Chapter 4

Two days later, Ellie walks the Academy halls with Sonny’s requests still rattling around in her head. She has not seen him since they formed the familiar pact.

He left to train the moment it is done, like the apartment is only a place to pass through. She rounds a corner and nearly collides with Bull Bryant and his two friends. Bull plants himself in the center of the hallway like he owns it. His friends fan out behind him, arms folded, grinning.

“Well, well,” Bull says. “Guild Grimm’s little princess. Still walking around like you’re untouchable?”

Ellie’s jaw clenches. “Move Bull.”

Bull leans closer. “Or what? You going to set the hallway on fire? You can’t even afford to sneeze without my family’s permission.”

Ellie’s fists curl at her sides. The words hit exactly where he wants them to, the debt her family owes Bull’s and the pressure that comes with it. Every argument with Bull always ends the same way, with her swallowing her pride.

“Say something,” one of Bull’s friends adds. “Come on. Give us the famous Grimm temper.”

A calm voice cuts through them. “What are you doing?”

Bull turns. Sonny stands a few steps away, expression blank, eyes heavy, like he has not slept. He does not look angry. Somehow, that makes it worse.

Bull scoffs. “I don’t know who you are. This doesn’t concern you. Take a lap.”

Sonny does not move. He repeats himself, same tone, same face. “What are you doing?”

Bull’s smile twitches. “Are you deaf? Get lost.”

Sonny’s gaze stays on him. Ellie feels the attention of nearby students shifting toward them. People always watch Bull. They always watch Ellie. They definitely watch Sonny now.

Bull steps forward and shoves Sonny’s shoulder. “I said move.”

Sonny does not flinch. “If you want to fight, we can fight.”

Bull barks a laugh. “You?” He looks Sonny up and down like he is inspecting trash. “Sure. When and where?”

Sonny answers immediately, like the question is literal. “Today. Off campus. After classes.” He glances at Bull’s friends. “You can bring them too.”

Bull blinks. For a moment, he looks genuinely surprised. Then his grin returns, wider and meaner. “Perfect. Public execution.”

Bull and his friends saunter off, already talking loudly about how they are going to pummel Sonny.

Ellie grabs Sonny’s sleeve and yanks him into an empty side corridor. “What is wrong with you?” she hisses. “Do you have any idea what you just did?”

Sonny looks at her. “He was threatening you.”

“That’s not the point.” Ellie drags a hand down her face. “Bull’s family has influence. My family’s guild owes them a debt. If you humiliate him, he’ll cry to his father, and my family could pay for it.”

Ellie explains that her grandfather, Guild Grimm’s founder, passed away suddenly a couple years ago. He was a top 15 magician and a lot of work was dependent on him. When he passed, contract work became lighter and lighter putting the guild in a bind. Bull’s family loaned them a large sum of money to stay afloat, but they are struggling to pay it back. Ellie loved and admired her grandfather. He had a large influence over her magic ability.

Sonny reassures Ellie. “Then I won’t humiliate him.”

“No,” Ellie says sharply. “You won’t fight back. At all. Promise me.”

Sonny’s eyes flick to her foot for a split second, as if he can feel the mark through her shoe. Then he nods. “I promise I won’t fight back unless you tell me to.”

Ellie’s stomach drops. “Unless I tell you to?”

“You’re worried about possible consequences,” Sonny says. “So you decide. But you have to be there for our fight.”

Ellie scoffs, trying to hide how unsettled she feels. “What, you need me to watch you get beat up?”

“Yes,” Sonny says.

Ellie mutters under her breath, half joking, half exhausted. “You better wish to Wexel that you don’t die.”

Sonny blinks as if he is puzzled. “What is Wexel?”

Ellie stares. “You’ve never heard of Wexel?”

“No.”

“It’s a fairy tale,” Ellie says, waving her hand. “A little creature that grants wishes. Parents tell it to kids. Wishing Wexel.” She pauses, studying him. “How have you never heard of that?”

Sonny offers no explanation. He just looks away. “I’ll see you later.” Then he walks off like this is just another item on a schedule.

By lunch, the entire school knows. Students whisper in classrooms, in the courtyard, even in the library.

Sonny, ranked dead last, challenges Bull, ranked eighteenth, and invites Bull’s friends to join in. No one can decide if Sonny is brave or stupid. In one of Sonny’s afternoon classes, the room buzzes with gossip.

Reya Ross slides into the seat beside him, clutching her notebook like a shield. “Is it true?” she asks quietly. “Are you really fighting Bull?”

“Yes.”

Reya frowns. “Why would you do that?”

“You have it backwards,” Sonny says. “I asked him.”

Reya’s eyes widen with disbelief. “You asked him to fight you?”

“Yes.”

“That was not wise,” Reya says, voice trembling. “Bull is strong.”

