
    She sighed and wrapped her arms around me. “What part of you being different and the three of us knowing months ago and still being around you at every opportunity did you misinterpret?”
    “The interpretation part?”
    She jabbed me in the back at my weak attempt at humor.
    “I'm being called to assemble in the muse's hall.” She lifted my chin and forced me to meet her eyes. “Wait for us, unless I give you this signal.” A wrench of feeling came from the area around my heart. “Then, you run, however you can, as fast as you can, and we will find you later.”
    It was such an about-face from what she'd just said, that I stared.
    She shook her head. “The community is being called to account. The Department is trying to gain more control of us. I will handle it. But should you ever feel that tug over the next few weeks, you drop what you are doing and run, do you understand?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. I will see you in an hour or two.”
    My feet automatically started moving me toward the arch that would take me to the Fifth Circle of the mountain and into the Magiaduct. I dug my fingernails into the skin of my other hand to keep myself from crying.
     
     

Chapter Four: Roommates Forever
    Top Circle thinned quickly, most students going to the Visiting Center. But a decent number of stragglers—people without family, or with family that weren't able to come—ambled zombie-style in the line that had queued up for the arch to take us to the Magiaduct.
    I could see black-collared Department mages scanning students at the front of the line.
    “Your attention,” a magnified voice called out from the ether. “This broadcast is via Community frequency and streaming live on Top Campus. All students who are missing a roommate due to the events of today will report to their Dorm Reassignment Chaplain by Libra Rising to stand in front of a counseling ball in order to be matched with your next closest match on campus.”
    I barely got my translation spell to switch back to producing regular times again in my hearing—Libra Rising meant ten p.m.—before horror and denial were pumping through me at what was being suggested.
    I would not get a new roommate, some replacement for Olivia. I would not let that happen.
    The voice continued, more stridently, as if someone had already started