Sonny looks forward, as if the conversation is already over. “He will stop bothering Ellie.”

Reya stares at him for a long moment. “That’s kind,” she says softly. “But kindness doesn’t stop broken bones.” Sonny does not respond. He opens his book and keeps reading.

When the time comes, a crowd gathers just outside campus grounds where the fight is slated to take place.

Some students treat it like a festival. Others look uneasy, like they sense something is wrong before it begins. Ellie arrives with Jess Heyward at her side.

Jess takes one look at Ellie’s face and lowers her voice. “You’re pale.”

“I’m fine,” Ellie lies.

Sonny stands alone in the center of the open space, hands at his sides, posture relaxed. He looks like someone waiting for a bus. Bull arrives with his two friends.

“You ready for your ass whooping?” he calls.

Sonny’s gaze stays steady. “Before we start, I have a condition.”

Bull chuckles. “Of course you do.”

Sonny points at Ellie. “If I win, you apologize to her tomorrow. You never harass her again. And you don’t say a word of this to your family.”

Bull’s grin sharpens. “And if I win, you leave the Academy. You don’t belong here. A magicless, energyless nobody drags the school down and ruins AM’s reputation.” The crowd hums.

Ellie’s stomach twists. “Agreed,” Sonny says.

Bull’s friend cracks his knuckles.“Let’s have some fun.”

The fight starts. Bull and his friends rush Sonny together. Fists. Kicks. Bursts of magic. Sonny does not dodge. He does not block. He takes every hit like his body is made of stone. A punch splits his lip. Another drives him to one knee. A boot catches his ribs. He slides, coughs, and stands back up. The crowd’s excitement fades quickly. This is not a contest. It is a beating.

Jess grabs Ellie’s arm. “Ellie, this is bad.”

Ellie cannot answer. Her throat feels tight.

Bull steps back, breathing hard. “What’s wrong?” he taunts. “You finally realize you’re out of your depth?”

Sonny wipes blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.

His eyes glance toward Ellie. “I’m going to win.”

Bull laughs. “You haven’t even thrown a punch.”

“You’re correct,” Sonny says. “I haven’t started yet.”

Bull’s friends surge forward again. More blows land. Sonny’s face bruises. Blood streaks down his chin. One heavy hit knocks a tooth loose.

Ellie’s hands shake. It feels like she ordered someone to stand still and die. “Stop,” she whispers, but the words do not come out.

Bull grabs Sonny by the collar and slams him again. “Is this what you wanted?” The crowd goes silent and people start to leave. They don’t want to see this carnage.

Ellie cannot take it. “Fine!” she shouts. “Fight!” For a heartbeat, everything pauses. Bull’s friends look at Ellie. Bull looks at Sonny.

Sonny rises to his feet. A tooth falls to the ground. He looks down, picks it up, and calmly shoves it back into his gums. He does not flinch. He does not blink. “Now we go.” He moves.

One of Bull’s friends swings. Sonny slips inside the punch and snaps the attacker’s arm with what looks like a casual tap. The boy screams and collapses. Sonny strikes him once more across the face, and he is out. Sonny pivots, drives his knee into the second attacker’s stomach, then follows with a single punch to the face. A tooth flies. The boy crumples, unconscious before he hits the ground.

Bull stumbles back, eyes wide. He tries to cast a spell. Sonny is suddenly in front of him. Sonny’s fingers strike Bull’s body in rapid, precise points. Bull’s muscles lock. His breath catches. Panic floods his eyes as his body refuses to respond. Sonny leans close and can hear Bull’s breath tremble.

“Tomorrow. I expect the apology.” He steps back and lets Bull collapse onto the dirt.

Sonny turns away from the stunned crowd and limps off, his injuries finally catching up to him now that the adrenaline fades. Ellie runs after him and grabs his shoulder to keep him upright.

“You are insane,” she snaps, voice breaking. “You were going to get yourself killed.”

Sonny looks at her with the same blank expression. “I’ve had worse. I told you I’d win.”

Ellie’s anger falters. She swallows. “Thank you.”

The next day, Bull finds Ellie in the courtyard. A small crowd forms instantly. Bull bows stiffly.

“Ellie Grimm. I apologize. It won’t happen again.” Ellie stares, stunned by how impossible this feels.

Afterward, Bull tracks Sonny down. “Where did you learn to fight like that? So fast and so precise.”

Sonny glances at him. “Did you apologize?”

Bull’s mouth tightens. “Yes.” Bull jabs a finger at him. “You’re going to be my rival from now on.”

Sonny blinks once. “I don’t need rivals. I need friends.”

Sonny holds out his fist. “Friends.”

Bull hesitates, then bumps Sonny’s fist, still annoyed that he respects him. “Fine. Friends.”

Sonny turns to leave. “Good.”